From Jakarta to Bandung: NUS Enterprise Winter Programme in Entrepreneurship ignites new entrepreneurial pursuits

From Jakarta to Bandung: NUS Enterprise Winter Programme in Entrepreneurship ignites new entrepreneurial pursuits

Held for the first time in Indonesia, NUS Enterprisecollaborated with the Tarumanagara Foundation, Institut Teknologi Bandung and Universitas Indonesia to organise the second run of the NUS Enterprise Winter Programme in Entrepreneurshipfrom 5 to 12 January 2025 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Bandung.

Similar to the programme's first run in Bangkok last January, this iteration took participants through a transformative week filled with learning journeys to local Indonesian companies, mentoring sessions with industry experts, and a cultural immersion workshop where they tried playing the angklung, a traditional Indonesian musical instrument made of bamboo.

Likening her experience to being filled with childlike curiosity again, Laura Lee, a Year 1 NUS Mechanical Engineeringstudent with a passion for environmental sustainability and climate solutions, reflected on her eight-day journey in Indonesia.

As a foreigner in the country, everything felt fresh and unfamiliar - whether the food, conversations with her Indonesian peers in the programme, or even the everyday act of crossing the road. "It's perplexing at times," she reflected, "but it's also incredibly rewarding to be able to see the vastness of the world beyond Singapore."

Despite her initial apprehension, Laura transformed her journey into a vibrant tapestry of discovery. From Jakarta's electric urban pulse to Bandung's serene landscapes, each moment became a catalyst for personal growth - weaving together threads of adventure, camaraderie, and self-reflection. The trip not only expanded her horizons but also crystallised her entrepreneurial vision, revealing unexpected strengths and inspiring new perspectives that would reshape her professional trajectory.

The power of collaboration and playing to one's strengths

During team formation, the awareness that she would be the only Singaporean in the team made Laura realise communication was key and she would have to code-switch to get her ideas across effectively. With this in mind, the success of her team, ByAlgae, was no accident.

Comprising two business-savvy students, two creative designers, and Laura herself, the team brought a set of diverse skills to the table.

"Their talents, dedication to their cause, and work ethic amazed me," Laura shared. "They even meticulously combed through research papers in Bahasa Indonesia and translated them into English." Recognising her team's diverse strengths, Laura took the lead in delegating tasks, maximising each member's unique capabilities to bring life to their project.

Their winning pitch for Metland's problem statement was a testament to teamwork and strategic thinking. Guided by pitch mentors and judges like Mr Tay Kae Fong, Founder of Binomial Consulting and Co-Founder of Greenway Revolution; and Mr Paulus Timothy, Founder and CEO at Apaw Virtual Indonesia who conducted the mentoring session with the group, Laura's team learned that less is more when it comes to storytelling.

"The first step is just getting them to like you," Mr Paulus advised - a principle, Laura embraced in drafting a compelling and focused pitch.

Problem-solving can be long-term, but - on the spot?

ByAlgae's innovative solution to air pollution-using microalgae technology integrated into urban infrastructure - stood out for its blend of sustainability and design. Initially focusing on building facades, the team pivoted to urban infrastructure after their mentor's advice, honing a business-to-government approach that offered greater scalability and impact.

Despite last-minute stress and technical hurdles, Laura's creativity shone during the pitch. Her quick thinking to incorporate a face mask prop to drive home the urgency of tackling air pollution and forgo a one-minute video that reiterated issues already discussed by the previous groups, using the time instead to elaborate on the team's solutions, resulted in a captivating presentation that won over the judges.

Reflecting on her team's victory, Laura remarked, "It taught me that a great idea isn't enough - it's the story and branding that get you noticed. This experience has given me confidence in my pitching skills, though I know the journey of entrepreneurship is far from easy."

With future aspirations in sustainability and green engineering, Laura emerged from the experience more confident of her skills in pitching to a panel of judges.

A bit of culture, a bit of laughter

Beyond acquiring skills and gaining exposure to enterprises, Laura discovered that the best friendships can blossom in the most unexpected ways. For her, it was the bond forged with her Indonesian roommate, Anastasya, during their late-night giggle sessions. "Initially, I was worried about the cultural and language barriers," Laura admitted. However, simple moments, like ironing shirts together, proved to be powerful icebreakers. "That night, we laughed so hard it felt intimate to me - a genuine connection. Anastasya's uncontrollable laughter in the darkness as we watched videos of our ironing antics, I realised this was what true friendship felt like."

Another standout memory for Laura was the angklungperformance, where seated participants came together to play the instrument with instructions from the emcee. "It transcended all boundaries when the emcee conducted the crowd to play several songs, bringing to life a tune in unison. It was beautiful," Laura recalled. "The crowd became a singular entity, connected through song and dance. It's a feeling I wish I could capture forever."

Terima kasihfor the good times!

The trip was a whirlwind of unforgettable moments for Laura and fellow participants: late-night bus conversations, playing chess on the streets, karaoke parties, and trying monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a seasoning. But on top of the fun, it was the wisdom shared by mentors that left a lasting impact.

Vertex Ventures' Jessica Koh's assertion that "every start-up faces near-failure multiple times" reframed Laura's understanding of resilience. Similarly, Mr Tay's words: "The hardest thing you'll ever do is whatever you're doing right now" - underscored the perseverance required in entrepreneurship.

As her journey came to a close, it was the profound connections Laura forged - her newfound "family" - that left an indelible mark on her. Their impact transcended mere cultural or culinary exchanges; they instilled in her the invaluable lessons of embracing the unknown, nurturing an insatiable curiosity about the world, and wholeheartedly embracing novel experiences.

Reflecting on her transformative adventure, Laura shared, "While I search for an idea that I'm passionate about, this programme has prepared me to embrace future challenges with excitement and determination." The trip was a vivid reminder that stepping out of one's comfort zone can unlock not just new perspectives, but also serendipitous connections that inspire profound gratitude.

By NUS Enterprise