Don't Be a Spectator in the Startup World: It's Time for Students to Take the Lead
A massive wave of digital economy is unfolding before our eyes. Today, Indonesia is no longer just a market but has transformed into one of the largest centres of startup growth in Southeast Asia. The question is no longer whether the opportunities exist, but who is ready to seize them.
Unfortunately, many students still position themselves as spectators. The mindset of ‘study–graduate–find a job’ still dominates, even though the economic landscape has changed dramatically. In the digital era, students have far broader opportunities: becoming innovators, building startups, and even creating jobs while still on campus.
The e-Conomy SEA report from Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company projects that Indonesia’s digital economy will exceed more than $130 billion in the coming years. This figure is not mere optimism but a reflection of the massive growth in e-commerce, fintech, and various app-based services.
Behind these numbers lies a vast space that remains open—a space that should be filled by the younger generation. Students, with their creativity and proximity to technology, have a natural advantage to enter this ecosystem. They understand trends, user behaviour, and digital dynamics faster than previous generations.
However, opportunities will not turn into success without readiness. This is where the role of higher education becomes crucial. Universities can no longer suffice as centres of theoretical learning alone; they must transform into ecosystems that nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.
Universitas Nusa Mandiri, as a Digital Business Campus, views higher education as needing to meet the demands of the times. Students are not only equipped with theory but are also encouraged to think creatively, dare to take risks, and execute ideas into real solutions.
Building a startup is not just about brilliant ideas. Many good ideas fail because they are never realised. The biggest challenge lies in the courage to start and consistency in development. In the current era, barriers to starting a digital business are increasingly low. Technology has opened wide access, from product creation to marketing.
Furthermore, support for Indonesia’s startup ecosystem is also growing stronger. The government, investors, and digital communities continue to encourage the birth of new innovations. This is a momentum that students must not miss.
Nevertheless, a strong ecosystem remains key. Students need spaces to learn from real practice, access to mentors, and opportunities to collaborate with industry. Without that, their great potential could be hindered.
At UNM, various technology- and digital business-based programmes are designed to meet these needs. With an adaptive learning approach and flagship study programmes like Informatics, Information Systems, and Data Science, students are encouraged to develop not just as job seekers but as opportunity creators.
The future of Indonesia’s digital economy will be greatly determined by the boldness of its youth. Students can no longer just follow the flow. They must become part of the change, even its drivers.
The choice lies in the hands of today’s young generation: remain mere users of technology, or transform into innovators who create solutions.
Because in the end, amid the rapid current of digitalisation, those who dare to start early will have an irreplaceable advantage. And that future, truly, begins with the small steps taken today.