Shell LiveWIRE Indonesia celebrated its first energy solutions cohort in a graduation ceremony that handed out a combined Rp 250 million in prize funding. Over the course of three months, 12 entrepreneurs participated in Shell LiveWIRE Indonesia’s first energy solutions-focused training. This programme involved a series of bootcamps to help entrepreneurs refine their business plans, develop their pitches and more. Entrepreneurs also had the chance to participate in mentoring sessions with experts in the energy business space.

The programme culminated in a pitch competition. Participants presented their business ideas to a panel of judges that included a renewable energy expert, representatives of an angel investment agency and a national venture capitalist, media, and Shell Indonesia’s Country Chairman. The winners were then announced at an awards ceremony by the Directorate General of Renewable Energy of Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources, government representatives, the judging panel, Shell LiveWIRE programme partners, stakeholders of the participating teams and Shell staff.

Shell LiveWIRE Indonesia awarded the top prize of Rp 125 million to Resikel Global Polimer. This entrepreneur developed a pyrolizer machine that can convert plastic into fuel. Taking plastic that otherwise couldn’t be recycled, Resikel produces a sustainable alternative to kerosene with zero waste.

“We are very grateful as our business was awarded as the winner in the 2019’s Shell LiveWIRE Energy Solutions event,” said Luca Cada Lora, Resikel’s CEO. “Our four-month experience in this program has helped to sharpen our business capabilities so that it can be taken up to the next level for more advance commercial purposes and provide greater benefits to the environment and society.”

Biope and E-Ecobiogas took home the second and third place prizes, winning Rp 50 million and Rp 30 million respectively. Biope makes it easy and affordable for Indonesian farmers to convert lifestock waste into liquid fertilizer. E-Ecobiogas’ machine allows users to process waste into biogas and monitor the progress through their mobile phones.

Shell Indonesia’s President Director Darwin Silalahi said programmes like Shell LiveWIRE can spur innovation in the renewable energy space.

“We hope that the participation of young Indonesian entrepreneurs in this programme can encourage the birth of ideas of technological innovations around alternative energy, while also developing entrepreneurship in Indonesia’s energy sector,” he said.

Although this bootcamp has wrapped up, Shell Indonesia and the Shell LiveWIRE team are excited to see where these entrepreneurs go next. Silalahi says Shell LiveWIRE’s engagement with the entrepreneurs will continue.

“We want to continue to support their journey so that they become strong entrepreneurs and catalysts for change to build a better world,” Silalahi said.

Anita Setyorini, Shell Indonesia social investment advisor, said, “Upon the completion of Shell LiveWIRE Energy Solutions of the first cohort, we look forward to further developments of our energy entrepreneurs, how they utilize all the knowledge, network they have obtained during the Bootcamp Series to refine their businesses. In addition to that, we would like to see if any collaborations would emerge among them in the near future.”

To learn more about how Shell LiveWIRE Indonesia promotes entrepreneurship and renewable energy solutions, please visit their website.