Gojek

PT Gojek Indonesia
Company type	Private
Industry	Technology, Digital payments, Ride-hailing
Founded	2009
Founder	Nadiem Makarim, Michaelangelo Moran
Headquarters	Jakarta, Indonesia
Area served	Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines
Key people	Nadiem Makarim (Co-founder)
Products	GoRide, GoSend, GoShop, GoFood, GoPay, GoStore and more than 20 services
Parent	GoTo (since 17 May 2021)
Website	www.gojek.com

PT Gojek Indonesia (branded as goȷek, previously GO-JEK) is a Jakarta-based Indonesian technology company specializing in on-demand multi-service platforms and digital payment solutions. Established in 2009 initially as a call center linking customers to courier deliveries and motorcycle taxi services, Gojek introduced its mobile application in 2015 featuring four core offerings: GoRide, GoSend, GoShop, and GoFood. By July 2025, Gojek had grown into a super app providing more than 20 distinct services, with an estimated valuation of US$10 billion.

The company operates across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines—the latter through its acquisition of Coins.ph. Gojek holds the distinction of being Indonesia’s inaugural unicorn and decacorn enterprise and is the sole Southeast Asian company recognized in Fortune’s "50 Companies That Changed the World" list in both 2017 and 2019, ranking 17th and 11th respectively. As of June 2020, it boasts a user base nearing 170 million throughout Southeast Asia.

On 17 May 2021, Gojek combined forces with Tokopedia to establish the holding entity GoTo.

Among its investors are notable entities such as Astra International, Blibli, Google, Facebook, PayPal, Mitsubishi, Sequoia, Northstar Group, Temasek Holdings, KKR, Warburg Pincus, Visa, Parallon, Siam Commercial Bank, Tencent, JD.com, meituan.com, and Capital Group.

History

The term "Gojek" originates from “Ojek,” referring to Indonesia’s ubiquitous motorbike taxis. Founded in 2010 with an initial fleet of 20 drivers, Gojek launched its mobile app in January 2015 and achieved nearly 30 million downloads within two years. The firm established a partnership with DBS Bank, Singapore's largest banking institution.

Co-founded by Nadiem Makarim and Michaelangelo Moran, Nadiem brings academic credentials from Brown University and Harvard Business School alongside prior experience at McKinsey & Company. Beginning as a modest call center, Gojek addressed inefficiencies within the ojek sector by digitally connecting riders with drivers, thereby enhancing earnings for the latter. Moran, who also served as Brand Director, was responsible for creating the company’s initial logo and branding strategy.

By May 2018, Gojek had expanded its portfolio to include 18 services, with plans to introduce two additional options in the online content domain—resulting in a total of 20 on-demand offerings unified under one platform. Leveraging deep insights into Indonesia’s local market dynamics and regulatory environment, Gojek tailored its app features effectively. In 2017, it augmented its engineering workforce by hiring 100 graduates from India.

In 2020, the company launched GoStore to empower local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by facilitating straightforward establishment of online storefronts.

Financing

Gojek’s journey to becoming a unicorn commenced in late 2014 with seed capital from NSI Ventures (currently known as Openspace Ventures), affiliated with Northstar Group. Early momentum in 2015 attracted additional funding from Sequoia India and Northstar's private equity arm.

In August 2016, Gojek secured up to $550 million through investments from prominent Indonesian corporations Astra International and Blibli.com. Major global technology firms including Google and Tencent, alongside investment giant Temasek, also participated. By February 2018, Gojek’s valuation reached approximately $5 billion—exceeding the combined market capitalization of all transportation companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX).

In May 2018, the company allocated $500 million to support international growth initiatives. A $2 billion funding round closed in January 2019 elevated its valuation to $9.5 billion. Subsequently, in March 2020, Gojek raised $1.2 billion during a Series F round aimed at achieving a $10 billion valuation.

By June 2020, strategic investments were made by Facebook's WhatsApp division and PayPal as part of ongoing fundraising efforts; although financial details were not disclosed, these contributions were characterized as significant in reinforcing Gojek’s status as a leading super app across Southeast Asia.

Acquisitions and Merger

Gojek’s swift expansion triggered a series of acquisitions and strategic alliances. In 2016, the company acquired two Indian engineering startups, C42 Engineering and CodeIgnition, which led to the establishment of a development hub in Bangalore. Additionally, Gojek purchased the Indian mobile app developer Leftshift along with the home healthcare startup Pianta.

The following year, Gojek acquired Loket.com, a prominent Indonesian platform specializing in online ticketing and event management. In 2017, it further broadened its financial services by acquiring three fintech companies: Kartuku, Midtrans, and Mapan.

In January 2019, Gojek secured a majority stake in the mobile wallet service Coins.ph but divested it in 2022 to Joffre Capital and Wei Zhou, former CFO of Binance. Later in June 2019, Gojek expanded its technological capabilities by acquiring AirCTO, an AI-driven recruitment platform headquartered in Bangalore.

