Southeast Asia stands at a defining moment in its entrepreneurial journey. Home to over 71 million small-growing businesses (SGBs), the true backbone of the region’s economy, the potential for inclusive prosperity is immense. Yet, despite over USD 95 billion in startup investments over the last decade, a vast financing gap of more than USD 300 billion annually continues to limit growth. These enterprises, too large for microfinancing but often overlooked by venture capital, make up what experts call the “Missing Middle.”

Amid this structural challenge, Indonesia is emerging as the gateway for inclusive growth in Southeast Asia. With its thriving digital economy and dynamic startup landscape, the country is positioning itself as a regional leader in innovation and impact-driven entrepreneurship. Leading this charge is KUMPUL, the ecosystem enabler behind the upcoming Connect for Change (C4C) Summit 2025, set to take place in Jakarta on October 21, 2025.

Bridging the Missing Middle

The C4C Summit 2025 isn’t just another business conference, it’s a movement to reshape Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurial landscape. Designed to bridge the Missing Middle, the summit will convene 500+ changemakers from across governments, corporations, startups, investors, NGOs, and media to co-create strategies for inclusive growth, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable innovation.

At its core, the C4C Summit acts as a bridge between challenges and solutions. Through a series of dynamic sessions, like Bridge Discussions, Futurist Sessions, and Executive Lab Forums, participants will exchange insights on financing innovation, ethical AI, and regional policy alignment. It’s a space where thought leadership meets action, setting a new standard for how Southeast Asia can collectively unlock opportunity.

KUMPUL: Building the Infrastructure of Inclusion

As one of Indonesia’s most forward-thinking ecosystem builders, KUMPUL has long been an advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship. Its mission goes beyond nurturing startups, t aims to empower all levels of entrepreneurs by closing gaps in access, capability, and capital.

Through the C4C Summit, KUMPUL is positioning Indonesia as the central hub for innovation, sustainability, and regional collaboration. The summit is structured around three interconnected pillars:

• Connect for Growth (C4G) – Empowering entrepreneurs to scale sustainably through strategic partnerships, new markets, and alternative financing.
• Connect for Innovation (C4I) – Driving digital transformation and the adoption of emerging technologies to boost efficiency and ethical growth.
• Connect for Ecosystem (C4E) – Strengthening the regional entrepreneurial fabric by aligning policies, building partnerships, and fostering community-driven impact.

Together, these pillars reflect KUMPUL’s belief that growth, innovation, and collaboration must advance hand in hand.

A Platform for Global Voices

The C4C Summit 2025 will feature a distinguished lineup of global leaders and changemakers. Speakers include former Indonesian ministers Chatib Basri and Rudiantara, Veronica Utami (Country Director of Google Indonesia), Subhashini Chandran (Mastercard), Tessa Wijaya (Xendit), and representatives from UN Women, Deloitte, and Khazanah Nasional.

Key sessions such as “Scaling Beyond Borders: How Cross-Market Collaboration Drives Growth” and “Democratizing Economic Growth: Expanding Access to Opportunity” will explore how regional partnerships can drive inclusive prosperity. These discussions embody KUMPUL’s goal: to elevate Indonesia’s role from participant to regional architect of entrepreneurial collaboration.

Indonesia: The Gateway for Inclusive Growth in SEA

With a digital economy projected to reach USD 124 billion by 2025, Indonesia is more than a market, it’s a magnet for innovation. Its large, youthful population and growing network of digital entrepreneurs make it the ideal launchpad for a region-wide transformation.

By hosting the C4C Summit 2025 on October 21, Indonesia sends a clear signal: it’s ready to lead Southeast Asia into a new era of inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable innovation. Jakarta will become the meeting point for ideas that transcend borders, connecting investors to changemakers and local insights to global opportunities.

Building a Future of Shared Prosperity

The future of Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurship depends not just on individual brilliance, but on collective effort. To unlock the region’s full potential, collaboration must replace competition, and inclusion must drive innovation. That is precisely what KUMPUL’s Connect for Change Summit 2025 represents, a platform where leaders, innovators, and changemakers unite to bridge divides and spark lasting impact.

As the region prepares for October 21, 2025, one message is clear: from Jakarta to the rest of the region, Indonesia is not only participating in the global conversation, it’s shaping it. The C4C Summit is more than an event; it’s the beginning of a movement toward shared prosperity and inclusive growth across Southeast Asia.