I-SEA Becomes a Driving Force for Social Entrepreneur to Grow Together

After completing Instellar & IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (I-SEA) program, the synergy between the two I-SEA changemakers from cohort 1, Greenie and Kulaku still continues. In the third series Road to I-SEA Cohort 2 Webinar, Ika Juliana, Founder & CEO Greenie Indonesia along with Aqilah Zainab, CFO & Director Kulaku Indonesia reflected on how the I-SEA program took part in increasing their business and social impact.

Ika said that when Greenie met Kulaku at the I-SEA program, the two social entrepreneurs who were both in the agricultural sector felt that they had a lot in common and had the potential to work together. Through I-SEA’s Customized Support, Greenie and Kulaku were able to develop their plan to collaborate to produce cocopot, an environmentally friendly product that can be used as a planting medium both indoors and outdoors.

“The Customized Support is very helpful. In addition to realizing cooperation, we can also find sources of raw materials for areca nuts, from the intercropping plantations of coconut farmers who are Kulaku’s partners in Palembang ”, said Ika.

Regarding the expansion of social impact, Aqilah added that at I-SEA the participants were assisted from the start of the program to map beneficiaries of their social enterprises. “By collaborating with Greenie, the welfare of the beneficiaries of Kulaku’s business, such as farmers, has also been improved”, said Aqilah.

As a social entrepreneur from outside Java, Aqilah said I-SEA was also very helpful in expanding Kulaku’s network and exposure. She hopes that in the second cohort, there will be more social entrepreneurs from outside Java who will take part in the I-SEA program.

“Meeting with other social entrepreneur friends, such as in the I-SEA program, can be a good energy for us to keep moving forward. We learn and grow better together. Everyone will definitely enjoy the trip on the I-SEA boat”, said Aqilah.