Seekmi

Seekmi operates as an online marketplace for local services in Indonesia, connecting customers with a wide array of professional service providers. The company was founded in April 2015 by Nayoko Wicaksono and Clarissa Leung. The idea for the venture stemmed from the founders' personal frustrations in finding reliable and quality local service professionals in Jakarta, such as an air conditioning repairman.

Nayoko Wicaksono, a serial entrepreneur, was part of the initial team that launched Zalora and worked with EMTEK Group. Clarissa Leung brought experience from the technology development sector at Panasonic and investment banking at Barclays in Japan, alongside having started two other companies. The duo identified a significant gap in the Indonesian market, which was characterized by a fragmented and inefficient service industry. They launched the website in August 2015, followed by iOS and Android applications in May 2016.

The platform enables users to submit a request for a service, after which they receive several quotations from interested professionals. This allows customers to compare prices, view profiles, and read reviews before making a hiring decision. Seekmi's platform features over 500 service categories, including popular requests for A/C servicemen, house cleaners, photographers, and tutors. Initially launched as a marketplace connecting users with various vendors, Seekmi later shifted its business model in September 2016 to an on-demand platform to better control service quality. This strategic pivot involved working with a more select group of certified and trained professionals to ensure a higher standard of service delivery. The company does not handle the payment process on its platform.

Seekmi's target demographic consists of urban dwellers aged 23-40 in major Indonesian cities. The company secured an undisclosed seven-digit Series A funding round in May 2016, led by CyberAgent Ventures, to facilitate expansion beyond Greater Jakarta to other cities like Surabaya and Bali. In May 2023, Seekmi was acquired by the Thai conglomerate Siam Cement Group (SCG) with the plan to merge it with SCG's similar service, Q-Chang, to expand its footprint in Indonesia.

Keywords: local services marketplace, on-demand services, Indonesian service industry, home services, professional services, AC repair, cleaning services, service provider directory, online booking platform, Jakarta startups, Nayoko Wicaksono, Clarissa Leung, Siam Cement Group acquisition, CyberAgent Ventures, service booking app, Indonesian tech, home maintenance, service professionals, local business connection, service quotations