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Dating app startups court Indonesia’s online users

JAKARTA – Indonesia is turning into an important battleground for dating apps, compliment of its large population of young internet surfers therefore the prospect of growth. Local startups such as Wavoo and Setipe are facing off against foreign apps like Gather and Tinder through the U.S., Spotted from Germany and Singapore’s Paktor, all of which are targeting the Indonesian market.

Based on the Association of Internet Service Providers in Indonesia, the country has roughly 100 million internet surfers, a 40% penetration rate of the population of about 250 million. Indonesia has also 65.2 million smartphone users, a figure that is projected to cultivate to 92 million by 2019, based on research firm eMarketer.

Executives at dating app startups and some investors are bullish in regards to the prospects when it comes to industry, in which they see a huge potential market.

Domex Mandey, CEO of Wavoo, estimates there are many more than 35 million Indonesian internet users within the 18-to-32-year-old age group – the primary target for online dating players. And Setipe CEO Razi Thalib said of the 35 million, there is an overall total market that is addressable of million singles who will be online.

Adrian Li, managing partner at investment capital firm Convergence Ventures in Jakarta, said, “If we assume 40% of Indonesia’s total population is at the 18-to-35 range, and 50% of them are single, that is 50 million singles. ” Li, whose firm is an investor in Paktor, estimates that the industry in Indonesia will be worth between eventually $500 million to $1 billion in annual revenue.

Other venture capital firms are far more cautious.

Andrias Ekoyuono, vice president of business development at Jakarta based Ideosource, said that most Indonesians will not need specific apps for dating or making acquaintances that are new. “Unlike when you look at the U.S. Or any other countries, we are not afraid to simply accept strangers to be our friend in Facebook. And achieving follow-up conversations with them on messenger apps, ” he said.

Another obstacle, Ekoyuono said, could be the barrier that is psychological those who are using dating apps are believed by their peers to be “undesired singles. ” While Ideosource have not yet committed to a dating app startup, it remains ready to accept the alternative.

Thalib said that perceptions such as for instance undesirability will alter because of the growth of more serious apps. “As soon as people realize the basic premise that the web is a access tool that is social. That can certainly make it easier for them to imagine the likelihood of finding a date partner online. “

Thalib and other dating app startups believe that Indonesians’ habits as major social media users are helping them adjust to the online dating platform. While social networking platforms such Asexual dating service as for instance Facebook are helping users relate with people they know already, they predict that the dating that is online will end up the standard method to meet new people.

Mandey is optimistic that Indonesians will gravitate toward dating apps, despite the country’s traditional social conservatism and influence that is islamic. ” i think today’s dating apps are very well received compared to three to four years back, ” he said. Mandey notes that customers utilize the app not just for dating but which will make friends.

The moves are paying down, said Mohammad Fahmi, a app user that is dating. He said that parents today are those that often suggest with their children that they make an online search to get a mate that is suitable.

But price remains an option for users. Fahmi regularly uses Tinder, and also at one time subscribed to its premium service when it charged just 99 cents a month. However, he unsubscribed from the premium service when Tinder gone back to its regular charge that is monthly of9.99.

Wavoo and Setipe are free, while Gather offers “freemium” services, by which users can purchase balloons that are virtual at roughly $2 for 10, and use them to be involved in offline gatherings hosted by other users via the app.