Indonesian telecommunications firm Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has unveiled its SheHacks 2026 initiative. The digital programme aims to equip female entrepreneurs with artificial intelligence skills. It targets smaller businesses to help close the gender gap in technology access. The scheme will offer practical digital education and mentorship to help participants build adaptive enterprises.
Government data highlights the economic weight of these businesses. Figures from Indonesia’s Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection reveal that women own or manage 64.5 per cent of the micro, small and medium enterprises in the country. Incorporating advanced technology is viewed as a vital step to keep these firms competitive. The regional market for small businesses increasingly relies on digital platforms for expansion.
The initiative has supported over 61,000 women since it started six years ago. The revised 2026 curriculum introduces direct training on how to use artificial intelligence systems. Business owners will learn to deploy AI tools to design marketing assets, generate promotional text, handle financial accounting and track client demands. The educational path runs for six months and aims to support 27,000 female participants.
Ovidia Nomia, SVP Head of Corporate Communications at Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison said, “Since its inception, SheHacks has continuously evolved to address the changing needs of Indonesian women. This year, we are placing a stronger focus on AI as we see this technology playing an increasingly important role in how people learn, work, build businesses, and innovate. Through SheHacks, we want to ensure that women have equal opportunities to understand and harness technology—not only as users, but also as creators, innovators, and drivers of economic growth. In line with our #LebihBaik spirit, we believe technology should create broader opportunities and deliver meaningful benefits to society. With the support of connectivity and AI, we hope more women can build their own ‘better version’ of themselves—whether by starting a business, growing an enterprise, or unlocking greater opportunities in the digital era.”
The training framework includes webinars, interactive online modules, digital troubleshooting and business showcases. Indosat will also run physical workshops across 10 distinct Indonesian cities. These locations include Bandung, Trenggalek, Medan, Bogor, Ternate, Bekasi, Pekanbaru, Badung, Singkawang and Sragen. Attendees will engage in live-selling sessions alongside internet influencers. The local lessons will feature Sahabat-AI, which is a homegrown Indonesian large language model configured for everyday corporate tasks.
