[Weekly Updates] Facebook to Build Fiber Optic Network in Indonesia; AI Startup Datasaur Receives New Funding; and More

Facebook collaborates with Alita Praya Mitra, its local partner, to build 20,000 km of fiber optic infrastructure in Indonesia. In the mean time, we dig deeper about equity crowdfunding landscape in Indonesia, how Bubays use technology to deliver baby food product, AI startup Datasaur announces new funding round, and how Bobobox tries to revolutionise customer experience in staying.

Facebook collaborates with local partner to build fiber optic network in Indonesia

Facebook extends the Facebook Connectivity program to Indonesia by collaborating with Alita Praya Mitra, a company that provides local infrastructure networks. Facebook wants to build a fiber-optic infrastructure network for 20,000 km long to improve connectivity for more than 10 million Indonesian people.

Facebook Connectivity is an internal program from the company to overcome the problem of connectivity. In its journey, before entering Indonesia, Facebook has invested in various countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, Congo, Peru, and Brazil; it majorly penetrates African or other countries with low economic rates.

Alita and Facebook will invest in the availability and efficiency of better backhaul fiber distribution. Alita will fully own, build, maintain and operate the green field fiber network and provide large capacity for cellular network operators and internet service providers. Facebook will provide support for the fiber network planning process.

Introducing equity crowdfunding platform in Indonesia

The concept of offering stock through crowdfunding or known as equity crowdfunding (ECF) began to emerge in Indonesia. Some new platforms are adopting the concept. There are three startups officially acquired license form OJK per December 2019, namely Santara, Bizhare, and CrowdDana.

The FSA has already issued regulations regarding the ECF as stated in POJK Number 37 of 2018 concerning Crowdfunding Services through Information Technology-Based Stock Offering. It regulates platforms, investors, and the amount of money raised from crowdfunding.

Currently, the challenge has been on public education and business owners. In terms of the public, there is an urgency to socialize there are other investment options besides gold, mutual funds, or shares on the stock exchange called equity crowdfunding. Including understanding the existing regulations and risks.

Bubays baby food producers optimizing technology for delivery service

Bubays is an online channel that sells complementary foods for babies (MPASI). The idea appears when the founder participated in Antler‘s startup generator program in Singapore.

Bubays is currently focused on food types and quality, because there are many kinds of baby food in the market contain a preservative, high added sugar, even the worse is baby food on the shelves has been existing longer than the baby.

One of the Bubays products is baby porridge with various basic ingredients, made with texture variants according to the age of the child. They also assured each production process is closely monitored by nutritionists. The procedure is also ensured to be safe and hygienic.

Datasaur receives more funding, to optimize data labeling platform

The data labeling platform developer startup, Datasaur, has announced new funding worth $1 million or equivalent to 14.2 billion Rupiah. This is a same round with the last one with GDP Venture. There are some angel investors involved, one is Calvin French-Owen as Segment’s Co-Founder & CTO.

The fresh money will be used for platform capability, including minimizing bias on text labeling. As we all know, data labeling become one of the most crucial processes in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) based services, particularly in the natural language process (NLP).

Currently, the Datasaur team is participating in the Y Combinator acceleration program for the Winter 2020 batch in San Francisco. The company’s based in California and Indonesia.

Bobobox mission to revolutionize user experience in staying

Bobobox is a graduate from India’s Sequoia accelerator program, Surge, that facilitates users with pods and has its own app. The app can help consumers for door access, adjusting brightness, security feature, Bluetooth speaker, and air conditioner.

In order to enjoy all services, users are required to use applications available on Google Play and the App Store. In addition to providing a seamless user experience, Bobobox also wants to change the habits of users enjoying their stay.

Bobobox is currently available in 8 locations across Bandung, Jakarta, and Semarang. This year, they are targeting to add 8 other locations in Indonesia and to serve around 100,000 users. The company also intends to add an internal team to accelerate growth.