Recognizing Yogyakarta’s entrepreneurial potential, UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, has called on business owners, investors, and locals to build stronger connections. This is crucial for businesses to grow and offer practical solutions to existing social and economic challenges.
“Yogyakarta turns out to have an extraordinary entrepreneurial ecosystem. For example, the Asosiasi Pengusaha Kreatif Jaya (APKJ) already has around 300 members. All of you are driving forces in the local economy,” Danang said at Meet The Investor #3, titled “From Purpose to Investable Impact,” held at Joglo Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK UGM) on Thursday (Oct. 22).
Local economic potential should involve various community groups, from farmers and fishers to creators and innovators. However, these groups are not yet fully connected.
“If business owners continue to operate independently and remain disconnected from one another, this presents a major challenge,” he said.
Danang therefore emphasized collaboration between business owners and investors to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Entrepreneurship should be developed to generate sustainable solutions that benefit the wider community.
“Yogyakarta’s social capital can become a strength if networks among business owners are connected within a mutually supportive ecosystem,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Jaya Creative Entrepreneurs Association (APKJ) Chairman Ridha Perwira highlighted the importance of business resilience in responding to rapid changes. He cited navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how collaboration within a business ecosystem can help businesses survive.
“The pandemic taught us how important resilience is. Collaborating with others in the ecosystem helped us withstand the continuous changes taking place,” he said.
Responding to developments in artificial intelligence (AI), Ridha said businesses must adapt by incorporating technology into their operations. In his view, AI can make website and application development easier by using instructions, or prompts, reducing the technical barriers business owners once faced.
“In the past, building a technology startup required specific programming skills and expertise. Now, it has become more feasible,” he said.
Echoing Ridha’s views, GIFTS 2026 Event Director Ray emphasized strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaboration between business owners and investors. He explained that Meet The Investor, organized through a collaboration between UGM and APKJ, was initiated in response to the difficulties entrepreneurs in Yogyakarta face in reaching investors from outside the region.
“These concerns were the driving force behind the organization of Meet The Investor,” Ray said.
Through Meet The Investor #3, Ray hopes to strengthen Yogyakarta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaboration between investors and entrepreneurs. Connections among business owners, access to investment, and the ability to adapt to technological developments are all essential for business growth that delivers sustainable benefits to society.
“We hope participants can engage in direct discussions and gain new perspectives to develop their respective businesses,” he concluded.
Author: Agito Sitepu
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Firsto