Belva Devara: From Jakarta Student to Ruangguru CEO
The story of an Indonesian entrepreneur who studied at NTU, Stanford, and Harvard before building Ruangguru with Muhammad Iman Usman.
Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Fame Katha Editorial Team
Introduction
Belva Devara is one of Indonesia’s best-known education entrepreneurs. He is the co-founder and CEO of Ruangguru, an education technology company started in 2014.
His full name is Adamas Belva Syah Devara.
He was born in Jakarta. His academic path later took him to Singapore and the United States.
That path was unusual.
Belva studied business and computer science at Nanyang Technological University. He later completed graduate studies at Stanford University and Harvard University.
His career also moved fast.
He worked with McKinsey & Company, gained experience around Indonesian government programs, built Ruangguru, and later served as a Special Staff member to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
The government role was short.
Belva resigned in April 2020 after public questions were raised about Ruangguru’s involvement in the Kartu Prakerja program. He denied influencing the company’s selection.
Today, his main public work remains closely tied to Ruangguru and education.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Adamas Belva Syah Devara |
| Known As | Belva Devara |
| Date of Birth | 30 May 1990 |
| Birthplace | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, education technology executive |
| Known For | Co-founder and CEO of Ruangguru |
| Ruangguru Co-founder | Muhammad Iman Usman |
| Undergraduate Education | Nanyang Technological University |
| Graduate Education | Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard Kennedy School |
| Stanford Degree | MBA |
| Harvard Degree | Master in Public Administration |
| Former Role | Special Staff to President Joko Widodo |
| Wife | Sabrina Anggraini |
| Married | 5 March 2022 |
| Children | One daughter publicly reported |
| Current Main Role | CEO and Co-founder of Ruangguru |
Early Life in Jakarta
Belva Devara was born on 30 May 1990 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Public information about his childhood is limited. That matters.
Many profile websites repeat claims about his parents, family background, and childhood finances. Strong primary evidence for many of those details is hard to find.
So they should not be treated as facts.
What is clear is his early interest in education.
He attended President High School, also known as SMA Presiden. The school’s official alumni material identifies him among its early graduates.
Reports about his school years also say he took part in student leadership activities.
Education soon became his main path.
And it took him abroad.
Belva Devara Education and Academic Path
Belva’s education is a major part of his public story.
He studied at Nanyang Technological University, commonly called NTU, in Singapore.
His studies covered two areas:
- Business
- Computer Science
His publicly listed university period ran roughly from 2007 to 2011.
Belva has also stated that he earned academic medals and appeared on academic dean’s lists while studying at NTU.
Those detailed academic claims largely come from his own professional profile, so they are best described that way.
Still, the main degree record is clear.
After NTU, Belva headed to the United States.
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Belva attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
He completed a Master of Business Administration, or MBA.
His Stanford period covered roughly 2013 to 2015.
His public professional record also lists work with the Stanford GSB Asia Club.
He received Stanford’s Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation as well.
Harvard Kennedy School
Belva also studied at Harvard Kennedy School.
He completed a Master in Public Administration, commonly shortened to MPA.
Harvard officially lists him as part of its MPA class of 2016.
This gave Belva an unusual mix.
Business. Technology. Public policy.
That mix later showed up clearly in his career.
Study Beyond His Main Degrees
Belva’s professional record also lists coursework through institutions including MIT and other Harvard schools.
These should not be confused with separate degrees.
His main confirmed higher-education credentials remain:
NTU — Business and Computer Science
Stanford — MBA
Harvard Kennedy School — MPA
Early Professional Career
Belva did not start with Ruangguru.
He first built experience elsewhere.
His public career history includes work connected to:
- Accenture
- Goldman Sachs
- Indonesia’s UKP4
- McKinsey & Company
Each role gave him something different.
Accenture and Goldman Sachs
Belva’s professional profile lists summer analyst experience at Accenture and Goldman Sachs in Singapore around 2010.
These were early career roles.
But they gave him exposure to large international firms before he had finished his later graduate studies.
Work With UKP4
In 2011, Belva worked with Indonesia’s Presidential Working Unit for Development Supervision and Control, known as UKP4.
The unit worked around government performance and development programs.
His listed work included examining government plans and public-service issues.
This was one of his early links with Indonesian public policy.
McKinsey & Company
Belva later joined McKinsey & Company.
His professional history places him there roughly between 2011 and 2013.
His work covered areas that included education, health, government, and social-sector projects.
Then came a bigger move.
He started his own company.
