East Ventures raises $1.2m to provide over 1,400 oxygen concentrators in Indonesia

This is the latest version of the article published on July 13, 2021.

East Ventures, an early-stage VC firm based out of Indonesia, has raised US$1.2 million to provide 1,450 oxygen concentrators through an initiative named Indonesia Pasti Bisa (IDPB) Safeguards Oxygen.

A total of 788 individual and corporate donors including Emtek, Bukalapak, Beenext Capital Management, and Sasa Inti participated in the initiative.

A batch of oxygen concentrators arrive in Indonesia/ Photo credit: Indonesia Pasti Bisa Safeguards Oxygen

The initiative is supported by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, non-profit community IndoTech SG, the Indonesian Professionals Association in Singapore (IPA SG), and volunteer group KawalCovid19.

IDPB Safeguards Oxygen also partnered with three companies backed by East Ventures, namely Bonza, Waresix, and Advotics to help develop its donation tracking system.

The initiative comes as daily Covid-19 cases in Indonesia continue to rise, resulting in an oxygen supply shortage for both hospitals and smaller health facilities.

“As one of the pioneers in the technology industry in Indonesia, that values gotong royong spirit, we are honour to be part of this movement, and we believe that Indonesia PASTI BISA is an example on how Indonesian technology capabilities can bring significant impacts to help the country on fighting against Covid-19,” said Bukalapak CEO Rachmat Kaimuddin.

See also: The unseen human toll of Covid-19 on tech companies

These concentrators are able to flow 10 liters per minute of over 90% pure oxygen. The machines will be donated to hospitals and health facilities throughout Indonesia.

Following the fundraiser, IDPB Safeguards Oxygen is also participating in the larger ongoing initiative Oxygen for Indonesia, which seeks to raise US$10 million.