The widening TaniHub corruption probe has now drawn Indonesia’s financial regulators into the spotlight.
With the CEOs of BRI Ventures and MDI Ventures named as suspects, OJK moved quickly to issue a statement: the scandal, it insists, does not represent the state of the venture capital industry as a whole. Instead, OJK doubled down on the importance of venture capital in fuelling startups and MSMEs, stressing its commitment to supervision, governance, and compliance.
Yet the case is hard to ignore. What began as questions over TaniHub’s meteoric rise and abrupt decline (warehouse closures, layoffs, and TaniFund’s loan defaults) has escalated into allegations of fictitious projects, manipulated data, and more than US$25 million in questionable investments. The presence of marquee investors, including Telkom subsidiaries and global VCs, underscores how systemic blind spots may have allowed enthusiasm to outrun accountability.
For Indonesia’s startup ecosystem, the moment is sobering. The promise of venture capital as a growth engine is now clouded by governance failures at some of its most prominent institutions. The sector’s resilience will depend on whether transparency, oversight, and trust can be restored–not just by regulators, but by the industry itself.
REGIONAL
Prosecutors name TaniHub, VC execs as corruption suspects
The South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office announced that Nicko Widjaja (CEO of BRI Ventures), William Gozali, (former VP of investment at BRI Ventures), and Aldi Adrian Hartanto (VP of investment at MDI Ventures in 2021) were detained on September 3, with detentions lasting until September 22.
GoTo says Gojek founder Nadiem has no role in company
The company clarified that Nadiem stepped down as president commissioner in October 2019 and has had no involvement since | It also said he is not a controlling shareholder and that its activities are not linked to his work as a minister.
Ex-Gojek execs, founders react to Nadiem Makarim corruption case
Most of the reactions so far seem supportive of Makarim, particularly those who once worked with him at Gojek | Michaelangelo Moran, who co-founded the company with Makarim, said in an Instagram post, “We cannot stay silent in the face of injustice.” | He believes Makarim is innocent.
SGInnovate leads US$1.5M seed round of biopolymer startup Greenitio
Greenitio uses a patented process to produce biopolymers from fungal chitosan, targeting the replacement of microplastic- and petrochemical-based ingredients | The company plans to use the new funding to scale manufacturing, pursue regulatory approvals, and grow commercial partnerships.
REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
Navigating the gender divide in the Southeast Asia’s fintech landscape
A Fintech Nation study reveals that only 33 women founders or CEOs are identified across SEA fintech companies, constituting a mere nine per cent | Post-Series-B funding, this number dwindles to just six per cent, highlighting the challenges women face in attaining leadership roles as companies mature.
Can Malaysia build a home-grown battery industry?
Despite growing enthusiasm, Malaysia’s battery sector remains young. According to Dr. Rezal Khairi Bin Ahmad, CEO of NanoMalaysia, the local lithium-ion based battery industry is still at its infancy stage and primarily driven by foreign direct investments and technologies from abroad, leaving little room for local intellectual equity.
Inside Thailand’s EV and battery push: Balancing growth with sustainability
While shifting from combustion engines reduces tailpipe emissions, Thailand must also tackle the carbon footprint of battery production and electricity generation | With fossil fuels still a mainstay of the national grid, greening the electricity supply is vital to realising the climate benefits of mass EV adoption.
INTERNATIONAL
MENA startup funding drops to US$337.5M in August
Funding was concentrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi startups raising US$166M across 19 deals and UAE startups raising US$154M from 11 deals | Egypt recorded US$14.7M in funding, continuing its recent slowdown, while Iraq fell to fifth place with a single US$1.5M deal.
South Korea launches AI strategy committee, boosts funding
The committee, led by President Lee Jae Myung, will coordinate AI strategy and policy across government and private sectors | The committee includes 34 private sector members, working across subcommittees on infrastructure, data, applications, social adaptation, global cooperation, science, skill development, and defense and security.
CoinShares to go public in US via US$1.2B SPAC merger
The agreement will see CoinShares list on Nasdaq, with a US$50M commitment from an institutional investor as part of the deal | CoinShares manages about US$10B in assets and is currently listed on Nasdaq Stockholm | The merger, if completed, would make CoinShares one of the largest publicly traded digital asset managers globally.
Global investors boost bets on S Korea’s beauty sector
KKR acquired Samhwa, a Seoul-based maker of plastic containers and pumps for cosmetics, for US$528M from TPG Capital Asia | Blackstone also agreed to invest in Juno Hair, Korea’s largest hair salon chain with over 180 locations in Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
China to launch at least five AI models for energy by 2027
Together with the National Energy Administration, it plans to create a framework for integrating AI into power grids, coal, oil, and gas by 2027 | The policy outlines more than 10 pilot projects and 100 application scenarios in smart power regulation, resource exploration, and renewable energy forecasting.
Ex-Redmi chief fired by Xiaomi over leaks
Xiaomi said an investigation found Thomas Wang Teng, General Manager of Xiaomi China Marketing and Redmi, engaged in unauthorised disclosure of sensitive data and had conflicts of interest | The company cited violations of its disciplinary and integrity codes as the reason for the dismissal.
HK venture accelerator Brinc acquires web3 community OG Club
OG Club is a decentralised autonomous organisation focused on Web3, and will rebrand its community as VentureVerse | OG Club has organised more than 300 Web3 events, built partnerships with over 100 companies, and has a community of more than 25,000 members and 10,000 wallet holders across 10 countries.
