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Ruang.id helps small businesses find spaces to rent, with other perks as well

The idea for Ruang.id was first created when twins Albertus Bisma Adi Putra and Bertinus Kresna Adi Putra experienced difficulties in finding a space for their business.

“We started thinking there should be a better way to find the perfect space without wasting time and money for gasoline … Then we gathered our trusted friends that have their own expertise to help us build the company,” explained Albertus Bisma Adi Putra in an e-mail to e27.

The pair then found inspiration in UK-based Appearhere to build a platform that helps small businesses realise their ideas by connecting them to spaces for rent.

Apart from helping small businesses find spaces to rent, the startup also has another vertical which is a social media marketing consultancy service.

“That’s why we pride ourselves as ‘Partner for Your Ideas’; we are not just a renting space platform. We go the extra miles [by] giving advice, guidance … So they can focus on sales, right after they rent a space,” Putra explained.

To run this function, Ruang.id partners with social media analytics platform GDI Lab.

The startup is run by its seven founders — Gerry Leonanda (COO), Raden Mas Avil Ardendo (CFO), Yonathan Andre Baskoro (CLO), Gabriel Setyo Adi (CTO), and Muhammad Kasyfunnur (CMO) — who are based in Jakarta and Denpasar. It is currently funded through bootstrapping, though Putra says they have begun the pitching process with several VCs.

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The toughest challenge faced by small businesses when securing space for rent is finding information about a spot that suits their budget, without wasting too much time.

As a solution, Ruang.id is developing a system called ‘first person view’ (FPV), which is similar to Google Street View, that enables potential renters to check the space’s neighbourhood through the platform.

“It can tell you a lot about a space and makes you get more detailed information you might miss if you only see through normal picture,” said Putra.

Ruang.id had secured around 50 users through organic marketing. The company is aiming to double this number by end of March.

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When asked about their future plans, Putra mentioned that expansion to the tourism hotspot Bali is definitely in the agenda.

“One of our founders lives in Bali and he has quite a good network in Bali. Currently we already held a few dozens of [our] spaces in Bali which will be listed in our website later on, and we already got back up from one of the biggest property developers in Bali,” Putra explained.

Ruang.id expects to start its operation in the island province after they have managed to strengthen their Jakarta operation, or once they have secured a funding.

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The post Got ideas? Need space to rent? Then check out this Indonesian startup appeared first on e27.

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