My Journey
This is a story about "Grit, Grinding, Growth".
7 years filled with learning, creating, failing, and rising again.
Timeline of Growth
Each year brought new challenges, technologies, and insights.
Here's how I evolved from a no one into who I am today.
Where Passion Met Purpose: Robotics and Control Systems
The journey into technology began in 2017 through the TRUI (Tim Robotika Universitas Indonesia). The first competition, ASEAN MATE 2nd ROV 2017 in Surabaya, was a breakthrough—winning first place with a self-built underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Assigned as the team's Electrical Engineer, the work involved managing power distribution, sensors, and microcontrollers to function reliably underwater. In 2018, joined two more competitions: MATE ROV 3rd in Surabaya and KKCTBN in Madura. Faced a programming failure on-site, which sparked an unexpected interest in software. That moment led to choosing Control Engineering as a specialization, where code, mechatronics, and AI meet.
Key Achievements
- ✓1st Place - ASEAN MATE 2nd ROV 2017 (Surabaya)
- ✓2nd Place - MATE ROV 3rd 2018 (Surabaya)
- ✓3rd Place - KKCTBN 2018 (Madura)
- ✓Took Control Engineering after discovering a passion for programming
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
The line between hardware and software is thinner than it seems. Curiosity and persistence can turn any technical background into something much broader.
Breaking Borders: First Time Abroad, First Win Overseas
2019 was unforgettable. It was the very first time going abroad, and the destination couldn’t be more surreal — the United States of America. As part of the AMV (Autonomous Marine Vehicle) team, joined the AUVSI Roboboat Competition in Florida. The journey started in Jakarta and continued through Guangzhou and New York before finally arriving in Orlando. Alongside other teams from Indonesia like UGM and ITS, we competed with universities from the US, Egypt, Mexico, and more. Against the odds, we won 3rd place — even beating teams from top US schools like Michigan. That moment changed my mindset. It proved that Indonesians are capable of competing globally, as long as we stay hungry to learn and are given the opportunity.
Key Achievements
- ✓3rd Place at AUVSI Roboboat 2019 in Florida, USA
- ✓First time traveling abroad — straight to the US
- ✓Represented Indonesia along with UGM and ITS
- ✓Outperformed teams from the US, Egypt, and Mexico
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Stepping onto a global stage for the first time made one thing clear — Indonesian talent can shine just as bright. We’re not behind, we just need more chances to prove it.
From Robotics to Reality: Building Printbox
After wrapping up our robotics journey in late 2019, the core team decided to stay together. Instead of disbanding, we turned our engineering synergy into a new mission, to build something impactful for Indonesia. That spark became Printbox, a smart printing vending machine aimed at solving a simple but common campus problem: printing documents anytime, without hassle. We developed the MVP in early 2020 and debuted it at a UI job fair. Users could upload CVs to the cloud, scan a QR code, and print directly from the machine, all powered by a Python-based system using OpenCV, encryption, and real-time transactions.
Key Achievements
- ✓Launched first Printbox MVP
- ✓Designed embedded cloud-to-machine communication with encryption
- ✓Built end-to-end user workflow from file upload to print output
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Sometimes the ugliest product is the most important one — because it's real. We proved that bold ideas only grow if we dare to build them, even when everyone else doubts it.
Pandemic Focus: AI Research and First Mobile App
When the pandemic shut down campus and paused Printbox operations, I turned my full attention to finishing my degree. My thesis explored how deep learning could replace traditional PID controllers for unmanned surface vehicles. I spent months experimenting with RNNs, LSTMs, and CNNs to solve path-tracking and dynamic control problems in simulation. At the same time, I built my first mobile app using Flutter — a real-time controller for the robotic boat, connected via Firebase. I even got featured on national TV during live tests at the UI lake. In August 2020, I officially graduated as a Bachelor of Engineering, a proud member of the COVID generation.
