If you wanted to enjoy a luxurious night out in Indonesia, you would most likely chance upon one of Ismaya Group’s reputable restaurants or bars. Christian Rijanto co-founded the food and beverage chain in 2002, and also spearheaded its projects as creative director.

Reeling from the dotcom bubble’s burst in the early 2000s, and at a loss as to what to do next, Rijanto and his partners put in US$3,000 to help get the Ismaya Group going. Today, it is a leading player in the lifestyle and hospitality industry across Indonesia. Rijanto, who was active in social circles, had a significant hand in developing an impressive string of food, drink and dancing venues in Jakarta and across the country like Social House, Skye, Blowfish and Dragonfly.

Ismaya Group is also responsible for some of the biggest music festivals in the region, such as the Djakarta Warehouse Project and We The Fest. They have brought in big names like Katy Perry, HONNE, Calvin Harris, The Weeknd and Troye Sivan. One of their venues, Dragonfly, was awarded The Best Nightlife Venue.

Rijanto graduated from Babson College in Massachusetts, USA, with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing.