•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

Could you be the next Mark Zuckerberg? Or Andrew Mason? Do you have an idea that could grow into the next multibillion dollar company?

IdeaFest, a gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs to be held in Jakarta from July 21-24, aims to show that with the right approach, anyone can make it big like these founders of the hyper-popular Facebook and Groupon.

The event has been billed as the largest “creative industry” exhibition in Southeast Asia — with a “creative industry” defined as any commercial activity that generates information, from advertising to architecture, film production or software development.

IdeaFest was established in 2002 by digital arts promoter FGD Forum. The annual event brings together industry experts and newcomers to exchange ideas and advice on how to turn a good idea into a flourishing business.

As many as 50,000 people are expected to take part in this year’s event, including high school and university students, young professionals, entrepreneurs and other creative people interested in media, design, film, music or performing arts.

Those with a good, but perhaps undeveloped, idea for a business are especially encouraged to attend.

David Wayne Ika, CEO of online news portal LintasBerita.com, said that young people in Indonesia had plenty of innovative business ideas.

“They sit together in a cafe, just having coffee and chatting. Within 15 minutes they can come up with a lot of ideas,” David said. “But the problem is usually with the execution — how to bring these ideas into reality.”

David said the event’s workshop, “Practice With the Experts,” aims to give participants the closest thing to “real-life experience” in exploring their ideas.

“It is as if participants were really running the business,” he said.

“People have a lot of ideas and we want to guide them in figuring out what decisions and steps to take next. Every business you see today was once just an idea.”

During the workshop, creative industry members VJ Daniel, Yoris Sebastian, Maylaffayza, Danny Wiranto, Dinna Rikasari and David Wayne Ika will share their stories of how they got to where they are today.

A conference and expo will also be held over the four-day event to help develop creative business ideas.

The event’s conference, “Learn From the Experts,” will invite industry hands from Indonesia and abroad to share their personal experiences in business and give newcomers tips on how to tackle the challenges of their particular industry.

Stefan Sagmeister, an Austrian graphic designer who lives in Bali, will share his perspective on creativity in business.

Sagmeister, who has worked with such legendary rock acts as the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed and Aerosmith, has won two Grammy Awards for his album cover designs.

Chris Anderson, who established the virtual version of The Economist, one of the world’s most widely read and influential international affairs publications, will also take part in the event.

Anderson holds a degree in chemistry and is currently the editor in chief of Wired magazine, a monthly online periodical.

Well-known local creative industry members Andi F. Noya, Peter Gontha, Sandiaga Uno, Felia Salim and Glenn Fredly are also scheduled to take part in the conference.

“When we talk about creativity, Indonesia is a nation rich in cultures that has not yet learned how to get rich from the cultures themselves,” said Maylaffayza, a violinist and music producer who will be one of the experts in attendance.

Culture, she said, is not only about practicing a particular craft, but also involves the mind-set of the person who practices the craft.

“Creativity should be developed. IdeaFest aims to act as a bridge between creative ideas and real business opportunities,” she said.

IdeaFest chairman Bernhard Soebiakto said the event aimed to help industry newcomers follow through on their ideas at every step of the process.

“We want to encourage people to empower their own ideas,” Bernhard said. “This event is not just about ideas, but about learning to develop the marketing strategies to develop good ideas. That is why we have people like [businessmen] Sandiaga Uno and Peter Gontha participating in this event.”

With so many resources at hand, the Mark Zuckerbergs and Andrew Masons of Jakarta have nothing to lose.

For more information on IdeaFest :
Contact persons: Ica Rizadini0858 8875 2104;
Nataya Aryadni 0815 9969 236;
Hendra Bagya N. 0856 215 8555.

Ticket hot line: 0858 8875 2104, or e-mail: Ideafest2011@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ideafest
Twitter: @ideafest2011