Econella, a startup incubated by the University of Indonesia’s (UI) Innovation and Science Techno Park (DISTP), has emerged victorious in the prestigious The Gade Sociopreneurship Challenge (TGSC) 2024. This competition, organized by PT Pegadaian in collaboration with the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economics Experts (IAEI), is designed to inspire university students to become sociopreneurs who create sustainable social impact.

Competing against thousands of participants from 104 universities across 23 provinces in Indonesia, Econella secured the top spot. The startup’s innovation focuses on utilizing waste from clove leaves and citronella to create bioadditives. These bioadditives have been laboratory-tested and certified, meeting all required specifications. Their use has been shown to improve diesel fuel efficiency by 25% and achieve an average decarbonization rate of 36%, making it a promising contribution to sustainability.

In recognition of their achievement, Econella was awarded a cash prize of Rp 30 million. Chairul Hudaya, Director of the UI Innovation and Science Techno Park, expressed his pride in Econella’s success, praising the consistent support provided by DISTP UI in helping startups scale their innovations through funding and mentoring programs.

The team behind Econella includes Camelia Putri from the Faculty of Engineering, Imam Risky from the Faculty of Economics and Business, and mentor Aldi Pratama Aji from the Faculty of Humanities. The team expressed their gratitude towards all those who contributed to their success, particularly DISTP UI for its role as their business incubator. "We hope that more startups from DISTP UI will follow in our footsteps and achieve similar successes," said Camelia.

Econella’s victory, announced on December 2, 2024, at the Gade Tower in Jakarta, marks a significant milestone in their journey. The startup aims to expand its innovative products and create an even larger positive impact on both society and the environment. This achievement is also expected to inspire other youth and institutions to continue fostering innovation and social entrepreneurship to address global challenges and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.