In partnership with Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, an affiliation of UNDP, ANGIN is developing the first AIS Blue Startup Hub Incubation Program this year. The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the global economy and damaged market confidence, especially the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In an effort to find the solution to this situation, AIS Blue Startup Hub held the 2020 AIS Innovation Challenge, the theme for this year’s challenge is Creating Resilient Businesses, where ANGIN was also becoming the event partner of this program. The 2020 AIS Innovation Challenge is a two-round business competition that aims to find a solution or business idea that can withstand a crisis situation or help other companies or societies at large overcome one. The top 10 winners of the AIS Innovation Challenge 2020 will be nurtured under AIS Blue Startup Hub Incubation Program.
The AIS Blue Startup Hub Incubation Program is a case study mentorship program, where the startup will deep dive into the real challenges in today’s market. The objective of this program is to help the startups identify and solve the challenges that they are facing. With the experienced startup founders, investors, public sector actors, and others, the program intends to gain knowledge, ideas, and other advantages required to accelerate each other’s business growth.
The mentoring program was launched virtually through Zoom on Wednesday, 7 October 2020, and was participated by 18 startups from 6 countries which are Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Madagascar. This session was led by Sarita Anggun Kinanti as the project manager, and began with the opening remarks from Mr. Isaac Grace, Charge D’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Fiji to the Republic of Indonesia; Mr. Muhammad Didi, the Team Leader of Innovative Financing Lab of UNDP; Mr. Akhmad Arsya Sani, the Coordinator of AIS Forum Secretariat; and Mr. David Soukhasing, our managing director.
The AIS Blue Startup Hub Incubation Program introduced One on One and intensive classroom sessions in a form of Focus Group Discussions which are expected to provide knowledge, ideas, and guidance to inspire the startups.
