UMN Hosts the Official Opening of UNIIC Demo Day 2024

The Opening of UNIIC Demo Day 2024 Hold in UMN (Doc. UMN)

Tangerang – The University Incubator Consortium (UNIIC) Demo Day 2024 is being held for the second time, with the opening event at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) on Tuesday, September 17. UNIIC Demo Day 2024 includes participation from several universities in Indonesia, including UMN, Universitas Indonesia, Telkom University, and Trisakti University. This year’s event will feature a series of activities such as workshops, business development sessions, startup pitches, and expert mentoring.

The purpose of UNIIC Demo Day 2024 is to unite business incubators from universities across several countries in Asia—including Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Uzbekistan, and Cambodia—and to engage with 15 other startups. The event serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and cultural exchange among participants.

The opening event at UMN included a workshop themed “Market Landscape of Indonesia,” led by Natali Ardianto, Co-Founder and CEO of Lifepack.

Andrey Giving His Opening Speech for UNIIC Demo Day 2024 (Doc. UMN)

“I am happy that everyone has arrived at UMN and is participating in this event. This activity is not only a competition but also a learning opportunity about business. Today, business plays a crucial role in the development of a country, and I greatly appreciate students who aspire to become entrepreneurs. Starting a business is not easy, but the advantage is they won’t need to seek jobs; instead, they can creatively establish businesses and generate new employment opportunities,” said Dr. Ir. Andrey Andoko, M.Sc., Vice Rector of UMN.

Andrey hopes that this activity not only fosters competition but also strengthens cooperation between campuses and enhances networking. According to Andrey, the event focuses not just on competition but also on the various sessions throughout the event, which provide participants with deeper insights and knowledge.

Continuing the activities, Natali shared her views on market trends in Indonesia, covering topics such as consumer behavior and growth opportunities. Additionally, Natali emphasized the importance of team strategy in business to refine each step toward success.

Natali Sharing Session on UNIIC Demo Day 2024 (Doc. UMN)

“Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world, with a population of 270 million people. The Jabodetabek area alone has 31 million people more than Australia’s entire population. I think this presents a great opportunity; the market size and buying power of Jabodetabek alone are significant,” said Natali.

Drawing on his experience in evaluating economic growth, Natali emphasized using GDP per capita as a key measure. “Indonesia’s GDP per capita stands at USD 4,777. To launch a startup, I initially focused on five main regions: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar, and Medan,” he explained.

“Moreover, developing countries like Indonesia are better suited for businesses that address current problems, unlike developed countries, where uniqueness and novelty are prioritized. Price sensitivity is also a significant factor here. For instance, using the word ‘cheap’ can have a substantial impact on the market,” Natali added.

According to Natali, social media influence and e-commerce are key market trends in Indonesia. E-commerce platforms now integrate live streaming, allowing consumers to buy products instantly. Influencers also play a crucial role—choosing the right influencer can be highly effective. Additionally, many Indonesians still prefer using Bahasa Indonesia, which reflects in marketing preferences.

“It’s challenging to implement a foreign marketing strategy in Indonesia. One approach is to conduct localized market research. Collaborating with local businesses and adapting marketing strategies to align with Indonesian culture and language are also essential,” Natali said.

While Indonesia offers vast potential, Natali also pointed out challenges and risks. “Regulations and policies are complex, especially given the rapid technological advancements. Cross-cultural differences present another challenge, as Indonesia has many provinces and diverse cultural backgrounds. Understanding and respecting each target market’s unique culture is vital,” he concluded.

Vinesh Thiruchelvam as Chief Innovation and Enterprise of Asia Pacific University Malaysia (Doc. UMN)

“When we first launched UNIIC, only six universities from Asian countries participated. Now, we’ve successfully expanded to include institutions from Africa and Uzbekistan. UNIIC serves as an entrepreneurial platform designed to connect a global community of long-term, like-minded entrepreneurs. This is why UNIIC is here to bring entrepreneurs together under one shared platform,” said Prof. Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer at Asia Pacific University, Malaysia.

Following the opening ceremony at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara, the UNIIC Demo Day 2024 continued through September 20. On the second day, September 18, a workshop on scaling a startup “from zero to hero” was presented by Ibnu Sina Wardy, Founder of Gits Indonesia. Later, participants visited Saung Angklung Udjo in Bandung, immersing themselves in local Indonesian traditions and gaining a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity within the UNIIC network.

On September 19, 2024, the event’s final day, 13 teams presented their innovative ideas to a panel of judges, including Dennis Tjandra from SPIL Ventures, Nicole Madelien from Maven Ventures, and Gavin Adrian from East Ventures.

As the event concluded on September 20, 2024, participants left with valuable connections, new investor relationships, and a deeper understanding of the vibrant culture across the Asia-Pacific region. UNIIC Demo Day further solidified its role as a cornerstone of the UNIIC community. 

By Rachel Tiffany Tanukusuma | UMN News Service

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara. www.umn.ac.id