With Rp2 million capital, Jambi cake MSME now employs 15 workers
A cake MSME entrepreneur in Jambi has managed to expand her home-based business from an initial capital of Rp2 million to a capacity of 3,000 sponge cakes per day, employing 15 people through the assistance of a government-led low-interest credit programme.
“I also did not expect that starting with Rp2 million could lead to having 15 employees, who are also PNM Mekaar clients,” said Dermiyante, the Jambi-based MSME entrepreneur, as quoted in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
Dermiyanti began her cake-making business in 2014 with limited production capacity before expanding her operations after joining as a client of PNM Mekaar (Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera) in 2018.
PNM Mekaar is an ultra-micro credit programme from the government through the State-Owned Enterprise Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM). Under President Prabowo Subianto, the interest rates for this credit have been reduced from 24 per cent to below 9 per cent.
The government, through the Ministry of MSMEs, subsequently announced that the financing interest rate would be set at 8 per cent, effective from early September 2026, to ease the burden on clients.
During her business journey, Dermiyanti participated in a comparative study trip to Bogor in 2024, which introduced her to several new recipes to be developed at her production facility in Muaro Bungo, Jambi.
“Upon returning to Jambi, I attempted the recipes from the study trip organised by PNM, specifically the Durian Mandau Bread. This was a recipe previously attempted by other bakers in Muaro Bungo, but no one had successfully achieved the right texture,” she said.
In addition to these varieties, Dermiyante’s production house also produces brownies, ‘sarang semut’ (ant nest) cakes, and rainbow cakes, which are marketed to several regions, including Bangko, Sarolangun, and Tebo.
The cake house’s production has now reached up to 3,000 cakes per day with a selling price of approximately Rp15,000 per cake, while daily turnover ranges between Rp15 million and Rp20 million.
“From an initial capital of Rp2 million, I learned that the courage to keep trying is the key. I brought back the knowledge and recipes from Bogor and kept trying until I succeeded, even though others had failed,” said Dermiyanti.
The business’s growth has also created employment opportunities for 15 people involved in production activities. Dermiyanti has also been assisted in obtaining a Business Identification Number (NIB) as part of strengthening her business legality.
The President Director of PT Permodalan Nasional Madani, Kindaris, stated that Dermiyanti’s story demonstrates how a business started with limited capital can grow and provide livelihoods for the surrounding community.
“Mrs Dermiyanti’s story teaches us that Rp2 million, if nurtured with trust and perseverance, can grow into a source of income for dozens of families around her,” said Kindaris.
Dermiyanti’s entrepreneurial journey is one of the PNM client stories highlighted during the National Customer Day celebrations, observed every 4 September.