Populix, an Indonesian tech-based research company, has secured USD 4.3 million in the first close of its Series B funding round. The investment was led by MSW V Asia Fund X, with participation from Intudo Ventures, Altos Ventures, and Acrew Capital.

This funding arrives amid a weakened investment climate caused by the tech winter and a sharp decline in the IHSG index. According to DealStreetAsia's Data Vantage report, Indonesia experienced a 34% year-on-year drop in funding throughout 2024, with investment value falling by around 66%, or IDR 7.3 trillion—the steepest decline in Southeast Asia.

Populix Expands Research Access and Develops AI Assistant

Following its Series A round in 2022, Populix continued expanding public access to research. In 2023, the company launched its Policy & Society Research service to help organizations and governments evaluate public sentiment, policy impacts, and broader social and economic trends.

On the technology front, Populix developed NeXa, an AI-based research assistant. This tool assists users in designing questionnaires, accessing targeted respondents, and drawing conclusions.

Client Growth and Service Expansion Support Funding Round

Over the past year, Populix doubled its total project volume, with 65% of its projects coming from recurring clients. The company has also broadened its client base to include the telecommunications and government sectors, reflecting strong demand for its research capabilities.

The new Series B funding will be used to train Populix’s AI models to automate research processes and produce faster insights. The company is also working on synthetic respondents—artificial personas that simulate human answers to enhance data collection efficiency.

Investor Support Highlights Populix’s Strategic Positioning

Jeffrey Seah, Founder and General Partner of MSW Ventures, noted that market research is transitioning from traditional sampling to real-time intelligence. He cited privacy concerns, tribal self-referencing, and AI adoption as driving forces. Seah said, “Populix fuses the depth of traditional research with the immediacy of synthetic data and agentic AI—delivering strategic advantages with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and actionability.”

Patrick Yip, Founding Partner of Intudo Ventures, stated, “Participating in this Series B round reflects our continued belief in Populix’s vision and execution capabilities.” He praised the company’s ability to grow despite market challenges.

Richard Song, Partner at Altos Ventures, added, “Populix exemplifies visionary leadership by leveraging technology to revolutionize consumer insights in Indonesia.”

Kerry Whorton Cooper, Venture Advisor at Acrew Capital, said, “As shown by the stickiness and loyalty of their enterprise clients, Populix is very well positioned to take advantage of the changing landscape through innovative products and a deep understanding of client needs.”

PHOTO: POPULIX

This article was created with AI assistance.