Public Relations of UPNVJ – The National Development University “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) brought two local commodity-based food innovations, TiwulBar and Pronut(s).id, to the Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship (KMI) Expo XVII 2026 at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed), Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, September 29–October 2, 2026. In addition to introducing student entrepreneurial products, UPNVJ raised Jakarta’s identity through Betawi culture in the KMI Expo XVII Cultural Parade. This participation provided a space for students to test business ideas, gain input, and expand networks at the national level.
The 2026 KMI Expo XVII brought together 368 teams from 219 universities across Indonesia for a series of product exhibitions, competitions, business networking, and cultural exchanges. UPNVJ participated in the Food and Beverage category, sending two student business groups in the Growing and Early Stages.
In the Food and Beverage Growth Stage category, the UPNVJ team is promoting TiwulBar through an innovation entitled “TiwulBar: A Modern Snack Bar Innovation from Traditional Indonesian Food.”
The team consists of Nehemia Christiani Manurung, Shafa Dinda Farahmitha, Naswa Nur Fitri, Salma Khoirun Nisa, and Marsyha Revanka Amelia, accompanied by Catur Nugrahaeni Puspita Dewi, M.Komp., from the Faculty of Economics and Business, UPNVJ.
TiwulBar develops tiwul, a traditional food, into a modern snack bar. This approach adds value to local food while also opening up opportunities for product development into a student-run business that can reach a wider consumer base.
Meanwhile, in the Early Stage Food and Beverage category, UPNVJ presents Pronut(s).id with an innovation entitled "Downstreaming Bambara Nuts into Healthy, High-Protein Donuts as an Innovative Snack Solution Based on Local Commodities."
The Pronut(s).id team consists of Muhammad Zayyan Rizka, Mahdi Imantaka Sutejo, Aminah, Farah Zahidah, and Zulfi Alisya, accompanied by Dr. Ridwan Raafi'udin from the Faculty of Computer Science, UPNVJ.
Through Pronut(s).id, students process Bambara peanuts into innovative donuts. This initiative demonstrates how local commodities can be developed through downstream processing, combining food innovation and an entrepreneurial approach.
The two teams didn't just showcase their products. They also underwent presentations and judging sessions, interacting with judges, participants, visitors, and business owners. This process provided an opportunity for students to obtain feedback and assess the readiness of their products and business models.
From Betawi to the Modern Face of Jakarta
In addition to bringing entrepreneurial innovation, the UPNVJ contingent introduced Jakarta's identity in the KMI Expo XVII Cultural Parade, September 30, 2026.
The contingent presented a number of Betawi cultural icons, from Soto Betawi, kerak telor (a type of fermented soybean cake) to traditional Betawi clothing. These representations were combined with the Jakarta MRT symbol to represent Jakarta's development as a modern metropolitan city.
This blend of traditional and modern elements is UPNVJ's way of introducing Jakarta's character to students from various regions across Indonesia. The parade also serves as a meeting place for diverse regional identities, as each university brings its own unique cultural characteristics.
This involvement is in line with the spirit of UPNVJ, Widya Mwat Yasa or Learning to Build, by placing student experiences not only on developing academic competencies, but also on caring for local potential, culture, and the social environment.
KMI Expo Becomes a Space to Test Business Ideas
On the final day, UPNVJ students participated in an exhibition and Collaborative Matching session, which provided opportunities to network and explore collaboration opportunities with various parties. The forum provided a platform for participants to introduce their businesses, exchange ideas, and learn about the business models of students from other universities.
KMI Expo
Although the UPNVJ contingent did not win an award at the 2026 KMI Awards XVII, participation in the national event served as a valuable resource for students' capacity building. Meeting with judges, practitioners, businesspeople, and students from other universities provided an opportunity to evaluate products and assess market opportunities.
The presence of TiwulBar and Pronut(s).id also demonstrated students' potential in processing local food resources into value-added products. Meanwhile, their involvement in the Cultural Parade demonstrated that entrepreneurial development can go hand in hand with strengthening cultural identity and appreciation.
UPNVJ is leveraging the experiences from KMI Expo XVII 2026 to provide students with valuable resources to refine their products, strengthen their business models, expand their networks, and develop innovations that are increasingly market-ready. These efforts are part of the campus's entrepreneurial ecosystem, encouraging students not only to seek opportunities but also to create them through innovation, collaboration, and leveraging local potential.