Nadiem Makarim (file photo)
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned Nadiem Makarim, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s evolving relationship with tech leadership and public accountability.
Once hailed as a reformist figure for modernising education through digital platforms during the COVID-19 crisis, Makarim now finds himself at the centre of a high-profile probe into the procurement of Google Cloud services under his watch as Education Minister.
While the investigation remains ongoing, its focus on top-level decision-making during a period of urgent digital transformation highlights a growing tension: how do governments balance speed and transparency in emergency tech deployments? The cloud services in question were instrumental during remote learning–a critical lifeline for millions of students. Yet, the integrity of the process behind their adoption must stand up to scrutiny.
Makarim’s appearance, accompanied by flamboyant lawyer Hotman Paris, underscores the case’s gravity and public interest. As the KPK deepens its inquiry, especially in parallel with the Attorney General’s investigation into Chromebook procurement, this episode raises pressing questions about oversight in public-private tech partnerships.
Accountability shouldn’t deter innovation, but it must guide it. The outcomes of these probes will set crucial precedents not just for Indonesia, but for any country navigating digital governance in crisis.
REGIONAL
Gojek founder summoned over Google Cloud procurement
Gojek and former Indonesian education minister Nadiem Makarim was summoned to provide information as part of an ongoing investigation into the procurement of Google Cloud services by the ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SEA startup funding plunges to US$68M in July 2025, down over 75% YoY
The US$68M raised is remarkably lower than the funding secured in July 2024, registering a 76.71% decrease | When compared to the previous month (June 2025), the slowdown was 77.10%.
Indosat launches AI scam filter to combat fraud
The system operates automatically and in real time, filtering suspicious messages and calls, and alerting customers to potential scams | It is accessible to all users, regardless of device or location.
60 global startups to compete for US$2M prize at LKYGBPC grand finals
Finalists from 91 countries will showcase breakthrough innovations in sustainability, mobility, and deeptech during the week-long competition.
Airtree closes US$425M Fund V to back ANZ startups
Airetree’s Fund V has allocated US$165M to early-stage investing and US$260 million to growth-stage companies | It has a portfolio of 120+ companies, including Canva, Airwallex, and Employment Hero.
Truelight Capital launches angel fund to back early-stage media startups
The firm will write cheques at the angel, pre-seed, and seed stages | The launch arrives at a pivotal moment for the media sector, which is undergoing significant changes driven by the rapid emergence of AI.
REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
63% of Vietnam’s students use AI, but concerns linger over misinformation, ethics
The primary purpose for AI use among Vietnamese students is homework, accounting for 48% of usage, followed by language help (17%), searching or surfing (12%), and even creating videos or photos for fun (8%).
Using AI without misusing it: Indian students show strong ethics despite misinformation gaps
Only 13% of Indian students always fact-check AI-generated answers, while 42% do so sometimes, 20% rarely, and 25% never fact-check. This suggests a potential vulnerability to misinformation from AI tools.
nVentures finds early success backing overlooked founders in South Asia, SEA
It invests small cheques of US$100,000 to US$250,000 each in up to 15 startups | Focus ares are B2B fintech, SaaS for MSMEs, edutech, and digital health.
Closing the protection gap: LeapFrog’s insurance-first strategy for financial inclusion
Among the various services LeapFrog facilitates, insurance holds a special place. Rather than viewing insurance as a standalone product, Lima frames it as a foundational enabler especially when embedded at the point of sale.
Sebastian Tai Jian Haw on growth, reinvention, and showing up real
Sebastian Tai Jian Haw reflects on a career shaped by reinvention offering lessons in leadership, digital growth and purposeful transformation.
ECHELON SINGAPORE
The next chapter: Strengthening Indonesia’s startup ecosystem for long-term growth
The conversation traced key phases, from the B2C boom following 2011 to the disruptions of COVID-19 and ongoing challenges such as fraud.
Reimagining movement: The next wave of urban mobility in Asia
The conversation touched on the promise and challenges of autonomous vehicles, calls for a balanced approach that prioritises mobility innovation.
INTERNATIONAL
Google denies AI search is killing website traffic
The website traffic from its search engine has remained stable year-on-year, according to Liz Reid, Google’s VP and head of search | The average click quality has also seen a slight increase.
HK stablecoin bill raises concerns over client identity rules
The ordinance introduces mandatory KYC checks for every stablecoin holder, a requirement that some in the cryptocurrency sector say could deter adoption and impact the city’s position as a digital finance hub.
SoftBank swings to profit on Nvidia bet ahead of AI push
SoftBank saw profits from its Vision Fund reach US$3B, driven by gains in holdings such as Nvidia and Coupang | The Japanese firm increased its Nvidia stake to over US$3B as of end-March 2025, benefiting from a 46% rise in the chipmaker’s shares during the quarter.
