Automation Innovation in Seaweed Cultivation to Overcome Crop Failure: ITB Student Team Wins National Competition and Gets Invited by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
By Windi Apriliani - Mahasiswa Teknologi Pascapanen, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Three students from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) have achieved a proud accomplishment at the national level. The Velocity Rumpita Team, comprising Delvia Marsinta Br Surbakti and Muhamad Farhan (Civil Engineering, 2024), as well as Madriena Nazaha Arief (Environmental Engineering, 2024), won 2nd place in the Undergraduate Business Plan Competition Makarapreneur 2025, organized by the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association for Universities (HIPMI PT) at the University of Indonesia (UI). The award ceremony was held at the Makara Art Center, UI, on Saturday (May 17, 2025).
The desire to learn and explore new things became the initial motivation for the team to join the business competition. They went through each stage with strong determination and consistency.
The first phase was the preliminary stage, where they were asked to develop a Business Model Canvas (BMC) outlining their business idea in a concise format. The second phase was the semifinal stage, which involved preparing a comprehensive business proposal. Finally, during the final stage, the team delivered a pitch deck presentation in front of the judges.
A Business Idea Rooted in Real-World Problems
The business idea developed by the team stemmed from real-world issues in the field. Although Indonesia has immense potential for seaweed cultivation, its utilization remains suboptimal. This is primarily due to the low productivity of seaweed farming, caused by the limited availability of technology to support its improvement. The issue was further reinforced by firsthand experience from a seaweed farmer in Lombok, Mr. Harry, who shared that the planting and harvesting processes are still done manually, consuming a great deal of time and energy. Moreover, unpredictable weather—especially during the rainy season—can lower the salinity of surface seawater, increasing the risk of crop failure.
To address these challenges, the Velocity Rumpita Team designed an automated seaweed cultivation system.
The automation system consists of two main innovations: the Plant Harvest Machine and the Automatic Mechanical Line.
The Plant Harvest Machine offers technical advantages by enabling automatic planting and harvesting of seaweed, operated by only one worker. Meanwhile, the Automatic Mechanical Line functions to automatically adjust the depth of seaweed-binding ropes, helping avoid decreased salinity levels during the rainy season that often cause crop failure.
The system is powered by solar panels and equipped with various sensors that measure temperature, light intensity, wave speed, and the depth of cultivation lines. All the collected data is integrated and displayed through a user-friendly application based on LoRa (Long Range) technology, called Rumpita App.
Overall, this application serves as a practical tool for farmers and other users to monitor seaweed conditions in real time, allowing them to make more flexible and informed decisions regarding their cultivation practices.
Invited by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP)
This innovation received positive responses from seaweed farming communities as well as government institutions. The team was directly invited by the central Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to further discuss the product they developed. From the meeting, they received valuable input and evaluations, particularly on the technical aspect, such as adding a vibrating mechanism to enhance harvesting efficiency. These insights and support laid an important foundation for real-world application to ensure the machine could operate optimally.
Support from Student Organizations
The journey of Velocity Rumpita Team in developing this business idea was also made possible through support from their surroundings, especially student organizations. Two of the team members are part of the Techno Entrepreneur Club (TEC) ITB, which runs a program called Tech Companion, connecting students with experienced mentors in the business field. The team made the most of this opportunity as a space for learning and growth. Through the program, they were directly mentored by Pieter Jose Santoso, S.Bns., an alumnus of the School of Business and Management (SBM) ITB, who shared valuable insights on business development and work discipline.
Throughout the process, the team encountered various challenges, such as having to dive into unfamiliar topics by reading many sources and literature, brainstorming relevant business ideas, and juggling their academic schedules with the demands of the competition. Despite the difficulties, they managed to overcome them thanks to solid teamwork and mutual support.
“One of the biggest challenges was managing our time between academic responsibilities and the competition. We had to be smart with our priorities and help each other out,” said Farhan.
For the team, joining this competition wasn’t just about winning, it was a way to contribute meaningfully as students in addressing real challenges faced by society. That’s why they believe in making the most of every opportunity by continuously learning, networking, and creating relevant solutions.
“Make the most of your college years, build relationships, and don’t be afraid to start. Take advantage of every opportunity and set your goals clearly,” added Madriena.
The development of this business idea is expected to address the government’s significant need to improve seaweed farming productivity in Indonesia, while also driving national economic growth in the marine and fisheries sector.
“If we can realize this in the future and have the necessary resources, we’d be very proud and happy to see it come to life—because this machine will truly help farmers and maximize the potential of Indonesia’s oceans,” said Delvia.
Rumpita is more than just a dream born from a competition, it is a reality-based innovation designed to meet the needs of the seaweed cultivation sector. This team’s story is proof that cross-disciplinary collaboration, technological advancement, and social empathy can be the key pillars in creating impactful and relevant solutions for society.
Translator: Indira Akmalia Hendri
