NUS Enterprise, Salim Group to launch Block71 Jakarta

• Block71 Jakarta is a 1,500sqm incubation facility located in Kuningan
• Aims to provide market access to Indonesian and Singaporean startups

NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), in partnership with Salim Group, announced the launch of Block71 Jakarta, a 1,500sqm incubation facility located in Kuningan, an area amongst Jakarta’s thriving technology community.

It aims to support innovation and entrepreneurship development in both Singapore and Indonesia, by being an ecosystem builder and global connector, which catalyses and aggregates the start-up community.

Block71 takes its name from its birthplace – the Block 71 building within the Ayer Rajah industrial estate in Singapore – which also houses NUS Enterprise, Singtel Innov8 and the Media Development Authority of Singapore.

“Block71 Jakarta will be a launch pad for Singapore entrepreneurs and innovators to build ties with the Indonesian startup community, and explore opportunities to work together. This is an example of what we hope to achieve with a network of partners to build a Global Innovation Alliance, which was a recommendation by the Singapore Committee on the Future Economy earlier this year.

“This Indonesia-Singapore partnership is also a timely one, given that 2017 marks the 50th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Indonesia. We hope Block71 Jakarta will foster a healthy two-way exchange of ideas, innovation, and expertise between Singapore and Indonesia,” said Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang.

Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita said that Indonesia needs more incubators to boost and maintain startup ecosystem.

“We will anticipate this collaboration in how it will contribute to push startup ecosystem grow,” he explains.

In addition to Singapore and Jakarta, Block71 has been established in San Francisco in the US and will expand to Suzhou, China in the near future.

When being asked about investment on Block71 Jakarta, both NUS Enterprise and Salim Group have made own different types of undisclosed investments.

“We are delighted to partner with NUS Enterprise in launching Block71 Jakarta. We have embarked upon this initiative as we want to support entrepreneurs as well as encourage new developments in Indonesia. The Salim Group’s networks and experience will facilitate the entry of start-ups and innovations to the local market and benefits the community here,” said Salim Group executive director Axton Salim.

Indonesian and Singaporean startups may use Block71 Jakarta’s global network of resources and contacts to kick start their entrepreneurial journey and gain access to international markets.

Singapore startups can gain easier market access within Indonesia and Indonesian startups can leverage upon NUS Enterprise’s entrepreneurial hubs in the US, China and Singapore, to venture into these markets.

At the same time, the initiative will also allow information exchange and connectivity between the Singapore and Indonesia startup ecosystems.

In Jakarta, both NUS Enterprise and Salim Group will work closely to cultivate a vibrant and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem and build bridges for business development in Indonesia and beyond.

“Block71 Jakarta will allow entrepreneurs and innovators from Singapore and Indonesia to work together and tap upon the combined experience and resources of NUS Enterprise and Salim Group.

“We have been identifying relevant Singapore technologies and startups that are interested in piloting or test-bedding their ideas in Indonesia and introducing them to BLOCK71 Jakarta. This new facility will also be a useful platform for NUS students who are interested in learning more about regional markets,” said NUS Enterprise chief executive officer Lily Chan.

Preliminary operations in Block71 Jakarta commenced since March 2017. Some 20 startups are based at the facility, half of which are from Singapore. Pioneering companies include Carro (a next-generation vehicle dealership and auto-financier), Viddsee (an online video platform), Circles.Life (a digital telecommunications operator), HelloBill (a mobile, point-of-sales startup), pslove company (created heat therapy patches) and 8villages (rural community empowerment portal).

Chan also adds that BLOCK71 Jakarta is open to all startups and entrepreneurs who are keen to explore Indonesian market.

“In particular, we strongly encourage companies which are developing innovative technology solutions with the potential to scale globally, to apply.”

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