UNAIR NEWS – Business plans often remain ideas on paper, never making it into real execution. That was not the case for three Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students, who pushed their business concept forward and proved its merit by winning First Place in the Young Entrepreneurs Business Funding competition.
The event was organized by the International Franchise and Business Exchange (IFBEX) in partnership with the Indonesian Association of Partnership Entrepreneurs & Business Opportunities (HIKPI). Muhammad Kevin Mulki Hakim (FTMM), Irvan Betrando Banjarnahor (FEB), and Mohammad Pradana Setyawan (FV) earned the award on Friday (28/11/2025) at the Surabaya Convention Center (SCC).
Analog rice breakthrough
The team’s idea was developed under the product name GARNUSA, an instant analog rice made from arrowroot and fortified with nano-calcium derived from fish bones. The product is also equipped with self-heating technology, allowing it to be consumed without any cooking equipment.
“We created GARNUSA as a solution that is healthy, convenient, and highly nutritious. It is ideal for people with fast-paced lifestyles, emergency situations, or simply to meet daily nutritional needs,” Hakim explained.
The concept was previously presented at the 2025 National Student Competition in Business, Management, and Finance (KBMK). Their success at KBMK demonstrated the feasibility and innovative value of GARNUSA. “But to bring it into a real manufactured product, we need more serious funding and development support,” he added.
Seizing the opportunity, Hakim and his teammates entered the competition believing it was the right platform. “This business competition, which also serves as an incubation program by IFBEX, connected us with investors. We saw it as the best chance to take GARNUSA from the concept stage to commercialization,” he said.
Competitive environment
During the proposal preparation stage, the team received guidance from Dr. Tri Siwi Agustina SE MSi. As their advisor, she ensured the business development process remained focused and on track. The competition was judged by several prominent figures, including the Director of Trade Business Development at the Ministry of Trade and the Director of Funding Access, Financing, and Investment Development at the Ministry of Creative Economy.
Competing against teams that had already secured funding from other institutions, Hakim and his teammates experienced an intense environment. “What stood out most was how closely the event resembled real-world business conditions. There was no guidebook, so we had to adapt as though we were pitching directly to professional investors,” he recalled.
Moving forward, Hakim’s team hopes that GARNUSA will continue to develop until it is ready for mass production and market entry. They aspire for the product to benefit broader communities while supporting public health, environmental sustainability, and the economic potential of repurposing fish bone waste.
Author: Uswatun Khasanah
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
