This is from the founder of a super app that IPO’d for $28b (Gojek)
About Kevin Aluwi
Kevin Aluwi, co-founder and former CEO of Gojek, has been reflecting on the company's growth and product strategy in recent interviews. He discussed the challenges of building a super app, noting that while services like ride-hailing, food delivery, and grocery delivery shared a unifying concept for users, other services without that connection did not perform as well. Aluwi cited a mobile top-up product that 95% of customers needed but only 40% knew existed, saying that such benefits often "don't pan out" in reality. He also emphasized the importance of clear decision-making in product development, stating that execution improved when the person accountable for a result was also the decider. Aluwi has spoken about Gojek's early struggles, including resistance from motorcycle taxi mafias who physically assaulted drivers, leading the company to hire private security. He described the company's rapid growth, with over 100% month-over-month growth for the first 16 to 18 months. Regarding the 2021 merger with Tokopedia to form GoTo, Aluwi said the combination aimed to increase the company's ability to process consumer data and provide financial services, with a short-term goal of enabling partners and Indonesians to become shareholders. He has also addressed the broader impact of technology, stating that while it is a double-edged sword, its benefits can outweigh risks when used wisely to support local entrepreneurs.