A Week of Eco-Business Journey in the Women Ecopreneurs Lab’s Group Learning

Ubud, Bali | 9 October 2025 — Six women entrepreneurs from across Indonesia gathered in Bali to deepen their knowledge and practice of eco-entrepreneurship. This group learning session, part of the Women Ecopreneurs Lab—a collaboration between Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) and Pratisara Bumi Foundation (PBF)—supports women-led enterprises to grow with purpose, resilience, and sustainability.

Grounded in the WEA Eco-entrepreneurship Toolkit (Beta Version), the session combined expert-led business development, personalized consultations, peer learning, comparative studies, and independent exploration. Staying true to the Lab’s ethos, participants were invited to guide their own learning journeys—reflecting the autonomy and leadership central to women ecopreneurs.

The week-long experience explored essential aspects of eco-entrepreneurship—from sustainable supply chains and ethical production to team building, marketing, and co-creating with communities. Each topic supported participants in strengthening the environmental, social, and economic impact of their businesses—marking a clear distinction from traditional business models.

Building Sustainable Foundations

A sustainable supply chain lies at the heart of every eco-product. It represents the journey from raw materials to finished goods and the interconnected network of people, practices, and values that shape this process. Understanding this journey is key for any ecopreneur committed to building a responsible business.

In a session led by Irma Chantily of Supernova Ecosystem, participants explored what makes a supply chain not just efficient, but ethical and impactful. They then put theory into practice by engaging in a hands-on supply chain mapping exercise. With support from Lestari of Pratisara Bumi Foundation, participants traced the flow of their own products—from origin to customer—using the toolkit’s worksheet.

In a related session on team building, Maria Agustin of PBF facilitated a workshop on cultivating effective business teams across different stages of growth. Participants explored practical strategies to build, manage, and sustain the teams that will carry their eco-businesses forward.

“It was very inspiring to meet the experts. Even though our business is still small, we are doing our best to grow,” said participant Kris Meilda.

Ensuring Product Market-Fit

Understanding your customer and ensuring your product meets real market needs is vital for every ecopreneur. Through peer-to-peer feedback sessions, participants shared ideas for product improvement, drawing on each other’s insights. These sessions were enriched by guidance from Dian Suri Handayani of Studio Kreasi Kunang, who offered personalized feedback on product aesthetics, packaging, and design—helping participants sharpen their strategies for market success.

Learning from Experiences

Real-world exposure builds practical insight. Participants visited Tempeman, where founder Benny Santoso shared lessons from the frontlines of sustainable production. The visit offered a firsthand look at production standards and highlighted the everyday challenges faced by small eco-businesses.

In addition to technical knowledge, the group also explored storytelling, branding, and marketing. A role-play exercise gave participants a chance to practice introducing their products to potential buyers, with peer and facilitator feedback to refine their pitch.

Later, in a session with Kopernik, participants learned how to engage communities in co-developing solutions across the supply chain using practical, inclusive methods.

Deep Dives and Independent Exploration

On the final day, participants carried out independent research tailored to their business sectors—dividing into two focus groups: food and craft.

Fani and Rita, both in the food sector, met with Made Roni, founder of Made Tea, to discuss product development and operations, followed by a visit to her production site. They also explored creative packaging and brand storytelling at Rumah Reina.

“The experience I gained here can’t be learned from theory alone. That’s what made this training so valuable,” shared Rita Mustikarani.

Meanwhile, Gita, Ida, Azziza, and Mino—whose businesses focus on craft—visited Tarum Bali, a pioneer in natural-dye textiles. They toured the production facility and learned from the company’s 24-year journey in sustainable textile innovation. The visit sparked rich dialogue on supply chain practices and product design.

Advancing our Toolkit

This gathering also served as a feedback loop for improving the WEA Eco-entrepreneurship Toolkit. Participants offered in-depth reflections on what worked and what could be improved based on their four weeks of experience using the toolkit in their businesses. Their input will shape a more accessible, relevant, and effective toolkit for future ecopreneurs.

Growing a Movement

As the week drew to a close, participants left with renewed confidence, actionable insights, and strengthened networks. This group now joins a growing movement of women entrepreneurs across Indonesia—and the globe—who are leading the way in building regenerative, inclusive, and impactful businesses.