Startup Kabina raises funding led by East Ventures

• Funds will be used for product development, team expansion
• Notable angel investors including celebrity Sandra Dewi participated

Kabina announced the completion of its undisclosed seed funding round led by East Ventures with the participation from several notable angel investors including celebrity Sandra Dewi.

In a statement, the property and construction startup said it will allocate the fresh funds for product development and team expansion. 

The funds will also be used to invest in equipment and solutions that contribute towards more responsible and sustainable operations in the industry, it added.

Fred Moeis, founder and chief executive officer of Kabina, said this investment and the overall support from East Ventures will accelerate the startup’s mission to bring more innovation and sustainable construction solutions to the market. 

“We look forward to working alongside the strong ecosystem of East Ventures and revolutionising the construction and property industry in Indonesia,” he said. 

Having extensive experience in the construction and property industry during his career as a designer, Moeis said he realised that there are a number of pressures faced by the local players in this industry. 

These are commonly related to the challenges of cost inefficiency and time estimation, he said. 

“Moreover, there is still a lack of awareness or focus on minimising the negative impact on the environment through the use of energy-intensive equipment,” he said.

Founded in 2020, Kabina serves as a solution to these ongoing problems.

The startup believes these challenges can be reduced or even eliminated by integrating technology-based solutions to the process of construction and property development. 

The startup claimed to simplify the construction process by utilising modularity, pre-fabrication, and wood sourced from sustainably managed and Forest Stewardship Council certified forest as its primary material. 

According to Kabina, these simplification techniques serve as an innovative solution to cost saving and minimising waste, as well the water and energy consumption.

It said the pandemic has brought a shift of needs towards aspects of people’s life, including in the construction and property industry.

In terms of residential clusters, Kabina said it creates a multi-purpose structure, which allows its customers to easily adjust and reconstruct it based on their personal needs.

The company will also launch other lifestyle offerings according to the needs of its customers. These include Kabina House, Kabina Space, Kabina Suite, Kabina Studio, Kabina Lounge and Kabina Play, among others.

Among its highlights is Kabina Market, an outdoor retail platform with at least 50% of outdoor area, it said.

This platform will be located in prime areas to connect the customers with brands and retail, but taking into consideration the preferences of customers’ towards open space experiences. 

Avina Sugiarto, partner of East Ventures said the addition of Kabina into the East Ventures’ ecosystem, will further strengthen the firm’s proptech line-up to democratise the construction and property industry in Indonesia through efficient and sustainable materials and processes.

“We believe the sustainable innovation and approaches offered by Kabina will further bring positive impacts towards the overall growth of the society,” she said.