Khosyi Adam Surya Atmaja (Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 2022), along with his teammates Aryawijaya Adiyatma (Agricultural Industrial Technology, 2022) and Amanda Inkuta Ramadhania (Management, 2022), have taken an innovative step in waste management through their startup idea, SAMPAI: Turning Waste into Value.
The team successfully joined the Innovation Challenge program organized by Innovation Academy UGM, focusing on collecting used cooking oil from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and distributing it to used oil processors. Their goal is to profit from the margin between collection and processing while contributing to environmental sustainability.
Moving forward, the SAMPAI team underwent an intensive eight-week mentoring program from 12 October to 16 November 2024. During this period, they will receive valuable insights on market research, stakeholder and consumer mapping, product development, marketing strategies, and the final stages of pitching and networking.
Khosyi explained that the SAMPAI idea originated from a previous competition, where they initially worked on waste management projects but found the scope too broad. They later decided to focus on used cooking oil processing, recognizing its market demand and specific environmental impact.
He hopes this experience will serve as a valuable foundation for personal growth and future development, marking an important first step in building the SAMPAI startup to ensure it continues to grow and create widespread benefits.
“We hope to gain valuable experiences from this program and that SAMPAI can develop successfully while benefiting many people,” said Khosyi.
The participation of UGM Faculty of Agriculture students in the Innovation Challenge aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
This initiative not only highlights the students’ entrepreneurial and environmental awareness but also reinforces UGM’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable development through student-led projects.
Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: Media Faperta UGM