Startup PRIME STeP 2025 Socialization: ITB Facilitates Technological Innovation Through Incubation and Acceleration

Bandung, dkst.itb.ac.id – The Directorate of Science and Technology Area (DKST) ITB has reopened registration for the PRIME STeP 2025 Startup Incubation and Acceleration program. This program is a sustainable initiative designed to provide concrete support for the development of technology-based innovations, especially from the ITB academic community and its alumni. Through the socialization conducted online, the organizing committee conveyed a general overview of the program, funding schemes, and participant requirements.

PRIME STeP serves as a mentoring platform for teams currently striving to transform research results into products or services that are more ready to enter the market. Instead of being a pure business competition or selection event, this program is emphasized more as a coaching and facilitation process, with infrastructure support, mentoring, and funding access tailored to the readiness level of each team.

In the program structure offered this year, PRIME STeP is divided into two main tracks: incubation and acceleration. The incubation track is aimed at teams currently building the initial foundation of a research-based business. The focus of this program is to facilitate the business model validation process, acquire the first customers, and manage product legality. The submitted products are expected to have reached a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 and be developed by startups aged between six months to five years. Preferably, the founders are part of the ITB academic community, be it lecturers, students, educational staff, or alumni. This program also provides funding support of up to IDR 150 million for each selected startup, with the condition that the team is not currently receiving other funding for the same financing components.

Meanwhile, the acceleration track is intended for startups that have shown initial growth and need to expand their market or strengthen their business foundation. The acceleration program is divided into two cycles: the first cycle focuses on advanced validation and increasing production capacity, while the second cycle is directed more towards strengthening market strategies and business growth. For startups joining this track, the maximum allowable age is seven years, provided they already have a legal entity and complete legality. It is also prioritized that the startup has active customers, functional products, and a good user retention rate. For startups entering the second cycle, they will be prioritized if they already have stable or increasing market demand, a market-validated product price, as well as a clear cost structure and supply chain. The maximum funding scheme for this acceleration program reaches IDR 500 million per startup, depending on the readiness and feasibility level demonstrated during the selection.

PRIME STeP offers a rational entry point for technology developers within the ITB environment to start testing and maturing their startup innovations. Registration for this program is open until June 26, 2025, with the selection process taking place throughout July. Teams that pass the selection will begin participating in a series of activities from August to November. Further information regarding the program's structure and technical provisions can be accessed through the guideline document at bit.ly/guideline-primestep-startupitb.