Key Achievements
- ✓Bachelor of Engineering! Covid Generation
- ✓Completed thesis on replacing PID control with deep learning for USV
- ✓Trained and tested various AI models including RNN, LSTM, and CNN
- ✓Built first mobile app using Flutter to control a boat in real time via Firebase
- ✓Successfully tested and demonstrated remote operation from outside the city
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Graduating during a global crisis taught me more than just engineering. It taught me grit, focus, and the power of self-driven learning. In isolation, coding became the cure, and solving real-world problems became an obsession.
Printbox 1.0: Reunited and Tested by the Pandemic
After a brief pause during the early pandemic, the founding team of Printbox reunited and decided to live together to rebuild everything from the ground up. We launched Printbox 1.0 with a stronger and more reliable system, backed by funding from a local incubator. Despite our best efforts, the pandemic was still in full force, and our core users—students—were stuck at home. We tried building pandemic-relevant tech, like real-time people-counting using CCTV and image processing, but none of the projects gained real traction. Eventually, the team disbanded: the CEO and COO pursued master’s degrees, our Vice CTO joined Tokopedia, and I was left with a big question — what’s next?
Key Achievements
- ✓Released Printbox 1.0 with improved software and hardware
- ✓Secured seed funding from a local incubator
- ✓Prototyped COVID-relevant tech (CCTV-based room occupancy tracker)
- ✓Led product development through uncertain times before team disbanded
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Not every great idea will survive a crisis. Even with the best team and solid funding, timing matters. When things fall apart, reflection becomes the foundation for what comes next.
From Zero to N3: Learning Japanese as a Starting Point
After Printbox was put on hold, the founding team made a mutual decision to pause and pursue knowledge in our own directions, with the hope that someday, we’d return stronger. That mindset led me to seek growth abroad, and Japan became the natural next step. But to move forward, I had to start from zero, with the language. I received a scholarship from ITB and enrolled in an intensive program taught by native instructors from ECC Nihongo, Osaka. For five months, I studied Japanese full-time, every day. It was one of the most mentally demanding experiences of my life, but by the end of July, I passed the JLPT N3 mock exam. This wasn’t just about language. It was about preparing for a bigger mission ahead.
Key Achievements
- ✓Accepted into the Japan Career Development Program (full scholarship)
- ✓Passed JLPT N3 mock exam by July 2021
- ✓Developed strong discipline and cultural awareness for future work in Japan
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Sometimes, moving forward means starting from zero. Learning Japanese was never the goal — it was the foundation. The real goal was to grow, explore, and eventually bring that knowledge home.
From Zero Choice to Multiple Offers: Choosing Japan
After completing the Japanese language training, the next chapter began: turning language skills into a real career path. The scholarship program didn’t just teach grammar — it taught job-hunting tactics, introduced job fairs (careerforum.net, connectiu, careerITB), and drilled the art of interviewing in Japanese. I sent applications everywhere — Japan, Indonesia, even considered Korea for a Master’s degree. To stay afloat, I took freelance projects as a Flutter developer. Against all odds, every plan clicked: I received a full scholarship for M.S. in Korea (Kookmin University), an offer from Samsung R&D Indonesia, and another from a Japanese IT company in the factory automation space. I chose Japan. The pressure was massive — being a fresh UI graduate during a pandemic with no job wasn’t easy — but through focus and grit, I turned zero options into tough decisions.
Key Achievements
- ✓Passed multiple job interviews in Japanese
- ✓Received full M.S. scholarship offer from Kookmin University (Electrical Engineering)
- ✓Got job offer from Samsung R&D Indonesia
- ✓Accepted offer in Japan (Factory Automation – System Engineering)
- ✓Worked as freelance Flutter developer to stay financially independent
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Pressure can either crush you or forge you. In the toughest transitions, focus becomes your greatest ally. You don’t need to take every path — just the right one.
