The Next Billion Ecosystem (Nex-BE) Festival 2024, a key event organized by MDI Ventures and Telkom Indonesia, aims to boost digital inclusion by fostering collaboration between startups and state-owned enterprises (BUMN). This annual festival, held on December 5, 2024, in Jakarta, marks its fifth iteration and is set to play a pivotal role in accelerating Indonesia’s digital transformation.

Telkom Indonesia’s Director of Digital Business, Fajrin Rasyid, emphasized the company's commitment to digital ecosystem development. “We see Nex-BE Fest as a strategic initiative that can open up new opportunities for collaboration and connect innovations brought by startups with BUMN,” Rasyid said during his opening remarks. This collaboration aims to drive sustainable growth by leveraging the strengths of both startups and large corporations in Indonesia.

With the theme Bridging Digital Inclusivity & Sustainable Growth through Synergy Collaboration, the festival brings together over 50 startups from MDI Ventures’ portfolio and more than 50 BUMN companies and Telkom Group entities. The goal is to explore business synergies and foster partnerships that can lead to digital innovation across various industries.

Nex-BE Fest 2024 has set ambitious targets. The event is expected to generate synergy values of up to Rp 4 trillion (approximately $256 million). The business matchmaking sessions play a central role in this process, where startups present their digital solutions to BUMN representatives in search of potential collaborations. This initiative reflects Telkom Indonesia’s strategy of being a catalyst for digital transformation, facilitating technology transfers, and increasing the adoption of digital solutions across the nation.

Apart from business matchmaking, the event also includes Nex-PERT INSIGHT, a series of thematic workshops focused on practical topics such as legal, technology, and finance. These workshops aim to equip startups with the knowledge and insights necessary to successfully collaborate with BUMN entities.

In addition to fostering collaboration, Nex-BE Fest 2024 resulted in seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between startups and BUMN companies. These agreements signify new digital synergies that are expected to drive further innovation.

MDI Ventures’ CEO, Donald Wihardja, highlighted the event’s success in facilitating partnerships that have resulted in a cumulative synergy value of around Rp 12 trillion (approximately $780 million). Wihardja noted that the event’s impact is growing year after year, with participant numbers increasing by 3.2 times, business meetings rising by 5.4 times, and synergy values growing 2.7 times compared to the event’s earlier years.

This growing enthusiasm for digital collaboration demonstrates a robust commitment to sustainable progress in Indonesia’s digital landscape. The event illustrates MDI Ventures’ ongoing dedication to fostering technological innovation and strategic collaborations that drive long-term growth.

As Nex-BE Fest 2024 concludes, the festival leaves a strong mark on Indonesia’s digital ecosystem, promising even greater strides toward inclusivity and innovation in the coming years.

ANTARA