Nicko Widjaja

Nicko Widjaja is the Founding CEO of BRI Ventures, a venture arm of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BBRI), the country’s largest bank by assets. An early tech investment pioneer, he has a career spans over 10 years in venture capital, corporate transformation, and startup ecosystem. He was formerly the Founding CEO of MDI Ventures, a Telkom Indonesia backed venture capital, with investment in over 10 countries. Under his leadership, MDI Ventures become one of the most profitable venture capital firms in the region with three unicorns, two international IPOs (ASX and TSE) and seven trade exits in just five years since inception. Since the founding of BRI Ventures in 2019, he holds two unicorns and one IPO at the IDX. Prior to MDI Ventures, he launched one of the first Indonesia venture funds in 2010 called Systec Ventures. He joined Telkom Indonesia’s Indigo Creative Nation as Managing Director before he co-wrote the investment thesis for MDI Ventures in 2014. He also works closely with various state-owned, advising on digital transformation initiatives across different sectors and industries. His vast experience was complemented by his role at Indofood, the largest FMCG company in Indonesia, where he took on corporate transformation and organizational change. His exposure to startup ecosystem was provided by his beginner’s years in Silicon Valley (1999 - 2003) where he worked at multiple early stage startups. In 2021, together with Institut Teknologi Bandung School of Business and Management, he launched the first venture capital curriculum in Indonesia, where he also serves as adjunct lecturer. Prior to ITB, he also taught at UPH Business School from 2010 to 2015 where he was involved in the design of entrepreneurship and venture capital. Currently, he holds two positions as the Chair of Permanent Committee of Investment and Partnership in Indonesia Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) and an Honorary Board Member in Indonesia Venture Capital Association (AMVESINDO) Throughout his career, he’s invested in more than 100 startups globally.