Communication and Informatics Minister Will Keep Driving Startup Companies Become 'Unicorn'
By : Hariyanto And Aldi Firhand A | Wednesday, September 13 2017 - 19:05 IWST
Minister of Communications and Information of the Republic of Indonesia (Menkominfo) Rudiantara (Hariyanto / INDUSTRY.co.id)
INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Communication and Informatics Minister (Menkominfo) Rudiantara said it will continue to encourage the emergence of startup companies that are able to grow into unicorns, a company with valuations through US $ 1 billion.
Next Indonesia Unicorn (NextICorn) is an initiative that was held collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Venture Capital Association of Indonesia (Amvesindo), and Ernas & Young. In the first NextCorn is endorsed by Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), bringing in Japanese investor companies to glance at startup in Indonesia. "The target is five to 2019," he said in the Press Conference Next Indonesia Unicorn (NextICorn) in Jakarta, Tuesday (12/09/2017).
On the occasion Menkominfo said, NextICorn is an effort to create a unicorn in a more structured manner with support from stakeholders. This activity seeks to bring together the inevstor from various countries with startup Indonesia. At NextICorn this time, the startup in Indonesia was brought together with investors from Japan.
"This is the first step in all communities, governments, players, all the ecosystems of cooperation invite investors in this way. This is the first time, we should not be passive, but we are active," he said.
Jetro President Director Daiki Kasugahara said Japanese investors have an interest in many things related to finance, payment and health. On this occasion, 20 Japanese companies were brought in trade and venture capital firms.
Vice Chairman of the Association of Venture Capital All of Indonesia, Donald Wihardja said, foreign investors are needed given the current in Indonesia it is difficult to get big funding for startup to achieve unicorn.
"The issue of our VC in Indonesia is not rich enough, big enough to lead investment, what we need is senior investment from Japan like that Sogo Shosa, a conglomerate," he said.
He added, although in fact in Indonesia has a number of conglomerates, but until now not entered to fund startup. "Our hope with this can convince them to dare to enter a large number, who dared to enter 5 million dollars to startup (pioneer) is needed," he said.
Meanwhile, related targets five to 2019 according to him can be achieved considering there are three unicorns are Gojek, Tokopedia and Traveloka.
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