Dicoding grabs seed funding from Indonesian tech media <em>DailySocial</em>

One week after its launch in Jakarta, Dicoding, an online community aiming to be the number one hub for developers in Indonesia, has announced seed funding of an undisclosed amount from local tech media outlet DailySocial. As part of the deal, DailySocial’s chief marketing officer Rahmat Harlyadi will join Dicoding’s founders on its board of directors.

With a team of seven people, Dicoding claims to have already signed up more than 750 multi-specializing app developers in Indonesia since its January 5 launch. The funds from DailySocial will be used to expand the team, incorporate new features – namely payment options, and expand to other countries in Southeast Asia.

Dicoding is a platform that aims to connect the needs of the Indonesian tech market with the collective expertise of the nation’s developers. It also provides a supportive community environment in which developers can sharpen their skills. Co-founded by Kevin Kurniawan and Narenda Wicaksono, Dicoding also provides challenges to developers put forth by company founders. Coders and developers who effectively rise to these challenges will receive points that can be redeemed for rewards on the site. These may include but are not limited to smartphones, laptops, and other various prizes.

See: Here are 8 Indonesian mobile game developers to watch

“As a media company focused on technology, we see Dicoding as one startup that really can make a difference in Indonesia, which is one of the important markets for mobile application developers,” says Rama Mamuaya, founder of DailySocial.

Currently, Dicoding supports Google Play, the App Store, and Microsoft’s Windows Phone Store. Kurniawan and Wicaksono believe Indonesia is potentially one of the most lucrative mobile markets in the world, and that founders and developers should be trying to capitalize on the archipelago’s tens of millions of mobile phone users.

Dicoding monetizes by charging a fee to companies who wish to be connected to its pool of programmers and developers. After the connections are made, it’s up to the companies and developers themselves to negotiate the terms of their working relationships.

“Dicoding will facilitate those who wish to develop the information technology ecosystem in the country,” says Wicaksono. “We hope Dicoding will give birth to the more talented developers and foster a culture of competitiveness for the people of Indonesia.”