Bank Saqu, a digital banking service owned by Astra Financial and WeLab, brought together hundreds of solopreneurs and business owners with industry professionals, potential buyers, investors and strategic partners at the Bank Saqu Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club 2026 in Jakarta (28/10).

Organised in collaboration with IDN, the event provided opportunities for business networking, industry discussions and business matchmaking to support collaboration and business growth.

Held at Samisara Grand Ballroom, Sopo Del Tower, Jakarta, the event featured three main activities: Industry Insights, Networking and Business Matchmaking.

The programme aimed to connect entrepreneurs with relevant business contacts and help them explore opportunities for partnerships and market expansion.

Bank Saqu Strengthens Business Opportunities for Indonesian Solopreneurs

Hendrik Komandangi, Relationship Banking Director of Bank Saqu, said that many business owners already have competitive products and significant market potential. However, expanding their businesses requires an understanding of market needs, suitable partnerships, effective financial management and sufficient capital readiness.

"Many business owners have competitive products and significant market potential. However, to scale their businesses, they need to understand market needs, build the right partnerships, and have good financial management and capital readiness. Through The Founders Club, we want to help connect this potential with more concrete business opportunities. For Bank Saqu, banking support is not only about providing financial access, but also about building long-term relationships and understanding customers' needs as their businesses grow," Hendrik said.

Bank Saqu has served more than 3.8 million customers, with solopreneurs representing one of its main business segments. Through its relationship banking approach, the bank continues to strengthen financial support for business owners.

Its financial services include Saku Kredit, which offers an initial credit limit of up to Rp30 million, and Working Capital Loans to support business operations and development according to the scale of each business.

Industry Insights Highlight Business Growth and Financial Literacy

The Industry Insights sessions addressed market opportunities, business development strategies and financial management. These discussions formed part of Bank Saqu's efforts to improve financial literacy among business owners, particularly solopreneurs.

The sessions covered cash flow management, capital planning, separating personal and business finances, and using financial services appropriately to support business growth. Bank Saqu also highlighted the importance of maintaining healthy cash flow, managing risks and making appropriate financial decisions.

Four industry sectors were discussed during the sessions: coffee, food and beverage (F&B), meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and artificial intelligence (AI) and technology.

Business Matchmaking Connects Entrepreneurs with Potential Partners

The Match. Make. Grow! Speed Business Matching Session was one of the main activities at the event. It brought together selected solopreneurs with potential buyers, investors and strategic partners from various industries.

Each meeting lasted approximately eight minutes, allowing participants to present their products and services, understand potential partners' needs and explore possible business cooperation.

Unlike conventional networking activities, the matchmaking sessions were arranged according to the relevance of each participant's business needs and potential. Discussions covered product and service procurement, distribution channel expansion, commercial partnerships and cross-industry collaboration.

William Utomo, Co-Founder and COO of IDN, said business growth does not always require entrepreneurs to develop new products or enter new markets. Opportunities can also emerge when business owners identify unmet needs and connect with partners whose strengths complement their own.

"Business growth does not always have to start with creating new products or markets. Often, opportunities emerge when business owners are able to identify unmet needs and find partners with complementary strengths. The right collaboration can open new distribution channels, expand consumer reach and even create business models that were previously unimaginable. Through Bank Saqu Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club, we want to bring founders together with perspectives and opportunities that can be translated into their next business steps," William said.

The programme was designed to help entrepreneurs explore new distribution channels, expand their consumer reach and identify potential business models through collaboration.

Bank Saqu Expands Its Solopreneur Development Programme

The Solopreneur Society: The Founders Club continues Bank Saqu's efforts to support Indonesian solopreneurs through a development programme that began in 2024 with Solopreneur Academy.

While Solopreneur Academy previously focused on education and business capacity development, the latest initiative expands its support to include market access, business collaboration and relevant financial solutions.

Through this programme, Bank Saqu continues its #SelaluBersama commitment to supporting Indonesian solopreneurs in building productive, competitive and sustainable businesses.

The event also coincided with Financial Inclusion Month (Bulan Inklusi Keuangan or BIK), an initiative organised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK). Through financial management education and wider access to financial services, Bank Saqu aims to strengthen its commitment to improving financial literacy and inclusion while supporting business growth.

PHOTO: BANK SAQU

This article was created with AI assistance.

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