Jakarta. At first glance, student projects may appear no different from other academic assignments. But when taken seriously, they can evolve into profitable ventures, as proven by Destia Ardha Dewati.

What started as a small-scale student entrepreneurship initiative has grown into Kumora Cookies, a brand with a mission to improve community nutrition and fight stunting in Indonesia.

Destia and her university peers launched Kumora Cookies on April 27, 2024, under the Student Entrepreneur Development Program (P2MW). The program challenged them to create an innovative product with social impact. They turned to two nutrient-rich, local ingredients: tuna — abundant in Indonesian waters — and moringa leaves, known for their health benefits.

"The name 'Kumora' is an acronym for 'Tuna Fish Cookies and Moringa.' Moringa is the scientific name of the plant, and these two ingredients are the core of our product," Destia said.

What began as a student initiative quickly gained traction. On July 31, 2024, just three months after its inception, Kumora Cookies officially joined BRI’s Rumah BUMN Jakarta Center. This marked a turning point, enabling the team to access structured business guidance, licensing support, and expansion tools.

Today, Kumora Cookies has secured a Business Identification Number (NIB), a home industry food production license (PIRT), and halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Operating from Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, the team has expanded their offerings. In addition to the original sweet cookies, they’re developing a new product called Kumora Crackers — made with tuna and katuk leaves, believed to boost lactation in nursing mothers.

“Our cookies are targeted at children and pregnant women, while the crackers are designed for children and postpartum mothers,” Destia explained.

The products are now available across Jakarta and surrounding regions, with some orders reaching Yogyakarta, Tegal, Ciamis, and Purwokerto. Online sales are handled through TikTok Shop and Shopee, with the team balancing operations and academic obligations. Monthly revenue has reached up to Rp2 million.

Destia credits much of their growth to support from BRI’s Rumah BUMN. “We’ve gained so many insights as final-year students and entrepreneurs — from time management to production strategies. We operate on a pre-order system, which we adopted thanks to Rumah BUMN’s guidance,” she said.

She added that Rumah BUMN has helped expand her business network and partnerships. “We hope Kumora Cookies continues to grow across Indonesia and one day reaches international markets.”

In a separate statement, BRI Corporate Secretary Agustya Hendy Bernadi emphasized the importance of the Rumah BUMN program in empowering micro and ultra-micro entrepreneurs.

"BRI’s Rumah BUMN helps MSMEs embrace digital transformation, scale up, and even enter global markets," he said. Of the 446,000 MSMEs registered under the program, nearly 100,000 have gone digital, over 73,000 have gone online, and 872 have started exporting.

Among the key sectors nurtured by Rumah BUMN are creative industries such as fashion, food and beverages, beauty, and home décor, accounting for over 126,000 MSMEs. The rest come from agriculture, fisheries, trade services, and other sectors.