Jakarta, 21 April, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), in collaboration with KUMPUL, has sent four Indonesian startups to the global technology event Sustainable High-City Technology (SusHi Tech) Tokyo 2026 through the BEKUP Global Scale-Up program. This initiative serves as a strategic step to support the expansion of national startups into the Japanese market.
Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, delivered a briefing for participants of the BEKUP Global Scale-Up program, who will showcase their innovations at the Sustainable High-City Technology (SusHi Tech) Tokyo 2026 event, in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 21, 2026).
Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, stated that this participation represents a significant opportunity to strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global ecosystem. With more than 700 startups from 100 countries participating, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 provides a collaborative platform for startups, investors, governments, corporations, and academics to advance sustainable, technology-driven urban development.
“Indonesia’s participation in this forum is also a follow-up to the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s working visit to Tokyo in March 2026, particularly in strengthening Indonesia–Japan cooperation in the digital economy, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI). Through this initiative, the Ministry of Creative Economy aims to accelerate investment realization by facilitating business matching, exploring deal pipelines, and encouraging the conversion of potential partnerships into concrete investment commitments such as MoUs and LoIs,” said the Minister.
The BEKUP Global Scale-Up program acts as an accelerator to prepare Indonesian startups for international markets through intensive mentoring, structured curation processes, and access to relevant and sustainable global networks. Since its launch in February 2026, the program has attracted 125 applicants from across Indonesia.
Following a rigorous selection process, the top 10 startups were shortlisted and further curated into the top 4. The final stage involved expert curators from Japan, including Creww Inn and TechShake, to ensure strong market fit with global industry needs.
Deputy for Digital Creativity and Technology, Muhammad Neil El Himam, emphasized that Indonesia’s participation in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is expected to deliver tangible impacts, both economically and in strengthening Indonesia’s global standing. The initiative targets 20–32 business meetings, with the potential for 12–22 partnerships and initial transactions valued between USD 1–5 million.
Doc: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
“We also aim to enhance Indonesia’s visibility, expand international collaboration networks, and open opportunities for further cross-country partnerships,” he added.
Founder and Chairperson of KUMPUL.ID, Faye Wongso, expressed hope that the selected startups would gain broader market access and secure business partners or investment opportunities during the event.
Four Innovative Indonesian Startups for the Global Stage
The four selected startups reflect diverse technological solutions from Indonesia, ranging from environmental sustainability to global mobility:
BELL LIVING LAB – A biomaterial innovator transforming agricultural waste, particularly coffee, into high-performance materials for the fashion and furniture industries.
GAPAI – A Human Resource Technology (HR Tech) platform connecting global employers with qualified Indonesian migrant workers through structured and legal placement systems.
IJO – A next-generation biofertility startup utilizing Indonesian seaweed to develop sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilizers.
SPUN – An AI-based visa infrastructure platform simplifying bureaucratic visa processes for individuals and businesses across Southeast Asia.
The four startups are scheduled to depart for Japan on April 26, 2026. During the program, they will not only showcase their innovations at SusHi Tech but also participate in offline business matchmaking sessions coordinated by KUMPUL and the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Doc: Bureau for Communication of the Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency.
The Minister was accompanied by Special Staff for Strategic and Inter-Institutional Affairs Rian Firmansyah, Head of Communications Bureau Kiagoos Irvan Faisal, and Director of Applications Tri Wahyudi.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Communications Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