From Culture Shock to Career Growth: Engineering in Japan
March 2022 marked the beginning of a life-changing chapter — moving to Japan and starting my professional career there. I had expected harsh work culture and extreme hours, but what I found was a calm, disciplined, and structured environment. Every day I could return home by 5 PM. No overtime. No unnecessary pressure. Just focused learning and steady growth. For the first six months, I was given full salary to study: mastering PLC systems, C#, factory management systems, Oracle and SQL Server databases, OPC servers, and more. It was surreal — a company that invests in your learning without rushing you into deliverables. By the second year, I became project lead for several system integration programs, trusted with actual production-grade deployments. Beyond work, I fell deeply in love with Japan. From the serenity of Mount Fuji to the charm of Kyushu and the culture of Nagasaki, I traveled extensively, savoring every experience. Japan isn’t just where I work. It became a place I genuinely feel at home.
Key Achievements
- ✓full-time as System Engineer
- ✓Completed 6-month paid technical training (PLC, C#, DB Systems)
- ✓Led development and deployment of factory management systems in 2nd year
- ✓Consistently delivered results while maintaining work-life balance
- ✓Explored Japan extensively: Fuji, Kyushu, Fukuoka, Shizuoka, Nagano, Ishikawa, Miyagi, Kyoto, Oosaka, and more
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
True productivity doesn’t come from pressure, but from structure, trust, and intention. Japan taught me that excellence and peace can go hand in hand.
Rebuilding Impact: Printbox 3.0 and Akademikun
After two years of engineering experience in Japan, I returned to my roots with fresh eyes. In my free time, I rebuilt Printbox from scratch using what I had learned — launching Printbox 2.0 in C#, fully inspired by factory-grade systems and reliability. At the same time, I felt the urge to give back, so I launched a new content platform: Akademikun — a channel that teaches Japanese language through drama and anime. The goal was simple: help others experience Japanese in the most relatable and engaging way possible. By early 2025, Inventing.id entered a new phase of rapid growth, shipping dozens of Printbox units across Indonesia. To keep up, I rebuilt the entire Printbox stack once again — this time in Flutter, my long-time favorite. Printbox 3.0 was born: faster, scalable, and fully cloud-integrated. What started as side projects became real engines of impact.
Key Achievements
- ✓Released Printbox 2.0 (C# version with management system)
- ✓Launched Akademikun channel IG/TikTok/YouTube to teach Japanese via drama/anime
- ✓Inventing.id scaled to nationwide distribution
- ✓Released Printbox 3.0 using Flutter
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Technical skills are only valuable when they create something real. Teaching, building, and shipping aren’t separate paths — they’re how ideas grow into movements. In the right environment, passion becomes impact.
Now or Never: Returning Home to Build the Future
In July 2025, I made the most difficult decision of my life: to leave behind the country I fell in love with — Japan — and return to Indonesia, not because I had to, but because I felt called to. The reason? AI. Over the past two months, I’ve been working hands-on with the latest wave of agentic AI tools, and it’s clear that we’ve entered a new era of invention. Ideas that once took months to prototype can now be built in days. The name “Inventing” isn’t just aspirational anymore — it’s literal. This is the moment when building things that matter is no longer reserved for big tech giants. The tools are here. The question is: who’s bold enough to use them? I realized I’d rather take the risk at 26 and fail than look back at 28 and wonder, “What if?” With my resignation set for the end of July and a flight booked for August 5th, I’m committing the next two years fully to this vision. It’s now or never.
Key Achievements
- ✓Made pivotal decision to leave Japan and return to Indonesia
- ✓Hands-on exploration with agentic AI tools for rapid development
- ✓Formulated 2-year execution window for scaling Inventing.id
- ✓Aligned timing with CEO’s departure to the US for national leadership program
- ✓Built clarity around personal vision: invention as national contribution
Technologies & Skills
💡 Key Learning
Comfort is the enemy of progress. When history calls, you either build or watch. With AI unlocking doors faster than ever, the greatest risk now is hesitation. I’d rather fail building something for my country than succeed in someone else’s dream.
Reflecting on My Journey
Setiap tantangan adalah batu loncatan, setiap proyek adalah pelajaran, dan setiap waktu adalah kesempatan.