Business Idea Generation: Exploring the Potential of Technology Startups

Bandung, lpik.itb.ac.id – Business Idea Generation is a routine program initiated by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, Bandung Institute of Technology (LPIK ITB) with the aim of increasing the knowledge and understanding of young entrepreneurs regarding technology-based businesses, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem at ITB, and fostering a spirit of collaboration among young entrepreneurs both from the student community and alumni of ITB faculties/schools.

The Business Idea Generation (BIG) program is part of the TOP series and was initiated by LPIK ITB. The TOP and BIG programs are routinely held every year by LPIK ITB, both face-to-face and online. This learning activity consists of workshops, seminars, training, coaching (business mentoring), and practical product prototype development. Each instructor will prepare learning methods, materials, and media such as lectures, Q&A, interactive discussions, practices, interviews, as well as applications and software relevant to the activities carried out.

The participants will be grouped into several teams consisting of students from multidisciplinary study programs. Group members will play the roles of Hustler, Hipster, and Hacker. The topics discussed in BIG are divided into 3 streams, namely:

1. The business stream provides the basics and techniques to become a hustler
2. The creative stream aims to equip students with the basics of UI/UX
3. The technical stream is a workshop on building a product roadmap and business intelligence

The series of BIG activities this time was held in a hybrid manner, both face-to-face and online. It began with the Socialization activity on February 7, 2024, followed by the Opening ceremony on February 19, 2024, at the 2nd Floor Auditorium of the SBM ITB Building, continued with Class Workshops for three consecutive days on February 20-22, 2024, online via Zoom, and concluded with the Final and Closing of the event on February 27, 2024, located at the ITB East CC Auditorium.

The total number of participants who joined the BIG program was 74 participants. Dominated by ITB students, while the rest were ITB alumni and students from outside ITB. The 74 registered participants were each grouped into 16 teams by considering the results of the hacker, hipster, and hustler potential tests. The hope is that each team can contribute to each other according to their roles and build a solid team in developing business ideas. This program was created as a form of competition, where the difference from the previous implementation is that the three best teams will receive a special recommendation to advance to the Hult Prize program.

The speakers presented to hone the business development potential of these young entrepreneurs came from professional circles. The Hacker class was guided by Yugnan Adi Sasongko, Founder & CEO of Finplan ID, while the Hipster class was filled by a team from UX Specialty, namely Bengris Pasaribu (UX consultant) and Hanny Zora Agustina (CEO of UX Specialty), and the Hustler class was accompanied by Nazmi Ahmad, Founder & CEO of Bigg Fellas and Kewirus, who is also an advisor at the Ministry of MSMEs.

From the 16 teams formed, through independent selection, the committee curated and selected the top 10 to proceed to the final presentation session. In the final presentation, a jury team from various backgrounds was presented, including: Dr. Alvanov Zpalanzani, MM. representing academics who is a Lecturer at FSRD ITB; Sarah Ismullah, Director of PT. Generasi Anak Super; Ksatriya Anantayutya as Head of Business Development at Efishery; and Surya Nugroho from the ITB Innovation Park.

Based on the judging results, Netra, Adzqo, and Sayangi were determined as the three winners. Netra is entitled to receive a grant of IDR 6,000,000 and is selected directly to join the HULT PRIZE program, Adzqo receives a grant of IDR 5,000,000 and is recommended to join the HULT PRIZE program, and Sayangi receives a grant of IDR 4,000,000. Through the BIG program, it is hoped to prepare the youth to contribute to answering global challenges in creating new, developing, and sustainable businesses.