Nadiem Makarim, the co-founder of Indonesian ride-hailing and payments behemoth Gojek, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a vast bribery scheme involving government officials. The verdict, delivered in a Jakarta courtroom this morning, sends a chilling signal to the global tech industry about the perils of playing fast and loose with local rule of law.
For years, Gojek was the poster child of Southeast Asian innovation: a super-app that swallowed taxis, food delivery, digital payments and even massage services into a single platform. It was valued at over $10 billion and hailed as proof that emerging markets could produce world-beating technology. But beneath the surface, prosecutors argued, lay a pattern of systematic corruption. Makarim was found to have funnelled millions of dollars to regulators to secure favourable licences and squelch competition. The case is a stark reminder that the ‘move fast and break things’ ethos, imported from Silicon Valley, often breaks laws first.
British tech founders should take note. The UK has become a breeding ground for super-app ambitions: from Deliveroo to Revolut, firms are racing to create all-encompassing platforms that govern how we eat, travel and spend. But the line between aggressive growth and outright graft can be razor-thin, especially when operating in jurisdictions with opaque legal systems. The Gojek verdict underscores a harsh reality: global expansion without ethical scaffolding is a house of cards.
What Makarim did was not unique. In many ways, it mirrors the scandals that have rocked Uber and Amazon in markets across Europe and Asia. But the severity of the sentence signals a shift. Regulators are no longer willing to look the other way when tech giants deploy ‘disruption’ as a shield for corrupt practices. The Indonesian court made clear that no amount of venture capital funding or user growth justifies subverting democratic processes.
For British companies eyeing expansion into Southeast Asia, the lesson is clear: invest in compliance early. Hire local legal experts who understand the nuances of anti-corruption laws. Do not assume that what works in London or San Francisco will fly in Jakarta or Delhi. The cost of ignorance is now measured in years behind bars, not just fines.
There is a deeper issue here, one that keeps me awake at night. As technology companies amass unprecedented power over our daily lives, they must also accept greater responsibility. Gojek’s failure was not just a failure of one man; it was a systemic failure of a culture that prioritised growth above all else. The same culture pervades much of the global tech industry, including the British startup scene. We celebrate ‘founder-led’ companies and lionise entrepreneurs who break rules to win. But the rule-breaking has consequences, and the Gojek verdict is a warning that those consequences are becoming more severe.
The tragedy is that Gojek did real good. It brought millions of Indonesians into the digital economy, gave small merchants access to payment systems, and provided flexible work for drivers. All of that is now tainted. The company itself has been forced to undergo a painful restructuring, and its reputation is in tatters. This is the price of ethical shortcuts. British tech leaders must ask themselves: are we building lasting value or just extracting it? Are we respecting the societies we operate in, or treating them as markets to be conquered?
As I write this, Makarim is being led away to begin his sentence. But the real trial is ongoing – for every tech founder who believes they are above the law. The algorithm of justice is slow but it is relentless. And it does not care about your valuation.
