By Major Sunil Shetty, SM (Retd.)
On the sidelines of Startup Mahakumbh 2025, a premier event showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, MyStartup TV hosted an insightful conversation with Erwin Muhammad Akbar, Counsellor for Innovation for Economy at the Indonesian Embassy.
The interview, conducted by Major Sunil Shetty, looked into the vibrant startup ecosystem of Indonesia and explored opportunities for collaboration with India’s dynamic startup landscape.
The conversation began with Major Sunil Shetty asking Erwin to share insights into Indonesia’s startup ecosystem, setting the stage for a discussion on its growth, key sectors, and potential for collaboration with India.
The interview has been paraphrased for clarity and ease of understanding, ensuring the core attributes and insights remain intact.
Erwin Muhammad: Certainly! Indonesia’s startup scene is among Asia’s pioneers, with 2,000 to 5,000 active startups. We’ve seen remarkable success, including two to three decacorns and several unicorns thriving in sectors like agriculture, transportation, retail, and healthcare. At Startup Mahakumbh, the Indonesian Embassy is showcasing our startups to the Indian audience, aiming to foster collaborations, attract investors, and explore joint ventures with Indian startups. Given India’s robust startup ecosystem, we see great potential for cooperation between our two developing nations to strengthen our startup landscapes.
Major Sunil Shetty: You’ve been here for three days at Startup Mahakumbh. How has the experience been, and have you formed any significant connections?
Erwin Muhammad: The event is buzzing with a huge crowd, offering ample opportunities to discuss collaborations and investments. Our startups have garnered strong interest, with offers to join incubators and accelerators from various Indian states. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re thrilled with the connections we’ve made, paving the way for partnerships with India’s vibrant startup community.
Major Sunil Shetty: Are there opportunities for Indian startups, incubators, or investors to engage with Indonesia’s startup ecosystem?
Erwin Muhammad: India and Indonesia share similar startup ecosystems, particularly in private sector innovation and technologies like AI and deep tech. Both nations are at comparable stages of development, making collaboration mutually beneficial. On the government level, our Ministry of Digital and Communication has already signed agreements with its Indian counterpart, which we hope to build upon for deeper cooperation.
Major Sunil Shetty: Looking ahead, do you foresee Indonesian startups visiting India to explore partnerships?
Erwin Muhammad: Definitely. Several Indonesian startups already view India as a prime destination for collaboration and investment. We plan to encourage more to visit, experience India’s well-established startup ecosystem, and leverage its opportunities for growth and partnerships.
Major Sunil Shetty: Thank you, Mr. Erwin Muhammad Akbar, for joining us on MyStartup TV!
