Kartini Business Incubator Launched as Platform for Entrepreneurs to Elevate SMEs - Jepara News
JEPARA – The Jepara Regency Government continues to strengthen the ecosystem for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) and local industries by encouraging the emergence of independent and competitive new entrepreneurs. One such effort is embodied in the Kartini Business Incubator programme, initiated by the Cooperative, UMKM, Labour, and Transmigration Office (Diskopukmnakertrans).
Head of Diskopukmnakertrans, Zamroni Lestiaza, explained that the 2026 Kartini Business Incubator mentoring programme will run for seven months in parallel. The business actors will be accompanied by six mentors and six tenant companions.
From a total of 87 registrants, 30 business actors (tenants) were selected. They are then divided into six groups, each consisting of five tenants. Each group receives intensive mentoring from one mentor and one companion.
During the programme, participants will receive various facilities from the local government, such as thematic workshops, business matching to open access to markets and funding, benchmarking as a comparative business study, as well as halal certification literacy and employment access.
“This demonstrates the commitment of the Jepara Regency Government in developing UMKM to elevate them to the next level, so that the vision of Prosperous, Excellent, Sustainable, and Religious Jepara (MULUS) can be realised,” said Zamroni.
Meanwhile, Regent of Jepara, H. Witiarso Utomo (Mas Wiwit), encouraged the participants to continuously enhance their business capacity and capability. He also asked Diskopukmnakertrans to evaluate various programme weaknesses so they can be improved and sustained in the following year.
“Through this business incubator programme, it is hoped that new entrepreneurial shoots will emerge that can strengthen the local industry ecosystem in Jepara while supporting family economies,” said Mas Wiwit during his speech at the Shima Building on Tuesday (5/5/2026).
Furthermore, Mas Wiwit emphasised that the success of this programme requires collective commitment. Participants are asked to have a clear business roadmap as well as targets for increasing turnover.
Mas Wiwit also reminded the participants not to drop out midway. According to him, the seven-month incubation period is an important investment for the future of the business.
“Face every challenge and absorb as much knowledge as possible from the mentors. Carry out scale-up, because our target is not just to survive, but how the business can elevate to the next level. Let us be proud of local UMKM, strong synergy, great Jepara,” he concluded.