BRI Ventures

BRI Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), one of Indonesia's largest state-owned banks. Established to foster innovation and drive digital transformation within the financial sector and broader Indonesian economy, BRI Ventures strategically invests in high-potential startups. Its mandate extends beyond mere financial returns, aiming to create synergistic opportunities with BRI's extensive network and customer base, particularly focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The firm primarily targets early to growth-stage companies across various sectors, including fintech, agritech, logistics, and digital commerce, all of which align with BRI's strategic interests. BRI Ventures manages multiple investment vehicles, notably the Dana Ventura BRI (DVB) fund, which was launched with a substantial IDR 1.25 trillion (approximately US$85 million at the time) to support promising ventures. In addition to DVB, they also established the Sembrani Nusantara Fund (SNF) in 2020, a IDR 300 billion (approximately US$20 million) initiative specifically designed to back early-stage startups navigating the challenges of the pandemic, emphasizing digital resilience and innovation.

BRI Ventures adopts a hands-on approach, leveraging BRI's deep market knowledge and operational expertise to help portfolio companies scale. They seek startups that can either enhance BRI's existing services or tap into new markets relevant to its vast customer base. While their investment strategy is flexible, typical first cheque sizes for BRI Ventures generally range from US$350,000 for early-stage ventures, particularly those supported by funds like Sembrani Nusantara, up to US$5 million for more established growth-stage companies. This range allows them to support a diverse pipeline of innovation, from nascent ideas to scaling businesses, reinforcing their commitment to the Indonesian startup ecosystem.