Hustler Words – Pintarnya, an Indonesian employment and financial services platform, announced a $16.7 million Series A funding round led by Square Peg, with participation from Vertex Venture Southeast Asia & India and East Ventures. This significant investment underscores the platform’s potential to disrupt the Indonesian job market and provide much-needed financial inclusion for the country’s vast blue-collar workforce.
Founded in 2022 by Ghirish Pokardas, Nelly Nurmalasari, and Henry Hendrawan, Pintarnya addresses the dual challenges of job insecurity and limited access to responsible financial services prevalent among Indonesian workers. Hendrawan highlighted the traditional inefficiencies of offline job searching and the predatory lending practices that often trap workers in a cycle of debt. Pintarnya leverages AI-powered job matching to streamline the hiring process for employers and offers safer, more affordable lending options tailored to the borrower’s capacity.
The platform’s innovative approach is particularly crucial given that approximately 59% of Indonesia’s 150 million-strong workforce operates within the informal sector. This segment faces significant hurdles in accessing formal financial services due to a lack of verifiable income and official employment documentation. Pintarnya circumvents this by partnering with asset-backed lenders, enabling secured loans using collateral like gold or vehicles.
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Since its seed funding, Pintarnya has achieved remarkable growth, boasting over 10 million job seeker users and 40,000 employer clients nationwide. Year-over-year revenue has increased fivefold, with projections indicating profitability by year’s end. The platform primarily targets the 21-40 age demographic, a segment largely comprising high school graduates or diploma holders—a demographic often overlooked by traditional platforms.
Unlike existing Indonesian job platforms that predominantly focus on white-collar roles, Pintarnya caters specifically to blue-collar workers. Its features include quick application options for walk-in interviews, affordable e-learning resources, in-app supplemental income opportunities, and seamless access to financial services. This holistic approach sets Pintarnya apart in a market where fintech solutions often neglect the needs of this substantial population segment.
Hendrawan emphasized the high demand for lending services among Pintarnya’s user base, with future plans to expand into micro-savings and investment products. The Series A funding will be instrumental in enhancing the platform’s technology and broadening its financial service offerings through strategic partnerships. The founders envision Pintarnya as a comprehensive "super app" for Indonesian workers, providing a one-stop shop for employment, skill development, and financial management. With their extensive experience in Southeast Asian markets, regional expansion is also a long-term goal.
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