Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) through its TEGAS Digital Village is partnering with Shell Malaysia for the Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia programme. This is a flagship enterprise development programme of Shell to strengthen local economies across the globe by promoting entrepreneurship and developing entrepreneurs.
Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia was first introduced in Sarawak in 2016, aiming to stimulate the local economy through entrepreneurship, innovation, and meaningful employment. It gained the support from the Sarawak government through TEGAS in 2017 who became Shell’s strategic partner for the programme in developing local startups and enhancing the digital innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Sarawak.
To date, Shell has invested over RM3 million in organizing the programme and awarded approximately RM400,000 startup grants and trained over 400 budding entrepreneurs in Sarawak, who have now become successful business owners.
“Shell has played a significant and central role in introducing this enterprise development programme in Sarawak, which accelerates the growth of our local startups and social enterprises. Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia aligns with the Sarawak government’s mission of supporting businesses to develop new solutions and products for domestic and export markets, in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy,” said Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment YB Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh, who is also TEGAS chairman.
“Shell’s initiative in supporting our local entrepreneurs is indeed commendable. TEGAS is proud to be a programme partner since 2017, where we have supported thirty Shell LiveWIRE winners by providing additional grants and access to TEGAS Digital Village and Digital Innovation Hub in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri. Our notable LiveWIRE alumni, among others, include Timogah.com, Ahmad Tamar and UAS Mapping,” he added.
The application is now open for registration. Shell and TEGAS are looking for Sarawakian entrepreneurs whose ideas will power lives in environmental sustainability, social impact and business innovation. The programme in Sarawak will take place at TEGAS Digital Village, Sama Jaya High Tech Park, Kuching from 31 October to 5 November.
Five winners from Sarawak will receive seed grants worth RM10,000 from Shell and RM5,000 from TEGAS, free access to TEGAS Digital Village and Digital Innovation Hub co-working space in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri as well as a chance to win additional RM30,000 at the national level.
Additionally, the winners 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.
“The Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE programme’s lessons made it easier for me to strategise and plan what I need to do next to expand my business idea and grow it into a real business. This programme pushed me to build confidence while presenting my idea to an experienced panel of people in the business. I am keen to learn more from my mentors as I’m confident that the wisdom they impart will take my business venture to greater heights,” shared Nisha Haslinda Binti Hasbi, Founder of Bintulu Coffeescape and Shell LiveWIRE Sarawak 2021 winner.
To find out more about the programme, visit https://livewire.shell.com.my/