The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Holds Entrepreneur Hub at Udayana University, Officially Opened by Deputy Minister Helvi Moraza

Jimbaran – Udayana University Hosts Entrepreneur Hub Organized by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs

Udayana University in Jimbaran served as the venue for the Entrepreneur Hub event organized by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the Republic of Indonesia. The event was held in collaboration with PT Pos Indonesia, the Bali Provincial Office for Cooperatives and SMEs, and the Regional National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) of Bali Province. Held under the theme #ToTheNextLevel, the event took place at the Widya Sabha Auditorium Building, Jimbaran Campus, on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

In her report, Deputy for Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Siti Azizah, stated that the event was attended by 50 startup participants and 20 incubator institutions. The agenda also included a pitching session featuring four outstanding local entrepreneurs, showcasing their businesses with a focus on business plans and vision. As a concrete step toward productive synergy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and Udayana University, as well as between Udayana University and PT Pos Indonesia.

Udayana University Rector, Prof. I Ketut Sudarsana, in his opening remarks, explained that the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has been cultivated from early on through entrepreneurship courses in the curriculum. The Entrepreneur Hub featured a range of strategic activities, including an inspiring talk show, business matching sessions between entrepreneurs and partners, and a mini expo showcasing innovative products by Udayana student entrepreneurs, MSMEs mentored by Dekranasda Bali, and Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs partners. This collaboration reflects a true triple helix synergy between government, industry, and academia working hand-in-hand to strengthen the national entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“At Udayana University, we encourage our students not only to graduate with competence but also to become innovators and young entrepreneurs capable of creating jobs, empowering communities, and offering solutions to today’s challenges,” the Rector emphasized.

He expressed hope that Entrepreneur Hub would not only be a source of inspiration but also a starting point for broader and sustainable collaboration to help local entrepreneurs scale up, become competitive, and make real impact.

As part of the event, an MoU was signed between Udayana University and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, as well as with PT Pos Indonesia, represented by Director of Courier and Logistics Business, Tonggo Marbun. Additionally, the Udayana University Global Postal Agent was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Minister.

In her address, Deputy Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Helvi Moraza, acknowledged Udayana University as a key MSME driver, given Bali’s reputation in creative economy and tourism. She further explained that the Ministry has two core mandates: to improve MSMEs’ access to financing and to open up markets for them. Highlighting the importance of MSMEs—which contribute 63% to the national GDP—she noted this as the reason the Ministry was restructured to better address their needs.

The challenge, according to her, is that micro enterprises often grow rapidly but are also quick to dissolve, usually due to three main factors: business talent, environment, and layoffs. She concluded that technology, a trained environment, systematic thinking, inspiration, and a future-oriented mindset are what can truly uplift MSMEs—and the campus is the ideal environment for that. Therefore, collaboration through initiatives like the Entrepreneur Hub is essential.

Representatives from BRI Group were also present, and the Deputy Minister urged them to seriously support this effort, as it will be followed by a Financing-focused Entrepreneur Hub, and later an Integrated Entrepreneur Hub involving all stakeholders in MSME development. Business incubation mentorships on campus are also planned.

“I urge students not to think that only those from the Faculty of Economics and Business can become entrepreneurs. In reality, engineering students also produce outstanding innovations. The problem often lies in students’ lack of confidence,” she added.

The Deputy Minister also stated that while students have great potential to become strong entrepreneurs, that potential cannot be realized if collaboration remains merely talk without serious follow-through.

The Entrepreneur Hub event featured a talk show titled Impactful Campus, Empowered Entrepreneurs, with three speakers: entrepreneurship practitioner Wisnu Sakti Dewobroto; Director of Business Development and Portfolio Management at PT Pos Indonesia, Prasabri Pesti; and Founder & CEO of PT Toco Ramai Digital (TOCO marketplace), Arnold Sebastian Egg. This was followed by pitching sessions from four standout local startups: Bio-Safe, Catalogku, Griya Anyar Dewata, and Balimall. The event also included a Business Matching session attended by partners such as Bank BRI, Bank BTN, BPD Bali, PT Pegadaian, PT Pos Indonesia, JNE, and PT Balimall.