UMJ Nutrition Students' Culinary Innovation Selected for Pesta Rakyat Monas

Mochamad Shandy Akbar and Adhitya Mahdi Nugroho, nutrition students at Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta (UMJ), have successfully passed the curation for the Pesta Rakyat event held at Monas, Jakarta. Their innovative culinary product, Mabento Splash, a refreshing butterfly pea drink infused with lemongrass and lemon, earned them a spot as an official tenant.

The curation process, overseen by the UMKM Ministry, evaluated participants on various criteria including product quality, taste, hygiene, food safety, packaging aesthetics, and overall viability. Mabento Splash met these standards, showcasing the students' ability to develop a marketable and appealing product.

Dr. Endang Rudiatin, the entrepreneurship course lecturer, praised the students' achievement, highlighting it as a testament to UMJ's dedication to fostering entrepreneurship. "Shandy and Adhitya's success in entering the Pesta Rakyat Monas event reflects UMJ's commitment to encouraging the job creator climate," she stated. She emphasized that the university's entrepreneurship training, integrated with nutrition science, equips students to produce products that are not only healthy and delicious but also competitive in the real market.

Shandy described the experience as challenging, requiring them to prepare 500 products while adhering to strict hygiene standards set by the ministry. Despite the demands, he found the event highly rewarding, appreciating the opportunity to collaborate with his classmate Adhitya and receive positive feedback. The students also gained valuable experience in business operations, direct marketing strategies, and customer network expansion during the event at Monas.

This success follows their first-place win at the national level in the ready-to-eat culinary competition, Studentpreneur Bootcamp, in Malang in July 2026. The university continues to support students in developing their entrepreneurial ventures.