Looking back at its history, the world of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia was once trapped in a confusing bureaucratic labyrinth. The lack of an integrated information reference on business legality requirements formed a barrier for entrepreneurs trying to grow and access bank financing. This situation prompted Dewi Meisari, through the UKM Center FEB UI, to seek concrete solutions for entrepreneurs.
On September 14, 2017, UKMIndonesia.id was officially launched in Jakarta as a data-driven licensing information center. This collaborative project between FEB UI, the World Bank, and the Netherlands Government began its journey by mapping 150 types of business permits across eight major cities in Indonesia, providing easy access to regulations that were previously scattered across various local service offices.
Over time, the site—initially focused on legality aspects—started listening to the real needs of its users. The platform then expanded its coverage to include business insights, export strategies, and access to capital. This transformation successfully turned UKMIndonesia.id into a community-based digital media platform now visited by approximately 150,000 unique users every month.
Today, UKMIndonesia.id has adopted a B2B2C business model that bridges collaboration among corporations, non-profit organizations, and MSMEs. Through its role as an empowerment program facilitator, the platform proves that academic dedication to creating real societal impact can be realized through data integration and responsiveness to the needs of entrepreneurs on the ground.
