The City Government of Yogyakarta, through the Office of Industry, Cooperatives, and SMEs (DinperkopUKM), is organizing the Jogja Creative Start-Up Festival (JCSF) 2025 in partnership with the National Industrial Design Center (PDIN). The event will serve as a platform for startup founders and business practitioners to pitch their ideas directly to investors.

Tri Karyadi Riyanto Raharjo, Head of DinperkopUKM, stated during a press conference at PDIN Yogyakarta on Wednesday, October 15, that this initiative is expected to stimulate innovation and foster cross-sector collaboration.

“This is the first time it’s being held in Yogyakarta, and we hope the impact will reach the national level. Through JCSF, we aim to cultivate innovation and boundless collaboration, while also promoting local startups,” said Tri Karyadi.

Brave Pitch: Connecting Startups with Capital

A main feature of JCSF 2025 is Brave Pitch, a business pitching competition designed to connect startups with investors. Participants will present ideas across various sectors including industrial innovation, food and beverage, creative industries, culture and tourism, and digital technology.

DinperkopUKM and PDIN are working with the Creative Entrepreneurs Association (APKJ) and Jogja Festival to involve startups from across the Yogyakarta Special Region. The curation process includes experienced curators from multiple sectors.

“We aim to showcase the best creative and digital products from Jogja. This is not just about promotion, but a strategic gathering of startups, investors, communities, academics, and policymakers,” Tri Karyadi added.

Four Core Programs to Support Startup Ecosystem

JCSF 2025 features four primary programs: Brave Pitch, Start-Up Gallery, Scale-Up Session, and Founder’s Story. Through these, participants can explore their business potential and work toward sustainable growth.

Brave Pitch will begin with the selection of 40 business proposals. From this pool, 15 finalists will be chosen to compete in the final round. Finalists will also present their work at the Start-Up Gallery, a public exhibition featuring 30 curated tenants.

The Scale-Up Session will include expert speakers who provide insights into business development strategies. The Founder’s Story segment will feature startup founders sharing their journeys and lessons learned.

“We do not want this festival to end with the event. The hope is that collaboration and startup development will continue after JCSF concludes,” said Tri Karyadi.

JCSF 2025 Timeline and Awards

The event will be held at PDIN Yogyakarta. Open registration and proposal submission for Brave Pitch runs from October 13 to 23, 2025. The first phase of Brave Pitch begins on October 30, with finalist announcements on November 5. An online session with finalists will take place from November 6 to 7, followed by the final presentations, Scale-Up Session, Founder’s Story, and award ceremony on November 11 and 12.

Project Manager Satya Panggayuh stated that JCSF is designed to introduce local startups to both the public and potential investors.

“We want to show that Yogyakarta-based startups deserve attention and investor support. JCSF is also a place for startups to connect with relevant parties for collaboration or investment opportunities,” said Satya.

According to Satya, 40 participants will present their pitch decks to a panel of judges. The top 15 will advance to the final round on November 11, 2025.

The festival will recognize five winners. The first-place prize is IDR 5 million, followed by IDR 4.5 million for second place, IDR 4 million for third, IDR 3.5 million for fourth, and IDR 3 million for fifth.

PHOTO: PEMERINTAH KOTA YOGYAKARTA

This article was created with AI assistance.