AI is driving down the price of knowledge – universities have to rethink what they offer 
Standard Chartered Q1 Profit Hits Record on Wealth and Investment Banking Growth 
Why have so few atrocities ever been recognised as genocide? 
Gold Prices Hold Steady as Iran War and Interest Rate Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Meta Raises 2026 Capex Outlook Amid AI Spending Surge, Shares Drop After Earnings 
China Manufacturing PMI Beats Forecasts in April Amid Weak Domestic Demand 
Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil Fights Arrest as Deportation Case Moves to New Jersey 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Decision, Iran Tensions, and Inflation Data Weigh on Sentiment 
Stuck in a creativity slump at work? Here are some surprising ways to get your spark back 
Every generation thinks they had it the toughest, but for Gen Z, they’re probably right 
Booked to travel through the Middle East? Here’s why you shouldn’t cancel your flight 
The pandemic is still disrupting young people’s careers 
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Supply Disruption Fears 
Heritage, desire and diplomacy: why China still values scotch whisky 
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that 
Tokyo Inflation Slows Despite Energy Pressures and BOJ Policy Outlook 
JumpStart Coffee, Indonesia's largest smart coffee bar, accelerates its global vending technology advancement with a fresh Series B funding round. The firm aims to expand its coffee vending network domestically and internationally by 2025, posing a dynamic rival for tech-based coffee companies like Singapore's Flash Coffee.
The Indonesian smart coffee bar is seeking to expand its smart vending machine network across the country and internationally between now and 2025. The amount raised by JumpStart Coffee in the investment round led by Cool Japan Fun and Living Lab Ventures has not been disclosed.
Claiming to be the biggest and fastest-growing smart coffee bar in Indonesia, JumpStart Coffee offers a self-serving vending machine with a selection of 20 iced and hot coffees. The beverages are priced at US$1 and higher.
JumpStart Coffee uses artificial intelligence software to manage stock levels and monitor sales data. Founded in 2018, JumpStart Coffee operates over 2000 coffee machines in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, with plans to expand to Java and Bali, and other major cities.
Earlier this month, Singapore-based Flash Coffee concluded its White Star Capital Series B financing round, raising US $50 million. The tech-enabled coffee company plans to expand into Indonesia, with plans to open in Surabaya in July. It has a presence in Jakarta and Bandung.
According to David Brunier, Flash Coffee founder and CEO, all of their 92 stores in Indonesia are profitable, and they are eager to expand their presence into additional Indonesian cities to drive sustainable growth.
Brunier described Indonesia as a solid product-market fit. The company plans to use the additional funding to speed up the completion of group-level profitability by 2024. It intends to intensify product and technology innovation while also boosting sales at current stores.
Along with Indonesia, Flash Coffee also operates in Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Photo: Javier Molina/Unsplash
