Hackers to Hustlers: The 10th IndonesiaNEXT Programme Returns
Telkomsel has once again organised its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the development of Indonesia’s digital landscape through IndonesiaNEXT. This annual event for university students is being held for the 10th time.
This year, IndonesiaNEXT introduces a different process from previous iterations. While previous years focused on providing certification as appreciation for participants, this year the programme incorporates specific digital roles: hackers, hipsters, and hustlers.
In this context, ‘hackers’ possess programming and coding skills, a role essential for developing platforms that meet consumer needs. ‘Hipsters’ are responsible for design, while ‘hustlers’ manage marketing and business aspects to attract investor interest.
“We are attempting to guide our participants according to their respective roles. We now have hackers, hipsters, and hustlers. We are grouping them so they are not in teams from the same university. The hope is that they step out of their comfort zones, socialise, and build networks with students from other campuses,” said Andry Prixto Santoso, GM of Corporate Social Responsibility at Telkomsel, during the IndonesiaNEXT Summit 2026 Media Update & Interview Session on Friday (4/9/2026).
This year, there are 8,900 participants, from which 24 individuals have been selected. These remaining participants will be divided into eight groups. Each group consists of three people from different universities, each taking on one of the specific roles.
Addressing the 24 finalists, Andry encouraged participants to maintain communication and develop the ideas they have presented, moving beyond mere concepts to practical, everyday applications.
“We hope that, ideally, after this, you will continue to communicate to further develop your ideas. Not just as ideas, but how they can be implemented in daily life,” said Andry.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘AI Driven Digital Talents’. As part of this, participants are provided with various AI catalogues. During the ideation process, they can develop their own concepts and determine which AI tools are most suitable for their ideas. The invited speakers for the programme’s classes are also focused on AI.
“There are many types of AI used, but for the top 24, the ‘hipsters’ can learn prompt engineering,” explained Andry.
He further explained that Telkomsel is committed to continuously producing digital talent in the country to support technological advancement and the ‘Indonesia Emas 2045’ programme.
“We hope this programme delivers a significant impact, and we will continue to improve this programme in the future to make it even better,” he stated.
Previously, the programme commenced with a roadshow to four universities: Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Binus University Bekasi, and Universitas Brawijaya.