By March 2020, Gojek finalized the purchase of Moka, Indonesia’s leading SaaS point-of-sale provider, for $130 million. Towards the end of 2020, discussions commenced between Gojek and Grab regarding a potential merger of their Southeast Asian internet businesses.

In early 2021, Gojek advanced merger talks with Tokopedia prior to its initial public offering. On 17 May 2021, both companies announced their consolidation into GoTo, forming one of Southeast Asia’s largest technology conglomerates. GoTo reported over $22 billion in gross transaction volume (GTV) spanning more than 1.8 billion transactions during 2020.

In July 2021, AirAsia declared its acquisition of Gojek’s Thailand operations through an all-stock transaction, with Gojek obtaining a 4.76% equity stake in AirAsia’s superapp division.

Partnerships

In 2016, Gojek formed a partnership with Blue Bird Group, Indonesia’s leading taxi operator. That year also saw the launch of Go-Car, extending ride-hailing services from motorcycles to cars, alongside Go-Auto, which offers on-demand vehicle mechanic assistance. By August 2016, Gojek had become Indonesia’s first fully integrated online transportation platform.

For navigation services, Gojek collaborated with Google Maps. Its partnerships extended into entertainment with Google Play and MNC Vision; payment solutions with AEON Credit Service and Suzuki Finance Indonesia; as well as cooperation agreements with the national electricity provider PLN and health insurer BPJS Kesehatan.

In February 2019, Garuda Indonesia CEO Ari Ashkara disclosed ongoing advanced negotiations with Gojek to facilitate product distribution across Indonesia’s extensive archipelago of 17,000 islands. By August 2019, reports from the Wall Street Journal indicated preliminary talks between Gojek and Amazon concerning a potential investment aimed at leveraging Gojek’s delivery infrastructure to boost Amazon’s presence in Indonesia.

In September 2020, Gojek partnered with Unilever via GoToko—a B2B digital marketplace connecting Indonesian micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with consumer goods manufacturers. This partnership allows MSMEs to procure Unilever products at competitive prices with affordable shipping options, improving supply chain efficiency for small businesses.

Impact

Temasek Digital’s YouTube channel reports that Gojek contributes roughly Rp 9.9 trillion (approximately US$732 million) annually to Indonesia’s economy. Another analysis estimated that Gojek generates an economic impact of Rp 8.2 trillion per year through earnings for driver partners; Rp 138.6 billion monthly from SME merchants using Go-Food; and Rp 1.7 trillion annually from incomes earned by SME merchant partners.

Rebranding

On 22 July 2019, Gojek unveiled a refreshed logo, dubbed "Solv," symbolizing its transformation from a simple ride-hailing app into a comprehensive super app designed to streamline various everyday activities.

Service Discontinuation

Due to stagnant growth in late 2019, Gojek decided to phase out the majority of its Golife lifestyle offerings. GoLaundry and GoDaily services were terminated on 31 December 2019, while GoFix, GoGlam, and Service Marketplace were discontinued by mid-January 2020. GoClean and GoMassage continued operating as they represented 90% of lifestyle-related orders. Nonetheless, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, Gojek fully ceased all remaining lifestyle services—including GoClean and GoMassage—on 27 July 2020, simultaneously closing the GoFood Festival.

Gojek Presence

Gojek serves both major metropolitan areas and smaller cities as well as rural regions throughout Indonesia. The company expanded its ride-hailing service to Singapore on 10 January 2019 to enhance consumer options. In February 2019, Lien Choong Luen was appointed General Manager for Singapore operations, bringing expertise in management consulting.

Global Operations

Gojek maintains offices in Singapore focused on data science and engineering functions, alongside a Bangalore, India office acquired through C42 and CodeIgnition acquisitions that emphasizes product development, engineering, and design. In May 2018, Gojek pledged $500 million toward international expansion targeting Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. Initial efforts concentrated on ride-hailing services with plans to replicate the multi-service platform model. These expansions are led by local founding teams supported by Gojek’s technological infrastructure.

