Martin Hartono, one of the three sons of Indonesia’s richest man Robert Budi Hartono, said “technopreneurs” have a great opportunity to capture consumer-related sectors given the country’s young population

Focusing on Consumers With ‘Technopreneurs’

By Muhamad Al Azhari on 11:11 am October 10, 2013.

Martin Hartono speaking at a public lecture in Jakarta organized by the Tanoto Foundation in partnership with the economic faculty at the University of Indonesia. (GA Photo/Suhadi)

Martin Hartono, one of the three sons of Indonesia’s richest man Robert Budi Hartono, said “technopreneurs,” or entrepreneurs in technology in Indonesia, have a great opportunity to capture consumer-related sectors given the country’s young population. “Currently, young people who are in school will later get a job and spend… are the generation that is used to living with the Internet,” said Martin, whose father Budi and uncle Michael Hartono have a combined $15.5 billion net worth, according to Globe Asia calculations.Martin was speaking to the Jakarta Globe on the sidelines of a public lecture in Jakarta on Tuesday, organized by the Tanoto Foundation in partnership with the economics faculty of the University of Indonesia.

Martin, as part of the third generation of the family that controls Djarum Group, had started out as a business technology director, which served as a training ground for sharpening his true interest in the information and technology business — specifically, in Internet-related businesses.

At Djarum, he helped the company to implement various technologies, especially to improve the performance of supply chain management — from production to distribution. Djarum’s businesses includes banking, property, palm oil, electronics, telecommunications. Its roots are in cigarette manufacturing, when its first-ever kretek workshop was set up in 1951.

In 2010, Martin established Global Digital Prima Venture — known as GDP Venture — a venture capital firm that invests in various web businesses including e-commerce, social networking and digital media.

“I started this kind of business as I am upbeat on Indonesian consumers,” said Martin, whose GDP Venture made headlines in January 2011 when it acquired a stake in Kaskus, Indonesia’s biggest community website. At the time, Kaskus had 4.8 million registered members as well as 20 million unique visitors a day.

Gatra magazine reported in March 2011 that Djarum, through GDP Venture, invested Rp 1 trillion ($87 million) into Kaskus. Martin did not confirm the figure.

“What I like about Kaskus is the members have very strong loyalty. I was impressed, when there was the Mount Merapi eruption [in 2010], the Kaskusers [Kaskus members] were so quick to respond. They go there, without any sponsor, they raised money with their Kaskus flag to help the victims,” he said.

“In Indonesia, I know of only three brands that command such loyalty. First, [rock band] Slank, second, Persija [Jakarta, a football club], and third Djarum Black [clove cigarettes],” he joked in his lecture.

GDP Venture has interests in a number of other internet companies, including Infokost, which provides lists of boarding houses or apartments.

Martin also owns digital marketing agency Merah Cipta Media, of which its customers include Microsoft Indonesia.