HumasUPNVJ – In the Sharing Session on business success held as part of a series of events for the 2024 Research and Community Service Week (Pekanlit) on the first day (27/08), two INKUBIZ grant recipients, Layli and Catur Nugrahaeni, M.Kom, shared their success stories and experiences in building a business.

Layli, the founder of Brounice , started the session by explaining her background and reasons for starting the business. With the goal of creating brownies that are not only delicious but also last up to a year, Layli saw a great opportunity in creating a product that is practical and easy to carry anywhere.

One of Brounice's main advantages is that it is gluten-free , making it a great choice for those with gluten allergies or on a diet. Layli, who has a culinary background, previously ran a milk and jelly beverage business, showing her dedication to the world of food and beverage .

In her business journey, Layli acknowledged the extraordinary support from UPNVJ, both in terms of funding and facilities to market her products. One of the proud achievements is Brounice's success in penetrating the international market, even to Australia, thanks to the network diligently built by Layli.

The session was then continued by Catur Nugrahaeni, M.Kom, a UPNVJ lecturer who also serves as the Head of the Academic Support Unit for Career Development and Entrepreneurship (UPA PKK). Catur shared the challenges he faced while mentoring students in the business incubation program. According to him, obstacles often arise from internal conflicts and conflicting mentoring schedules, but all of that can be overcome by utilizing technology such as Zoom.

Catur gave an important message for students who want to start a business, namely to always start from your own will and see the potential you have, whether in the form of skills or personal interests. He emphasized the importance of consistency in developing products and reminded them not to be discouraged, as well as the importance of preparing a good business proposal to get funding.

In addition, Catur highlighted the importance of giving rewards to the students he mentors, both those who successfully passed and those who did not have the opportunity to pass in the Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo. According to him, this award is important to motivate students to continue trying and trying the available grant programs.

In closing, Layli shared tips and tricks for businesses to survive for up to five years. According to her, new flavor innovations, attractive packaging, rebranding, and strengthening digital marketing through social media are the main keys. She also emphasized the importance of following viral trends, such as on TikTok, to attract the attention of the young market.

Catur supported Layli's statement, adding that innovation should always be part of an entrepreneur's soul. According to him, if the product produced is followed by many people, it is a sign that the product is well received by the community. As a supervising lecturer, Catur emphasized the importance of understanding aspects of business and entrepreneurship in order to provide effective guidance and open up various opportunities for students.