Five Outstanding enterprises recognised as National Winners of Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024

By AVV

30 November 2024  

KOTA KINABALU: Five exceptional enterprises were honoured as the national winners of Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024 during today's celebration.

The prestigious event was attended by Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDC), who personally presented the awards to the deserving winners. These five enterprises distinguished themselves among 15 finalists, representing the finest from Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia, having previously secured their state titles earlier this year.

The 2024 Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia national winners include Global Cerah Sdn Bhd from Sabah; Koperasi Opah Sri Aman Bhd and 4x4 Quest Sdn Bhd from Sarawak; and Reclimate Sdn Bhd and Synbiozymes Sdn Bhd from Peninsular Malaysia.

They emerged victorious from a competitive pool of 180 entrepreneurs. The selection process was rigorous, with the finalists participating in an intensive week-long incubator workshop across three locations, followed by a three-month national accelerator programme. This preparation culminated in a final pitching competition, where their business proposals were evaluated based on comprehensive business models, team capabilities, and business traction, highlighting their commitment to scaling innovative ideas.

“Our Shell LiveWIRE program serves as a catalyst for positive social change, fostering local business development, job creation, and innovative solutions to social and economic challenges. This initiative empowers thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide to transform their bright ideas into sustainable businesses each year. I am truly delighted to see our local entrepreneurs seizing this opportunity to expand their ventures and uplift their communities by creating valuable employment opportunities,” stated Siti Sulaiman, Country Chair of Shell Malaysia and Senior Vice President of Integrated Upstream Malaysia.

In his launching speech earlier, the MEDC Minister stated that he welcomed the strategic collaboration between the ministry and Shell as an anchor company or vendor and requested the Franchise and Vendor Development Division of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) to hold discussions with Shell.

"This discussion is about our intention to establish a partnership with Shell to develop vendor companies. So far, under the Vendor Development Programme, we have signed 40 memorandums of understanding with 40 multinational companies including Petronas, Perodua, and Bank Rakyat," he said.

Meanwhile, the 2024 national winners each received a start-up fund of RM30,000 and the invaluable opportunity to connect with the global LiveWIRE ecosystem, sharing insights with entrepreneurs worldwide. They also have the chance to compete in the prestigious Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards. Additionally, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) awarded an extra RM20,000 cash prize to both 4x4 Quest Sdn Bhd and Koperasi Opah Sri Aman Bhd, the winners from Sarawak, to encourage greater participation from the region.

The judging panel for Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024 included Norizah Othman, General Manager of Malaysia Projects at Shell Malaysia; Viviantie Sarjuni, CEO of the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC); and Dexter Yeh, Deputy General Manager of Daily Express. The event also saw the presence of officials from Sabah, including Wong Kim Mun, General Manager of Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Ltd (SSPC).

Shell LiveWIRE, the premier enterprise development program of Shell, supports local economies worldwide by promoting entrepreneurship and nurturing entrepreneurs. Launched in Sabah in 2015 and Sarawak in 2016, the program aims to inspire young entrepreneurs to innovate and create practical business solutions that address today’s socio-economic challenges.

In 2022, Shell LiveWIRE expanded its reach to include entrepreneurs from Peninsular Malaysia, further enhancing its impact.