Depok-Three students from the Financial and Banking Administration study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), won first place at the 2025 National Entrepreneur Festival held by Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta some time ago. Joining the Kita-Kita team, Reynaldi Achmad Haryanto, Muhammad Jafar Althaf, and Nadhif Sahrul Ramadhan, they managed to outperform other finalists from various universities such as Universitas Gadjah Mada, Institut Teknologi Bandung, IPB University, Airlangga University, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.
Reynaldi, one of the team representatives, explained that the competition began with the paper and presentation preparation, leading up to their successful progress to the final round. “Initially, our paper grade wasn’t the best. However, we didn’t give up. We made various efforts, such as finding a mentor, deepening our research and materials, and preparing our presentation as thoroughly as possible. Our hard work paid off, as our presentation ultimately received a near-perfect score, earning us the top prize,” Reynaldi explained.
This competition adopted a business case format, where participants acted as business consultants. The Kita-Kita team received a case study from Dawet Kemayu, a growing traditional beverage brand. Reynaldi said, “We were asked to analyze the company, competitors, market, and economic conditions, then formulate concrete business solutions. From there, we offered the Tri Murti Strategy, which is three main ideas for the development of Dawet Kemayu: redesign, recampaign, and redistribute. Furthermore, we are also working to introduce the product in ready-to-drink (RTD) cans to make it more practical and closer to the Gen Z lifestyle.”
The distribution strategy also uses mobile carts, a concept used by many contemporary coffee brands. This approach is considered relevant to the habits of young people who prefer simple, affordable, and easily accessible products in viral or popular locations.
(Photo: Three UI Vocational students receiving awards at the National Business Case Competition)
Through this competition, the students gained valuable lessons, particularly in conducting market research, financial analysis, and developing a never-give-up mentality. Their success was also inseparable from the lessons they learned in class. “Several courses taught in class were very helpful during the competition, such as Entrepreneurship, which teaches an entrepreneurial mindset, Digital Business, which emphasizes marketing through digital channels, and other finance courses that support financial projections,” added Reynaldi.
Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D., Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, also expressed his appreciation for Reynaldi and his team’s achievements. “We are very proud of the achievements of Reynaldi, Althaf, and Nadhif. This achievement demonstrates that UI Vocational students are capable of competing at the national level by presenting innovative and applicable business solutions. Hopefully, this victory will motivate other students to continue working, achieving, and making a positive impact on society,” Padang concluded.
