Motorcycles dominate the streets of Indonesia, a nation of 284 million people with over 137 million two-wheelers in circulation. With that many vehicles, riders often struggle to find safe and accessible parking in dense cities, fueling widespread illegal parking and worsening urban congestion.
On the other hand, most parking lots in the Thousand Island Nation still rely on outdated systems and manual approaches, leading to significant revenue leaks—an ongoing pain point for owners. These losses, coupled with operational inefficiencies, make it difficult for landowners to scale operations and expand. This creates a vicious cycle: limited parking spaces, rampant illegal parking, and worsening congestion that ripples across the urban landscape.
That is why we’re excited to support Kenneth Darmansjah and Unggul Depirianto, co-founders of Soul Parking, a leading startup transforming parking solutions across Indonesia starting from Jakarta. Dedicated to sustainable urban development, Soul Parking’s IoT-enabled parking solutions leverage real-time data analytics to tackle revenue leaks and enhance operations for landowners to scale. In addition to its digital parking platform, Soul Parking has developed cutting-edge Compact Motorcycle Storage units to revolutionize land use, accommodating up to 240 motorcycles within just 60 square meters. With its consumer-facing app, drivers can easily find, reserve, and pay for parking—providing a seamless, cash-free experience.
Kenneth joined Soul Parking in 2020 as CFO and took on the role of CEO in 2022 to drive the company’s growth. Partnered with Unggul, a seasoned CTO with over 20 years of engineering experience and a former CTO at Tech in Asia, the two co-founders are dedicated to building a comprehensive parking solution that brings value to both riders and landowners.
A Journey Marked by Grit
We’re always looking for founders with not only the technical skill to execute a bold vision but also the grit to navigate every twist and turn—a rare blend of qualities that Kenneth truly embodies.
Growing up in a family of doctors, Kenneth was instilled with a commitment to professionalism and discipline; grit and hard work are woven into his family’s ethos. Also inspired by his in-law family’s entrepreneurial spirit of building businesses from the ground up, Kenneth has poured his heart into developing his capabilities and ultimately channeling his passion into leading Soul Parking.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne, Kenneth chose a rigorous path in investment banking to rapidly build his industry knowledge and adaptability under high-pressure conditions. During Indonesia’s IPO surge in 2017 and 2018, he handled multiple high-profile IPOs simultaneously, developing a deep understanding of various sectors from consumer goods to B2B. This experience also instilled a strong work ethic, equipping him with the resilience necessary for entrepreneurial success.
With this foundation, Kenneth joined the early-stage team at AC Ventures, where he deepened his understanding of startup operations and strategies. Yet, he sought a more hands-on role, feeling a strong desire to go deeper—to experience firsthand the intricacies of scaling a company.
Motivated by this goal, Kenneth became a part-time CFO at Soul Parking in 2020, helping the company strengthen its financial plans, manage cash flow, and secure funding. However, the early days weren’t easy—COVID-19 hit, and the demand for parking plummeted. However, rather than retreat, Kenneth demonstrated remarkable resilience we seek in founders. He and his co-founders took personal salary cuts to sustain the company. Kenneth led efforts to shift to an asset-light model, carefully analyzing the business’s cost structures and revenue streams to adapt the business strategy in response to a shifting economy. In 2022, he formally stepped into the CEO role and committed to steering Soul Parking forward.
Hunger for greater success and impact
Under Kenneth’s leadership, Soul Parking rapidly expanded its locations four-fold in 2023, achieving tens of millions transactions annually. Kenneth has laid a solid foundation for sustained growth with a structured approach.
However, Kenneth’s ambition is more than that. He always wants to make a meaningful contribution to the nation’s growing technology ecosystem, envisioning Soul Parking as a pivotal player in Indonesia’s mobility ecosystem.
He is positioning Soul Parking to serve as essential mobility infrastructure, extending beyond parking services to offer complementary solutions like EV charging, insurance integration, and e-bike rentals. This holistic strategy will establish a protective moat by creating an interconnected service network that addresses both landowner needs and user convenience. His goal is simple yet transformative: to create a multi-layered mobility ecosystem that serves both users and landowners nationwide.
AppWorks is here to support great entrepreneurs in the region
As a firm believer in supporting great founders, AppWorks is proud to back Kenneth and the Soul Parking team. Kenneth’s commitment to bettering Indonesia’s urban mobility, his clear growth strategy, and strong leadership resonate deeply with our values. His vision for tech-driven, efficient solutions for parking is already making a real impact. We look forward to contributing to their journey as they continue to transform the way people move in Bumi Pertiwi.
