Jakarta, June 2, 2025 – The Ministry of Creative Economy officially launched the 2025 edition of BEKUP (Creative Economy Agency for Startup), a flagship program that reflects the government’s commitment to positioning the creative economy as a new engine of national growth, starting from the regions, particularly through strengthening the application subsector and building a more robust digital ecosystem.
"With support from more than 80 mentors, BEKUP has helped 42.5% of startup founders increase their revenue, 58% gain access to funding, and 72% create new jobs. These achievements show that BEKUP is more than just an incubator; it’s an accelerator that drives innovation and delivers social impact within Indonesia’s startup ecosystem," said Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya during the BEKUP 2025 Kick-Off at the Thamrin Nine Ballroom, Jakarta, on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Launched in 2016, BEKUP has been a critical catalyst in accelerating Indonesia’s digital economy, especially in the early stages of startup development. Between 2020 and 2024, BEKUP reached over 20 cities, incubated more than 330 startups out of 1,300 applicants, and achieved a 50% startup survival rate.
Minister Riefky emphasized that the application subsector holds significant potential, in line with Indonesia’s rapidly growing digital economy, fueled by economic circulation, internet penetration, demographic dividend, and the increasing number of decacorns and unicorns. The BEKUP program has produced several successful alumni with notable achievements, such as:
Atourin, which has digitized 354 tourism villages and developed over 900 tourism products.
Surplus Indonesia, the first B-Corp certified startup, provides a clearance sale platform (www.surplus.id) for unsold, returned, or overstocked goods. It has helped save over 500 tons of products from going to waste and prevented 10,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, benefiting over 1 million people.
Lister is an edtech startup that has secured international funding.
KlinikGo has expanded telehealth services and partnered with healthcare providers in Malaysia.
Minister Riefky encouraged startup founders to use BEKUP as a platform to build strong, sustainable business foundations, from validating business models and strengthening teams to navigating market dynamics. He also called on investors, corporations, and industry partners to open more opportunities for early-stage startups.
"To all future BEKUP participants, let this program be a catalyst for change. Use this opportunity to learn, grow, and build lasting connections. Let’s move forward together and give rise to resilient startups that not only become unicorns but also drive social and economic change for Indonesia," said the Minister.
During a panel discussion titled Back to Fundamentals: Turning Vision Into Investment-Ready Ventures, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar emphasized the importance of BEKUP as a collaborative platform that brings together startups, investors, industries, and policymakers.
"It’s essential for startup founders to collaborate to achieve sustainability. Startups need to focus not just on being investment-ready, but on understanding their market, building realistic business models, and preparing for sustainable fundraising. Our role at the Ministry is to open access to funding and markets for application-based startups," said Deputy Minister Irene.
Similarly, SEA VC firm Spiral Ventures Anissa Dyah Setyowati also said that startup founders must contribute to strengthening the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem with a clear and grounded mindset.
"A startup founder must be optimistic yet realistic, equipped with the ability to analyze data and maintain a clear track record. Building a startup isn't just about ambition; it requires solid governance to avoid human error. A strong foundation also means having transparent and well-prepared financial reports," she added.
Also attending the event were Expert Staff at the Executive Office of the President, Cheryl Tanzil; Founder & Chairperson of Kumpul, Faye Wongso; CEO of Dicoding, Narenda Wicaksono; Founding CEO of BRI Ventures, Nicko Widjaja; Founding CEO of Ibunda.id, Arif Fajar Saputra; and Founder and CEO of Kasisolusi, Deryansha Azhary.
Accompanying the Minister at the event were the Secretary of the Ministry, Dessy Ruhati; Deputy for Strategic Development of Creative Economy, Cecep Rukendi; Deputy for Cultural and Design Creativity, Yuke Sri Rahayu; Deputy for Digital and Technology Creativity, Muhammad Neil El Himam; and other senior officials from the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Reslyana Dwitasari
Acting Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
