5 essential startup tips from the people who rule Indonesia’s tech world

From left to right: Magnus Ekbom, Nabilah Alsagoff, Alex Rusli, and Patrick Williamson

One of the most difficult things about talking to successful people in the tech world is seeing through the layers of PR-department lacquer that get painted over their companies. We want juicy details on lucky successes and frustrating challenges – instead, we get rehearsed lines about starting in a garage or a college dorm, and a smooth little narrative of rising to the top.

That’s why a session called Panel Without Fear at last week’s Tech in Asia Jakarta conference was such a breath of fresh air. Helmed by the ever-provocative Magnus Ekbom, CEO of ecommerce site Lazada Indonesia, the talk dove deep into the frustrating, complicated, and real world of running a successful tech company.

Magnus grilled fellow panelists Alexander Rusli, CEO of Indonesian telecoms giant Indosat, Patrick Williamson, VP and director of business development and strategy at media powerhouse Kreatif Media Karya (KMK), and Nabilah Alsagoff, COO of Doku, Indonesia’s largest electronic payments provider.

The four talked hard truths on startup valuations, mentors, infrastructure, and more. The talk was heated, funny, and above all, informative. If you want to know what it takes to succeed in Indonesia, these are the people to listen to.

1. Fix the problem that’s right in front of you

“There is value in looking at what’s happening in the US, China, and Japan and trying to bring that here,” says Patrick. “But if you really want to do something innovative and imaginative that’s going to be adopted – think about what is in your daily life that is really annoying. How do you get around it?”

Problems in Indonesia come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are as broad and difficult as the nation’s “unbanked” individuals and inadequate cellular coverage, while others are more specific – like a lack of fun mobile games.

“In Indonesia today, anything to do with logistics and payment – those are the two areas where I’d put my money,” says Alex.

Jakarta has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world. One startup that’s attempting to tackle the issue is Go-Jek, the motorcycle-based transportation and delivery app.

“They looked at something that was frustrating and they asked ‘how can we make that easier?’” says Patrick. “We don’t have a Go-Jek in the US, that’s for sure. It’s about looking at what’s just not working, and how do I get around it. How do you develop solutions that work here?”

See Also: If you work at Go-Jek, Nadiem Makarim is your coach, sugar daddy, and friend

2. Get a mentor – and don’t expect them to work for nothing

“Those who have done something successful – be mentors!” exclaims Alex. “It’s really needed badly here. The younger companies need assistance to show them what good looks like.”

Running a team, pitching investors, and developing a strong company culture aren’t natural skills. One open secret about the startup world – and, probably, life in general – is that nobody knows what the hell they’re doing at first.

3. Look to China – sometimes

4. Don’t take infrastructure for granted

5. Patience is a virtue: Both for you and VCs