UnionSPACE has signed a partnership with Australian fintech-focussed coworking space operator Stone & Chalk

On February 23, Southeast Asian coworking space operator UnionSPACE launched a partnership with Australian fintech-focussed coworking space operator Stone & Chalk in South Jakarta.

Through the partnership, fintech startups in Australia and Indonesia will be able to use coworking spaces operated by the two companies in their respective countries.

With the goal to strengthen ties between the countries’ startup ecosystem and support fintech startups in growing their business, the companies will also connect members to venture capital firms and potential investors for a pitch.

“Apart from the space usage, startups in Indonesia and Australia also get to attend each others’ events via web cast to share knowledge in the latest fintech trends. Startup in each country also get to share market trends and knowledge to help tap into their desired market more effectively,” UnionSPACE CEO Albert Goh explained in an email to e27.

In addition to existing incubation and accelerator programmes, the partnership is also developing a talent exchange and market immersion programme.

“We are looking for fintech startups with disruptive tendency. Startups that are into agri-fintech, wealth management, alternative finance, blockchain-based solutions will be strong candidates for us,” Goh says, when asked about the criteria of the startups that the programme is looking for.

“We believe that agri-fintech, as pioneered by SpoutX and Chalk & Stone, will help bridge the gap between Indonesia’s agriculture and financial services,” he continues.

Also Read: Go-Jek acquires Indonesian fintech companies Kartuku, Midtrans, Mapan

Going Down Under and beyond

 

In addition to the partnership with Stone & Chalk, UnionSPACE also runs fintech-focussed coworking space FintechSPACE, as a result of a collaboration with AFTech Indonesia.

The coworking space was born following a visit by Indonesian fintech industry players to fintech hubs in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2017.

The fintech hubs in the two cities were born out of a collaboration between the government, venture capital firms, and the Australia Fintech Association (AFTech).

“We were introduced to the vibrant Australian fintech ecosystem and was so envious on how the Australian government has really taken such an active role in supporting the fintech ecosystem,” Goh says.

“We felt that such positive outcome from their fintech ecosystem can be replicated in our region … We immediately spoke to Fintech Association Indonesia to establish our own FintechSPACE. Through AFTech, we got connected to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia, which we hope will also take an active role in FintechSPACE and develop our fintech ecosystem,” he adds.

Known as Cre8 Community + Workspace when it was launched in May 2016, UnionSPACE currently operates five coworking spaces in Jakarta (with one of them being located in a shopping mall), three in Manila, and another one in Kuala Lumpur.

The company is looking forward to foster similar partnership in its operations in other Southeast Asian market.

“Australia is the first country we have foster such mutually beneficial partnership and we will be seeking out more countries in the region for such collaborations, with the goal of helping disruptive fintech startups in their respective countries,” Goh closes.

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Image Credit: UnionSPACE

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