EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) showcased two food innovations based on local commodities, TiwulBar and Pronut(s).id, at the 17th Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo (KMI Expo XVII) 2026, held at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed) in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, 2026. In addition to introducing student entrepreneurship products, UPNVJ highlighted Jakarta’s identity through Betawi culture during the KMI Expo XVII Cultural Parade. The participation provided students with an opportunity to test business ideas, receive feedback and expand their networks at the national level.
KMI Expo XVII 2026 brought together 368 teams from 219 higher education institutions across Indonesia through a series of product exhibitions, competitions, business networking activities and cultural exchanges. UPNVJ participated in the Food and Beverage category, sending two student business teams in the Early-Stage and Growing-Stage categories.
In the Growing-Stage Food and Beverage category, the UPNVJ team presented TiwulBar through an innovation titled “TiwulBar: Modern Snack Bar Innovation Using Traditional Indonesian Food.”
The team consisted of Nehemia Christiani Manurung, Shafa Dinda Farahmitha, Naswa Nur Fitri, Salma Khoirun Nisa and Marsyha Revanka Amelia, with Catur Nugrahaeni Puspita Dewi, M.Komp., from the UPNVJ Faculty of Economics and Business serving as their mentor.
TiwulBar transforms tiwul, a traditional Indonesian food, into a modern snack bar. The approach adds value to a local food product while creating opportunities to develop it into a student-run business capable of reaching a broader consumer market.
Meanwhile, in the Early-Stage Food and Beverage category, UPNVJ presented Pronut(s).id with an innovation titled “Downstreaming Bambara Groundnuts into High-Protein Healthy Doughnuts as an Innovative Snack Solution Based on Local Commodities.”
The Pronut(s).id team consisted of Muhammad Zayyan Rizka, Mahdi Imantaka Sutejo, Aminah, Farah Zahidah and Zulfi Alisya, with Dr. Ridwan Raafi’udin from the UPNVJ Faculty of Computer Science serving as their mentor.
Through Pronut(s).id, the students process Bambara groundnuts into an innovative doughnut product. The idea demonstrates how local commodities can be developed through product downstreaming by combining food innovation with an entrepreneurial approach.
The two teams did more than simply exhibit their products. They also took part in presentations and judging sessions and interacted with judges, participants, visitors and business practitioners. The process gave the students an opportunity to receive feedback while assessing the readiness of their products and business models.
From Betawi Culture to Jakarta’s Modern Face
In addition to showcasing entrepreneurial innovations, the UPNVJ contingent highlighted Jakarta’s identity during the KMI Expo XVII Cultural Parade on Sept. 30, 2026.
The contingent featured several Betawi cultural icons, including Soto Betawi, kerak telor and traditional Betawi attire. These elements were combined with the symbol of the Jakarta MRT to portray the city’s development as a modern metropolitan center.
The combination of traditional and modern elements provided UPNVJ with a way to introduce Jakarta’s character to students from various regions across Indonesia. The parade also served as a meeting point for diverse regional identities, as each participating university brought its own distinctive cultural characteristics.
The participation was in line with UPNVJ’s spirit of Widya Mwat Yasa, or “Learning to Build,” which emphasizes that student experiences should extend beyond academic competency development to include awareness of local potential, culture and the social environment.
KMI Expo Provides a Platform to Test Business Ideas
On the final day, UPNVJ students took part in the exhibition and Collaborative Matching sessions, which provided opportunities to build networks and explore potential collaborations with various parties. The forum served as a platform for participants to introduce their businesses, exchange ideas and learn about student business models from other higher education institutions.
KMI Expo XVII 2026 concluded with the KMI Award and Closing Ceremony, which also featured Lengger, a traditional performing art from Banyumas.
Although the UPNVJ contingent did not receive an award at the 2026 KMI Award XVII, its participation in the national event formed part of the students’ capacity-building process. The experience of engaging with judges, practitioners, businesspeople and students from other higher education institutions provided an opportunity to evaluate their products while gaining insights into market opportunities.
The presence of TiwulBar and Pronut(s).id also demonstrated the students’ potential to transform local food resources into value-added products. Meanwhile, their participation in the Cultural Parade showed that entrepreneurship development can go hand in hand with strengthening identity and appreciating cultural heritage.
UPNVJ hopes the experience gained at KMI Expo XVII 2026 will serve as a foundation for students to refine their products, strengthen their business models, expand their networks and develop innovations that are increasingly ready to enter the market. The effort forms part of the university’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which encourages students not only to seek opportunities but also to create them through innovation, collaboration and the utilization of local potential.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