Starting Ruangguru
Belva Devara and Muhammad Iman Usman founded Ruangguru in 2014.
Its legal company name is PT Ruang Raya Indonesia.
The idea was simple.
Students needed better access to teachers and learning materials.
Technology could help solve that.
Ruangguru first became known as an online platform connecting students with private tutors.
But the company kept growing.
Its products later covered online lessons, test preparation, live teaching, professional skills, English learning, corporate training, and offline learning services.
Ruangguru became one of Indonesia’s most recognised education technology businesses.
How Ruangguru Grew
Ruangguru attracted major outside investment.
Its investors across different funding rounds have included firms such as General Atlantic, GGV Capital, Tiger Global Management, UOB Venture Management, and East Ventures.
In 2019, Ruangguru announced a US$150 million Series C financing round.
Another investment round followed in 2021.
The company also moved beyond Indonesia.
Its activities have reached other Southeast Asian markets, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore.
By 2025, published business coverage reported that Ruangguru had reached more than 50 million learners across Southeast Asia.
That figure refers to company reach.
It does not mean paid subscribers.
Still, the scale is large.
Ruangguru also created or operated education brands and services including Brain Academy, Skill Academy, English Academy, ruangbelajar, and ruangkerja.
Belva remained closely tied to the company as CEO.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition
Belva received major international attention in 2017.
Forbes included him in its 30 Under 30 Asia list.
He appeared in the Consumer Technology category alongside Ruangguru co-founder Muhammad Iman Usman.
The recognition came while Ruangguru was growing quickly in Indonesia.
It also gave the founders wider international visibility.
EY Entrepreneur Recognition
Another award followed in 2019.
Belva and Iman Usman received the Emerging Entrepreneur Award through EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Indonesia.
EY’s official program material confirms the recognition.
By then, Ruangguru had already become a major name in Indonesia’s education sector.
Presidential Special Staff Role
Belva entered government service in November 2019.
President Joko Widodo selected him as one of several younger Presidential Special Staff members.
The Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat publicly announced the appointments.
Belva was 29 at the time.
His background in education, business, and technology made him a notable choice.
He was expected to offer ideas across areas such as education, youth issues, entrepreneurship, and technology.
But the role did not last long.
Kartu Prakerja Issue and Resignation
In 2020, Ruangguru’s Skill Academy became involved in Indonesia’s Kartu Prakerja program.
The program offered training support to Indonesian workers and job seekers.
This created public questions.
Belva was serving as Presidential Special Staff while a Ruangguru business was connected with the government-backed program.
Critics raised possible conflict-of-interest concerns.
Belva denied interfering with the selection process.
He said he had not taken part in decisions that appointed Ruangguru as a training platform.
Still, the issue became politically sensitive.
Belva submitted his resignation in April 2020.
His resignation letter was dated 15 April 2020 and was later delivered to President Jokowi.
He publicly announced the decision on 21 April 2020.
Belva said he wanted to avoid creating a continuing distraction for the government during the COVID-19 period.
There is an important distinction here.
Questions were raised publicly.
Belva denied influencing the selection.
The available reliable sources do not justify presenting the issue as proven misconduct.
Harvard Kennedy School Award
Later in 2020, Belva received recognition from Harvard Kennedy School.
Harvard named him the recipient of its Digital Innovation Award.
Harvard officially lists Adamas Belva Syah Devara MPA 2016 as the 2020 award recipient.
The award recognised his work through Ruangguru and technology-based education.
Fast Company Recognition
Ruangguru gained another international mention in 2021.
Fast Company ranked Ruangguru No. 2 in its education category among its Most Innovative Companies for that year.
The publication highlighted Ruangguru’s education work during the period of school disruption caused by COVID-19.
That was a demanding period.
Online learning demand grew sharply.
So did the company.
Yale World Fellow
Belva joined another international program in 2022.
He was selected as a 2022 Yale World Fellow.
Yale’s official directory confirms his place in the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows cohort.
The program brings together leaders from different countries and professional fields.
For Belva, it added another academic and leadership connection to his public career.
Ruangguru Layoffs in 2022
Ruangguru faced a difficult business period later in 2022.
The company laid off hundreds of workers.
Belva and Iman Usman publicly addressed the decision.
They said Ruangguru had hired heavily during the sharp rise in online learning demand.
Conditions then changed.
The economic environment became tougher, while demand patterns shifted after the pandemic period.
Belva acknowledged responsibility for management decisions surrounding the expansion.
It was one of the company’s hardest public moments.
Wife and Marriage
Belva Devara is married to Sabrina Anggraini.
