TEGAS is proud to partner with Shell Malaysia as part of our commitment to empowering our local start ups and social enterprises to develop their businesses.

— Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment

OIL and gas firm Shell is no stranger to the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Malaysia with its flagship enterprise development programme, Shell LiveWIRE.

This programme, which kick started in Sabah in 2015 and in Sarawak in 2016, aims to inspire young entrepreneurs to innovate and produce real business solutions that meet today’s socio-economic needs. Starting in 2022, Shell LiveWIRE was extended to include entrepreneurs from Peninsular Malaysia.

The programme strengthens local economies across the globe by promoting entrepreneurship and developing entrepreneurs. Five enterprises in Sarawak were named as winners of the state-level Shell LiveWIRE 2023 on July 31. They are EB Tech, Myscripts Tech, Pungu Borneo, Rukun TV and Professor Dr Parveen Kaur, chosen out of over 60 participants this year.

“TEGAS is proud to partner with Shell Malaysia as part of our commitment to empowering our local start ups and social enterprises to develop their businesses.

“We look forward to continuing this collaboration, which aims to stimulate our local economy through entrepreneurship, innovation, and meaningful employment in Sarawak,” said Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, who presented the prizes to the winners at the award ceremony.

Participants went through a comprehensive bootcamp, where 10 selected finalists moved on to the final pitching competition.

Here, the entrepreneurs were assessed based on their business pitches, which demonstrate their drive to grow their business ideas based on their comprehensive business plans and five winners were chosen thereafter.

The winners received seed grants of RM10,000 and an additional RM5,000 from TEGAS. They will also receive a year of business coaching to flourish their business plans into full-fledged businesses and access to the facilities and opportunities made available by TEGAS.

They will also be given the opportunity to connect with the global LiveWIRE ecosystem and share their knowledge with entrepreneurs around the globe, while standing a chance to compete in the annual Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards. Choong Yen Li, general manager of Sarawak Gas, Shell Malaysia Upstream, shared her enthusiasm for the programme’s outcome.

“I am proud of our LiveWIRE programme, which provides a platform for budding entrepreneurs to not just empower themselves to build their businesses, but to also create employment for their surrounding communities, while contributing towards the socioeconomic growth of Sarawak and the nation.

“I encourage entrepreneurs to partake in this programme that provides access to knowledge, skills, networks and resources, which will help turn their entrepreneurial ideas into successful ventures,” she said.