Ozora launched the Surabaya Startup Fest 2.0 with a soft opening held at Balai Pemuda on Thursday, November 23, 2023. The event was inaugurated by Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi alongside Ozora Founder Margaret Srijaya. Mayor Eri expressed his appreciation for the festival’s role in fostering the growth of startups in Surabaya, emphasizing the city's commitment to supporting entrepreneurial initiatives. He encouraged young people to transform their skills into startups and highlighted local successes, such as dr Soap and Aplikasi Super, which have achieved valuations of up to IDR 1 trillion.
The festival marks a continuation of efforts to establish Surabaya as a hub for startups. Ozora is not only an incubator but also facilitates business matching by connecting startups with investors. Margaret Srijaya explained that the festival aims to harness the potential of Surabaya and East Java-based startups, empowering them to compete nationally and regionally. Successful startups like dr Soap, which has gone public, and Aplikasi Super, demonstrate that local entrepreneurs can rival their Jakarta counterparts.
Surabaya Startup Fest 2.0 will select ten top participants, who will undergo a ten-week incubation program that includes mentorship and opportunities to pitch to investors. During the demo day, the top three startups may receive grants to further develop their businesses. Registration for the festival will open to the public on December 1, 2023, with incubation scheduled to begin in January 2024. Ozora also plans to conduct roadshows at universities and has signed multiple MoUs to recruit promising startups.
Mayor Eri emphasized that the festival reflects a collaborative effort between the government and organizations like Ozora in driving the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem forward. The event is expected to double the number of participants compared to the previous year and solidify Surabaya’s reputation as a Startup City. With its strong commitment to nurturing local talent, Ozora aims to inspire more startups to innovate, compete, and provide impactful solutions through initiatives like the Startup Fest.
Source: surabaya.times.co.id
