A student team from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), secured Second Place in the 2024 National Business Plan Competition organized by the Sharia Business Management Study Program Student Association, UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, on 7 October 2024. In the final round, Laurensius Erlangga Putra Aksami, Aisyah Huril ‘Ain Saajida, and Kenan Safara Nugroho competed against six other teams to present their business ideas.

The competition process involved several stages, beginning with the submission and selection of business plan proposals that were required to present innovative and relevant ideas. Teams that passed the proposal stage advanced to the final round, which consisted of pitching sessions before a panel of judges. Throughout these stages, the FEB UNS team, led by Erlangga, gained substantial experience in developing and presenting a well-structured business plan.

Speaking to feb.uns.ac.id, Erlangga stated that the team’s motivation for participating is to explore new opportunities, develop personal potential, and assess their capabilities through competition. The team also aims to step beyond their comfort zone and gain meaningful experience that would broaden their academic and practical perspectives.

“As a team competing in a business plan competition, we began our preparation by identifying existing issues, particularly in Surakarta. One key issue we identified was the limited access of many traditional artisans to broader markets. Based on this analysis, we designed a business idea that addresses this challenge while meeting the competition requirements,” he explained.

According to Erlangga, the final round was the most memorable experience. Engaging with strong competitors and exchanging knowledge provided valuable insights, while feedback from the judges offered new perspectives to support the team’s continued development.

He also emphasized the intensity of the preparation process, which involved research, proposal development, and pitching before the judges. Despite the demanding process, the experience was considered highly rewarding due to the learning outcomes, networking opportunities, and constructive feedback received.

Erlangga encouraged fellow FEB students to actively participate in various competitions. Through such experiences, students can strengthen critical thinking skills, gain new insights, and expand knowledge beyond the classroom.