On May 21, the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub in Jakarta became the most exciting room in the city — filled with the bold ideas and boundless energy of Indonesia’s next generation of innovators. Ten young startup teams took the stage, each with a bold answer to one of Indonesia’s most pressing challenges: how do we fix our energy and environment problems — and build a business doing it?
This was the MAJU:ON 2026 Final Demo Day, the culmination of a year-long entrepreneurship initiative led by SK Innovation E&S in partnership with UD Impact, a Korean ESG solutions firm. The MAJU:ON project was built on a simple but powerful idea: give Indonesian youth the tools, training, and support they need to turn real-world energy and environmental challenges into viable startups.
| Korea and Indonesia, Side by Side
The event opened with remarks from key figures across government and industry. SK Innovation E&S executives were joined by representatives from the Indonesian government and the Korean Embassy in Jakarta — a reflection of the strong bilateral partnership that has powered MAJU:ON from the start.
Since 2025, SK Innovation E&S has supported Indonesian young entrepreneurs at every stage of the startup journey — from idea development and business education to networking and investor access.
Dr. Ir. Hariyanto, Director General at Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), expressed his appreciation in his opening address: “We are grateful to SK Innovation E&S for its meaningful contribution to developing the next generation of leaders in Indonesia’s energy sector. We hope this initiative continues to open doors for young entrepreneurs driving innovation in our industry.”
| AI Meets Climate Tech: A New Lens for Big Problems
The keynote set the tone for the day. Bayu Seto, Partner at Living Lab Ventures — the venture capital arm of Sinar Mas Land, Indonesia’s largest property developer — took the stage to explore how AI is reshaping the energy and climate tech landscape. Drawing on real-world examples, he made the case that artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool for efficiency; it’s becoming a core engine for entrepreneurial solutions to climate and environmental challenges. For the competing teams, it was both timely and thought-provoking.
| From 220 Applicants to 10 Finalists: The MAJU:ON Journey
Before the pitches began, the program paused to reflect on how far the project had come. A highlight reel of MAJU:ON’s first year told the story. Launched in September 2025, the program attracted over 220 applicant teams— a response so overwhelming that applications had to close early. From there, 127 teams completed a four-week education program, and a hackathon narrowed the field to the 10 finalists who stood on stage that day.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. MAJU:ON has built a growing ecosystem connecting Indonesian universities, venture capitalists, state-owned enterprises, and both local and Korean businesses. Partnerships with eight leading universities — including Universitas Indonesia and Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) — laid the foundation. A hackathon in November and a Networking Day in February expanded the web of connections between startups, government, and investors.
Looking ahead, the program also unveiled Action AI, a new AI-powered entrepreneurship education platform designed to help young people across Asia identify social challenges and develop actionable solutions. Building on the experience gained through MAJU:ON, Action AI is set to expand across universities in Indonesia, India, and beyond.
| Ten Ideas. One Goal: A Better Future.
The heart of the day belonged to the Top 10 finalists. Each team presented a solution shaped by months of coaching, iteration, and real-world testing — proof that a good idea, given the right support, can become something far more.
| Key Solutions from the 10 Finalist Teams of MAJU:ON 2026 Final Demo Day | |
|---|---|
| Team | Solution |
| Mecara Tech | A smart home energy management system that detects and controls electricity waste in real time |
| Weara Tech | An integrated wearable authentication platform covering ID verification, payments, and high-risk workplace security |
| AIGRA | An AI-powered intelligent storage monitoring system to prevent post-harvest crop losses |
|
GISACT ⭐ Grand Prize |
A geospatial insight platform that turns complex location data into actionable decisions — from disaster response to agriculture |
| Aruponics | A smart aquaponics system combining AI and IoT to automate fish farming and vegetable cultivation simultaneously |
| Jelajah Rattan | A transparent supply chain platform that tracks Indonesian rattan from harvest to global market, boosting its value |
| Life Guards | A natural coating spray made from potato starch waste that extends produce freshness by over 10 days — and replaces plastic packaging |
| Catalyssum | A reusable, high-efficiency eco-catalyst that dramatically lowers the cost of producing biodiesel from seaweed waste |
| GoTani | A multi-channel direct marketing platform connecting farmers to buyers with real-time price transparency |
| Manacaina | An on-site water purification solution bringing clean drinking water to remote islands and highland communities |
What stood out wasn’t just the creativity — it was the rigor. Every team leveraged AI, IoT, or data analytics not as a buzzword, but as a practical foundation for a scalable business model. These weren’t student projects. They were market-ready pitches.
Judging was carried out by a panel of Korean and Indonesian venture capitalists and accelerators, who evaluated each team on market differentiation, growth potential, team capability, and AI application. The audience also participated through a live mock investment exercise, adding a layer of real investor energy to the room.
Five teams took home awards across three main prizes and two special recognitions:
- 🥇 Grand Prize ($4,000) — GISACT
- 🥈 Excellence ($2,500) — AIGRA
- 🥉 Honorable Mention ($1,500) — Life Guards
- 🤖 AI Performance Award — Aruponics
- 💡 Investment MVP — Weara Tech
The top three winners, along with the AI Performance and Investment MVP recipients, also received an invitation to visit Korea. The five teams will take part in a Korea-Indonesia joint conference this September, where they will have the opportunity to connect with Korean young entrepreneurs.
The Grand Prize went to GISACT, whose geospatial insight platform impressed judges with its versatility and real-world applicability across sectors as different as disaster management and precision agriculture.
“The step-by-step, structured training through MAJU:ON helped us turn our idea into a real business,” said Anjar Dimara Sakti, CEO of GISACT. “We’re deeply grateful for the support that’s helped Indonesian young entrepreneurs bring their goals to life — and dream bigger about global markets.”
| A Starting Line, Not a Finish Line
The MAJU:ON 2026 Final Demo Day was a milestone — but more importantly, it was a launching pad. The ten teams that took the stage showed what becomes possible when young people are given the space, structure, and support to tackle the problems that matter most.
SK Innovation E&S remains committed to that mission. Through MAJU:ON, the company will continue championing Indonesia’s young entrepreneurs and strengthening the Korea-Indonesia partnership that makes this work possible.
“We hope MAJU:ON can serve as a bridge connecting the industrial ecosystems of Indonesia and Korea,” said Shon Dong-kun, Head of SK Innovation E&S Indonesia.
The ideas are out there. The energy is real. And with SK Innovation E&S and MAJU:ON, the journey continues
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