Indonesian beauty firm spills the beans on profitability

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Hi readers,

In the past year, we have seen many startups shift their focus toward profitability. As a result, some of them have made significant decisions, such as increasing efficiency and pivoting their business models.

Recently, I have been trying to find profitable startups that are willing to share their secret sauce. My hope is to inspire others on how to build profitable startups in the current investment climate.

Esqa, an Indonesia-based beauty firm, is one of the companies that I have discovered. Founded in 2015, the company was able to achieve profitability in its second year of operations, even without having external funding when it started.

There are several interesting things about Esqa, such as its two founders – Cindy Angelina and Kezia Trihatmanto – being childhood friends, the company’s focus on vegan cosmetics, and its ability to double its revenue every year.

I spoke with CEO Angelina, who revealed how the company maintains its growth. She also shares the firm’s plans for the future with the series A funding it raised in November.

For those interested in the beauty industry, especially in Indonesia, I think this story will be interesting for you.

— Jofie Yordan, journalist at Tech in Asia

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Image credit: Timmy Loen

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