New Energy Nexus Indonesia recently held its fourth hackathon with hundreds of participants across the clean energy, impact investment, and climate tech sectors. Here are four key takeaways for aspiring and current entrepreneurs looking to enter the space.
‘’When we talk about the energy transition, we need to highlight the significant structural changes in the energy system. It has to be a systematic change, not individual by individual, that changes the connection between energy demand and supply. I also want to highlight two things: energy efficiency, which to me is very important but still left behind and not discussed enough, and the second one is carbon emissions.’’
Rika Novayanti – Strategic Communications Practitioner on Climate & Environment
‘’We need to be able to adapt. We need to be able to stay up-to-date and pivot. If you don’t have the talent to learn fast and be adaptable, you can get demotivated. Moreover, it’s crucial to embrace technology. Technology is intertwined with our culture and the people who drive it. Technology allows us to track data streamline tasks, and all in all, validate our credibility. Technology alone cannot replace people. But people who can use technology well (e.g., generative AI) can substitute those who don’t.’’
Agung Bimo Listyanu – CEO CarbonEthics
‘’Agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the world; therefore, we need to address this. However, there is a discrepancy between policymakers, startups, and people in the field because we all have different challenges we’re addressing. Therefore, if you want to get your feet wet in this industry, you need to go to the field and deal with the local authority and stakeholders as well.’’
Yoga Anindito, Co-Founder & CEO of Semaai / Vice Chairman La Tofi School of Social Responsibility.
Bagas attended the [RE]Spark Hackathon in 2022, but this year, he decided to compete in the 2023 Hackathon.
“To my surprise and delight, I managed to secure the second-place position in the hackathon. This journey has been a testament to my commitment to continuous learning and growth. It’s not just about winning accolades; it’s about the progress I’ve made and the knowledge I’ve gained in my quest to find solutions that can contribute to mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis. This experience has reaffirmed my dedication to the cause, and I’m more determined than ever to make a meaningful difference in addressing the challenges of our changing climate.”
Bagas Prakoso Ajie – Team Leader at Terra Verde; [RE]Energize Hackathon 2nd Winner
