Eastern Indonesia Becomes New Target for Business Expansion; Start Franchise and AKR Land Partner on Manado Expo
Start Franchise Indonesia, in partnership with AKR Land, will host the Start Franchise International Expo Manado 2026, a national and international franchise and business opportunity exhibition scheduled for 15–17 May 2026 at the Grand Kawanua K Walk City Mall in Manado, North Sulawesi.
The Start Franchise exhibition marks one of the first large-scale franchise expos in Eastern Indonesia’s franchise sector, with the objective of providing broader access for national brands to reach new markets whilst connecting them with prospective investors in the region.
Through the Start Franchise International Expo Manado 2026, Start Franchise aims to demonstrate that Eastern Indonesia’s franchise sector possesses substantial investment potential for business operators and national brands seeking business expansion.
The Start Franchise International Expo Manado 2026 targets attracting more than 60 national and international brands and drawing over 50,000 prospective visitors, comprising potential investors, entrepreneurs, SME operators, business communities, and individuals interested in launching ventures through franchise systems and business partnerships.
The organisation of this Start Franchise exhibition forms part of Start Franchise’s commitment to building a comprehensive end-to-end franchise ecosystem that integrates digital strategy, franchise marketplaces, business education, and large-scale exhibitions.
Through the integration of digital strategy and offline events, participating brands not only gain exposure during the Start Franchise exhibition but also have the potential to secure investment prospects and business partnerships through digital campaigns conducted before and after the event.
Collaboration with AKR Land, the developer of the Grand Kawanua K Walk City Mall precinct, represents an important element in hosting this exhibition. The Grand Kawanua precinct is recognised as one of Manado’s new commercial growth hubs with considerable potential for business development and investment in Eastern Indonesia’s franchise sector.
As part of the event concept highlighting local identity, organisers will introduce an official mascot named “Melisa”, inspired by the iconic Manado woman. The mascot represents the warmth of the local community, entrepreneurial spirit, and optimism regarding the development of franchise business and investment in Eastern Indonesia.
According to Rejal Mahardika, Business Manager of Start Franchise Indonesia, the organisation of this exhibition carries significance beyond simply hosting a business event.
“We see that Eastern Indonesia possesses considerable economic potential, yet relatively few platforms specifically bring together national brands with investors in this region. Through the Start Franchise International Expo Manado 2026, we wish to demonstrate that Eastern Indonesia offers significant opportunities for franchise business growth,” Mahardika stated.
He further noted that many business operators possess competitive products but lack access to broad investor networks. By hosting a national-scale franchise exhibition in Manado, Indonesian brands are expected to more easily reach new markets whilst accelerating their business expansion through the franchise system.
Beyond the franchise exhibition, the event will feature various educational programmes including business seminars, industry practitioner talkshows, networking sessions, and franchise expansion strategy discussions aimed at business operators and prospective entrepreneurs.
Through this event, Start Franchise hopes to open broader collaboration opportunities amongst brands, investors, business communities, and government institutions in promoting economic growth in Eastern Indonesia.
By featuring various brands across the food and beverage, retail, services, and creative business opportunity sectors, the Start Franchise International Expo Manado 2026 is expected to become a significant business agenda that strengthens Manado’s position as one of Indonesia’s new business growth centres.