Yogyakarta, October 12, 2024 – The Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (TPHP) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized a Business Plan Competition themed “Functional Food Product Development” as part of the Kampus Merdeka Program Competition (PKKM) for all active TPHP students. The event aimed to encourage students to develop innovative business ideas in the food sector, particularly focusing on products that are not only nutritious but also offer additional functional health benefits.
The competition, which began on August 21, 2024, attracted great enthusiasm from participants, with a total of 16 business proposals submitted. After a rigorous selection process, the 10 best proposals were chosen to present their business plans before a panel of judges on October 12, 2024. The judging panel consists of Dr Ir. Priyanto Triwitono, M.P. (TPHP UGM Lecturer), Wednes Aria Yuda, S.T.P. (Co-Founder of Cokelat nDalem), and Ir. Erista Adisetya, M.M. (Director of Erista Garden), evaluated each proposal based on creativity, product development potential, and feasibility for real-world implementation.
After a competitive presentation session, three teams emerged as the top winners and were awarded funding of IDR 10,000,000 to develop their businesses. The winning teams were Teamistry, with their innovative breakfast cereal, GoldBites, with their gummy innovation for diabetes, and MOELAGEN, who developed a modern functional drink combining herbal medicine and collagen. These three teams not only received funding but also the opportunity to implement their business plans from November 2024 to February 2025.
As part of the recognition for their achievements, the top three teams will also receive direct mentorship from TPHP UGM lecturers in preparation for participating in national-level business plan competitions. They will also be guided to participate in national food-related competitions, particularly those relevant to the products developed during this event.
Through this activity, the TPHP Department of UGM hopes to contribute to shaping a young generation that not only has an entrepreneurial spirit but also understands its role in achieving the SDGs. The food innovations produced from this competition are expected to positively impact the food industry in Indonesia while also supporting the achievement of SDG targets, particularly those related to zero hunger (SDG 2), good health (SDG 3), and economic sustainability (SDG 8).
Author: Firstnandita Keisha
