Financial Assistance and Mentorship: Real Support for Sustainable Local Startups

In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 — No Poverty — empowering local communities through the creation of sustainable businesses is a vital strategy. This commitment is realized through financial assistance and mentoring programs that enable aspiring entrepreneurs from local communities to build ventures that are not only financially viable but also socially impactful.

As part of this mission, Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) plays a leading role by providing seed funding of IDR 10 million to ten innovative startups developed by its students. This financial support serves as crucial initial capital, transforming creative ideas into tangible businesses ready to grow and compete in the market.

However, financial support alone is not enough. Building resilient and competitive businesses requires strong capacity and skills. Recognizing this, UNHAS established a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (KemenKopUKM). This partnership resulted in an intensive Startup Bootcamp, specifically designed to strengthen the capacity of 23 selected startups. The program goes beyond theory, offering hands-on training and practical insights to help participants face real market challenges.

This strategic initiative even gained national media attention from Kompas UMKM, which highlighted how the collaboration aimed to enhance startup capacity and competitiveness. The media coverage underscores the importance of creating a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster capable and resilient new business founders.

The spirit of entrepreneurship continues to thrive among UNHAS students. This is evidenced by the growing number of student teams successfully securing competitive funding through the Student Entrepreneur Development Program (P2MW). In 2024, 16 student teams from UNHAS were awarded P2MW grants to realize their innovative business ideas.

This achievement was featured in a UNHAS TV report, which showcased how the university consistently supports and empowers student teams to succeed in national entrepreneurial funding programs. The report — “UNHAS Qualifies 16 Teams for P2MW 2024 Funding” — captures the enthusiasm and determination of these young entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life.

Together, these initiatives — from seed funding and capacity-building bootcamps to competitive grant programs — represent a holistic approach to entrepreneurship development. Rather than focusing solely on financial assistance, UNHAS builds a strong foundation for the long-term growth and sustainability of local businesses. Each successful startup not only creates employment for its founders but also contributes directly to breaking the cycle of poverty within its community, advancing the vision of a more prosperous and self-reliant society.