What’s the best career advice someone has given you?
To network early in your career journey. It doesn’t necessarily mean there has to be an end goal such as connecting with someone to see if they have an opportunity. Rather, it’s about planting seeds in your network and creating a lasting impression because you never know how you may cross paths with that person later down the road.
How do you see the future of tech in Indonesia and broader Southeast Asia?
It’s incredibly exciting to be a part of the growth story of Indonesia and broader Southeast Asia. Indonesia comprises a fast growing, young and tech savvy population with many problems that still need to be overcome. This coupled with rising internet penetration and greater supporting infrastructure have fostered more tech startups to be built than ever before. I hope to see more startups being built that are seeking to digitalise traditional industries, tackling new sectors, and bringing what was previously niche sectors to the mass market.
What do you believe to be the best way a founder can inspire their team?
I believe one of the best ways is to be passionate and have the desire to fulfil a vision. It’s important for a founder to be true to what drives them and is motivated to solve those problems. During my time in Arkblu, I’ve met founders who were able to grow the company but still remains true to why it was built in the first place. Their passions were infectious to the teams, and this was reflected as the team members were highly motivated and inspired to achieve a common purpose.
From your experience what are the most common mistakes founders make when pitching?
One of the most common mistakes a founder can make when pitching is presenting a problem statement that does not target a real pain point but rather is a “nice-to-have”. Causes of this include a problem statement not being stated clear enough or founders aren’t tackling the main pain point that needs to be solved. Founders need to convince investors that they are solving a real pain point, that the market is one that is large or fast-growing, and that the timing to solve this pain point is now.
What is the most used app on your smart phone? And what is the most underrated app you have on your smart phone?
I love listening to music and podcasts, so Spotify is my go-to app for that. My most underrated app would have to be my notepad app! I often take quick notes on the fly whether that be because of on an opinion/idea that springs up to mind, needing to write my goals, quotes, or something as random as a movie list.
