The international tech scene is no longer a private playground for Silicon Valley companies, with Asian players making waves on this side of the globe and beyond. To celebrate the talented individuals who are changing the face of the industry, the Asia Tatler editors and a panel of experts compiled a list of the top 50 rising tech stars in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia. Here are five of Indonesia’s technological elite on the list.

1. Kevin Mintaraga

Tatler Asia

Why him? Bridestory, the platform Gen.T lister Mintaraga established in 2014 to connect the betrothed with wedding services and venues, has expanded rapidly in the last few years. The website and app are now used by couples in dozens of countries around the world to help plan their big day.

The biz It was the experience of planning his own wedding that inspired Mintaraga, 32, to create Bridestory. He and his wife, a wedding stylist, were frustrated by a lack of easily accessible information about wedding vendors. 

2. Achmad Zaky

Tatler Asia

Why him? Gen.T lister Zaky founded Bukalapak, an online consumer-to-consumer marketplace, in 2010. Bukalapak connects small startups and local enterprises across Indonesia, showcasing one-off deals and products. Given the growth potential of the Indonesian e-commerce market – with internet access becoming increasingly widespread among its population of 261 million – the 31-year-old’s platform looks set to go from strength to strength.

Back story Zaky’s entrepreneurial spirit was obvious from his days as a student, when he started a noodle-making business while at university.

3. Veronika Linardi

Tatler Asia

Why her? The 35-year-old Carnegie Mellon graduate founded Qerja, a platform that provides job hunters with information on work environments and salaries, in 2014. The site provides a similar service to Glassdoor.com, with user-generated reviews of employers providing transparency in the job market.

The biz With Qerja and its sister site, Jobs.id, Linardi is dominating the Indonesian digital recruitment market.

4. Jason Lamuda

Tatler Asia

Why him? The former chemical and financial engineer joined Berrybenka, then a small Facebook shop co-founded by his wife, Claudia Widjaja, and turned it into an international online fashion and beauty shopping platform. Today, Berrybenka is one of Indonesia’s favourite marketplaces for both local and international products.

Back story Lamuda, 31, is no tech newbie. He previously founded Disdus, a deals website that was bought by US e-commerce giant Groupon in 2011.  

5. Hanifa Ambadar

Tatler Asia

Why her? In 2005, Ambadar decided to turn her passion for blogging into an online business, founding Female Daily Network. The online portal for women by women provides a space for reviews, forums and, of course, blogs about beauty, family, fashion and lifestyle.

The biz Despite launching at a time when blogging and online stores were still a relative novelty, Ambadar, 38, quickly won support from major brands including Samsung, Yves Saint Laurent and Levi’s.

See more of Asia's rising tech stars
Hong Kong | Singapore | Malaysia | Philippines | China | Taiwan | Thailand

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