Grit Behind Glory

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Being the co-initiator of StartupLokal Community since April 2010, I’ve had the honor of witnessing the unpredictable rhythm of startup life up close. I’ve personally seen how startup founders dream, build, soar, crash, recover, and reinvent. It’s never linear, it’s rarely easy. But it’s always inspiring. I didn’t just watch from the sidelines; I helped connect them, and I carry these founders’ journeys like pages of a living book.

If conventional businesses age like humans, startups age like cats. What takes a traditional business 30 years to mature, a startup might live through in just five. For context: a one-year-old cat is roughly equivalent to a 15-year-old human. By the time a cat turns 10, it’s considered a senior, like a human in their 60s. Similarly, startups that make it to 10 years are practically legends. Many don’t even survive past year three. So when I see a startup hit a decade milestone, I know it’s nothing short of miraculous.

That’s why I was grateful to join Ralali in celebrating their 12th anniversary. The theme "Make Indonesia Great Again" was not just a slogan, but it’s a calling. Ralali has grown from a B2B marketplace into a multifaceted platform empowering SMEs and food businesses across the country. The event was filled not only with ceremony, but also insights and rewards. It feels like a reminder that Indonesian startups can actually not only survive but also thrive.


Bravo to Joseph Aditya, the visionary CEO of Ralali Group, and Andry Suhaili, the relentless force behind RalaliFood. They stood tall on stage, not just as leaders, but as survivors of a business terrain that’s constantly shifting. I snapped their photo, couldn’t help myself, and immediately shared it to our WhatsApp Group of 240+ startup founders and C-level leaders. Because these moments deserve to be witnessed by those who know what it takes to get there.

Another highlight of the day: reuniting with Pak Daniel Surya, who was one of our earliest StartupLokal Meetup speakers back in 2012. What a full-circle moment. Special thanks to Rhein Mahatma for the invitation. I also met some old friends from Indonesia's startup scenes. Again, it feels like a gathering of souls who’ve been walking the same winding road for years.

The startup journey isn’t romantic; it’s real. It’s gritty, I know this firsthand. As an angel investor, I’ve invested in 15 startups. Seven have failed, that’s nearly half. Just like one of my mentors from VC Unlocked Berkeley Law half-jokingly said in class: "you spray and pray, and hope that one single success can cover those 10 loss", LOL. So seeing Ralali reach its 12th year is like watching a rare flower bloom in a desert. 

Startups are built on dreams, but sustained by grit. If you're building one, know this: it’s okay to stumble. It’s okay to start over. Somewhere out there, a founder you don’t know is drawing courage from your story. And maybe, one day, you too will celebrate that hard-earned glory. 

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What started as a simple invite: “let’s go for a walk near my place”, turned into a small, happy gathering. Rhein jumped on board, said it’s one of the nicest parks around, and invited Vio, Jo, Steph, and Hendra.  So there we were, walking and chatting like it was the most natural way to start a Saturday. It wasn’t about steps or fitness goals, just a chance to be present together and talk about life while moving our feet.  We began from private botanic garden, and made our way to a public city park. The air wasn’t exactly fresh, but the company made it easy to ignore that. Somewhere in the middle, we stopped by a café owned by a fellow founder. Ordered drinks, sat around, and just talked. No agenda. No fancy brunch. Just coffee and beer, conversations, and the kind of back-and-forth that fills you up more than food ever could.  Our topics jumped everywhere: startup pains, parenting stories, school choices, house repairs, health hacks. Nothing was off limits, nothing was ...
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