Jeff Bezos has again disbursed funds for Indonesian startups. This time it was Lummo's turn, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup to connect businesses directly with their customers.
Lummo co-founder and COO Lorenzo Peracchione did not reveal how much money Bezos injected into his startup. He only said that this funding injection was still part of the C-series funding that Lummo announced last month.
“We are extremely proud to welcome Jeff Bezos to our journey as one of the investors and join the USD 80 million series-C funding led by Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital,” Lorenzo said in an interview with us.
"This has a very important meaning for us because Jeff Bezos is one of the pioneers of digital commerce in the world through Amazon. He has contributed to creating e-commerce as we know it today," he continued.
Funding from Bezos comes from his personal asset management office, Bezos Expedition. Lummo is the second Indonesian startup to receive a funding injection from Bezos. Previously there was Ula, an e-commerce startup in the wholesale and inventory sector.
Lummo itself is a startup that provides software services for businesses and SMEs. They are known for their superior product LummoSHOP which helps businesses to create their own online stores.
Lorenzo reveals how Bezos' team approached Lummo. After reviewing Lummo's ideas, Lorenzo said the Bezos Expedition team was impressed with what they presented.
"I think they see a match between our mentality and Jeff Bezos' business philosophy," said Lorenzo.
"Jeff Bezos is someone who is obsessed with the customer experience, making customers happy and building a long-term business. And this is what we want to achieve with Lummo Shop, we give merchants tools to get closer to their customers," he added.
Lorenzo added that the latest funding received by Lummo proves that the Indonesian startup ecosystem is now increasingly attractive to big-name investors like Jeff Bezos. He also predicts the arrival of international investors in the country will increase in the future.
"It is interesting that this is only the second time that Jeff Bezos, through his family company, has invested in an Indonesian company," said Lorenzo.
"This also gives a clearer signal to overseas investors about the growth potential that exists in Indonesia and Southeast Asia in terms of the digital economy," he concluded.