Indonesian edtech firm names ex-trade minister as commissioner

Cakap, an Indonesia-based edtech firm, has announced the appointment of Gita Wirjawan, the country’s former minister of trade, as its new commissioner.

Wirjawan will join existing commissioners Arya Setiadharma, who is the CEO of investment firm Prasetia Dwidharma, and Centauri Fund partner Kenneth Li. Both Setiadharma and Li are investors in the edtech company.

Cakap’s new commissioner Gita Wirjawan (front row, second from left) / Photo credit: Cakap

Cakap founder Tomy Yunus said that Wirjawan is “close to education” and can become a role model to support the penetration of high-quality education across the country through the company’s platform.

Founded by Yunus and Yohan Limerta in 2013, Cakap provides online language and upskilling courses through recorded videos and live sessions.

In December 2021, Cakap raised US$10 million in a series B round co-led by Heritas Capital and Centauri Fund, which is backed by KB Financial Group’s KB Investment and Telkom Group’s MDI Ventures. In March this year, the company also received an undisclosed amount of funding from Mandiri Capital’s Indonesia Impact Fund.

Currently, Cakap caters to over 2.7 million students and 1,600 teachers and has helped 250 companies provide upskilling classes for their employees. It claims to have booked a net profit for the past two years.

See also: Former public officials joining tech companies: a rising trend in Indonesia