Jakarta, September 19th, 2018. The first startup pitch competition in Indonesia focusing on nutritional solutions, Indofood Local Pitch Competition (ILPC) 2018, has established 10 startup companies as finalists. The ten finalists were selected from total of 95 applicants and successfully passed the selections process. This competition aims to find creative ideas, innovation from "startup" companies and SMEs, to overcome nutrition problems especially child obesity, infant-stunting and anemia in young women. The final pitch was held at the startup incubation facility of BLOCK71 Jakarta, at the Ariobimo Building, Kuningan, Jakarta.

The ILPC 2018 competition is the result of a three-party collaboration namely PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, BLOCK71 Jakarta and Scaling-Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN). In fact, similar activities will also be held by Global SBN in Nairobi, Kenya on October 16-17, 2018.

In the ILPC finals, startup-finalists came from Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta and West Nusa Tenggara. Before appearing in the final pitch, the finalists received mentoring from Nazier Ariffin, Head of Investments Telkomsel and Valencia Dea, Principal of Angel Investment Network (ANGIN) for two days, to sharpen their presentations.

Furthermore, the judges consisted of Ravi Menon, Country Director, Indonesia at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Rajis Sinaga, Chief Representative Office at Truvalu Group and Ellen Nio, Associate at Patamar Capital (previously known as Unitus Impact) who will choose three winners. In addition to obtaining cash prizes, the winners will be provided business mentoring from Indofood. The sole winner will have the opportunity to join the Nutrition Africa 2018 Investment event, in Nairobi next October.

Director of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk Axton Salim said, "Seeing the enthusiasm of the ILPC participants, strengthens our belief that the younger generation has the ability to create innovative solutions, by utilizing existing technology to overcome and reduce the three main national nutritional issues such as child obesity, infant stunting and anemia in young women. We need to support this potential and provide opportunities to develop more widely, both domestically and even internationally".

 
Jakarta BLOCK71 Director Adrian Lim said, "We wish the best for the 10 selected finalists in the final competition. This event is a forum for innovators and technology players who can solve basic issues for Indonesia. By being part of this competition, finalists will get the opportunity to meet investors and business people so that they are open to even greater opportunities”.

ABOUT SCALING UP NUTRITION BUSINESS NETWORK (SBN)

SBN is the only global platform dedicated to the business of nutrition, with the aim of reducing malnutrition in all forms – through involving and supporting businesses to act, invest, innovate and operate responsibly and sustainably, in order to improve nutrition. To do this, SBN provides a platform to bridge partnerships and collaboration between businesses and all nutrition actors at the national, regional and global levels to support SUN Countries. SBN is organized by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the World Food Program (WFP). SBN is supported by a global secretariat based in London, UK.

ABOUT JAKARTA BLOCK71

BLOCK71 Jakarta is a partnership between the National University of Singapore and the Salim Group. This partnership synergizes the NUS Enterprise experience, which is widely recognized as the engine behind the entrepreneur's ecosystem (based on leading universities in Asia), together with the track record and entrepreneurial spirit of the Salim Group, whose products are well known and exist in almost every household in Indonesia.

Start-ups from Indonesia and abroad can use the network of resources and global connections of BLOCK71 Jakarta, to begin their entrepreneurial journey and gain access to international markets. This initiative will enable a better exchange of information and relationships between the domestic and international start-up ecosystems.

Start-up players who are exploring opportunities to expand to Indonesia can take advantage of the facilities from this community, to better understand the Indonesian market and expand their network into a new community. Entrepreneurs, companies and investors based in Indonesia can also find out more about Singapore and the market others through routine programs, events and activities.

For more information, please contact:

Nurulita Novi Arlaida                                                       Tinnike
Head of Corporate Public Relations Dept.                        Community Manager
PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk                                        BLOCK71 Jakarta
(021) 5795882 ext. 1173                                                       (021) 3972 2010
email : nurulita.arlaida@indofood.co.id                           Email : tinnike@block71.co