Pintarnya, an Indonesian employment and financial services platform, has secured $16.7 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by Square Peg with participation from Vertex Venture Southeast Asia & India and East Ventures.
Founded in 2022 by Ghirish Pokardas, Nelly Nurmalasari, and Henry Hendrawan, the startup is addressing two pressing challenges for Indonesians: finding sustainable work and accessing fair credit. Hendrawan explained that traditional job searches often leave workers stuck with paper-based applications and no feedback, while borrowing options are usually limited to family or predatory lenders.
Addressing Blue-Collar and Informal Sector Needs
Indonesia’s workforce stands at around 150 million, with 59% working in the informal sector. This makes it difficult for millions of workers to access formal loans due to lack of verifiable income or employment documents. Pintarnya steps in by collaborating with asset-backed lenders, offering secured loans against items such as gold, electronics, or vehicles.
Since its seed round in 2022, Pintarnya has grown rapidly. The platform now serves more than 10 million job seekers and 40,000 employers nationwide. Its revenue has risen nearly fivefold year-over-year, with expectations to break even before year-end. The majority of users are between 21 and 40 years old, many of whom hold only a high school diploma or vocational qualification.
Going Beyond Job Matching
While competitors like JobStreet, Kalibrr, and Glints mainly focus on white-collar roles, Pintarnya is designed specifically for blue-collar and informal workers. The platform offers quick-apply tools for walk-in interviews, affordable skill-learning modules, and side-gig opportunities within the app. Financial services are built directly into the platform, giving workers access to loans and, in the future, savings and investments.
Hendrawan highlighted that lending is currently the most in-demand service among Pintarnya’s users. However, the long-term plan is to help users “graduate” to micro-savings and investments through innovative partnerships. This strategy aims to provide sustainable financial growth for workers who have traditionally been excluded from banking services.
Building Toward a Super App
With the fresh capital, Pintarnya plans to enhance its technology, expand financial service offerings, and explore strategic partnerships. The founders see vast potential in Indonesia’s labor market, particularly among blue-collar workers who remain underserved by mainstream employment and fintech platforms.
Looking ahead, Hendrawan outlined an ambitious vision: “In five years, we see Pintarnya as the go-to super app for Indonesia’s workers, not just for earning income, but as a trusted partner throughout their life journey.” The goal is to empower Indonesians to secure jobs, improve skills, and make smarter financial choices all within one ecosystem.
Pintarnya’s rise signals a major shift in how technology can empower informal and blue-collar workers, bridging gaps in both employment and financial inclusion.
