KUCHING – May 27, 2019 – Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (TEGAS) welcome five startups to its second series of TEGAS Startup Lab (TSL), a one-year structured incubation programme that aims to equip local Sarawak entrepreneurs with the tools to sustain and accelerate their business growth and builds on the Sarawak government’s digital economy blueprint. This programme is being organized in line with the Sarawak government’s mission of increasing the number of successful technopreneurs, and promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Sarawak.
SMA and TEGAS will be working closely with their strategic partner, Satu Creative for the programme’s second cohort this May 2019 – May 2020 across SMA-TEGAS Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri. Satu Creative is a training and consulting company focused on delivering high-impact entrepreneur development programmes. The company is currently involved in various entrepreneur development programmes across Malaysia with organizations such as Shell Malaysia and Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC), to name a few.
The five outstanding startups selected for the second cohort are BeGO, EZ Food, The Founders Club, Miracolo and HAUS KCH. They will enjoy one-year business coaching, mentoring and facilitation, knowledge sharing by industry experts, access to DIH facilities and Digital Village Ecosystem Network, and opportunity to participate in international conferences and trade fairs.
“I would like to thank SMA and TEGAS and for choosing us to be part of the second cohort of TEGAS Startup Lab. The alignment session today was stimulating and I am thrilled to see what is prepared for us throughout this one-year programme.” said Hamza Hamizan, Co-founder of The Founders Club, which is based in DIH Miri.
Startups will be mentored by seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts such as Brian Tan, Co-founder of FutureLab.my, Sam Shafie, Co-founder of pitchIN, Nurfarini Daing, CEO of Youth Trust Foundation, Sinan Ismail, CEO of Digital Durian, Hazwan Razak, Head of Digital Village, SMA to name a few, covering topics such as strategy, finance, operations, talent management, marketing, branding, intellectual property (IP) and fundraising.
TSL has produced a number of notable alumni which include startups such as Trifold X, The Tuyang Initiative, Menur, The 381 Hub and Thirst. The participants will also gain first-hand account from some of these leading founders on their road to success in their startup journeys.
“TSL is our investment to produce high-growth startups for the Digital Village, and towards empowering young entrepreneurs in Sarawak,” said Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment and TEGAS chairman.
The programme is supported by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and is one of the key programmes in the Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem. TEGAS is also collaborating with SMA in operating the DIH in Kuching, Miri and Bintulu.
DIH serves as an inclusive platform to nurture talents, support entrepreneurs and create innovators for Sarawak. DIH offers access to co-working space and shared amenities, funding opportunities and facilitation, incubation and acceleration programmes as well as an entrepreneur-friendly ecosystem.
“Together with all our partners within the digital ecosystem, we know that this initiative will create success stories that will be the pride of our state, and our nation,” said SMA General Manager Dr. Zaidi Razak.