Sitting One Stage, Four CEO Unicorn Open Gateway Indonesia Digital Paradise

INDUSTRY.co.id - Bali, Four Unicorn Indonesia first sit one stage. They became the opening gate of Indonesia Digital Paradise, an ecosystem that allows global and national investors to develop the digital economy in Indonesia as well as startup companies growing and developing with regulatory ease and certainty of funding.

CEO of Go-Jek Nadiem Makarim, CEO of Traveloka Ferry Unardi, Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwijaya, and CEO of Bukalapak Achmad Zaky invaded investors to understand and exploit the potential of digital economy in Indonesia.

Not only that, in Lane of Fame of Unicorn Indonesia session at 1st NextICorn International Summit, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (09/05/2018), they share their experience to make startup become unicorn.

In a session moderated by Rudiantara's Minister of Communications and Informatics, the four leaders unicorned the challenges and opportunities they faced when building start-ups to achieve unicorn status.

William Tanuwidjaya asserted as an archipelagic country, it will be difficult for the government to build infrastructure evenly throughout the regions in Indonesia.

"So I think technology is the answer to e-commerce. How technology can be an enabler in democratizing processes in an archipelagic country like Indonesia, "he said.

While Achmad Zaky stressed the importance of technology role in opening access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to enter.

"8 years ago before there was Bukalapak or even Tokopedia, it was very difficult for UMKM to enter the wider market. To enter the market they must have property, must spend time running his shop. But with technology, everyone can have access. Technology bridges "the big guy" to "the small guy". We believe UMKM will grow further, "said Zaky.

To maximize the digital economy in Indonesia, in the view of William Tanuwidjaya, the most important thing is to accelerate the skill of Indonesian people.

"Be aware of global competition, accelerated skills owned by Indonesians. If our time is building a technology company, there is no such event. Once passive, now can create this program, invite role models, investors as well, "he explained.

This is in line with Ferry Unardi who explained that the issue of lack of talent in the company can be overcome by inviting the cooperation of students who have just graduated.

"The issue of talent is addressed by inviting the cooperation of fresh graduates, many smart people in Indonesia," he explained.

On the same occasion Nadiem Makarim shared with the start-ups that the beginning of building Go-Jek started from the frustration of the conditions around him.

"I never had a specific dream to have a start-up. What I have is the frustration of things that are not executed properly, the actual conditions can still be improved for the better, "explained Nadiem.

With the theme "Voyage to Indonesia as Digital Paradise", the 1st Nexticorn International Summit has brought 98 investors from 67 venture capitalists. The forum targets to facilitate meetings between investors and potential startups from Indonesia.

On the first day alone has booked more than 2000 scheduled meetings. With the meeting expected to open funding opportunities and in turn will bring a new unicorn in Indonesia.