Unpad’s National Hackathon 2021: Igniting Indonesia’s Next Wave of Tech Startups

The Indonesian tech landscape is buzzing with fresh talent, and the recent conclusion of the "National Hackathon & Collaboraction 2021" hosted by Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) is proof that the next generation of innovators is ready to take the stage. This prestigious national competition, which wrapped up on Saturday, October 9, 2021, has successfully served as a nursery for new technology-based startups. These ventures are not just academic exercises; they are envisioned to grow and significantly boost the nation's digital economy.

Diana Sari, PhD, the Director of Innovation and Corporation at Unpad, shared that the excitement was palpable from the start. A total of 34 teams from various regions across Indonesia signed up for the challenge. Since the kick-off on September 15, these teams went through a rigorous selection process, leaving only the top 10 finalists to battle it out for a massive prize pool. The stakes were high: a total of Rp150 million in cash and USD 110,000 in the form of Amazon Web Services (AWS) credit programs.

A Collaborative Effort for Innovation

This event wasn't a solo endeavor. It was a massive collaborative project involving Unpad’s Directorate of Innovation and Corporation, the Directorate of Education and Internationalization, the Business Incubator Center (Oorange Unpad), and the BEM Kema Unpad. Adding global weight to the initiative was the partnership with the Social Economic Accelerator Lab by Amazon Web Services (AWS). This synergy between academia and industry leaders provided the participants with a platform that was both academically sound and commercially viable.

Defining the Future: Edutech and SME Transformation

The competition focused on two critical pillars of the modern economy: educational technology (Edutech) and SME digital transformation aggregators. Each finalist was evaluated on a strict set of indicators. The judges weren't just looking for good ideas; they scrutinized innovation, the technical readiness of the websites or applications (technical demos), and the long-term business potential of each project.

To ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation, the judging panel consisted of high-profile experts from various sectors, including academia, industry practitioners, and government representatives. The panel included Furin Ongko (AWS Education Program Lead Indonesia), Christina Agustin (Kemenkop UKM RI), Mohamad Fahmi (Director of Education and Internationalization at Unpad), Deeng Sanyoto (Head of TaniAcademy TaniHub), Rhezandra Priatama (CTO of Sekolahmu), and Melvin Santoso (Investment Manager at PT. Mandiri Capital Indonesia).

Bridging the Gap: The Path to a Hybrid University

Beyond the competition itself, the National Hackathon & Collaboraction is part of Unpad's broader strategy to facilitate the growth of new startups in Indonesia. Diana Sari emphasized that the goal was to challenge participants to develop creative business ideas that could solve real-world problems. Furthermore, the program coincided with Unpad’s 64th Anniversary (Dies Natalis), aligning with the university's transformation into a "Hybrid University." This vision integrates online and offline learning through cutting-edge technology, and some of the solutions born in this hackathon are expected to be implemented directly within the university's ecosystem.

In addition to the main competition, the event hosted specialized workshops for 64 startup teams. These sessions acted as a bridge, connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with four major industry aggregators: AWS, 1000startup, Bhinneka.com, and Shipper.com. This networking opportunity is often just as valuable as the prize money, providing startups with the connections they need to scale.

Celebrating the Winners

After intense pitching and technical evaluations, the winners of the National Hackathon & Collaboraction 2021 were announced, showcasing a diverse range of solutions from different universities.

In the Edutech Category, the top spot went to Harta Tahta Data from Universitas Indonesia (UI), followed by the Fishery Skill Lab from Unpad in second place. In the SME Category, Bizlook (a tenant of Oorange Unpad) claimed the first prize, while Toko Clouds from Universitas Samudra took home the second-place trophy.

Special recognition was also given through the Special Prizes. The Nursing Catalyst team took home the award in the Edutech category, while Infinite was recognized in the SMES category. These winners represent the vanguard of Indonesia's digital future, proving that with the right mentorship and platform, local creativity knows no bounds.