Unraveling the Questions Behind Zenius' "Temporarily Closed".

Startups EdTech Zenius announced that it is temporarily closed. Operational constraints were the main reason behind this decision.

“Zenius is currently experiencing operational challenges, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause our users. "We took strategic steps to temporarily stop operations, but we guarantee that we will not stop trying to carry out and realize the vision of creating a smart, bright, cool Indonesia," wrote Founder & CEO Zenius Sabda PS in an official statement.

Sabda continued, “We realize that this decision will disappoint many parties, especially our loyal users, who have supported and trusted us all this time. For this reason, we apologize and thank our users and partners for the trust they have shown."

However, in this statement, Sabda did not provide further details on the impact of this "temporary" decision. The questions remaining unanswered by the public include:

1. When will Zenius return?
2. What happens to users and the money that has been paid?
3. What is the fate of Zenius employees? Are there severance payments?
4. What about the further fate of Primagama?

Further confirmed by DailySocial.id, a Zenius representative only said, “Zenius cannot provide further information at this time. Later there will be more information for users and Primagama branches.”

Zenius Travel

Zenius has entered its 20th year since it was first founded in 2004. The founders are Sabda PS, Wisnu Subekti, and Medy Suharta. Before taking on a startup style, Zenius' initial product was launching learning materials in the form of CDs and books. Then a legal entity was established in 2007 under Zenius Education.

Previously in TuesdayStartup session, Sabda once said that Zenius' operational funds were first obtained from swiping a credit card. There are no investors, for example from venture capital, who are interested in funding it. The first business model taken was to create offline tutoring. There the business turnover in this realm is very clear.

There is a regular payment received in advance and he can directly teach students. He uses this income to recruit additional teachers and makes recordings when the teachers are not teaching. “We create content in the beginning and sell the CD. The internet hasn't come to mind at all," he said.

The following year, the team became more and more active in producing CDs containing discussion of questions. Even until 2008, the variety of CDs sold was getting more complete. Some are in the form of complete CD packages, so there is no need to buy units. In the same year they began to use the internet, but only limited to selling CDs.

“This is the moment historical On April 4 2008, we launched at the first exhibition in Jakarta and we website launch to sell CDs just. "

First year selling online, it is claimed that Zenius has checked profits. He was determined the following year to develop the Zenius business online because there were still many Indonesian children who didn't know Zenius, even though at that time internet access tended to be limited.

"Zenius can survive because we have elements, not only the important thing is to sell, but impact correct. When they buy content, indeed really makes it smart or not. As long as we are deliver It can change your mindset, I think hell Zenius' lifespan can be guaranteed [longer]."

The Zenius application itself only existed in July 2019 and carried out a large-scale campaign, namely making more than 80 thousand videos of learning material free. Then the following year, the company rebranded, including the logo, visuals and tagline to mark the evolution of the brand.

In 2022, supported by the influence of post-pandemic effects, Zenius acquired Primagama andrebrand with New Primagama. In total, there are 264 Primagama branches spread throughout Indonesia. Then in June 2023, the company announced a comprehensive audit. As a result, there were branches that stopped collaborating and opened franchises for Primagama to those who were interested.

In the same year, Zenius started stumbled. Massive layoffs taken in three waves.

Zenius has been supported by a number of large investors, such as MDI Ventures, Northstar Group, Alpha JWC Ventures, Openspace Ventures, Beenext and others. The last funding was announced in March 2022, the amount obtained was not stated. According to records, in total Zenius has raised more than $40 million in funding.