Diplomat Success Challenge XII at Mana Earthly Paradise
Mana Earthly Paradise recently had the pleasure and honor of hosting the Diplomat Success Challenge!
A renowned business challenge for young entrepreneurs in Indonesia founded in 2009, the Diplomat Success Challenge (DSC) held its 12th season this past month. While the competition was aired on national TV for the first nine years, it has been broadcasted through the Diplomat Success Youtube channel in the past few years. The winners are awarded a total of 2 billion rupiah, plus mentorship, business expansion support, among other perks. This year, the competition accepted 18.000 business ideas, from which 300 were shortlisted, which in turn generated 16 finalists who joined the incubation and elimination sessions.
After a battle round in Labuan Bajo in Nusa Tenggara Timur a few days before, 12 finalists visited Mana Earthly Paradise for the Bali battle round. The program started with a meditation walk to the nearby rice field area guided by Tomo, Managing Director of Earth Company. The challengers disconnected with their gadgets to be more connected with nature and themselves. After the meditation walk, the challengers had the opportunity to listen to the life stories of the founders of Earth Company and Mana Earthly Paradise, as well as the sustainability principles and practices at the property.
The challengers then joined a sustainability tour led by Sara Hutabarat, the PR Manager at Mana, that visited the different business units: Mana Market, Mana Kitchen, and Mana Villas. Sara explained all the different sustainability and circular measures including using solar panels, rainwater catchment, water waste garden, permaculture garden, and earthbag buildings. She also brought the challengers to Mana Market that sells carefully vetted products that are organic, local, ecological, social, and single-use plastic-free, and Mana Kitchen that serves indo-japanese fusion food with probiotic, organic, and heirloom ingredients. The challengers expressed interest in all the sustainable practices and asked lots of questions about how to commit to sustainable practices as well as the business aspects of the property.
Before leaving Mana to visit two local social businesses, Made Tea and Gangga Coffee, the DSC team divided the finalists into two groups and tasked them with a specific challenge to help these businesses scale up sustainably in a comprehensive way including environmental, sociocultural, and financial aspects.
Two days later (30th Nov) the two groups presented their ideas to three prominent business professionals who served as judges:
Mr. Helmi Yahya – TV personality, entrepreneur, lecturer
Mr. Surjanto Yasaputera - Director PT Gawih Jaya
Ms. Antarina SF Amir - Director Highscope Indonesia
Throughout the elimination process in Labuan Bajo and Bali, the challengers had the privilege of being guided by accomplished mentors:
Mr. Handoko Hendroyono - Founder Filosofi Kopi
Ms. Helga Angelina - Co-founder Burgreens and Green Rebels
Mr. Lukman Benjamin - Founder & CEO Creativoc
Mr. M Jupaka- CEO NIION
Overall, the Earth Company and Mana team thoroughly enjoyed this experience of being part of the trailblazing initiative that is half reality show, half business competition!
We wish all the challengers best of luck in their future endeavors!