Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) reinforces its role in advancing Indonesia’s tech startup scene through a collaboration with the Asian Development Bank’s Higher Education for Technology and Innovation (ADB HETI). This partnership is a key effort to nurture innovative ideas within the academic community.

On Tuesday, February 25, ITS held a Demo Day event at Hotel Oakwood Surabaya. The occasion gathered a number of investors interested in emerging startup ventures, providing a platform for direct interaction between entrepreneurs and potential funders.

Baroto Tavip Indrojarwo, Senior Manager at Inkubator dan Layanan Bisnis Inovatif (ILBI) ITS, explained that the Demo Day follows an intensive mentoring program that began in October. He stated, “Kami telah melakukan pembinaan dan pendampingan secara intensif sejak Oktober lalu,” underscoring the systematic support given to these startups.

Fifteen startup initiatives from ITS have received Rp150 million in funding from ADB HETI. This financial support is aimed at helping them refine their business models and accelerate their growth in a competitive market. The funding also reflects the commitment to harness innovative ideas from the ITS community.

The startups benefiting from this program include Dynamits, KEE Energy, Strum.ID, Meccabot, Teman Marica, Geoanalyst, MARbot (MRI AGV Robot), Carbon Addons, Lokalift, Vin Technology, ITS Marine Simulator, Cleanic & B-Trap, Becatur, Ayas Angkut, and MNC Geotech. Each venture is developed by members of the ITS academic network.

During the event, the startup teams presented pitch decks and demonstrated product prototypes to a panel of investors. The audience comprised representatives from Himpunan Pengusaha Alumni (HIPA) ITS, banking institutions, and other business incubators. Baroto mentioned, “Harapannya, melalui kesempatan ini, dapat terjalin business matching antara startup dengan investor.”

An ITS lecturer from the Department of Visual Communication Design noted that ITS has been a pioneer in launching innovative startups in Indonesia. He emphasized that technology-based ventures play a significant role in the digital era, as they contribute to global business growth and address various societal challenges.

Baroto also stressed that the Demo Day marks only one phase of the collaboration. He confirmed that ADB HETI will continue providing support and incentives for future batches of ITS startups. “Karena berbagai produk inovatif yang dihasilkan memiliki banyak manfaat bagi masyarakat serta berkontribusi pada kemajuan bangsa,” he explained.

The event clearly demonstrated ITS’s dedication to developing a robust startup ecosystem. By linking academic innovation with investor interest, ITS and ADB HETI are paving the way for sustainable growth in Indonesia’s digital economy.

PHOTO: ITS/ADB HETI

This article was created with AI assistance.