From Learning Spaces to Business Ecosystems: Solopreneurs Now Targeted for Growth
The needs of solopreneurs in developing their businesses are no longer limited to knowledge and management skills. Access to networks, market opportunities, collaboration, and financial support have become vital components of their business journeys.
This situation has prompted Bank Saqu, a digital banking service owned by Astra Financial and WeLab, to expand its solopreneur mentoring programme through ‘Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club’. This programme is an evolution of the Bank Saqu Solopreneur Academy, which has involved over 1,000 solopreneurs from various industries since 2024. While previously focused on learning and strengthening business fundamentals, the programme has now been developed into a growth ecosystem that connects founders with knowledge, business networks, collaboration opportunities, and financial solutions.
The need for a supporting ecosystem is also reflected in the ‘Striving to Thrive: The State of Indonesian Micro and Small Enterprises 2024/25’ report. The report shows that more than 50% of micro and small enterprises that received one or more forms of business support in the last 12 months reported an increase in revenue. This figure is higher than the 37% of businesses that did not receive support. The support mentioned includes mentoring, financial training, digital marketing, and peer networking. These findings demonstrate that access to an ecosystem can help entrepreneurs increase capacity while opening growth opportunities.
This development is also reflected in the journey of Bank Saqu’s solopreneur programme. In 2024, the Solopreneur Academy served as a space for newly established solopreneurs to learn, share experiences, and strengthen business foundations. The programme then evolved in 2025 to bring together more solopreneurs from various industries to expand knowledge and networks.
Bank Saqu’s Relationship Banking Director, Hendrik Komandangi, stated that the needs of solopreneurs evolve alongside the growth of the businesses they run. “In the last two years, we have seen the journey of solopreneurs continue to evolve. As businesses grow, their needs become broader. In addition to knowledge and a strong business foundation, they require access to networks, market opportunities, and financial support that aligns with their business stage,” said Hendrik.
Therefore, through Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club, Bank Saqu is expanding its support so that founders have access that can help take their businesses to the next level. The programme brings together various parties within the business ecosystem, ranging from fellow founders, brand owners, suppliers, and strategic partners to ecosystem buyers. This approach ensures the programme is not just a space for gaining knowledge, but also a means to open connections and business growth opportunities.
For this year’s implementation, Bank Saqu is collaborating with IDN to strengthen the Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club ecosystem. This collaboration provides a wider space for founders to gain new perspectives, expand their networks, and meet various players within the business ecosystem. IDN Co-Founder & COO, William Utomo, noted that business growth requires more than just knowledge. “We see that business growth requires not only knowledge but also an ecosystem that can provide access to relevant connections and opportunities,” said William.
One of the key changes in the Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club 2026 is the introduction of curated industry insights, networking, and business matchmaking. Founders will gain direct perspectives from practitioners and experts regarding the challenges and opportunities in four business categories: coffeepreneurs, food & beverage (F&B), MICE, and artificial intelligence (AI). These sessions are designed to provide relevant and applicable insights according to the characteristics and needs of each industry.
The knowledge gained will then be followed by business matchmaking. Through this scheme, founders are introduced to relevant business players based on the needs and potential of each enterprise. With this approach, meetings do not stop at the exchange of knowledge and networks but are directed towards exploring cooperation, market access, and new business opportunities.
In addition to connections and business opportunities, the ecosystem built by Bank Saqu also includes financial support. Bank Saqu provides solutions for customer needs, ranging from financial management to credit facilities for eligible customers. One such solution is ‘Saku Kredit’ with a limit of up to Rp30 million, which can be used flexibly for various needs. For entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses, Working Capital Loans (Kredit Modal Kerja) are also available to support capital and operational needs.
This ecosystem-based approach is further strengthened through the involvement of industry players, such as Otten Coffee, which has built an ecosystem for coffeepreneurs. This year, Bank Saqu and Otten Coffee have entered into a strategic partnership with a shared vision to support the development of entrepreneurs in the coffee industry. This collaboration brings together the ecosystem and industry expertise of Otten Coffee with access to Bank Saqu’s financial services. Consequently, entrepreneurs within the Otten Coffee ecosystem can obtain more relevant support in running and expanding their businesses.
CEO of Otten Coffee, Jhoni Kusno, stated that Otten Coffee builds an ecosystem that supports coffeepreneurs through products, knowledge, and community. “Through this collaboration, the strength of the Otten Coffee ecosystem is paired with access to Bank Saqu’s financial solutions, ensuring coffeepreneurs have increasingly relevant support in their journey to develop their businesses,” said Jhoni.