In a compelling proof of Indonesia’s rising startup talent, a startup finalist ITB SITH team has achieved international recognition at FLY ASIA 2025. The initiative, named Surplus Indonesia and founded by alumni of the School of Life Sciences and Technology (SITH) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), was selected as a finalist and exhibitor at the prestigious event in Busan, South Korea. This milestone marks not only a pivotal moment for the team but also an important signal of Indonesia’s capacity to innovate and scale globally.

This article explores how this startup finalist ITB SITH reached this stage, the technology they developed, its broader implications for startup ecosystems, and what it means for evidence of Indonesian innovation going global. The keyword startup finalist ITB SITH will guide this narrative.

Background and Journey of the Startup Finalist ITB SITH

Surplus Indonesia, the startup behind this achievement, was founded by alumni from ITB SITH: CEO & Founder Agung Saputra and co-founder Zuleika Almira. The team built an AI-powered circular recommerce platform designed to tackle unsold and imperfect goods in Indonesia’s hotel, restaurant and retail sectors. According to their research, annual losses from waste in these sectors amount to billions of dollars. The platform allows consumers to purchase overstocked or near-expiry items at discounts, while providing business partners with predictive analytics for inventory waste and distribution.

Their selection as a startup finalist ITB SITH at FLY ASIA 2025 is built on prior wins as well, including the UNDP Impact Award at the SDG Sprint 2025. The event held in Busan gathered thousands of participants from across Asia—including startups, investors, accelerators and industry stakeholders—with the theme “Connect Asia, Fly to the World”. Being selected as a finalist positioned the startup finalist ITB SITH team onto a global stage, allowing exposure to venture capital, industry partnerships and network opportunities.

Innovation and Technology Behind the Startup Finalist ITB SITH

What sets this startup finalist ITB SITH apart is the combination of digital innovation, circular-economy strategy and environmental impact. The platform developed by Surplus Indonesia is underpinned by AI algorithms which forecast inventory waste and suggest redistribution or resale channels. It interfaces between businesses (hotels, restaurants, retailers) and consumers or resellers, transforming waste into value.

Beyond the digital platform, the startup finalist ITB SITH team has built offline initiatives such as Juicible, JuLing, Imperfashion and Surplus Mart—ventures that convert imperfect goods into new products or channels, generating jobs and reducing emissions. With over 10,000 SME partners and operations that have rescued thousands of tonnes of goods, prevented millions in losses and created green jobs, the startup finalist ITB SITH campaign has both technology and purpose. This dual dimension underscores how innovation from ITB’s alumni can address real-world challenges while being scalable globally.

Implications for the Indonesian Startup Ecosystem

The rise of a startup finalist ITB SITH has multiple implications for Indonesia’s innovation ecosystem. First, it demonstrates that Indonesian universities and their alumni networks can compete internationally. The selection at FLY ASIA 2025 suggests that ideas emerging from Indonesian campuses are not confined to domestic markets but ready for global outreach.

Second, the success highlights circular economy models as a credible path for startup growth in Indonesia, linking sustainability, digital tools and business viability. For other Indonesian startups, seeing a peer from ITB SITH make this leap may serve as inspiration. Third, for investors and ecosystem players, the achievement of the startup finalist ITB SITH sends a signal: look beyond the obvious, engage with sustainable-tech startups, and tap into university-driven innovation.

Finally, for educational institutions, the case of the startup finalist ITB SITH encourages closer alignment between curricula, entrepreneurship, industry collaboration and startup acceleration. It underscores the importance of university ecosystems to nurture founders, mentors and real-world solutions.

What to Watch: Roadmap and Next Steps for the Startup Finalist ITB SITH

As the startup finalist ITB SITH team moves forward, several aspects warrant attention. Firstly, their expansion strategy beyond Indonesia into ASEAN and global markets is critical. Being a finalist at FLY ASIA opens doors, but execution remains the larger task: securing investment, scaling operations, deepening partnerships and establishing a global brand.

Secondly, maintaining the technology edge will be key. AI-driven analytics for waste, logistics, and re-commerce must keep improving, integrating emerging technologies such as IoT sensors, blockchain for traceability or predictive modelling. As a startup finalist ITB SITH, the team is expected to push these boundaries.

Thirdly, staying true to impact goals while pursuing commercial growth will define long-term success. The startup finalist ITB SITH model blends sustainability (reducing waste, lowering emissions, creating jobs) with business value—a balance other startups should aim to emulate.

Finally, the ecosystem effect of the achievement must be harnessed. The fact that the startup finalist ITB SITH reached this milestone should catalyse more collaborations: between universities, VCs, corporates, international mentors and local founders. It’s less about one startup and more about the ripple effect.

A Defining Moment for the Startup Finalist ITB SITH and Beyond

The recognition of the startup finalist ITB SITH at a major Asian startup event signals a shift in Indonesia’s innovation narrative. It validates that home-grown teams can bring globally relevant solutions, compete internationally and impact multiple sectors—technology, environment, economy.

For the team from ITB SITH, this moment is a springboard. For Indonesia’s startup ecosystem, it is a milestone. The story of this startup finalist ITB SITH is a call to action: invest in talent, support circular innovation, link campus and industry, and aim global. The journey ahead will be challenging, but the foundation is now stronger. With perseverance, strategy and support, this startup finalist ITB SITH team—and others like them—will not just fly to the world, but help shape it.