VCs, startups in SEA to raise $10m to provide oxygen concentrators in Indonesia

Startups and venture capital firms in Southeast Asia are raising US$10 million under the Oxygen for Indonesia (OxyID) initiative to provide 10,000 oxygen concentrators to the country, which is currently reeling from a second Covid-19 wave.

VC firms East Ventures, Sequoia Capital India, Intudo Ventures, Go-Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, AC Ventures, Jungle Ventures, Asia Partners, Monk’s Hill Ventures, and Openspace Ventures have joined the initiative. Startups who are supporting the cause include Kitabisa, Pluang, Mapan, BukuWarung, Halodoc, TokoCrypto, Payfazz, Advotics, eFishery, Waresix, Kaya.id, Bonza, Flip, and Bibit.

Previously, East Ventures had organized a similar initiative called Indonesia Pasti Bisa (IDPB) Safeguards Oxygen that pledged to provide 1,000 oxygen concentrators to Indonesia. Since IDPB’s existing tech partners are taking part in the new initiative, OxyID will be able to use IPDB’s existing donation tracking system.

Oxygen concentrators / Photo credit: Indonesia Pasti Bisa

Citing data from the country’s Ministry of Health, the OxyID initiative recognizes that Indonesia is currently only able to fulfill 1,578 tons of oxygen per day, which is far less than the required 2,333 tons. The surge in new cases and deaths related to Covid-19 has put enormous strain on the availability of the crucial medical resource.

Aldi Haryopratomo, former chief executive of GoPay and member of the Oxygen for Indonesia team, said that the initiative started when volunteers in the WargaBantuWarga (“people help people”) initiative received messages from distressed caregivers who were looking for oxygen for their loved ones.

“Spontaneously, startups, VCs, public figures, and individual volunteers united for one cause. Since we started just five days ago, we have raised enough to secure an order for 1,000 oxygen concentrators ready to deploy to hospitals in need,” he said.

Besides raising funds, OxyID has also formed a volunteer team that runs a hotline for operators of concentrators and helps in procurement, delivery, and verification. The initiative is also communicating with the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment and Ministry of Health in Indonesia to ensure that the oxygen concentrators can provide relief in a quick and targeted manner.

You can donate through this link if you live in Indonesia, and this link if you are not in the country.