Tech in Asia shuts Indonesian site, lays off 18% of staff amid strategic pivot

Tech in Asia is pulling the plug on its Indonesian-language platform and laying off nearly a fifth of its workforce, as the regional media and events company repositions for what it says is a more sustainable future.

In a memo published on Tuesday, founder and CEO Willis Wee described the decision as “difficult” and compared it to “cutting off an arm to save the body.” The restructuring includes the shuttering of Tech in Asia Indonesia by 15 July 2025 and the departure of 18% of the company’s total staff.

“This move is not a reflection of our team’s talent or dedication, especially our colleagues in Indonesia,” Wee wrote. “Their work has been remarkable, and we’re proud of everything they’ve achieved.”

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The company cited mounting economic pressure and the need to streamline its business model as key factors behind the move. “While we’ve made changes and tried new ideas where possible, our current cost structure isn’t sustainable,” Wee said.

Since May, Wee had internally flagged a potential restructuring. While the Bahasa Indonesia editorial operation will be discontinued, Tech in Asia - which was acquired by SPH Media in January 2024 - stressed it will maintain a presence in the country. Its international edition will continue to cover Indonesia’s tech ecosystem in English, and its local operations team will remain in place to support ongoing efforts, including the annual Tech in Asia conference.

“It’s important to clarify that Tech in Asia is not pulling out of Indonesia,” Wee wrote. “What’s changing is our decision to discontinue the local language publication to streamline our focus.”

Affected employees have been personally contacted by either Wee or the company’s COO, Maria Li, and are being offered severance packages in line with local regulations, as well as transitional support such as company-issued laptops.

“We will treat our departing colleagues with respect and support,” the CEO added. “To our colleagues who are leaving: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your passion, dedication, and contributions have been invaluable to Tech in Asia.”

The move reflects the broader challenges facing media businesses in Southeast Asia and beyond, where declining advertising revenues, rising costs, and platform shifts are forcing outlets to rethink their strategies. Even so, Tech in Asia’s decision to exit a local-language market it has served for over a decade marks a significant shift for the company.

“The pain of this week must count towards building a stronger, more focused Tech in Asia,” Wee wrote.

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