Sammy Ramadhan: Founder GOERS

Sammy Ramadhan: Founder GOERS

Magani unites tradition with the new; reimagining the traditional batik shirt for the needs of our contemporary society. We combine Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage with the latest innovation in performance wear material to build the ultimate durable and comfortable shirt for the modern Indonesian man who is constantly on the move. 

As we celebrate Indonesia’s heritage, we also celebrate the individuals who are unintimidated by the sweat and hard work required to defy challenges, push boundaries, and move Indonesia forward.

Meet the #MaganiMen who have inspired us that with grit and endurance, there are no limits to what you can achieve. #NOSWEATNOLIMIT

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#MaganiMen Sammy Ramadhan, founder of GOERS, built a platform that makes event discovery and booking easy in Indonesia. Guided by strong values, he overcame major challenges through innovation and transparency. Balancing work with sports like golf, he stays grounded and creative. Sammy sees success as ongoing growth and encourages founders to focus on building lasting value.

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Could you tell us a bit about your background and the journey that led you to founding GOERS?

I’m the eldest of four siblings with a business background (Bachelor’s and Master’s), completing my Master’s at Monash University, Melbourne. 

I spent three impactful years at one of Indonesia’s largest media holding companies, overseeing synergy across 26 subsidiaries and joint ventures, including a key project with Tencent in 2014. 

That experience sparked my interest in the tech and startup world. Combining my media expertise with this new passion, I recognized a clear opportunity—media companies promoted experiences but didn’t provide seamless access or booking solutions. 

This insight led me to create Goers in 2015, an app that helps users discover and book experiences while enabling event organizers and attractions to digitize their offerings and reach audiences more effectively.

What core values or principles have guided you in building GOERS and navigating your career in tech and entrepreneurship?

At Goers, my co-founders (Niki, Ansel) and I built the company around five core values that shape both our culture and my growth as an entrepreneur:

  • Growth – We believe in continuous learning and leading by example, pushing beyond comfort zones.

  • Ownership – Every team member is empowered and expected to think and act like an owner.

  • Excellence – We value progress over perfection, with passion and commitment driving our work.

  • Reliable – We trust in each other’s strengths and expertise to move forward together.

  • Solid – Unity is our foundation; we may lose battles, but together we endure and win the long game.

These values have guided Goers through a decade of highs and lows—from the e-commerce boom (2016–2019), to the COVID crisis and recovery (2020–2024). Today, we’re proud to be a resilient company still delivering meaningful impact to our clients and users.

As a founder in the fast-evolving digital industry, what has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced — and how did you overcome it?

One of my biggest challenges and lessons was in 2018, when Goers nearly shut down after my poor execution on the business and we ran out of funding. 

In 2019, I overcame the challenge by making the tough decision to focus on our booking and payment engine, which evolved into a ticketing solution for events and venues. But more importantly by being honest and transparent with my investors and shareholders about it and asking for constructive feedback on how to manage the situation. 

By 2021, not only had we survived, but Goers became one of Indonesia’s leading ticketing platforms, with over 30 million tickets sold in 5 years.

What is the core philosophy behind GOERS, and what problem were you most passionate about solving when you started the platform?

The core philosophy behind Goers is to make experiences more accessible and meaningful through technology. When we started the platform, we were passionate about solving a very real gap: media and communities promoted great events and activities, but there was no seamless way for people to discover, book, or attend them.

We wanted to empower users to easily find and access experiences around them—while also helping event organizers, venues, and communities digitize their operations, manage bookings, and grow their audience. It is about creating value on both sides: making discovery and access easier for users, and giving creators the tools they need to thrive in a digital world and make real revenue. 

How do you see the evolution of live experiences and events in Indonesia, especially post-pandemic? What excites you most about this space?

Post-pandemic, live experiences in Indonesia have bounced back with a shift—people now seek more meaningful, safe, and well-organized events. Organizers have become more tech-savvy, using digital tools for everything from social media to ticketing.

What excites me most is how technology is reshaping the entire ecosystem—making discovery, access, and personalization easier than ever. We’re seeing rapid growth not just in major events, but also in niche and community-driven experiences. One example I’m personally excited about is the rise of Padel events and communities—where fun, fitness, and meaningful connections come together.