GPT-5 arrives: faster, smarter, and with fewer hallucinations
ChatGPT’s reasoning, coding, and creative writing skills are all expected to see major improvements in GPT-5 | According to Sam Altman, while GPT-3 performed like a high school student and GPT-4 like a “smart college student,” GPT-5 is now at “Ph.D. level.”
China aims for brain-computer interface firms to rival Neuralink
China has announced policies to develop the brain-computer interface (BCI) sector and compete globally | The policy targets creating two to three globally competitive BCI companies by 2030, without naming specific firms.
Elon Musk says X plans to introduce ads in Grok’s responses
Musk told advertisers that X would allow marketers to pay to appear in suggestions from the AI chatbot | He also plans to use tech from xAI, his AI startup, to improve the targeting of ads on the social network.
Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper sues Perplexity for copyright violation
Yomiuri claims Perplexity accessed about 120,000 of its articles between February and June 2024 | The lawsuit seeks to stop Perplexity from using the content and requests over US$14.2M in damages.
Animoca, asset tokenisation firm Provenance to launch marketplace
Nuva, a marketplace for tokenised real-world assets, will offer investment products from various issuers, including institutional-grade vaults backed by Figure Technologies’ stablecoin and home equity loans.
SEMICONDUCTOR
Trump urges Intel CEO to resign over China ties
Lip-Bu Tan, who became Intel’s CEO in March 2025, has faced scrutiny for past investments in businesses linked to China’s military, concerns also raised in a letter from Republican Senator Tom Cotton to Intel’s board.
Nvidia defends AI chip security over Chinese cyber probe
Nvidia has denied allegations of security vulnerabilities in its AI processors following an inquiry by the Cyberspace Administration of China into its H20 GPUs | The firm said its chips do not contain back doors, kill switches, or spyware.
TSMC shares rise as Taiwan confirms tariff exemption
TSMC recently announced plans to invest an additional US$100B in US operations, including new facilities in Arizona, bringing its total US investment to US$165B.
US chipmaker Microchip Q1 hits US$1.1B, beats estimates
PC and smartphone makers accelerated shipments in H1 2025 amid widespread macroeconomic uncertainty spurred by the tariff war | This helped demand for Microchip’s products in the period.
AI
AI is reshaping digital infrastructure for a sustainable future, but disparity in adoption persists
By adopting strategic AI implementations, organisations can maximise AI’s potential while mitigating its associated challenges.
AI can’t replace doctors, but it can catch disease before they do
MASH remains widely undiagnosed despite new therapies, highlighting the urgent need for scalable, AI-powered diagnostic innovation.
AI meets IP: Why Singapore is the launchpad for AI-driven startups
Singapore offers AI startups a global edge with strong IP protection, strategic incentives, and infrastructure for scaling innovation.
AI infrastructure: The unsung hero of technological innovation
While people eagerly discuss AI applications and ethics, the infrastructure supporting AI development is often overlooked | In fact, without a solid infrastructure, even the most advanced AI technology cannot truly play its role.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Trump’s policy effect: From semiconductors to Bitcoin, how govt. moves are shaping markets
A US semiconductor levy boosts tech stocks while Bitcoin rebounds on ETF inflows, amid rate cuts, market volatility, and global shifts.
Vietnam’s unseen legal goldmine: Bridging the trust chasm for a billion-dollar opportunity
Vietnam’s foreign legal market reveals a trust gap, where small Korean-run firms outperform Tier-1 giants by bridging culture, not just law.
From perk to power: Rethinking ESOPs in the modern talent economy
Equity is emerging as the cornerstone of startup culture in Southeast Asia and India, with ESOPs reshaping talent alignment and trust | In 2025, the battle for talent is no longer just about salary; it’s about ownership.
From fear to freedom: Designing fintech products for the financially anxious customer
Fintech apps must overcome user anxiety in emerging markets by designing for clarity, cultural context, and emotional reassurance.
Building a better future: How sustainable architecture is leading the way for the built environment
The built environment sector is expected to focus increasingly on sustainable architecture as environmental concerns continue to grow.
From idea to reality: Why an MVP is essential before full-scale development
An MVP is a stripped-down version of a product that includes only its core functionalities | It helps identify opportunities and challenges, minimise risks, and ensure the final product meets your audience’s needs.
Powering Southeast Asia’s growth through impact capital
Social enterprises are often the best investment as they usually leverage technologies to enhance their operations and impact | Technologies can enable these mission-led organisations to solve problems at scale.
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