Pintarnya, an Indonesian employment platform offering both job opportunities and financial services, has secured a $16.7 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by Square Peg with support from existing investors Vertex Venture Southeast Asia & India and East Ventures.
Pintarnya was founded in 2022 by Ghirish Pokardas, Nelly Nurmalasari, and Henry Hendrawan to address common challenges for Indonesians: earning a sufficient income and accessing responsible credit.
Co-founder Henry Hendrawan noted that job seekers in Indonesia have traditionally relied on job fairs or personal networks, while employers handle paper applications, often leaving candidates without feedback. Similarly, Indonesians usually borrow from family, friends, or predatory lenders with severe collection methods. Pintarnya aims to revolutionize job matching with AI for quicker hiring processes and offers safer lending options tailored to users’ financial capabilities, thus avoiding increased debt.
Around 59% of the 150 million workforce in Indonesia is part of the informal sector, facing difficulty accessing formal financial services due to unverified incomes or lack of official employment records.
To counter these challenges, Pintarnya collaborates with asset-backed lenders to provide secured loans using collateral such as gold, electronics, or vehicles.
Since its seed funding in 2022, Pintarnya serves over 10 million job seekers and 40,000 employers nationwide. The platform has seen its revenue grow nearly fivefold year-on-year, anticipating reaching break-even by year-end. It primarily caters to individuals aged 21 to 40 with high school education or below, targeting the large population of blue-collar and informal workers in Indonesia.
Co-founder Hendrawan highlighted that many Indonesian job platforms cater to white-collar roles, whereas Pintarnya is built specifically for blue-collar workers. The platform offers features like walk-in interview quick applications, affordable e-learning for skill development, supplemental income opportunities, and seamless connectivity to financial services.
In Indonesia’s fintech sector, blue-collar workers often fall out of the scope of existing services due to conventional credit scoring reliance on steady, formal incomes. Lending is currently the most sought-after service among Pintarnya’s users, with plans to introduce micro-savings and investments later.
The recent funding will enhance Pintarnya’s platform technology and expand its financial services with strategic alliances. The founders, with robust experience in Southeast Asian business management, are also considering regional expansion opportunities.
Pintarnya aspires to be Indonesia’s go-to super app for workers, not just for earning, but as a continual companion in skill development and financial decision-making. The goal is to be the first choice for job seekers, aiding in skill upgrading and providing financial guidance.