July 18,2019
Through KDDI Open Innovation Fund No. 3 (operated by Global Brain Corporation), a fund that aims to invest in promising startups, KDDI has invested in Digital Alpha Group Pte. Ltd. (headquartered in Singapore, hereinafter, "Digital Alpha"), who offers small loans in Indonesia on an online peer-to-peer (hereinafter, "P2P") lending platform.
Digital Alpha operates UangTeman, an online P2P lending platform in Indonesia, a country that is experiencing remarkable economic growth. Digital Alpha leverages its unique technology for "UangTeman," performing credit scoring from big data and offering small unsecured loans to individuals and small to medium-sized companies. Users can apply for a loan anywhere, anytime, from a designated smartphone app or website.
With a population of 260 million people, the largest in ASEAN, Indonesia's middle income consumers are increasing as its economy grows. Meanwhile the percentages of bank account holders and credit card holders in the country remain low―at 48% [1] and 2% [
1] respectively as of 2017―boosting expectations for new financial services (Fintech) based on new technology.
Notably the P2P lending market is beginning to grow, with over 100 operators registered with the Financial Services Authority (hereinafter, "OJK") yet getting an official business license from OJK is said to require advanced technology, sufficient risk management and experienced personnel, and no licenses have been granted since 2017. As Digital Alpha obtained an official business license in May 2019, it is expected to continue contributing to the development of Indonesia's financial market as one of only seven licensed operators, as of July 2019.
Promoting the"integration of telecommunications and life design," KDDI will invest not only in domestic enterprises but in overseas startups with promising prospects, to co-create business.