Pijar Foundation Joins Hundreds of Youth at Impact Preneurs Summit 2025, a Networking Hub for Startups and Young Investors

Mata Garuda, the alumni organization of Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) scholarship recipients, hosted the Impact Preneurs Summit 2025 at the Cakti Buddhi Bhakti Auditorium, Directorate General of Taxes, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

The event carried the theme “Venture Development and Strategic Innovation” and featured inspiring speakers from startup leaders, investors, and key national business figures.

Mata Garuda’s Chairman, Leonardo Gavaza, emphasized that the Impact Preneurs Summit is part of a long-term initiative to foster a generation of outstanding young entrepreneurs whose products can compete in global markets.

“This is a sustainable annual program. We don’t just host talk shows; we also run a business competition that encourages participants—whether they are still in university, recent graduates, or already running a business—to develop and refine their business plans,” Leo explained in an official statement on Friday, August 1, 2025.

A total of 3,500 teams from across Indonesia participated in the competition, with around 300 teams showing strong potential to become resilient entrepreneurs.

“We also conducted roadshows to various regions. Based on our studies, students or alumni who have prepared a business plan have a significantly higher chance of building a real business,” Leo added.

For the competition, Mata Garuda partnered with business leaders from the HIPMI Institute, chaired by Rizka Miranti, and academic practitioners from the Indonesian Association of Entrepreneurship Study Programs (APSKI). They also opened collaboration opportunities with venture capital firms to provide funding access for early-stage entrepreneurs—aiming to create a comprehensive and impactful entrepreneurship development ecosystem.

The Impact Preneurs Summit 2025 also featured notable speakers including Pandu Sjahrir (CIO, Danantara), Mohammad Al-Arief (Managing Director Global Relations and Governance, Danantara), Rachmat Kaimuddin (Deputy for Basic Infrastructure, Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development), Siti Azizah (Deputy for Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs), and Cazadira Fediva Tamzil (Executive Director, Pijar Foundation).

Other speakers included Arfan Arlanda (CEO & Founder, Jejakin), Jay A. Singgih (BPP HIPMI), Runita Kesumaramdhani (Asia Green Real Estate), and Ronald Simorangkir (CEO, Mandiri Capital Indonesia). They shared insights on strategic innovation, startup strengthening, and investment challenges in the digital era.

One of the most anticipated sessions was the investment pitching from the five winners of the 5ME2045 Business Competition, evaluated directly by leading investors such as Telkomsel Ventures, MDI Ventures, BNI Ventures, BRI Ventures, Mandiri Capital Indonesia, and Cakra Ventures.

According to Leo, the initiative aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s policy direction, which focuses on increasing the income of low-income communities, achieving food self-sufficiency, strengthening village cooperatives, and advancing national industrialization.

“We hope the five winners in each category can be connected with investors, media, and stakeholders. With collaborations like this, we believe we can create a tangible impact for the nation and contribute to achieving the target of 8 percent economic growth,” Leo said.

Overall, the 5ME2045 Business Competition and the main Impact Preneurs Summit event ran smoothly. As the organization representing LPDP alumni, Mata Garuda is committed to being a platform for sustainable contributions to realizing the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045 and upholding the spirit of mutual cooperation as mandated by the 1945 Constitution.

This article was first published by Tribun News