Sosial Enterprener Indonesia (SEI)

The Challenge

Many Indonesian start-ups and microenterprises often lack basic business development services, technical assistance, and capital that are necessary to grow into long-term, sustainable enterprises.

SEI's Approach

Sosial Enterprener Indonesia (SEI) is a social capital fund focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia. SEI was started as a joint initiative between IFC’s Grassroots Business Initiative (GBI), the precursor of GBF, and four prominent Indonesian investors—together known as the Angel Club. SEI provides financing and technical assistance to growing SMEs that have a solid combination of commercialization and outreach at a grassroots level, but require strengthening before they can scale up and/or replicate.

SEI's Partnership with GBF

GBF provided business advisory services in 2008 to help SEI set up its operations. Over the past two years, GBF has continued to work closely with SEI; connecting SEI with experts in the small and medium enterprise investment fields.

SEI's Impact

At present, SEI has invested in 15 companies, operating mainly in the agribusiness, furniture and handicrafts industries. SEI supports over 700 people, including the entrepreneurs and their staff. SEI has cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and the Business Development Services (BDS) Associations in Indonesia. 

Click to visit SEI's website.