China’s e-commerce giants burn billions in price war
Alibaba, Meituan, and JD.com are offering deep discounts and subsidies in the one-hour delivery segment, leading to higher cash burn and squeezed margins | Analysts at Nomura estimate industry-wide cash burn surpassed US$4.1 billion in Q2 2025.
SEMICONDUCTOR
TSMC faces operational risks after US ends China waiver
The US government has revoked Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) authorisation to freely ship US-made chipmaking equipment to its Nanjing facility in Jiangsu, China, effective December 31, 2025 | Analysts warned that if license approvals are delayed, the Nanjing plant could face operational disruptions within months due to equipment shortages.
Nvidia opposes GAIN AI Act, warns on global chip trade
The Act, part of the National Defense Authorisation Act, would require AI chipmakers to prioritise US domestic orders over foreign customers and mandate exporters seek licenses for chips that exceed certain performance thresholds.
Chinese chipmaker firm YMTC launches US$2.9B chip venture
YMTC holds a 50.2 per cent stake, while the rest is owned by state-backed Hubei Changsheng Phase III Investment Development Co. | The venture will operate across the chip supply chain, including design, manufacturing, and sales, though specific products have not been disclosed.
Nvidia-backed firm Nebius to supply AI infra to Microsoft
Operations will begin later this year from a new data centre in Vineland, New Jersey | The Amsterdam-based AI infrastructure provider is listed on Nasdaq | The company will finance capital expenditures through cash flow from the deal and debt secured against the agreement.
OpenAI to launch first AI chip with Broadcom in 2026
The chip will reportedly be used for OpenAI’s internal operations and not sold to external customers | OpenAI needs massive computing power for training and running its AI models, including ChatGPT | The company has also worked with Broadcom and TSMC on chip development while still relying on AMD and Nvidia.
AI
Global investors turn to Asia on AI boom: report
Browning noted that Asia is seeing more investment, particularly in tech and AI sectors, as valuations offer a buffer compared to expensive US stocks | BofA estimates the global AI market will rise from US$300 billion in 2025 to nearly US$1.2T by 2030, with about US$1T potentially in Asia Pacific.
AI disruption unveiled: Hidden opportunities for startup survival and success
At its core, startup success isn’t about having the “perfect” plan—it’s about having the agility to execute, adapt, and scale in a constantly evolving market | In an era where AI is revolutionising industries at an unprecedented pace, the ability to implement and iterate will separate the true innovators from those who simply follow the trend.
Accelerating financial inclusion with AI: Unleashing potential with prudence
AI is transforming industries at a rapid pace, and Southeast Asia’s consumer finance landscape is no exception | By speeding up data collection and analysis, AI-powered technologies enable quicker pre-lending assessments and lending procedures.
Unleashing AI’s potential: The vital role of human guidance in AI’s growth and learning
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, 60 per cent of people expect significant changes in sectors like education, transportation, shopping, entertainment, and safety within the next three to five years | ChatGPT, with its one hundred million monthly active users as of January 2023, has been a game-changer in the recent excitement around AI.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Job security in the gig economy: Do employees still seek stability?
In the gig economy, job security is redefined as trust, inclusion, and growth—values that tech leaders must embed across all workforce models.
The Goldilocks office: Finding the sweet-spot where space, experience and value converge
Finding the right office space balance boosts experience and cuts costs by shifting focus from capacity provided to desks actually used.
The rise of AI-powered investors: How technology is reshaping retail investing in Southeast Asia
AI is reshaping retail investing in Southeast Asia by making financial tools more intuitive, accessible, and psychologically empowering.
When your story unravels: The hidden risk in Southeast Asia’s startup boom
eFishery’s collapse shows how disciplined, culturally attuned communication is now critical to trust, funding, and survival in SEA’s startup scene.
Riding the affluence surge: How Generative AI can power growth in financial advisory
Banks in SEA are starting to roll out Generative AI tools, starting with internal ‘co-pilots’ like virtual assistants to improve productivity.
VC deal-breakers: How anti-dilution clauses could sink your startup
Every term sheet is negotiable, and it’s in your best interest to seek legal counsel to ensure your startup’s future remains secure.
Mastering the art of fundraising: Winning strategies to engage investors
The VC financing landscape is constantly evolving so new businesses must know how to successfully approach investors while fundraising.
Operators turned investors: Navigating the shift to startup investing
The involvement of experienced operators in the investment process brings a multitude of advantages | Their industry-specific knowledge enables them to conduct more thorough due diligence, identifying not only the strengths and potential of startups but also the risks and challenges that lie ahead.
Is your investing game defined by your emotions?
Emotional investing is using different emotions to make investment decisions, relying more on one’s reaction to the market trends than investing fundamentals such as technical analysis | Emotional investing is more common among those who manage their own portfolios, rather than those who engage with a financial consultant.
Venture debt: How it stacks up against loans and equity
Venture debt can be a powerful tool for startups looking to extend their financial runway without diluting equity | However, its suitability depends on the company’s specific needs, growth stage, and ability to handle repayment.
Why agritech is the key to Asia’s food security
Food security, once treated as a distant policy matter, is now a pressing economic challenge | Without innovation to help farmers produce more with less, yields will drop, produce will become scarcer, and the costs of living will spiral | The stakes are high not just for farmers but for everyone who relies on affordable, stable access to food.
The post Ecosystem Roundup: TaniHub, VC execs in graft probe | TSMC hit by US curbs | Investors chase Korea beauty appeared first on e27.