The use of 3D printing technology can greatly support business development. Many startups buy 3D printers to introduce their products, especially in prototyping. This opportunity was captured by Alvin R. Tanto, Co-founder of 3Dprint.id, a company that sells 3D printing machines.
Alvin was one of three guests at the Business Scale Up guest lecture held by the SBM ITB, on Friday (20/10). Besides Alvin, Endro Firdaus, Founder of GreenSmoothie Factory, and Retno, Vice President of Bank Mandiri were the guest lecturers who attended the event.
The company 3Dprint.id is a 2022 Wirausaha Muda Mandiri (WMM) alumni, and GreenSmoothie Factory is a 2018 WMM alumni. WMM is a Bank Mandiri corporate social responsibility program that has been running since 2007. It aims to grow entrepreneurship in Indonesia with a focus on young entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, Alvin shared valuable tips with the young entrepreneurs who attended the class. He suggested that in the technology business, it is important not to sell products at low prices, and it is best not to be too ambitious in creating high-tech products. This is because there is a possibility that a similar product with a higher level of technology already exists on the market. Alvin suggests focusing on products that are “resilient” or hardy.
Meanwhile, Endro Firdaus, the Founder of GreenSmoothie Factory, shared his business journey, which started unexpectedly. Initially, as an employee, Endro enjoyed making his juice and bringing it to the office.
Finally, his colleague was inspired to taste his homemade juice and asked him to make juice every day. This is where the business idea started. Now, he has had his cafe in Pekanbaru since 2014 and developed into three business lines: cafe, catering, and supermarket.
Endro emphasizes the importance of utilizing local resources in his business, both in terms of raw materials and cooking methods. It also promotes organically processed foods and cooking methods that retain better nutrition. To support healthy eating patterns, Endro also holds classes on plant-based foods so that more people know and consume this type of food.
Endro also shares valuable tips for creating an effective pitch deck. He suggests prioritizing presentation visualization with large images and reducing long text. Additionally, bringing examples of products or items for sale can help the judges pay attention to you longer than the presentation screen. He also emphasized the importance of highlighting how your business brings a positive impact on society.
Retno, the Vice President of Bank Mandiri, explained the importance of WMM in supporting the development of entrepreneurship in Indonesia. She hopes that this meeting can inspire and help many young entrepreneurs in Indonesia to grow and develop. With the experiences and insights shared by the speakers, it is hoped that the participants will be able to take the inspiration and guidance needed to start and develop their businesses. This class exemplifies how collaboration between universities and companies can create valuable learning opportunities.