If you’re in Jakarta and are looking for something like a guitar tutor, massage, or a photo shoot session, look no further than Promoote.com. This startup is sort of like Yelp, but for services only. To use it, key in what you’re looking for and your location, and… ta-dah!… you will get a list of services that are curated through a combination of algorithms and users reviews. It isn’t just a directory either, because users can actually compare and book the services straight through Promoote.
Promoote is new so there aren’t many listed on the site yet unfortunately, so I’m gonna cut them some slack. But there’s obviously potential in the startup idea, at least judging from what’s happening in the west. Just two days ago, Thumbtack, a services marketplace (similar to Promoote’s model) based in the U.S raised $4.5 million. I’m not sure if Promoote has copied Thumbtack. But who gives a damn so long as Promoote meets a demand in Indonesia, right? From what I understand, Promoote plans to kick-start its service in Jakarta first before moving out to other cities.
It was the first startup that was presented at the Jakarta Ventures Night event (run by East Ventures [1]) and it has caught my attention perhaps more than any other startup’s present so far. Promoote is actually one of the six startups that graduated from East Ventures Alpha, a 100-day incubator which helps entrepreneurs develop an idea into a working product.
Co-founders Handri Pangestiaji told me that his team will be looking for investors after today’s launch. And of course, East Ventures is certainly part of the team’s plan. I wish them good luck.
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Disclosure: East Ventures is a PO investor. ↩