University of Indonesia (UI) through the Business Unit Management and Development Directorate for the University of Indonesia (DPPU UI) is forming a strategic partnership with Grab, a leading everyday super app in Southeast Asia, to support the education, research, and community services in the university. Through its Grab Ventures Velocity (GVV) program, Grab will also be a strategic partner to the university’s development programme to nurtur startups focused in the technology, medical, and social fields.

This partnership was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by UI Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Anis, M.Met and President of Grab Indonesia Ridzki Kramadibrata, conducted on Thursday (16/5) at the Ruang Apung UI Kampus Depok. The signing of the partnership was also witnessed by the Deputy Rector of UI for HR and Cooperation Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Priadi, DEA; Executive Director of Grab Indonesia Ongki Kurniawan; and PPU UI Director Dr. drg. Nia Ayu Ismaniati Noerhadi, MDSc., Sp.Ort(K).

A number of potential startups born from UI’s academic community incubation will be mentored in a program called “UI Works” Accelerator Program, partnering with Code Margonda as the organizer. This program is intended to assist all UI’s academic community as well as the young generation outside of the UI campus who have startups that already have a prototype or a beta version of its product.

“UI Works” Accelerator Program is divided into three phases: (1) Pre-Accelerator; (2) Accelerator; and (3) Demo Day. In the (1) Pre-Accelerator phase, candidates will join a selection process to find the ideal startups for the program. Next, in the (2) Accelerator phase, the selected startups will join an intensive program for around 4 months to develop their business at a commercial level with the help of . professionals and entrepreneurs from successful startups invited to train the participants. The final phase will be the (3) Demo Day where the selected startups will meet with investors who are ready to mentor and grow their business. As a strategic partner of the “UI Works” Accelerator Program, Grab Ventures Velocity (GVV) will participate in the Second Phase as a mentor or guest speaker, and to evaluate selected startups who will pass to the Third Phase and get the chance to be mentored further in the GVV program.

President of Grab Indonesia, Ridzki Kramadibrata, said, “At Grab, we believe in the power of technology to make life better for everyone. This partnership with Universitas Indonesia is in line with Grab’s commitment to Indonesia that is summarized in the ‘Grab 4 Indonesia’ Masterplan 2020 in which we fully support job creation as well as  increase the capacity of local talents in information technology, technopreneurship and technology innovation. Our Grab Ventures program is in line with the mission of the Ministry of Communications and Information as well as the Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF) at finding and developing next generation technology leaders in Southeast Asia, while also encouraging innovation and digitalization. With this partnership, we hope to contribute in forming more technopreneurs so they can develop technological solutions and create new economic opportunities in the country.”

UI’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Anis, M.Met. adds, “As the best university in Indonesia, UI is committed to support the nation through research and innovation. UI is also supporting students to create startups, so they can create more job opportunities in the future. Today’s event is evidence of UI‘s Entrepreneurship and Innovation spirit supported by a digital industry player who is also a Decacorn, Grab. We hope that this collaboration can continue to stimulate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship with UI’s academic community to create the best-in-class startup company that will take Indonesian economy to the next level.”

Launched in July 2018, Grab Ventures is Grab’s venture building and venture investments arm. Through GVV, Grab Ventures offers access to its vast customer base, mentorship and access to Grab’s technology assets for startups to test their services via Grab’s ecosystem. Grab Ventures is the latest ‘Grab 4 Indonesia’ initiative to support the growth of the tech startup ecosystem in the country. Grab will invest an additional IDR3 trillion (US$250 million) into Indonesia in the next 3 years through Grab Ventures’ Velocity scale-up programme.

Other than nurturing startup, Grab and UI’s partnership will also include Engineering Talent Future Leaderprogram, in which last year’s UI students from technical majors can join the selection program for an internship opportunity at Grab’s Indonesia or Singapore office. The registration starts from 16th May 2019.

In addition to the MOU signing, a Talk Show with Head of Projects, Grab Ventures Indonesia, Fei Liong on “How to Grow Your Startup and Get Funding” accompanied by Code Margonda Co-founder Wicak Hidayat introduced the“UI Works” Accelerator Program to the students, moderated by Dewi Meisari day. The partnership between Grab and UI hopefully would grow new startups in UI as well as becoming a creative and innovative platform for Indonesian youth.