Refocus founders Alex Solo, Roman Kumar Vyas, and Igor Gurovich / Photo credit: Refocus
Refocus, an edtech company operating in the Philippines and Indonesia, is facing a lawsuit from 843 of its students in Indonesia. The lawsuit, which was filed with the South Jakarta District Court, claims damages of approximately US$990,000 for material losses and another US$619,000 for non-material damages.
The students allege that despite paying for services, they did not receive full access to educational content or the employment guarantees promised by Refocus, which trains people in key IT skills and helps them find tech jobs.
The startup’s status in Indonesia is currently unclear. In the Philippines, Refocus suspended operations in July 2023 while facing complaints about its sales and marketing tactics.
Two months later, the company abruptly halted operations in Indonesia, leaving many students with significant financial losses. The fees they paid range from approximately US$1,114 to US$1,485.
On its Indonesia website, however, Refocus posted a message saying that while the company faced “some significant financial challenges,” it is now “on the path to revival.”
The Indonesia lawsuit is now at a critical juncture, as the court has issued a final summons to Refocus. If the company fails to respond, the court may rule in favor of the plaintiffs by default.
While Refocus does not have any disclosed funding rounds on the Tech in Asia database, it previously said that it was looking to raise US$10 million in 2023. It also claimed to have earned US$8.5 million in revenue the year prior.
See Also: Edtech firm Refocus suspends Philippine operations amid numerous complaints
Editing by Putra Muskita and Dhania Putri Sarahtika
(And yes, we’re serious about ethics and transparency. More information here.)
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
