HIJUP

Founder and CEO Diajeng Lestari oversees all capital allocation, including venture investments made through the HIJUP Growth accelerator. Lestari approves every brand admitted to the marketplace and every equity stake the firm takes in portfolio companies. Investment committees for larger rounds include representatives from early backers 500 Startups and Emtek Group.

HIJUP is structured as an operating company with a corporate venture arm, not a blind-pool fund. The firm invests directly from its balance sheet, using revenue from marketplace commissions and private-label sales. Its accelerator, HIJUP Growth, takes minority equity positions in early-stage modest-fashion brands in exchange for distribution, production financing, and mentorship.

HIJUP targets pre-seed to Series A stage companies within the modest-fashion and halal-lifestyle verticals. Typical initial checks range from $50,000 to $500,000. The firm prioritizes Indonesian brands with existing e-commerce traction on the HIJUP marketplace before making a direct equity commitment.

HIJUP's Sharia-compliance mandate excludes any business generating material revenue from alcohol, gambling, conventional financial services, pork products, or entertainment involving substantial nudity. The firm also avoids fast-fashion models that conflict with its ethical-production standards, even when the product would otherwise be religiously compliant.

HIJUP Growth is a wholly owned initiative housed within the parent company, not a separate legal entity. It functions as an in-house incubator that recruits, finances, and distributes early-stage labels — typically over a 12-month cohort cycle. Graduating brands receive ongoing placement on HIJUP's marketplace and optional follow-on investment.

HIJUP's venture activity is funded through a combination of retained marketplace earnings and equity capital raised from institutional investors. The firm raised a Series A round from 500 Startups, Fenox Venture Capital, and Emtek Group (per TechCrunch, 2015). It has not publicly disclosed subsequent funding rounds, though operational cash flow has supplemented its investment capacity since achieving marketplace profitability.

Yes, the firm operates HIJUP Cares, a charitable initiative funded by a fixed percentage of marketplace transactions. The program donates new and gently-used modest clothing to underprivileged communities across Indonesia, with distributions concentrated during Ramadan. The initiative is managed by an internal team separate from the venture-investment unit.