Student Startups Are Not a Passing Trend: Digital Business Campus Produces Young Founders
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The trend of startups among students continues to show positive growth in recent years. Campuses are no longer just spaces for theoretical learning but have evolved into innovation laboratories that give birth to various technology-based solutions. Students are increasingly bold in starting businesses early by leveraging digital opportunities to address societal needs.
This phenomenon is driven by increasing digital literacy, ease of access to technology, and stronger campus ecosystem support. Student business ideas emerge from coursework assignments, research, and real problems in their surroundings. The sectors developed are diverse, ranging from education and tourism to artificial intelligence (AI)-based services.
As a Digital Business Campus, Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM) reinforces its role through the Nusa Mandiri Startup Center (NSC) in building a startup ecosystem for students. NSC provides incubation programmes, business mentoring, pitching training, and assistance in accessing industry networks and funding opportunities.
NSC Head Siti Nurlela asserts that student startups are not merely a trend but part of the transformation in higher education based on innovation.
“Student startups are not just following digital trends but serve as a space for actualising ideas and impactful solutions. At UNM as a Digital Business Campus, we encourage students to boldly test ideas, validate markets, and build sustainable business models,” she stated in a press release received on Tuesday (23/3/2026).
She added that the role of NSC extends beyond technical guidance to ensuring every idea has a clear development direction.
“We accompany students from idea exploration, business model formulation, to readiness for pitching to investors. The goal is not just to produce startups but to create young founders ready to compete in the digital industry,” she said.
Through collaboration between students, lecturers, and NSC, Universitas Nusa Mandiri continues to strengthen the campus startup ecosystem. Students are not only prepared as job seekers but also as job creators capable of generating employment in the digital economy era.
“The challenges of the startup world are indeed increasingly complex. However, with consistent guidance and a supportive environment, optimism for the emergence of superior startups from university benches remains wide open. UNM as a Digital Business Campus is committed to being a growth space for the next generation of founders,” she said.