Cakap

Cakap, an Indonesian-based online learning platform, was established in 2013 by Tomy Yunus and Jonathan Dharmawan. The company rebranded from Squline to Cakap in 2019 to better reflect its Indonesian roots, as "Cakap" translates to "skilled" in the local language. This strategic move coincided with a significant expansion of its course offerings beyond language learning.

The founders' backgrounds played a crucial role in the company's genesis. Tomy Yunus, serving as CEO, brings experience from his time at a Japanese consulting firm where he observed the challenges of learning foreign languages. Jonathan Dharmawan, the CTO, possesses the technical expertise necessary to build and scale the online learning platform. Their combined experience addresses both the pedagogical and technological needs of an edtech venture.

Cakap operates within the burgeoning edtech market in Southeast Asia, targeting a diverse client base that includes individual learners and corporate clients. The business model revolves around providing live, two-way online courses, differentiating itself from passive, one-way video learning. Revenue is generated through direct course fees from individuals and from corporate packages for employee upskilling programs. The platform facilitates learning for a wide array of subjects, including various foreign languages like English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean, as well as vocational skills through its "Cakap Upskill" program.

The core service is delivered through a proprietary platform that enables real-time interaction between students and professional instructors. This two-way learning system allows for personalized feedback and a more engaging educational experience. Key features include one-on-one and group classes, flexible scheduling, and a curriculum tailored to different proficiency levels. For its corporate partners, Cakap offers customized training modules to meet specific industry demands, helping companies enhance their workforce's capabilities. A significant milestone was achieved in 2021 when the company secured a $10 million Series B funding round, co-led by MDI Ventures and Heritas Capital, to further fuel its expansion across Indonesia.

Keywords: edtech, online learning, language courses, vocational training, upskilling, corporate training, two-way learning, Indonesian market, Series B, professional development