The couple married on 5 March 2022.
Their wedding drew national attention in Indonesia.
President Joko Widodo attended the ceremony and served as a witness for Belva.
Sabrina has a public career of her own and has worked as a presenter.
She has also been involved in beauty-pageant activities.
Does Belva Devara Have Children?
Yes.
Belva and Sabrina welcomed their first child in March 2024.
Public Indonesian media reports say they have a daughter.
For privacy reasons, deeper information about the child is unnecessary for a professional profile.
Belva Devara Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Belva Devara’s personal net worth.
Some websites publish estimates.
Those figures lack strong evidence.
Ruangguru’s funding should not be confused with Belva’s personal wealth.
Investment raised by a company belongs to the company’s financing structure.
It is not the CEO’s private fortune.
So the accurate answer is simple.
Belva Devara’s net worth is not publicly verified.
Belva Devara Salary
His current salary is also private.
Ruangguru does not publicly disclose a verified figure for Belva’s personal annual salary.
Claims found on low-quality salary or celebrity sites should be treated carefully.
There is no solid public number.
Current Work
Belva continues to be publicly identified as the CEO and co-founder of Ruangguru.
His work remains focused mainly on education and technology.
He also holds a public role with the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, or UIII.
UIII lists Adamas Belva Syah Devara as Secretary of its Board of Trustees.
There is no reliable indication that he has returned to his former Presidential Special Staff position.
Major Awards and Recognition
Belva’s confirmed major public recognitions include:
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia — 2017
- EY Emerging Entrepreneur Award — 2019
- Harvard Kennedy School Digital Innovation Award — 2020
- Leadership of Ruangguru during its Fast Company recognition — 2021
- Yale World Fellow — 2022
These awards came from different parts of his career.
Some recognised entrepreneurship.
Others focused on education and leadership.
Career Timeline
1990: Born in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2007–2011: Studies at Nanyang Technological University.
2010: Gains early professional experience in Singapore.
2011: Works with Indonesia’s UKP4.
2011–2013: Works at McKinsey & Company.
2013–2015: Studies for an MBA at Stanford.
2014: Co-founds Ruangguru.
2014–2016: Completes public-administration studies at Harvard Kennedy School.
2017: Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.
2019: Receives EY recognition and joins President Jokowi’s Special Staff.
2020: Resigns from the Presidential Special Staff role.
2020: Receives Harvard Kennedy School’s Digital Innovation Award.
2021: Ruangguru receives Fast Company recognition.
2022: Becomes a Yale World Fellow.
2022: Marries Sabrina Anggraini.
2022: Ruangguru announces major staff reductions.
2024: Belva and Sabrina welcome their first child.
2025–2026: Continues leading Ruangguru.
Final Thought
Belva Devara built his public career around education.
His academic record is strong.
His corporate story is bigger.
From NTU to Stanford and Harvard, then from McKinsey to Ruangguru, his career has moved between business, public policy, and education.
There have been tough periods too.
The Kartu Prakerja issue brought heavy public attention. Ruangguru’s 2022 layoffs created another difficult chapter.
Still, Belva remains closely associated with one of Indonesia’s biggest education technology companies.
That is what defines his career today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Belva Devara?
Belva Devara is an Indonesian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Ruangguru.
What is Belva Devara’s full name?
His full name is Adamas Belva Syah Devara.
When was Belva Devara born?
He was born on 30 May 1990.
Where was Belva Devara born?
He was born in Jakarta, Indonesia.
What did Belva Devara study?
He studied business and computer science at Nanyang Technological University. He later completed an MBA at Stanford and an MPA at Harvard Kennedy School.
Who founded Ruangguru?
Ruangguru was founded by Belva Devara and Muhammad Iman Usman in 2014.
Who is Belva Devara’s wife?
His wife is Sabrina Anggraini. They married on 5 March 2022.
Does Belva Devara have children?
Yes. Public reports confirm that Belva and Sabrina have one daughter.
What is Belva Devara’s net worth?
His personal net worth has not been publicly verified through a reliable source.
Did Belva Devara work for President Jokowi?
Yes. He served as a Presidential Special Staff member beginning in 2019 and resigned in April 2020.
Why did Belva Devara resign from government?
His resignation followed public questions about Ruangguru’s involvement in the Kartu Prakerja program while he was serving as Presidential Special Staff. Belva denied influencing Ruangguru’s selection.
Is Belva Devara still CEO of Ruangguru?
Yes. Current public information identifies him as Ruangguru’s CEO and co-founder.
