29 edtech startups across Southeast Asia with some funding and traction

Startups that tackle problems in Southeast Asia’s education system aren’t exactly writing big headlines with multi-million dollar funding rounds, but they’re around. Some have been offering online education services for many years – Zenius from Indonesia dates all the way back to 2004.

If China’s startup ecosystem is an indicator of things to come, the amount of venture capital that flows into the region’s edtech sector will pick up. Early signs of that are visible today.

An influx of venture capital (VC) is certainly going to shake up the current landscape. With little funding to fall back on, most startups have grown frugally and stayed focused on relatively local problems. VC will let founders think bigger, but it will also increase pressure as startups battle for dominance and profitability. That, too, is something we’ve observed in China.

Here’s a list of edtech companies in Southeast Asia that have raised funds, but also some bootstrapped ones that have caught our eye.

(Update 11/April/2016: Three startups were added to this list: KelasKita from Indonesia, Zookal from Singapore, and Topica from Vietnam. The title of the story was updated to reflect this change.)

Indonesia

1. Bulletinboard

Bulletinboard is a mobile app and online tool for parents and teachers to come together and stay up-to-date on students’ progress. It was launched in 2015. Teachers can post homework assignments and reports to the entire community, but hey can also communicate with parents privately.

Bulletinboard hasn’t raised funding yet but has made incremental but persistent process since Tech in Asia last talked to the founders. So far, the startup repots, 120 classes are using the tool.

2. HarukaEdu

HarukaEdu offers online education programs – similar to Coursera. It features informal online classes as well as paid-for online study programs in collaboration with private higher education institutions.

The startup is a graduate of Jakarta Founder’s Institute, and has gone on to raise a series A investment from CyberAgent Ventures at the end of 2014.

Malaysia

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

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