Healthy Snacks from Rice Bran by UMS Alumni

A graduate of the Accounting Education of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Yuliani Setiawati, S.Pd., proves that business success does not necessarily depend on one’s educational background. Through Dbroo Kitchen, she has grown her business to reach more than 25 souvenir centers across Solo and Yogyakarta.

Yuliani shared the story behind her entrepreneurial journey. In 2020, right after resigning from her previous banking job she had held for seven years, she began searching for a way to earn an income from home.

“After resigning, I was confused about what to do. I already had two children, and finding another job at my age wasn’t easy. So I racked my brain for a way to make money from home,” she explained, Saturday (8/11/2025).

She continued, saying that Dbroo Kitchen initially focused on selling donuts placed in markets, convenience stores, and fresh milk shops. However, three months into the business, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We stopped distributing to stores and switched to online sales through Instagram and WhatsApp. We also expanded our menu to include brownies, pempek, cakes, puddings, and Rujak Aceh,” she said.

According to her, the success of her business came from her innovation in creating egg rolls made from rice bran, a healthy snack suitable for all ages. The idea emerged from a unique collaboration with her neighbors and friends.

“One of my neighbors could make egg rolls, and a friend offered me a partnership for rice bran milk. I thought, rice bran milk alone doesn’t taste that great,” she recalled.

Yuli shared that this menu was first introduced in 2022, initially as part of a special Lebaran hamper edition. “At first, it was just a seasonal Lebaran product, but the public response was really positive,” she explained.

In the same year, Yuli was selected for a program by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) and won a product packaging award. She also received recognition at the Industry Innovation Award 2022 from the Surakarta City Government.

“I joined the competition just for fun, but I actually made it through. Since then, I got hooked on joining more incubator programs and competitions,” Yuli said with a smile.

The following year, she achieved another milestone by winning the Smeska Program and receiving a business equipment grant worth five million rupiah.

Yuliani Setiawati, S.Pd., received recognition at the Industry Innovation Award 2022.

Behind her string of achievements, Yuli revealed that her biggest challenge in running the business was the lack of initial capital. She was determined to start without taking on debt.

“We literally started from zero. Our initial five million rupiah capital came from selling donuts. We kept reinvesting the profits to buy new equipment, so the business really grew from money we turned over ourselves,” she explained.

Furthermore, she shared that her awareness of managing the business professionally began in 2021, under the guidance of the Integrated Business Service Center (PLUT) of Surakarta City. Yuli gradually completed all her business legalities, from obtaining a Business Identification Number (NIB) and a Home Industry Food Certification (PIRT) to securing halal certification and intellectual property rights (HAKI) for her brand, Dbroo Kitchen.

“I want this to become a sustainable family business, not just a small home-based shop. Everything has to be official and well-documented,” said the Accounting Education alumna.

Although her academic background is in Accounting Education at UMS, Yuli found her knowledge highly useful in managing the company’s finances. She even implemented a daily wage system for her employees, most of whom are housewives from her neighborhood.

“The entrepreneurship and budgeting lessons I learned back then turned out to be incredibly useful. I learned how to calculate costs, wages, and production efficiency,” Yuli explained.

As a UMS alumna, she emphasized the importance of strong mentality and financial management in entrepreneurship. She admitted that she had once experienced business failure.

“Many people start a business out of FOMO. I used to be like that too, I once suffered a big loss when joining a viral food franchise. From that experience, I learned not to jump in unless you’re mentally and financially ready. Sustenance will come in its own time,” she advised.

Today, Dbroo Kitchen has grown to include dozens of resellers and souvenir shop partners in Solo and Yogyakarta, as well as collaborations with BULOG (the National Logistics Agency) and the Amanda Brownies network across 25 branches.

Writer: Aisyah Izzatuddini Rahma

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid