Fajrin shared his career journey during ITB's Studium Generale (KU4078), themed "Building Digital Talent," on Wednesday (September 30, 2026). The event was held simultaneously at the West Hall of ITB Ganesha Campus, Classroom 9706 in Building B at ITB Cirebon Campus, and Room U301 at ITB Jatinangor Campus, and was also broadcast online.

The public lecture featured Fajrin, Co-Founder of Bukalapak and former Director of Digital Business at Telkom Indonesia. He is an alumnus of ITB's Undergraduate Informatics Program, class of 2004, and later returned to ITB to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree as part of the 2021 cohort.

With more than 15 years of experience across various companies and startups, Fajrin's career demonstrates how a background in technology can evolve and be combined with business expertise. One of the defining moments in his journey was co-founding Bukalapak alongside his two colleagues, Achmad Zaky and Nugroho Herucahyono.

All three are alumni of ITB's Informatics Program, class of 2004. What began as a shared passion for coding and developing applications eventually grew into an idea that became one of Indonesia's technology companies.

"Bukalapak was founded by three ITB Informatics alumni from the class of 2004. The three of us were geeks back then. We spent our time coding and developing applications, which eventually led to the birth of Bukalapak in a garage or boarding house in 2009," Fajrin recalled.

Bukalapak's early development was also closely connected to the founders' shared interest in buying and selling bicycles and secondhand goods. Through these activities, they recognized an opportunity to establish a marketplace that could bring buyers and sellers together on a single platform.

By 2011, the idea had developed further, with Bukalapak aiming to become a platform where people from all backgrounds could buy and sell products online. At the time, their vision was to make Bukalapak the largest online bazaar in Indonesia.

"We used to enjoy buying and selling bicycles and secondhand items. So, we turned that idea into a marketplace where anyone could buy and sell products," Fajrin explained.

He continued, "What was our vision? We wanted to become the largest online bazaar in Indonesia. That was our goal."

What began as an idea among friends who enjoyed developing applications eventually grew into a professional experience that shaped Fajrin's career in technology and business.

Continuous Learning: The Key to Creating Technology

Throughout his career in technology, Fajrin has come to recognize the importance of maintaining a willingness to learn.

According to him, the rapid pace of technological advancement requires individuals to continuously improve their skills and remain curious. This is essential not only for keeping up with current developments but also for adapting to new technologies and knowledge that may emerge in the future.

This perspective is particularly relevant amid the growing attention surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). For Fajrin, the ability to keep learning is essential for remaining relevant in an ever-changing technological landscape.

"In my opinion, the most important skill is actually the willingness to keep learning. It is about how we can remain relevant. Today, everyone may be talking about AI, but in the future, new technologies and new fields of knowledge may emerge. That is why maintaining a growth mindset is, in my view, the most important thing," he explained.

This message is also reflected in Fajrin's own career. After completing his education in Informatics, he did not limit himself to technical expertise. Instead, he continued expanding his experience into business, management, and corporate development. He even returned to ITB to pursue a master's degree in business administration.

For students and young professionals aspiring to build careers in technology, his experience highlights the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in shaping a successful professional journey.

Tips for Startup Success
Fajrin's experience in building Bukalapak from the ground up has also given him valuable insights into what startups need to prepare, particularly when seeking to gain investors' trust.

According to him, one of the most important foundations is having a clear vision. However, vision alone is not enough. A startup must also have an actionable strategy and tangible evidence that its ideas can be successfully implemented.

Such evidence may include a product that has already been developed and actual users who are actively using it.

"First, you need to have a clear vision. But you also need a strategy and evidence to support what you are proposing. You need to show that the product has already been developed and that there are users who are actually using it," he emphasized.

For Fajrin, building a company is ultimately not just about coming up with an idea, but also about continuously developing, testing, and adapting that idea to meet society's needs.

From his early days as an Informatics student at ITB to his involvement in building Bukalapak and his subsequent career in digital business, Fajrin's journey demonstrates how a professional career can grow through curiosity, the courage to try new things, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Through the Studium Generale "Building Digital Talent," his experience offered ITB students valuable insights into how technological expertise can be continuously developed and combined with business skills to navigate the evolving digital landscape.