Indonesia’s young, creative, digital-native population makes this space incredibly dynamic. At Goers, we’re proud to support this evolution—connecting people to the experiences they love and helping organizers scale sustainably. 

What makes GOERS different from other platforms in the event and ticketing space — in terms of both product and user experience?

What sets Goers apart is our end-to-end focus on both the user and the organizer. While many platforms stop at ticket sales, Goers offers a complete experience—from discovery and booking to post-event engagement. For users, we make it easy to find curated experiences nearby and book seamlessly. For organizers, we provide a powerful, customizable ticketing and venue management system that includes real-time analytics, integrated marketing tools, and secure payments.

We also go beyond just transactions—we help organizers digitize their operations, understand their audience, and build lasting communities. Our ability to serve a wide range of events, from concerts to local attractions to niche community gatherings, makes Goers uniquely positioned in Indonesia’s experience economy.

How do you balance innovation with scalability — especially in a sector that constantly shifts with trends?

At Goers, we believe that talent is the core engine of any tech company’s growth—and we invest heavily in building a strong, purpose-driven team. For me personally, the key is hiring people with a builder’s mindset—those who are not just looking for a job, but are excited to create, solve problems, and shape something meaningful from the ground up.

People with a building and creation mentality naturally bring energy, ownership, and adaptability. They’re not afraid to experiment, learn fast, and iterate. When you have a team like that, you can find the right balance between innovation and scalability—pushing boundaries while also laying down strong operational foundations.

It’s not just about skills; it’s about attitude and alignment. At Goers, we look for people who thrive in ambiguity, collaborate across functions, and take pride in building something that matters. That’s how we’ve been able to navigate challenges and grow sustainably over the years.


How does living an active lifestyle and your personal interests outside of work influence your mindset and daily habits as a leader and founder to stay grounded, productive, and focused?

I don’t really have a typical 9-to-5 routine—my day is pretty abstract. As a founder, my mind is constantly thinking about work, pretty much 24/7. Ideas, problems, strategies—they’re always running in the background, whether I’m at my desk or not. So I can’t say I have a regular habit of waking up early.

That’s why finding balance is important. Fortunately, I work in the experience space, so I genuinely believe in living what I build. For me, that means playing golf and padel—which also helps me start my mornings early.

These sports help me switch off, stay grounded, and think more clearly. Some of my best ideas have come while hitting a ball or just enjoying the game.

Outside of sports, I love going to raves or chilling at bars with great live music. Interestingly, many of the events and venues I go to are actually Goers clients.

It’s my way of staying focused without burning out—and where work and play naturally blend together for me.


What does “success” mean to you personally?

For me, success is a constant work in progress. It’s really about making better decisions over time—whether it’s dealing with personal stuff or work challenges. I don’t see success as a one-time thing, but more like a series of choices that help you grow, learn, and move forward.

It’s not about being perfect, it’s about getting better at handling whatever comes your way. And as long as I’m learning and making smarter moves, I feel like I’m on the right track.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self when you first started your entrepreneurial journey, what would it be?

Time isn’t on your side—keep moving forward, and do it fast.

Is there a dream or personal project — outside of GOERS — that you still hope to bring to life in the future?

Sadly, No. But on personal level, i want to bring by parents and all siblings with me to go for Hollytrip (Umrah) together, 6 of us. 

What advice would you share with young people who are just starting out — particularly those building in the tech or startup space in Indonesia?

If your only goal is to cash out and sell to the highest bidder, you might want to consider a different career. The startup journey has no shortcuts. Early success can happen, but more often it’s a long, messy, and sometimes painful ride. Still, it’s incredibly fulfilling—especially when you’re here to grow as a leader, build real value, and expand your network along the way. That’s what makes this career worth it.

 

What does Magani resonate to you?

For me, Magani resonates with success, an active and driven mindset, and a strong commitment to doing things the right way—without taking shortcuts. It reflects a dedication to hard work, perseverance, and continuous growth.

 

Click here to follow GOERS on Instagram.

Click here to follow Sammy on Instagram.

 

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