UNS – The Sebelas Maret Startup Academy (Semesta) for Independent Entrepreneurs at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta hosted the Semesta WMK UNS Demo Day. Held at Solo Techno Park, the event with the theme “Sustainability Sparks: Igniting Youth Entrepreneurship” took place over two days, starting on Saturday (9/12/2023). The activities included seminars and talk shows, a startup summit, and an expo.
The Semesta WMK UNS Demo Day was attended by 300 students from 24 universities. Over 40 booths showcased products from startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) supported by UNS. Sixteen pre-startups and eight startups showcased their work from the Semesta Bright 2023 incubation program.
The exhibition featured works from the Innovation Development Program (PPI) & Research on the Creation and Presentation of Art and Design (P3SD), demonstrating innovations from more than 15 faculties and incubator showcases. Products ranged from the food and beverage sector to creative industries, arts, tourism, cultivation, business, services, and trade.
The first day of the Semesta WMK UNS Demo Day presented several seminars and talk-show sessions. The Entrepreneurial Seminar kicked off the event, followed by CEO Talks, where speakers discussed innovation, culture, and sustainability. The seminar sessions concluded with Enterprising Talks, featuring speakers discussing innovation, culture, and sustainability.
The Startup Summit will be held on the second day of the Semesta WMK UNS Demo Day. Startup teams will present their business ideas to receive feedback and potential investment opportunities. The Investment Summit session, the final presentation, and speed dating in front of potential investors to secure funding and growth opportunities will also take place.
Over 20 weeks, students received entrepreneurship training, going through pre-immersion and immersion stages. The Demo Day is the next stage they are undergoing, the post-immersion stage. The Coordinator of the Semesta WMK UNS Demo Day, Khresna Bayu Sangka, S.E., M.M., Ph.D., CMILT., in his remarks, stated that, like other MBKM schemes, students would receive recognition of up to 20 credits through this entrepreneurship activity.
“Today is the culmination of our activities, where students showcase what they have done for the past 20 weeks,” Kreshna, Ph.D. said.
To the students, the Director of Innovation and Downstreaming Directorate at UNS, Prof. Venty Suryanti, S.Si., M.Phil., Ph.D., congratulated them on their achievements so far. She assessed that the students were selected and trained talents. At the end of this program, they are considered ready to become independent young entrepreneurs.
“This exhibition is a space for innovation and creativity inspired by the ideas of students. Semesta WMK participants are selected and trained talents. They are ready to become independent young entrepreneurs,” she said.
Dr. Nila Tristiarini, SE, MSi, CSRA, the Manager of the Entrepreneurial Matchmaking Program Wirausaha Merdeka, hoped that this program would generate a spirit of sustainability. The end of this program is actually the beginning of students’ struggle to become entrepreneurs. After graduation, entrepreneurial students also have the potential to contribute to job creation.
“The hope for this Merdeka Entrepreneur program is to create new entrepreneurs because the target is to have 1 million new entrepreneurs in Indonesia,” Dr. Nila expressed.
Representing the Mayor of Surakarta, Assistant to the Economy and Development Secretary of Surakarta City, Ir. Gatot Sutanto, M.Si., conveyed that the Semesta WMK UNS 2023 Demo Day is expected to be the starting point for instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in the younger generation. On the other hand, Gatot, on behalf of the Surakarta City Government, thanked such activities for contributing to job creation.
“The city government’s commitment is to encourage existing MSMEs to partner here. In economic shocks, the strongest and most resilient are MSMEs,” Gatot stated. Humas UNS
Reporter: R. P. Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti