Tabita Diela

DKI Jakarta

Freelance journalist | Previously a correspondent for @DealStreetAsia, Reuters, Jakarta Globe, and https://t.co/5OVlIKXmEy - tweets are my own

Featured in: Favicon

reuters.com Favicon

dealstreetasia.com Favicon

medium.com Favicon

msn.com

businessinsider.com Favicon

dailymail.co.uk Favicon

independent.co.uk Favicon

yahoo.com (+7) Favicon

aol.com

cnbc.com + 81 more

Articles

Meta who? Here are apps TikTok ‘refugees’ are actually flocking to

Jan 16, 2025 | moniify.com | Tabita Diela |Azar Zaidi

Unlikely winners are emerging from the TikTok saga in the US. Everyone thought that Meta would benefit from a TikTok ban, but its shares have actually flopped in the past month. Why? Because it appears that some TikTok users are trying to tank Meta’s stock after its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, pushed to ban the TikTok app in the US. Some are even calling for a boycott of Meta apps like Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Yikes.
Apple's low on battery as China lights up smartphone sales

Jan 14, 2025 | moniify.com | Tabita Diela |Lin Noueihed

Chinese smartphone makers are giving Apple and Samsung a run for their money, gaining market share at a time when the two OGs are ceding ground. After two years of declines, global smartphone shipments increased by 6.4% in 2024 to hit 1.1 billion units, according to a report by the International Data Corporation. But it’s the Chinese brands, with their focus on cheap-but-decent gadgets, that’re helping lift the market.
Indonesia’s shrinking middle class is pushing businesses to adapt

Jan 12, 2025 | moniify.com | Khamila Mulia |Tabita Diela |Azar Zaidi

A perfect storm of tax hikes and slowing economic activity is squeezing Indonesia’s shrinking middle class. But that does mean companies with goods and services catering to the budget-friendly stand to gain. A hike in value-added tax for luxury goods to 12% that kicked in at the start of the year will make passenger cars even more out of reach for most people. The Indonesian government expects its economy to expand by 5.2% in 2025, a slight increase from 2024’s target of 5%.
Indonesia’s cool with Apple’s $1 billion investment (sort of)

Jan 8, 2025 | moniify.com | Khamila Mulia |Tabita Diela |Victor Loh

Indonesia’s been playing hard to get — and Apple has finally got the message. Its $1 billion investment fee offer was “welcomed” by Indonesia, but an iPhone sales ban won’t be lifted just yet. Why? Apple’s $1 billion proposal was still short on details of how it would produce smartphone components in Indonesia, which means it has to resubmit its proposal.
Digital Edge raises $1.6bn as Asia’s data arms race heats up

Jan 7, 2025 | moniify.com | Tabita Diela |Tim Hume

Data is the new oil, they say, and that’s certainly true in Asia-Pacific, where major global investors have been pouring big money into data centers in recent years. The latest winner is Singapore-based Digital Edge, which develops and operates data centers across Asia.
Can angel investors save the day in this funding drought?

Jan 7, 2025 | moniify.com | Tabita Diela |Khamila Mulia |Azar Zaidi

When there’s a funding drought, you may end up praying for some divine intervention… or angel investors. Across Southeast Asia, institutional investors and venture capital firms have been hesitant about putting their money into startups due to tightening monetary policy and a shift that prioritizes profit over growth. Enter angel investors, who usually step in to fill financing gaps in the early days of a startup when there aren’t any products or outcomes to show just yet.
Swiss investor launches $500m Asia-focused climate strategy

Nov 28, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Tabita Diela |Dealstreet Asia

JAKARTA -- Swiss impact investor responsAbility Investments has announced a $500 million climate investment strategy as part of a collaborated response to rising carbon dioxide emissions in Asia, according to a statement on Tuesday. German state-owned development bank KfW and Dutch development bank FMO are anchor investors in the strategy that aims to make investments in low-emission technologies and attract institutional investors.
Indonesia's Kopital Ventures raises $12m in first close

Oct 26, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Tabita Diela |Dealstreet Asia

JAKARTA -- Months after launching their angel investor network, Kenangan Brands co-founder James Prananto and Fandy Cendrajaya, who manages Kenangan Capital, have decided to push it up a notch into a full-blown venture capital (VC) business. Named Kopital Ventures, the newly launched sector-agnostic VC received an overwhelming response from the market, managing to raise $12 million in its first close. That was more than double its initial target of $5 million, according to a company statement.
Indonesia's Baskit raises funds from Korea Investment Partners

Aug 11, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Tabita Diela |Dealstreet Asia

JAKARTA -- Baskit, a company that seeks to digitize and advance the distribution business in Indonesia's supply chains, has roped in a major South Korean investor in an extension round, after raising $3.3 million in a seed round in June and holding a $1.5 million pre-seed round in March this year, DealStreetAsia has learned.
Malaysia newest market for Antler in partnership with Khazanah

Jul 14, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Tabita Diela |Dealstreet Asia

JAKARTA -- Antler, a global early-stage venture capital firm, has arrived in Malaysia through a partnership with the country's sovereign wealth fund (SWF) Khazanah Nasional Berhad as it seeks to back over 30 startups in the next three years. In Southeast Asia, Antler has a foothold in Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The firm has invested in over 792 companies across 26 cities worldwide with a combined portfolio value of $3.7 billion.