Indonesia’s startup founders: Get ready for the return of Southeast Asia’s largest pitch battle

Indonesia is home to some of Southeast Asia’s most renowned startups – you’d be hard pressed to find someone in the tech scene who’s never heard of the likes of ecommerce firms Bukalapak and Tokopedia, travel booking platform Traveloka, or super app Gojek.

The successes of these businesses have paved the way for more people in the country to find ways in which technology can make Indonesians’ lives better. One area that constantly needs innovative minds to develop solutions is the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sector.

“ESG is critical. Earth, the biggest platform of all time, is deteriorating in plain sight. We are merely the guardians of this platform for the next generation,” said Willson Cuaca, co-founder and managing partner of East Ventures.

To shine the spotlight on some of these fledgling founders, Tech in Asia Conference’s adrenaline-pumping, hotly anticipated Startup Arena Pitch Battle is back. This time, we’re looking for innovative startups across the region that are tackling ESG issues.

“We are excited to see what the companies joining Tech in Asia’s Startup Arena will come up with to fix those issues,” added Cuaca.

Selected applicants will pitch their startups on a virtual stage in front of a live audience and a panel of judges during the semifinals on September 15. The eight finalists will then head straight to the ultimate pitch battle on October 13 at the Tech in Asia Conference 2021.

The finalists of this year’s Startup Arena Pitch Battle will walk away with cash prizes, and the winner will get media coverage for their company on Tech in Asia. Finalists will also earn a fee waiver worth up to US$10,000 in credit for Xendit, over US$4,000 worth of Google Cloud credits, a complimentary two-month trial to App Annie Lite, and more, on top of a four-day pass to the conference, two conference exhibitor passes, and post-event video access to all sessions.

Up for a challenge?

The Startup Arena Pitch Battle is a Tech in Asia Conference tradition where we handpick promising early-stage startups across the region – often before they’ve received any funding – and hand them a stage for the pitch of a lifetime. Participating startups get instant exposure to hundreds of investors, international media coverage, and potential customers.

Past participants include Astroscale, Uiza, Eztable, GPU Eater, Swingvy, Halofina, and 8 Securities, which was acquired by US fintech firm SoFi last year.

Together with East Ventures, we’re bringing the Startup Arena Pitch Battle to Singapore, Indonesia, and the rest of Southeast Asia.

If you’re a founder in Southeast Asia with:

• A working prototype showcasing a solution
• Less than US$3 million worth of external funds raised
• Proven traction and a strong team
• An English-language pitch
• A focus on ESG issues, including but not limited to:
• Renewable energy
• Digital inclusion (financial inclusion, societal inclusion, etc.)
• Waste management
• Food security
• Battery technologies
• Clean and/or green tech
• Decarbonization
• Healthcare
• Circular economy
• Social and/or corporate governance

Then we want you. If you are selected, you will win:

• A two-day virtual exhibition booth at Tech in Asia Conference 2021
• Two exhibitor passes giving you access to all segments of the conference
• Post-event video access to all conference sessions
• Attractive perks and prizes
• Office hours with East Ventures

To apply for a pitching slot, click the button below and register by 11:59 p.m. SGT on August 29, 2021.

And if you’re not ready to pitch your startup at Startup Arena, you can still partake in other insightful segments and build your network at the Tech in Asia Conference 2021 by registering as attendees. Get your tickets now to shave more than 60% off your conference passes!

East Ventures is a pioneering sector-agnostic venture capital firm in Indonesia. Founded in 2009, East Ventures has transformed into a holistic platform that provides multi-stage investment, including seed and growth, for over 190 companies in Southeast Asia.

Learn more about East Ventures on its website.

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.