Telkomsel Introducing the "T-Connext" Program to Maximize Digital Ecosystem Growth

PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) introduced the T-Connext program to connect the digital ecosystem with stakeholders (stakeholder) related. This program is a company initiative to provide exposure bigger for digital products and its innovation portfolio to venture capital (VC), innovators, to corporations.

T-Connext consists of a series of activities that connect VIP participants from the ecosystem Telkomsel with VCs to trigger potential collaborations or funding. The follow-up session is also expected to expose products and portfolios Telkomsel through activities business matching, founders meet-up, and workshops.

"The T-Connext program complements our digital ecosystem Telkomsel sebagai digital-telco (digico) company. We hope that the T-Connext program can become a sustainable program in the future," said VP Business Development and Innovation Telkomsel Jockie Heruseon in session media updates, Wednesday (21/9).

T-Connext complements the digital innovation development initiatives that have been built so far Telkomsel. For information, innovation vehicles Telkomsel consist of Telkomsel Innovation Center (TINC), TheNextDev, Telkomsel Innovation Partners (TMI), Telkomsel Digital Ecosystem (INDICO) which has different objectives.

Meanwhile, TMI and INDICO standing as a separate entity outside Telkomsel. TMI was founded in 2019, while INDICO itself was only inaugurated at the beginning of this year. Jockie said that TINC oversees 36 TINC portfolios, TMI has 17 portfolios, and INDICO oversees 3 startup portfolios.

In addition, Jockie explained that the telecommunications industry has a role as a provider of network infrastructure and enablers for the sustainability of digital business. In fact, there are many assets that can be utilized Telkomsel to accelerate digital growth beyond core businessas a telecommunications network provider.

He also highlighted how this program can help startups and stakeholder related to giving market access; one of the most sought after elements. Access to the market can help startups to reduce acquisition costs and reduce levels burn rate.

"With everything that has been built, we still feel we lack to optimize the assets we have Telkomsel. Thus, T-Connext can provide exposure more towards our products and innovation portfolio to the external ecosystem. They need bridging to the VC," he said.

Retail up to enterprise

To DailySocial.id, Jockie added that the event post-event which will be implemented later will include, not only the startup portfolio, but also business units Telkomsel serving the retail customer segment and enterprise across sectors, such as Maxstream and DigiAds. This means that participating portfolios and business units already have digital products, not just ideas.

A number of startups and portfolios Telkomsel those participating in the T-Connext program include Feedloop, Klik Daily, Bizhare, Kecilin, Shinta VR, school.mu, Kuncie, Telkomsel DigiAds, LinkAja, and tSurvey.id.

Then, participating investors and VCs consisted of TMI, Singtel Innov8, MDI Ventures, AC Ventures, Alpha JWC, East Ventures, Finch Capital, Indigo Capital, Indogen Capital, Insignia Ventures, Intudo Ventures, Kejora Capital, Vertex Ventures, Venturra Discovery. .

"T-Connext was born out of our turmoil in the pandemic era because everything became disconnected, and now is the right moment for reconnect. We want to show that Telkomsel is a great company to work with."