Jakarta’s metro rail company seeks to work with startups via new accelerator

Indonesian metro rail company MRT Jakarta said it’s launching its own accelerator program to forge partnerships with startups and launch new solutions that would benefit both parties.

Photo credit: MRT Jakarta

MRT Jakarta is a government-owned company formed to operate Jakarta’s mass rapid transit systems. The first subway service in the archipelago, it started operations in March last year.

Its new initiative, dubbed MRT Jakarta Accel, welcomes startups with innovative products or services, with the end goal of commercializing these solutions together with MRT Jakarta.

“Since this is our first accelerator program, we don’t focus on [any particular] industry, so all startups are encouraged to apply,” MRT Jakarta head of business expansion Nicodemus Winata told Tech in Asia. 

Through the six-month program, selected startups will gain access to MRT Jakarta’s mobility ecosystem, including its passengers, station facilities, vehicles, and transit-oriented development areas around its stations.

They will also be mentored by the MRT Jakarta team and other members of the Asian startup community, including those from Bukalapak, BeliMobilGue, BRI Ventures, MDI Ventures, East Ventures, and Vertex Ventures.

Although direct funding from the company will not be part of the program, MRT Jakarta Accel hopes to open up more investment opportunities for the participating companies, Winata said.

Interested startups may apply starting June 8. To qualify, they must at least have a viable product and a team comprising of Indonesian citizens. MRT Jakarta is set to announce the qualified startups on July 30.

As part of the integration process, participating startups are expected to finalize the business model of their projects, which must be geared towards revenue creation. MRT Jakarta may consequently offer long-term agreements with startups based on the performance of their projects.

“Startups have brought many new solutions or services to Indonesia […] MRT Jakarta believes [that] through collaboration with startups, MRT Jakarta can solve mobility-related problems faster and more efficiently,” the company said on its website.

The company has earlier formed partnerships with startups such as Gojek, Grab, Ovo, and Moka for coordination of pick-up and drop-off points, payments, and point-of-sale services.