KUALA LUMPUR: Five enterprises were crowned as the national winners of Shell's flagship enterprise development programme, Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024.
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd said each winner received RM30,000 in start-up funding and access to the global LiveWIRE ecosystem, offering opportunities to share insights with international entrepreneurs.
They also stand a chance to compete in the prestigious Shell Global Top 10 Innovators Awards.
"In a special gesture, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) awarded an additional RM20,000 to Koperasi Opah Sri Aman Bhd and 4x4 Quest Sdn Bhd from Sarawak to encourage further entrepreneurial excellence from the region," it said in a statement.
The 2024 Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia national winners - 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, emerged victorious from a competitive field of 180 entrepreneurs.
These enterprises were among the 15 finalists who advanced after a rigorous selection process.
Shell Malaysia country chair and senior vice president of integrated gas and upstream Malaysia Siti Sulaiman said Shell LiveWIRE programme is a catalyst for positive social change, fostering local business development, job creation and innovative solutions to social and economic challenges.
"Each year, this initiative empowers thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide to transform their bright ideas into sustainable businesses.
"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," said Siti Sulaiman.
Shell LiveWIRE, the premier enterprise development programme of Shell, bolsters local economies worldwide by promoting entrepreneurship and nurturing entrepreneurs.
Launched in Sabah in 2015 and Sarawak in 2016, the programme aims to inspire young entrepreneurs to innovate and create practical business solutions that address today's socio-economic challenges.