Tegas & Shell award RM75,000 in start-up grants to Sarawakian youths through the Shell Livewire Programme
Nov 25, 2017
Kuching, Whilst only in its second year, the Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE programme in Sarawak continues to grow the local youth entrepreneur scene by providing start-up grants to five Sarawakian entrepreneurs.
This year, the winning entrepreneurs walk away with grants worth RM15,000 each; an increase of RM5,000 over last year’s winners, contributed by the LiveWIRE programme’s esteemed partner in Sarawak, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (TEGAS). In addition to the start-up grant, the winners also earn a three-year mentorship and coaching deal with Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE to help them navigate the common pitfalls faced by new businesses.
“TEGAS is proud to be a partner with Shell in the LiveWIRE programme, that not only recognises young entrepreneurs for their ability and drive to start their own businesses, it also equips them with tools and knowledge that will help these entrepreneurs grow their commercial viability to reach a global market”, said YB Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh, Chairman of TEGAS. YB Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh was represented by Awangku Merali Pengiran Mohamed, Chief Operating Officer of TEGAS, who was on hand to present the awards to the winners.
As an addition to previous instalments of the programme, this year’s Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE shortlisted the top ten entrepreneurs across Sarawak against each other through a business pitching competition.
Previously, participants attend business modelling and canvassing workshops to develop, present, and improve on their business ideas. After which, they would submit their refined business plans to a selection committee whom will assess the business plans based on originality and sustainability of the idea. This time, participants were required to actively pitch to a panel of judges that consist of Octavia Mohamad, Contracting & Procurement Manager, Commercial Excellence, Sarawak Shell Berhad, Ayisha Arshad, Social Performance Manager, Shell Malaysia Limited, and Andrew Wong of MAD Incubator.
All judges brought their perspectives on business and project management, based on experiences in their respective areas of responsibilities and the industry they represent. Collectively, they aim to impart knowledge on the current market forces to help equip the entrepreneurs to be able to succeed in their respective businesses.
One of the more highly successful Shell LiveWIRE participants hailing from Sarawak is Zaid Iskandar bin Jaraiee of Sutra Design. Being a winner of the 2016 Shell LiveWIRE programme, the initial seed grant of RM10,000.00 was used to upgrade his current shopfront in Miri to support his clientele better. Since then, under the tutelage of Shell LiveWIRE facilitators, Zaid has grown his t-shirt printing business to meet the needs of Sarawak Shell Berhad and other local enterprises in Miri.
“This year’s entrepreneurs came equipped with amazing ideas in the healthcare, food and beverage, and even digital industries. It truly reflects the potential that Sarawakian youths can bring to help grow the Sarawak economy. It really is a point of pride for Shell Malaysia to be able to contribute to creating more employment and business opportunities in Sarawak, together with like-minded partner organisations such as TEGAS”, shared Ayisha Arshad, Social Performance Manager for Shell Malaysia Limited, who also served as one of the judges.
Shell LiveWIRE is an entrepreneurial programme that seeks to uncover business start-up potential in Sabah and Sarawak, supporting and inspiring young entrepreneurs to innovate and provide real business solutions that meets today’s socio-economic needs.
The programme was first introduced in Sarawak in 2016. Since then, a total of 136 participants between the ages of 18 to 35 have participated in the Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE programme. The winners of the 2017 Shell LiveWIRE programme bring the total number of Sarawakian winners to 10, who have received the seed grant and will continue to enjoy the benefits of learning from our experienced facilitators.
“The Shell LiveWIRE programme has really changed the way I look at myself as a business owner and it has opened my eyes to see beyond even my own expectations for my business. I am thankful to the LiveWIRE programme and Shell, who are helping me not just realise my dream, but to support me in growing it to be bigger,” said Caroline Imang of Sarawak Mama Craft, when she learned of her win.
“Participating in this programme was not easy at first and there were many things I had to relearn. But when I considered the amount of effort the programme and its facilitators were putting into it, I knew this was a support system I could rely on to see my business grow. Even by spending time with my fellow entrepreneurs in the programme, I got to see an alternative perspective which really helped me in developing my business plans. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the LiveWIRE programme,” said Haaziq Ibrahim of Ai Brique Engineering and Consultancy after being announced as a winner.
For further Media Enquiries, please contact:
Nimmi Kamal
Country Head of External Relations, Shell Malaysia
Email: nimmi.kamal@shell.com
About Shell – www.shell.com.my
Shell is a global leader in power, energy, and gas technology and is working to meet increasing energy demand and supply challenges by delivering smarter products and cleaner energy, infrastructure, and by developing new energy sources while addressing the impact on the environment. Malaysia is one of Shell’s heartlands. The history of Royal Dutch Shell in Malaysia started more than 125 years in Miri, Sarawak. Shell currently has a strong market presence in the upstream and downstream sector in Malaysia.
Notes to Editors:
About Shell LiveWIRE
The Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE programme consists of workshops aimed at equipping youth entrepreneurs of Sabah and Sarawak to unleash their entrepreneurial potential. These workshops include:
- Bright Ideas - The first workshop which develops entrepreneurs’ understanding of the local market and helps them generate business ideas with the highest potential in Malaysia.
- Become a Successful Owner Manager (BSOM). Aimed at refining the business ideas of individual entrepreneurs, this workshop ensures that participants can develop a robust plan to develop their respective businesses.
- Masterclasses – Dedicated sessions open to all members of the LiveWIRE programme to develop specific concepts or skills relevant to their businesses, such as Branding and Marketing, Supply Chain Management, etc.
- Pitching Workshop & Competition – The latest addition to the Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE repertoire of workshops, the pitching workshop and competition aims to provide the necessary skills for leading entrepreneurs to seek support from private and public sectors to grow their businesses.
The five recipients of the seed grant from Sarawak are:
| NAME OF RECIPIENT | BUSINESS DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Imelda Bragie (Kota Samarahan) |
Imelda intends to brand her family’s business who have been farming and harvesting Bario rice since 1988. She intends to innovate her family’s business to include Bario rice in soap making and turning her farm into an agro-tourism destination. |
| Haaziq Ibrahim (Miri) |
Haaziq aims to grow his sustainable engineering consultancy business to help developers or building owners to improve the efficiency of their own buildings. |
| Caroline Imang (Miri) |
With her expertise in traditional Sarawakian handicraft, Caroline intends to innovate locally-sourced handicrafts to appeal to a wider audience and introduce do-it-yourself traditional handicraft kits to the public. |
| Jason Chieng Lee Wee (Miri) |
Jason will start his business of maternity centers in Miri to cater to the growing need of new mothers who require post-natal and confinement care immediately after birth. |
| Amir Mohamed (Miri) |
Amir currently runs a ‘madu kelulut’ (stingless bee honey) farm in his home which he intends to grow into a tourist destination and activity for the city of Miri. |