Jakarta, CNN Indonesia - Having succeeded in becoming the leading super-app in Southeast Asia, Gojek has again taken an initiative to empower young people, especially in eastern Indonesia by utilizing technology.

This time Gojek launched the Muda Maju Bersama program by collaborating with Telkom Indonesia through the Indonesia Telecommunication & Digital Research Institute (ITDRI). This cooperation was carried out through the signing of an MoU between Gojek and Telkom-ITDRI, Thursday (15/4).

This acceleration program aims to find and develop startups in Eastern Indonesia, so that they can grow rapidly and create a wider positive social impact.

VP Strategic Regional Gojek East Indonesia Anandita Danaatmadja stated that his party sees the use of technology as the fastest way to have a positive impact on the wider community.

As the work of the nation's children, Gojek not only innovates to provide solutions to everyday problems through technology, but also has a duty to support innovators so that they have opportunities to develop and can provide the widest possible benefit to society.

"From our experience at Gojek, we realize that a continuous learning process for startup companies, not only survives but also continues to grow," he said.

Through the Muda Maju Bersama program in collaboration with Telkom-ITDRI, continued Anandita, many innovations will be created for real solutions to various challenges that exist in society.

The Muda Maju Bersama Program will provide an intensive six-month acceleration program for startups that do not have a positive impact and have successfully passed a rigorous selection process.

The preparation of the Muda Maju Bersama startup accelerated curriculum through ITDRI collaboration which has been best practice in its field and the smartfest platform in recent years has become a reference for young people in eastern Indonesia to improve soft skills that cannot be obtained formally.

Meanwhile, SGM Telkom Corporate University who is also the Chairman of ITDRI, Jemy V. Confido, said that his party had a big mission from the Ministry of BUMN, namely helping to reduce Indonesia's digital talent gap, encouraging Indonesia's technological independence, and increasing Indonesia's global innovation index.

According to him, startup development is the most effective way to achieve these three missions. Startups are platforms for innovation in the form of technology adoption and development, through the struggle to do business with these innovations, their talents develop significantly.

Telkom, he said, has experience building corporate incubators (Indigo Creative Nation Program), accelerators and further funding through corporate venture capital (PT Metra Digital Investama, MDI), employee or intrapreneur incubators (Amoeba Digital Program), to social incubators in the field of CSR. (Wirakarya Program).

Telkom also continues to develop learning platforms, such as Pijar Mahir, Pijar Sekolah and Digilearn. That does not include the innovations of creative employees such as Studext, Soundfren, and Sprinthink.

"We from Telkom-ITDRI really support this Gojek initiative, and are interested in devoting all our experiences and capabilities to the success of the Young Forward Together movement," he said.

"Through this program, we also open the widest possible collaboration between ITDRI and work networks in Eastern Indonesia, both campuses, government agencies, and communities, to be connected to our BUMN network," said Jemy.

EVP Telkom Regional VII & Regional Leader Telkom Regional VII ITDRI (Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua) Aris Dwi Tjahjanto added, the way ITDRI is like a connecting bridge. By utilizing the facilities and capacities it has, ITDRI can provide startups in the east with access to the relevant ecosystem, and conversely also ease the burden on the startup supporting ecosystem to be present and develop in the eastern region.

"It will be easier for the public to accept the explanation and value of being a startup and also other corporations, especially state-owned enterprises, to also join in supporting," he said.

Rijanto Utomo EVP Telkom Regional VI and Regional Leader Telkom Regional VI ITDRI (Kalimantan) explained that the 1,000 Startup program would start from an explanation and campaign by Gojek, information and initial registration through Gojek and there could be some supporting activities through ITDRI and its network.

"Participants can or a team, although the initial stage is individual. During these 3 months, participants have the opportunity to learn and tips on building a startup, to form a team if they do not have and develop the final innovation idea," he said.

Selected participants will take part in further development of their innovative ideas for 3 months, and eliminated up to 100 startups that will be mediated to investors (demo day). For 6 months of this assistance and the demo day will be held by ITDRI.

"Later, the most progressive startups will be mediated for pitching to potential investors, both from venture capital, corporate venture capital and corporations, at least from the state-owned company.

At least, selected startups will get capital assistance of IDR 200 million for the development and validation of the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) of their innovation.

Based on the results of Google and Temasek's research entitled e-Conomy SEA 2018, it shows that Indonesia is the country with the fastest growth and largest market size in Southeast Asia with a contribution reaching US $ 100 billion in 2025. Of the 847 registered startups, 46 startups successfully raised US $ 4.07 billion in 18 industrial verticals.

Anandita added again, that the data shows that each startup managed to receive an average of US $ 88 million in funding in one year.

"With this huge potential, we must be able to take advantage of opportunities while creating more social impacts through various technological innovations. We are optimistic that the growth of startups created by Indonesians in Eastern Indonesia will be able to compete in the international arena," concluded Anandita.

Previously published at: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/teknologi/20210415180719-190-630550/gojek-telkom-kolabor-kembangan-startup-di-indonesia-timur