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Innovation Room gives young talent free place to work, grow
The 300-square-meter Innovation Room with 24-hour internet connection is always packed with loyal young visitors
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Illustration of young workers in a startup company.
The Manpower Ministry has since last year opened a start-up development and talent hub at its office building in Jakarta.
(Shutterstock.com/Cookie Studio)
A
year ago, the Manpower Ministry turned a parking lot in one of its offices in South Jakarta into a start-up development and talent hub, later called the Innovation Room.
Ever since, the 300-square-meter co-working space complete with cozy colorful sofas, a meeting room, a lobby and of course 24-hour internet connection has always been packed with loyal young visitors.
One of these is Crisman Wise Silaban, 27, who appeared to be busy on his laptop on Aug. 13 in the Innovation Room. Not far from him, a group of people were taking part in a workshop held in the middle of the open space area, learning about branding.
“This is not only a workplace for me but a place to develop ourselves and our business,” said Crisman, the CEO of Transfree, a startup involved in money transfer and remittance, and who is among the young people who benefit from the Innovation Room.
Crisman said he no longer needed to work nomadically from one cafe to another or using National Library space to work. Last year he was among executives of startups who were selected to able to work at the Innovation Room for free.
He said the room provided more than just space. "Here, there are also programs for self-development and to promote our business. We are able to network with the government or with friends from other startups where we can collaborate. We are also linked to investors,” he added.
Crisman said that since joining the Innovation Room in July 2018, Transfree has seen growth in its business performance with customers now numbering almost 500 people in Europe and Australia with around 400 transactions every month.
