Are University Students Ready to Build Digital Startups? Evidence from Indonesian Higher Education

Abstract

The rapid growth of digital entrepreneurship has encouraged higher education institutions to strengthen entrepreneurship education as a means of preparing students for venture creation. While previous studies have extensively examined entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy, less attention has been given to students' preparedness to establish digital startups. This study examines key indicators associated with Digital Startup Readiness (DSR) among university students and explores the challenges that influence their readiness for digital venture creation. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, involving 154 undergraduate students enrolled in entrepreneurship-related courses at an Indonesian university. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses to open-ended questions were examined through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that students demonstrate high entrepreneurial confidence, motivation, and proactive information-seeking behaviour, suggesting positive outcomes of entrepreneurship education. However, respondents continue to experience moderate difficulties in generating innovative business ideas and adapting them to changing market trends. Funding, technical capability, and limited mentoring were identified as the most significant challenges in developing digital startups. The qualitative findings further reveal that students expect entrepreneurship education to provide greater emphasis on practical mentoring, business incubation, customer validation, and networking opportunities. The study highlights the distinction between entrepreneurial enthusiasm and startup preparedness, suggesting that universities should complement entrepreneurial motivation with experiential learning and stronger institutional support to better prepare students for digital venture creation.