As the largest economy in Southeast Asia region, Indonesia has undergone a complete metamorphosis over the last decade and strongly emerged as a very vibrant and dynamic business landscape in recent times. While the abundance of skilled talent that the island nation is home to has been the primary factor for this phenomenon, the government too has been playing an active role in nourishing the business ecosystem country-wide by launching government-run accelerators such as the Startup Studio Indonesia and the Gerakan Nasional 1000 Startup Digital Program.
As a result, Indonesia’s startup ecosystem currently ranks 2nd in Southeast Asia and 36th globally. While such fine conditions have encouraged a large number of people to jump onto the entrepreneurship bandwagon and etch their names in the business landscape of Indonesia, one individual who stands-out through his technology prowess, vast subject matter expertise and exceptional leadership & managerial skills is Fredyanto Koko, Founder, Mikrolette.
Educational & Professional Background
Having completed his Diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Fredyanto went on to pursue both BSc and MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology. To further hone his skills and satiate his hunger for knowledge, he then also took up MSc in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and started his career with Airbus Group, where he worked for six years and became familiar with the various nitty-gritties of the industry. Encouraged by the confidence instilled by his experience in the industry so far, he returned to Indonesia and incepted Mikrolette in 2019 with a vision to redefine the nation’s automotive industry by pioneering sustainable yet efficient transportation solutions to the market.
“Lightweight materials enhance fuel efficiency and payload capacity, which is vital for Indonesia’s expanding e-Commerce and logistics sectors. Witnessing the efficiency and sustainability brought by composite materials in aviation, I recognized their potential in logistics and thus incepted Mikrolette. Inspired by the Norwegian term ‘Microlight’, Mikrolette embodies my commitment to integrating advanced lightweight design principles into the Indonesian market”, says Fredyanto.
Tech-driven Product Portfolio
Under the aegis of Fredyanto, Mikrolette has evolved into a full scale technology company specializing in providing truck bodies made using lightweight composite materials.
The primary products that it offers are Refrigerated Box, Composite Dry Box, and Composite Box Three-Wheeled Vehicles. Further, each of these products are produced based on the Sandwich Panel Technology which the company has developed in-house. By combining Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP) and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), this nextgen technology provides a host of advantages such as Anti-Corrosion, Lightweight, Optimized Thermal Efficiency, Minimal Water Absorption and a lot more. As a result, Mikrolette has been able to cater to an elite clientele comprising of globally renowned truck manufacturers such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Hino, TVS and many others.
“By introducing glass fiber-reinforced plastics and XPS-based sandwich panels in refrigerated truck bodies, we’re offering stronger, lighter, and more sustainable solutions. We use aerospace-grade composite materials to create stronger, more durable refrigerated truck bodies that outperform traditional options. Our streamlined designs enhance efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and maximize payload capacity while maintaining competitive pricing. This way, we aim to create durable, high-performance products tailored to withstand Indonesia’s unique climate while also contributing to job creation and the local economy”, adds Fredyanto.
Secret Recipe to Successful Leadership
Standing firm with his mentor’s words ‘Nothing is perfect since we are humans’, Fredyanto has created a conducive work environment at Mikrolette where the focus is always on building solutions and continuous improvement rather than blaming others. Additionally, he always opts to hire individuals who are new to the industry, as he firmly believes that this helps bring fresh ideas to the table and foster a culture of creativity across the organization. Further, he ensures that the entire team work hand-in-hand and stay aligned with the company’s overall goals & objectives.
“While luck plays a significant role in life, I believe hard work is also essential. To increase your chances of experiencing good fortune, you must work tirelessly and persevere. For me, work feels like a battleground, and my sanctuary is returning home to my family. I prioritize having dinner with them, as it brings me peace and helps maintain my sanity amidst the challenges of work”, says Fredyanto.
Inspired by the Norwegian term ‘Microlight’, Mikrolette embodies my commitment to integrating advanced lightweight design principles into the Indonesian market
Future Roadmap & Sharing Words of Wisdom
Going forward, Fredyanto plans to add more carrosserie solutions such as dry boxes, dump trucks and specialized vehicles into Mikrolette’s product portfolio and improve its products’ design by leveraging optimization algorithms that automatically balance materials, design shapes, and processes. Further, he will also be focusing on exploring new avenues to enhancing the manufacturing process and leveraging IoT to monitor the refrigerated trucks in real-time.
When asked about what his advice is to aspiring entrepreneurs, Fredyanto says, “Since everything takes time, the sooner you begin your entrepreneurial journey, the more lessons you’ll learn. Focus on one industry that you’re interested in and ensure to gather as much knowledge as possible pertaining to that area. Always trust your instincts and have confidence in your abilities. Never hesitate to experiment, but make sure to learn from your mistakes. Most importantly, prioritize sales, as there’s no business without it”.
Fredyanto Koko, Founder, Mikrolette
Fredyanto Koko is a seasoned Aerospace Engineer with over 15 years of experience in lightweight structures, having collaborated with esteemed organizations in Canada, the U.S., the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. He holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from TU Delft and the University of Michigan. Notably, he worked at Airbus Group, contributing to the Engineering and Research & Technology departments, where he played a key role in the ‘Wing of the Future’ projects and the Full-Scale Fuselage Structural test. In 2019, Fredyanto founded his own company focused on truck body manufacturing, with a mission to implement environmentally friendly solutions and set new benchmarks in Indonesia's carrosserie industry.
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