The head of the ITS Abmas team Ninditya Nareswari SM MSc (in the middle wearing a pink hijab), with students who took part in the Community Service Team during the socialization of the Mari Tumbu application to the people of Kebonantgul Village, Mojokerto

Campus ITS, ITS News – Funds are one of the driving forces of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). For this reason, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Community Service team created the Mari Tumbu application, which allows MSMEs to get funding from the community on an equity basis or what is commonly called Equity Crowdfunding.

Equity Crowdfunding is a form of instrument that allows the public to participate in economic growth, including MSMEs. With an equity basis, later, the money deposited by investors will become part of the ownership of MSMEs, accompanied by risk sharing and operating profits. This Abmas activity was temporarily implemented in Kebonuntungl Village, Mojokerto.

The head of the ITS Abmas team, Ninditya Nareswari SM MSc, explained that MSMEs in the village had met their daily operational needs. Therefore, the Equity Crowdfunding method is considered more appropriate to the conditions in the field because of its long-term nature. “This is because the injection of funds obtained will be more intended for expanding the business,” he explained.

Socialization was also carried out to provide understanding and knowledge about Equity Crowdfunding by involving ITS students who are members of a Real Work Lecture (KKN) team. In addition, education regarding the use of the application was also provided to the people in this tourist village. “Later on, a video on how to use the application will be attached to both the public and potential investors,” he added.

Nindy, as she is affectionately known, revealed that the MSMEs involved must have eligibility which is determined through an assessment. Some of the areas assessed include these MSMEs’ character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions. “The Indonesian Village Entrepreneurs Association (APEDI) was also involved in assessing these requirements,” explained this ITS Business Management Department lecturer.

Display of the Mari Tumbu application prototype made by the ITS Abmas team consisting of lecturers and students from multidisciplinary sciences

In addition, Nindy continued, MSMEs would later be able to buy back ownership of their businesses from investors. MSMEs can later buy back their business owners if they stop trading their shares. “After the approval of both parties, the Mari Tumbu application will facilitate the process of buying back shares that were previously outstanding,” he said.

Not alone the making of this application also involves ITS lecturers from various fields of science. Among them are Muhammad Saiful Hakim SE MM PhD, Prof Dr Ir Udisubakti Ciptomulyono MEngSc, Dr Tony Hanoraga SH MH, and Izzat Aulia Akbar SKom MEng PhD. “ITS lecturers and students from the Department of Business Management, Industrial Engineering, Information Systems, and Development Studies were also partnered with to make this abmas a success,” he added.

Nindy hopes that the benefits of the application made by her team will continue beyond Kebonuntungl Village. Instead, it can also help economic growth for MSMEs spread across Indonesia. “In the future, hopefully, it can be immediately implemented for MSMEs in Indonesia and will help turn the wheels of the nation’s economy,” he concluded. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Ricardo Hokky Wibisono