Agung Bezharie Hadinegoro, former CEO of Warung Pintar and current partner at Antler, doesn’t come from a traditional business background. However, his journey in entrepreneurship began during his time at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at Institut Teknologi Bandung. Agung first delved into business while assisting SBM ITB students in establishing their ventures. It’s a requirement for SBM students to initiate a business during their 2nd or 3rd year at the university, which prompted Agung to explore creating a coworking space to foster collaboration among entrepreneurs.
Agung and his friends co-founded Warung Pintar, which was the initial step in his mission to empower fellow entrepreneurs through investment. Initially focused on providing technology solutions for food stalls and grocery stores, Warung Pintar evolved into a comprehensive FMCG distribution platform, in addition to his role at Warung Pintar, Agung partners at Antler, a global venture capital firm with operations in Indonesia.
Agung shared his experience in a mentor session at The Greater Hub (TGH) SBM ITB with the theme “Startup Trends” in Bandung on Friday (19/4). Agung discussed the recent trends of startups.
Agung’s insights paint a picture of 2024 as a year brimming with startup challenges and opportunities. He emphasizes the need for startup founders to be acutely sensitive to change, citing the example of retail businesses that failed to adapt quickly to the emergence of Tokopedia. This underscores the importance of agility and adaptability in the ever-evolving startup landscape.
Agung’s perspective on trends is both insightful and optimistic. He sees trends as a blend of what’s to come, what’s happening, and what’s already occurred. He believes that the startup trend will continue to flourish due to the emergence of numerous bold startups with fresh ideas and innovative solutions. This, he says, is the silver lining amidst the challenges.
