Encouraging The Spirit Of Business, Bank Mandiri Again Holds Independent Young Entrepreneurs 2024

Photo: Doc. Bank Mandiri

JAKARTA - Consistently encouraging business interest in Indonesia, Bank Mandiri is again holding the 2024 Independent Young Entrepreneurs (WMM) competition. Consistently held since 2007, this event has become a form of Bank Mandiri's consistency in exploring the potential of young entrepreneurs in the country.

Bank Mandiri Corporate Secretary Teuku Ali Usman explained, entering its 17th year, Bank Mandiri hopes that WMM 2024 can re-test the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs in Indonesia to innovate and spur creativity in creating an adaptive and solution ecosystem.

Ali said, every year WMM continues to be able to attract great enthusiasm from business actors. In 2023, the WMM event managed to attract registrant participants from all over Indonesia.

"Looking at this high interest, Bank Mandiri is committed to continuing to develop the Independent Young Entrepreneurs program so that it remains relevant and can have a greater impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Indonesia," Ali explained in his official statement, Tuesday, September 17.

For this reason, different from the previous year, business criteria that can register at WMM 2024 are focused on business exiting (business running) with certain conditions in each category. Among other things, the categories Fashion, Food & Beverages, Beauty & Wellness, only businesses that have been running for a minimum of two years with a minimum annual turnover of IDR 500 million are allowed to register.

Meanwhile, the Tech and Tech-Enabled Startups categories are open to businesses that have operated for at least one year with the same turnover. Meanwhile, the registration period for WMM 2024 starts from September 13 to October 5, 2024 online through the official website www.wirausaha mudamandiri.id.

This year, we want to ensure that the selected participants are young entrepreneurs who already have a strong business foundation. This is not only to ensure the quality of the participants, but also so that the winners can be better prepared and able to take advantage of the opportunities offered," he added.

In addition, WMM 2024 also presents the Speed Dating concept for the Top 20 WMM which allows participants to meet directly with potential investors. Through this concept, it is hoped that it can open up wider opportunities for cooperation and funding for participants.

Not only a competition, Bank Mandiri also provides various forms of support to young entrepreneur alumni through various empowerment programs and international exhibitions. One of them is the opportunity to participate in prestigious international exhibitions, such as Salone del Milano with Bell Living Lab, Innovex with Crustea, Seoul Startup with Tappp, and SIAL Paris with Sila Artist Tea.

"Through this participation in international exhibitions, we hope that young Indonesian entrepreneurs can expand their market to the global level and get a new perspective in developing their business," Ali explained.

At WMM this year, Bank Mandiri also invited WMM Alumni to actively participate in various community empowerment programs. One of them is collaboration with Tanigo in fishery cultivation in Ciamis Regency, Fish Snack in processing fishery products in Bogor Regency, and Crustea in empowering sustainable fishery cultivation in Langkat Regency.

"We don't just want to be a competition facilitator, but also a partner for young entrepreneurs to grow as well as become access to capital (access to finance) to develop their business. With these various initiatives, we hope to have a real and sustainable impact," concluded Ali.