Indonesia is home to a growing number of startups. According to Startup Ranking (2020), the number of startups in Indonesia increased from 1,400 in 2017 to 2,200 in 2019, placing Indonesia as the fifth country with the highest startup growth after the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Jakarta is included in the top 500 cities globally for startups, while Bandung, Surabaya, and Denpasar also show promise. Indonesia is the second-largest recipient of venture capital in Southeast Asia, after Singapore. Five prominent unicorns born in Indonesia include Gojek (ride-hailing and service supplying startup), Tokopedia and Bukalapak (online marketplace), Ovo (digital payment), and Traveloka (travel booking company).

Issues such as internet connection, particularly in the rural areas, was identified as the main obstacle to include agricultural community in the ecosystem (Bachtiar et al., 2020). However, hopes are high with the presence of Palapa Ring connecting in all districts. This backbone infrastructure is expected to improve access to internet with relatively affordable price. In addition, government is also committed to provide three more satellites to reach small islands as well as additional 4,000 Base Transmission  Stations in underdeveloped villages. The strategic planning of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2015–2019 was to focus on infrastructure, while in 2020–2024 moves towards digital talent and developing startups (Bachtiar et al., forthcoming).

Above all, the Government of Indonesia has laid a solid foundation for digital transformation in its 2020–2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan. In this context, the study on tech startups becomes very relevant and timely. It is important for all key actors to comprehend the enabling environment that supports the tech startup ecosystem.