Offerings

Go-Pay stands as Indonesia’s fourth-largest digital wallet after Bank Mandiri’s e-Money, Bank Central Asia’s Flazz, and Telkomsel’s T-Cash. By October 2017, it accounted for nearly 30% of e-money transactions nationwide and received recognition from Bank Indonesia for advancing the National Cashless Movement. It holds a central bank license enabling QR Code payment acceptance.
GoRide represents Indonesia’s pioneer online motorcycle taxi service with over one million drivers registered as of May 2018.
Go-Car delivers car-based ride-hailing options.
Go-Blue Bird integrates Blue Bird metered taxis into the app platform.
GoFood offers immediate food delivery from more than 250,000 merchants across Indonesia.
Go-Food Festival operates offline food courts featuring GoFood vendors with over 15 locations in key Indonesian cities.
Go-Mart allows grocery shopping via the app from partnered supermarkets.
Go-Shop facilitates purchases from retailers not listed under Go-Mart.
Go-Send provides on-demand courier services within designated delivery areas.
Go-Box specializes in transporting large items using pickup trucks and box trucks.
Go-Tix enables ticket purchases for entertainment events through the app.
Go-Med, collaborating with HaloDoc’s “Apotik Antar,” supplies medicine delivery on demand.
Go-Massage, Go-Clean, Go-Glam, and Go-Auto offer app-based personal massage therapy, home cleaning, beauty treatments, and vehicle maintenance including emergency repairs.
Go-Pulsa supports mobile phone credit top-ups payable exclusively via Go-Pay.
Go-Bills facilitates payments for electricity bills, tokens, and BPJS insurance premiums.
Go-Points is a rewards program that grants users points redeemable within the app based on their transactions.
Go-Play & Go-Studio: Announced initiatives to enter digital content production with the launch of Go-Play streaming service (September 2019) and the establishment of Go-Studio production facilities.
Go-Pertamina, in partnership with Pertamina, offers fuel delivery services sourced from nearby gas stations upon request.
Go-Nearby connects customers with local GoFood merchants in their vicinity.
GoRide and GoCar Protect+: Newly introduced enhanced safety services aimed at improving user security during rides.

Awards and recognition

Gojek was positioned 17th on Fortune's 2017 list of "56 Companies that Changed the World," standing out as the sole company from Southeast Asia. It reappeared in 2019 on Fortune's Top 50 Companies That Changed The World, climbing to 11th place and maintaining its unique status as the only Southeast Asian firm featured twice. Additional international honors include receiving the Top Performer in ASEAN Award in 2017, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of The Year accolade, and the Superior Products and Services Awards in 2016.

Within Indonesia, Gojek has earned spots among The BrandZ Top 15 Most Valuable Indonesian Brands in 2019, ranked within the Top 3 Brand Performers, and was recognized among the Top 3 Most Influential Transportation/Logistics brands. Other national distinctions include achieving Top 3 Netizen Choice for Online Transportation, Best Indonesia Mobile App in 2015, Best Startup Category for Work-Life Balance, Indonesia's Most Admired CEO in 2017, and Most Creative in Addressing Economic Challenges in 2017.

Sponsorships

From 2017 to 2018, Gojek served as a sponsor for Liga 1, partnering with Traveloka during the 2017 season. Beginning in 2019, it extended support to Persib Bandung and also acted as a local sponsor for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, co-hosted by Indonesia.

Employees

Gojek's workforce exceeds 3,000 employees, including a team of 210 engineers located at its Jakarta headquarters, with additional data science operations in Singapore and an engineering branch in India. In 2018, the company announced a $500 million investment aimed at Southeast Asian expansion, launching ride-hailing services across four additional countries. By May 2018, Gojek’s ecosystem comprised over one million drivers, approximately 125,000 Go-FOOD vendors, and around 30,000 professionals providing services such as Go-MASSAGE and Go-CLEAN. However, due to the pandemic’s effects, the company reduced its staff by laying off 430 employees in June 2020.

Workplace

The Jakarta headquarters underwent a transformation from an old shopping mall into a contemporary office environment equipped with features like a cinema room, arcade games, pool tables, cafés within the office space, and dedicated nap areas.

Criticism and controversy

Gojek’s swift expansion and dominant presence in Indonesia’s market have drawn criticism primarily from traditional taxi operators and ojek drivers. At one point, the Ministry of Transportation imposed a temporary ban on Gojek alongside other ride-hailing platforms; this restriction was swiftly revoked following public backlash and intervention from President Joko Widodo, who highlighted the significance of innovation and acknowledged the platform’s support for many Indonesians. In October 2018, updated regulations (PM 108) replaced earlier rules to more effectively regulate private vehicles used for public transport.

In March 2018, soon after acquiring new investment funds, thousands of drivers protested against low fare rates—approximately 1600 rupiah (15 cents) per kilometer—calling for increased compensation. These demonstrations persisted into January 2020 when drivers petitioned the Ministry of Transportation to permit provincial authorities to establish tariffs aligned with local minimum wages. Early protests trace back to 2015 when drivers demanded greater transparency regarding incentive programs and opposed unexpected deductions from their earnings.

Driver strikes have been frequent. In June 2021, just prior to Gojek’s merger with Tokopedia, drivers organized a three-day strike over reduced incentives within Gojek's courier service GoKilat. They declined orders across Greater Jakarta and Bandung to assert their demands. In August 2024, drivers once again engaged in protests advocating for improved working conditions, equitable wages, formal recognition of their occupation, and lower commission fees imposed by companies. On August 29, they conducted strikes that disrupted operations and held demonstrations at Gojek's offices as well as at Grab and government locations. Gojek committed to maintaining service availability during this period and expressed openness to dialogue with partners but did not disclose specifics regarding driver income calculations.

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