After Passing the Selection Process, 49 PRIME STeP Startups from IPB University Are Ready to Boost Their Competitiveness

The Institute for Agromaritime Development and Innopreneurship Acceleration (LPA2I) at IPB University has completed a series of presentation and interview selection rounds for the PRIME STeP 2026 Business Incubation Program, Batch 2, which took place at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC) in Bogor.

Of the 27 startups that passed the substantive selection for Batch 2, 12 were selected as business incubation participants. Thus, the total number of participants in the PRIME STeP 2026 Business Incubation Program has reached 49 startups, consisting of 37 from Batch 1 and 12 from Batch 2.

PRIME STeP Program Manager Laela Sifa, SIP, MPA, explained that PRIME STeP is a government initiative to develop science and technology parks in Indonesia while strengthening the commercialization of innovations within the higher education sector.

“In addition, this project is also expected to foster the growth of startup seeds within the higher education sector that adopt technologies developed by universities as a tangible manifestation of the commercialization of research results,” she said.

A wide range of innovations were presented, spanning the fields of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, technology, food, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

During the selection process, participants presented the innovative products and business models they had developed to a panel of reviewers from the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). Evaluations were conducted in parallel across three evaluation panels to ensure the selection process was objective and comprehensive.

Through these presentations and interview sessions, the evaluation team assessed various key aspects, ranging from problem solving, the novelty of the innovation, the utilization and implementation of technological innovations, the viability of the business model, market potential, team capacity, business growth, to business development opportunities. These evaluation results served as the basis for selecting the startups to participate in the PRIME STeP 2026 Business Incubation Program.

Deva Primadia Almada, SPi, MSi, Assistant for the Business Incubator at LPA2I IPB University and a PIU reviewer, explained that during the two-day selection process, the review team conducted a thorough assessment of each startup that had passed the previous administrative and substantive desk evaluation stages.

According to him, the startups that make the cut are generally able to demonstrate technology based innovations relevant to market needs, supported by a clear business model, a solid team, and strong growth potential. 

“We don’t just look at the innovation itself, but also at how the team is able to execute that idea into a sustainable business with growth potential,” he added.

In addition, the team’s ability to execute the business plan, their readiness to participate in the mentoring process, and the potential to create socioeconomic impact are also taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

The PRIME STeP Business Incubation Program is expected to accelerate the growth of startups so they can become resilient, competitive companies ready to provide solutions to various challenges in the agromaritime sector and other strategic fields. (*/Rz) (IAAS/KQA)