The 2024 Wirausaha Merdeka (WMK) Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) officially concluded on Wednesday (Dec. 11) at GIK UGM.
This program successfully gathered over 200 participants and showcased 39 creative business innovations. The 2024 WMK UGM carried the theme “Techno Sociopreneurship in Supporting Sustainable Development.”
Participants presented innovations across various business fields, including agribusiness, agrotechnology, cultivation, digital, circular economy, fashion, creative industries, services, culinary, and technology.
One notable product was a beauty innovation called Biolea, developed by a team led by Nafizza Laurent, an Accounting student from UGM’s Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM).
The soap, made with 100% natural ingredients and unique extracts such as moringa leaves, charcoal, and banana peels, won the Best Poster and Best Pitching categories.
“Biolea emerged as an idea developed by the team, later refined through collaboration with supervising lecturers and partners, eventually resulting in a market-ready product,” Laurent explained.
Laurent highlighted that the WMK program is a platform to build teamwork skills. She emphasized the importance of empathy and discussion in team management to foster competence among members while minimizing conflicts.
Moreover, she found the program valuable for enhancing communication and networking with partners and markets.
“Starting a business is not just about the product; it involves many other aspects like building relationships and communicating with partners and the market,” she concluded.
Dr. Hempri Suyatna, Chairperson of the 2024 WMK UGM, stated that the program aims to raise students’ awareness of social issues and encourage them to create sustainable solutions using technological advancements.
He expressed hope that the innovations generated through WMK would not end with the program.
“The businesses established by WMK UGM participants should continue beyond the program’s conclusion. Entrepreneurship is not merely about making a profit; it is an activity that must provide benefits to the broader community,” Dr. Suyatna emphasized.
The closing event of WMK UGM 2024 was complemented by an Expo and Demo Day, held at GIK UGM on Dec. 10–11, 2024.
The 39 participating teams successfully completed three learning phases: pre-immersion, immersion, and post-immersion, resulting in validated entrepreneurial products.
Throughout the program, participants received guidance and mentorship from field supervisors and industry partners across various business sectors.
This support covered product development, prototyping, and feasibility studies during the pre-immersion and immersion phases. In the final phase, post-immersion, students prepared for the Expo and Demo Day through capacity-building activities.
It is hoped that the prototypes developed will continue to be incubated by universities to ensure sustainability.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson