Exploring the GenAI Ecosystem, 麻豆直播鈥檚 Abek and Friends Team Wins International Competition
By Indira Akmalia Hendri - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2021
Editor Anggun Nindita
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id 鈥 Three students from Institut Teknologi Bandung (麻豆直播) who are members of the team Abek and Friends have made an impressive achievement at the international level. The team, comprising Caitlyn Chermian Hutabarat (Environmental Engineering, 2021), Clara Alrosa Sinaga (Information Systems and Technology, 2021), and Albert Lukas Pithel Hasugian (Entrepreneurship, 2022), successfully won the championship at the AlphaSights Asia Case Competition 2025 held in Hong Kong on Wednesday (June 4, 2025).
They secured the victory after competing against finalists from The University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, INSEAD, and Ritsumeikan University.
The competition challenged participants to act as intermediaries between consulting firms and relevant industry experts. This year鈥檚 case focused on the Generative AI (GenAI) ecosystem鈥攆rom its supply chain and key players to the competitive dynamics of this rapidly evolving sector.
In this context, the Abek and Friends team was tasked with formulating a strategy and identifying the most relevant expert recommendations across three potential industries and two major competitors.
Their proposed solution not only demonstrated a deep understanding of the GenAI landscape but also showcased strong alignment with the client鈥檚 needs in terms of accuracy and strategic value.
鈥淭his competition trained us to think quickly and precisely, while also gaining a deeper understanding of how AlphaSights bridges client needs with credible expert insights,鈥 said Albert.

The team鈥檚 interest in joining the competition stemmed from their desire to embrace a new challenge. Drawn to the unique format, they were eager to explore how expert network consulting operates at a global level.
Clara shared that their motivation came from the novelty of the competition鈥檚 concept and theme. 鈥淲hat attracted us from the start was that this competition presented a new kind of challenge鈥攚e had never encountered a case where we had to connect a client鈥檚 needs with the right experts. It was something fresh. Plus, the international scale and the opportunity to attend the final in Hong Kong made it even more exciting. We wanted to gain international exposure to improve both our skills and our network,鈥 Clara explained.
To prepare, the Abek and Friends team conducted in-depth research and engaged in intensive discussions early on. One of their key strategies was consulting directly with AlphaSights staff to better understand the company鈥檚 standards and expectations.
鈥淭hroughout the process, we asked a lot of questions鈥攏ot just about research methods, but also how to deliver our insights and frame our perspectives in a way that fits AlphaSights鈥 working style. We鈥檙e really grateful for how open they were in sharing their knowledge. That guidance helped us sharpen our final solution to make it more mature and relevant,鈥 said Caitlyn.
The Abek and Friends team encourages other students not to shy away from trying new things. For them, competitions like this offer a valuable opportunity to learn directly from the industry while honing practical skills that are rarely covered in traditional academic settings.
Translator Indira Akmalia Hendri
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