Apart from Ruangguru, the other Asian startup in GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund list is Nepal-based eSewa

Indonesian edutech startup Ruangguru announced that it has secured an undisclosed grant from GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund, a startup grant programme of global mobile operator trade body GSMA.

The Jakarta-based startup is going to use the new funding to launch its mobile-based marketplace for personalised private tutors, which will include a feature for tutors to create and share content. The content will be accessible by students on freemium basis.

As explained by Ruangguru CEO Adamas Belva Syah Devara in a past interview with e27, the startup has been planning to strengthen its presence on mobile platform.

The plan was followed by the launch of a mobile app that allows students to post questions for tutors, and another app for parents to monitor their children’s study progress.

“As an online-based service provider, Ruangguru sees the partnership with mobile operator as an opportunity to reach a wider audience, as well as to collaborate in content development and service bundling programme,” Devara said in a press statement.

Also Read: Ruangguru welcomes new school year with new appointments, features

“As for mobile operator, working with Ruangguru may help them reach out to a younger target audience,” he added.

Ruangguru becomes the only representative from Southeast Asia in the list consisting of eight startups from Asia and Africa.

The other Asian startup in the list is Nepal-based fintech startup eSewa, while the remaining startups are from various regions in Africa.

The startups in the list are working in various fields that address eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as released by the United Nations.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and supported by the GSMA and its members, the fund provides Asian and African startups grant funding, technical assistance, and the opportunity to partner with mobile operators in their markets to help scale their products and services into sustainable businesses.

The fund stated that it will run several rounds between 2016 and 2020, with the sharing economy and services for SMEs being the focus for the 2016 run.

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Image Credit: Ruangguru

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