UNAIR NEWS The growing popularity of running among the public has not always been accompanied by sufficient knowledge about proper recovery nutrition. Addressing this issue, a team of students from the Islamic Economics undergraduate program at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), 51 (UNAIR), developed an innovation called Reco+.
The innovation helped the team, Hidayah Nur Valentine, Wahdatil Izzah, Amanda Fatma Zuraidah, M. Athalah Riby, and M. Danish Azka, secured third place nationally and a gold medal in the Nutrition and Health category at Ignite Future Fest 2026. The National Essay and Business Plan competition was organized by Futura Innovation Hub in collaboration with UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung and took place on April 4 to 5, 2026.
A step-by-step recovery solution for runners
Valentine explained that Reco+ was designed to reduce the risk of overtraining and injury caused by inadequate nutritional intake after strenuous exercise. The innovation consists of two complementary products, a recovery drink and a jelly-based supplement, made from locally sourced ingredients such as bananas, ginger, and palm sugar.
We developed a phased recovery system. The drink should be consumed within the first 015 minutes after running, followed by the jelly product. This combination of natural ingredients helps accelerate the bodys recovery process while also providing anti-inflammatory benefits, Valentine said.
Business Potential and Investment Feasibility
As students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, the Reco+ team not only emphasized the health benefits of their product but also designed a comprehensive business model with clear profit potential. They carefully outlined their capital structure, which includes team contributions, grant funding, and potential investment.
Based on their financial projections, the product has a Net Present Value (NPV) of Rp140,494,512. With a payback period of only 0.4 years and a profitability index above one, we believe Reco+ is highly feasible as a profitable business venture, Valentine explained.
Overcoming challenges in developing natural ingredients
The team acknowledged that their journey toward the competition was not without obstacles. They initially faced difficulties processing bananas, which spoil easily, and creating a jelly texture that could be easily packaged. Through independent experimentation, they discovered that steaming the bananas before blending helped extend their shelf life. They also modified the texture into a moss jelly form, making it easier to package and consume.
Following this achievement, Valentine and her teammates hope their innovation will encourage runners to pay closer attention to recovery nutrition. We want to show that Islamic Economics students can create health-focused product innovations that also carry strong economic value, she concluded.
Author: Fauziah Laili Romadhon
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
