In Indonesia, millions of students dream of a better education, but many don’t have access to good teachers or learning materials — especially in small towns and villages. This problem inspired two young men, Adamas Belva Syah Devara and Muhammad Iman Usman, to do something big. In 2014, they founded Ruangguru, which means “teacher’s room” in Indonesian. Their goal was simple: use technology to give every child access to quality education, no matter where they live.
The Beginning
Both the founders came from humble backgrounds and had personally experienced how hard it was to get a good education in Indonesia.
They returned home with one mission — to make learning easier and more equitable. In 2014, they started Ruangguru as a small online platform that connected students with private tutors. Students could search for tutors, book lessons, and study from home.
At first, it was just a marketplace for tutoring — like “Grab” or “Uber,” but for education.
The Founders’ Vision
Belva and Iman believe that education is the foundation of progress. They often say that Indonesia is “128 years behind” in education quality compared to developed countries, and that Ruangguru’s job is to close that gap.
Their vision is not just to help students pass exams — but to create a smarter generation that can compete globally.
Growing into Something Bigger
Before long, the founders realized that students needed more than just tutors. Many couldn’t afford private lessons, and even those who could wanted structured study materials. So, they expanded Ruangguru into a complete learning app.
They introduced:
- RuangBelajar – an app with short video lessons, quizzes, and practice tests that follow Indonesia’s national school curriculum.
- RuangKelas – a tool for teachers and schools to manage online classes.
- RuangUji – mock exam features to help students prepare for national tests.
- RuangLesOnline – live tutoring sessions where students could ask questions in real time.
This change turned Ruangguru from a small marketplace into Indonesia’s biggest online education ecosystem.
Reaching Millions
When Ruangguru started, only a few thousand students used it. But within a few years, millions joined.
By 2018, Ruangguru had over 7 million registered students.
By 2019, that number jumped to 13 million students and 400,000 teachers.
Today, it serves more than 22 million students across Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam.
Most of its users are outside Jakarta — in smaller towns and rural areas — showing that the company really succeeded in making education more inclusive.
How Ruangguru Makes Money
Ruangguru offers both free and paid options.
Students can access free videos and quizzes, but many choose to pay for premium features such as:
- Access to all learning videos
- Practice tests for national exams
- Private tutoring sessions
- Live group classes
They also work with schools and local governments to provide digital education programs for entire districts. This partnership model helped them grow faster.
By combining subscriptions, tutoring fees, and government contracts, Ruangguru built a sustainable business — one that could grow without losing its social mission.
Funding and Investors
Ruangguru caught the attention of global investors because it was solving a huge real-world problem.
- In 2017, it raised funds from UOB Venture Management.
- In 2019, it raised a massive $150 million (around ₹1,200 crore) in Series C funding led by General Atlantic and GGV Capital.
This funding helped Ruangguru improve its technology, hire more educators, and expand to new countries.
Impact on Indonesia
Ruangguru’s impact goes beyond profits — it’s changing how Indonesians learn.
- Reaching remote areas: Through mobile phones, students in rural villages can now access the same lessons as those in big cities.
- Supporting teachers: Ruangguru gives teachers tools to teach online, earn income, and connect with more students.
- Helping schools: The platform supports digital classrooms and official learning programs across 32 provinces in Indonesia.
- Encouraging equal education: By keeping prices low and offering scholarships, Ruangguru ensures that even low-income students can benefit.
Because of this, Ruangguru is not just a startup — it’s part of Indonesia’s education reform movement.
Challenges Along the Way
Ruangguru faced its share of challenges:
- Keeping quality high: As the popularity grows, it becomes harder to maintain consistent quality. Training programs and strict tutor checks solved the problem.
- Balancing profit and access: They wanted to stay affordable to the public while still earning enough to grow.
- Intense competition: Many new edtech apps appeared after Ruangguru’s success, forcing them to keep innovating.
- Expanding abroad: When they entered Vietnam, they had to adapt their content to a new language and education system.
Still, the founders never lost sight of their main goal — to make learning accessible for everyone.
During the Pandemic
When COVID-19 hit in 2020, schools across Indonesia were forced to close. Millions of students suddenly needed online education — and Ruangguru became a lifeline.
The company offered free access to many of its features during lockdowns. This helped both students and teachers continue learning safely from home.
In just a few months, the app’s downloads skyrocketed.
Future Plans
Their future goals include:
- Expanding in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam and Thailand.
- Using AI to personalize lessons for each student.
- Adding job and career training, so older students can learn practical skills too.
- Improving teacher tools so educators can create and share digital lessons easily.
Conclusion
Ruangguru began as a small idea — connecting students to tutors — but it grew into Indonesia’s largest education technology company, helping millions learn better.
From two passionate founders to millions of young learners, Ruangguru shows how technology, purpose, and persistence can change a nation.
Their story is proof that education + innovation = transformation.
And it reminds us that sometimes, all it takes to change millions of lives is one powerful idea — and two determined people who refuse to give up.
