UNAIR NEWS – SPYRAGO, a climate-resilient nutrition startup founded by students at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), secured a place among the Top 4 Sustainability winners at the Bangkok Business Challenge 2026. In addition to the award, the team received USD 800 in startup funding during the competition, which concluded on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) in Bangkok, Thailand. The Bangkok Business Challenge is widely regarded as one of Asia’s premier student startup competitions, drawing hundreds of teams from universities around the world.
Before earning the distinction, SPYRAGO advanced to the Top 20 semifinalists from a pool of 385 submitted proposals. The achievement demonstrated the global competitiveness of the team’s innovation and positioned it alongside entries from some of the world’s most prestigious universities.
“We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to compete with leading institutions such as Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University. Reaching the Top 20 out of 385 submissions was a meaningful milestone and an early indication that our idea addresses issues with global relevance,” said Zahra, the team’s representative.
Health innovation rooted in sustainability
SPYRAGO operates in the field of climate-resilient nutrition, developing health products and digital services that combine sustainability with social entrepreneurship. The startup was created in response to mounting public health challenges linked to climate change, food security, and environmental pressures.
Through its Future Food initiative, SPYRAGO seeks to deliver health solutions that can adapt to emerging global challenges. Beyond health benefits, the startup incorporates environmental responsibility and social impact into its business strategy.
“What sets SPYRAGO apart is its combination of health impact, sustainability, and commercial viability. We are offering more than a socially beneficial concept, we have already achieved validation and market traction across seven cities in Indonesia,” Zahra said.
Multidisciplinary team and international experience
The SPYRAGO team brings together students from a variety of academic disciplines, including Sandrina Indah Paraswati (Professional Nursing Program, Class of 2026), Fatimah Nur Fadillah (Master of Public Health, Class of 2024), David Mey Norton (Information Systems, Class of 2023), Griffan Qisthan Rafidyan (Accounting, Class of 2024), and Irvan Betrando Banjarnahor (Management, Class of 2024). The team is guided by Dr. Habiburrochman as its advisor.
Team members said their diverse academic backgrounds have been instrumental in shaping both the startup’s innovation and its business development strategy.
Throughout the competition, the team faced a demanding schedule that included multiple pitching sessions and the challenge of communicating a complex concept effectively in English. They also needed to demonstrate the venture’s readiness through data-driven evidence, a robust business model, measurable impact, and a clear implementation plan before an international judging panel.
“The experience greatly expanded our perspective. We learned that building a globally competitive startup requires more than creativity, it demands a clearly defined market need, a sustainable business model, and measurable impact. Moving forward, we hope to continue growing SPYRAGO so it can benefit even more communities,” Zahra said.
Author: Dheva Yudistira Maulana
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
