Meet the Entrepreneurs
T-Files Indonesia November 2013
Access to Markets
CONTACT INFORMATION
t-files indonesia
Bandung, Indonesia +62222534163
Transforming ocean currents into energy
nurana@sbm-itb.ac.id
www.tfiles-indonesia.com
Nurana Indah Paramita - CEO, Indonesia
CHALLENGE With more than 18,300 islands and the fourth largest population on the planet, Indonesia is facing major challenges in terms of sustainable energy generation and consumption. This applies in particular to its most remote islands, many of them outside of the energy grid. In response to this challenge, Paramita has proven that by taking advantage of its natural resources, the country can generate and provide energy for its inhabitants from different types of marine currents at half the cost of photovoltaic solar cells.
IDEA T-files Indonesia was born as the result of a college project that focused on how to generate energy from ocean currents. During her first year at the Bandung Institute of Technology, Paramita brought together a group of multi-disciplinary volunteer students dedicated to making it possible. She involved people with majors in oceanography, and electrical, metallurgical and aerospace engineering; all the disciplines required to develop a turbine. But even though the idea for the prototype was good, they couldn’t come up with the necessary funding.
BUSINESS MODEL In 2007, the business was growing and T-files needed an office and a factory. To keep the business going, the school’s rector decided to help Paramita and her colleagues. They were assigned two floors of a small factory and an office, provided with free electricity, water, and 24-hour access in exchange for 10% of the company. Product development was boosted, and now the turbine generates 10Kw and is even applicable in low-velocity marine currents. Presently, the business has two revenue streams. One comes directly from the sale of turbine marine current generator units. The other is obtained through the sale of current, tide, and wave data to the government. Finally, to help the business grow further, T-Files sold 50% of the company to an Indonesian State owned enterprise, which also provided a one-hectare factory.
Eventually, they came up with a solution. They decided to break down the research and development stages into separate parts, so that each member of the team could use the component as a project in their studies, and they could better meet funding costs. The university paid for the materials, gave them lab space, and professors helped for free. In the end, the team of thirteen put all the pieces of the puzzle back together, and had a working 1Kw prototype. Upon completion, the group sold the turbine to the local government to obtain funds, thereby launching their college project into the business world and creating possibilities for their future as a company.
“(I) BECAME AN ENTREPRENEUR ACCIDENTALLY; THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THE TURBINE CAME UP AND WE USED THE MONEY TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN.”
www.infodev.org
twitter: @infoDev
ENTREPRENEUR’S INSIGHTS
NEXT STEPS
WORKING WITH infoDev
Open an office in Singapore. Networking with Singaporean entrepreneurs as a way of making important contacts will help the company internationalize
• Paramita appreciates and values purposeful networking with other entrepreneurs for the development of her business.
Secure finances to internationalize the company
• She is grateful for the mentoring she received from her professors.
Develop cooperation with marine-based companies such as oil and marine transport companies Provide consulting services regarding the study of marine current energy Promote the use of renewable energy to energy stakeholders
PROGRAM: Coimbatore Internationalization Workshop SUPPORT PROVIDED: Internationalization training delivered by infoDev specialists over the course of 3 days in India MAIN BENEFITS FROM ENTREPRENEUR’S VIEW: • Networking opportunities at the internationalization workshop resulted in collaboration with other companies: T-Files is now working with an Indian IT company as well as another company helping with leads in the Philippines, who also attended the workshop • Learning the regulatory and certification requirements to internationalize the business
KEY OUTCOMES VALUE FOR USERS Renewable energy electricity generation from marine and other currents, at half the cost of photovoltaic solar cells Supports the environment by using clean energy to reduce Co2 pollution Improves the brand image of associated companies using their green technology
BUSINESS FACTS REVENUE GENERATED
USD5million
INVESTMENT ATTRACTED
- Industrial facilities provided by the Bandung Institute of Technology in exchange for 10% of the company - 50% of the company sold to an Indonesian State owned enterprise
CONTRACTS SECURED
first turbine sold to a local government
JOBS CREATED
200
Supported by:
www.infodev.org
twitter: @infoDev