KUALA LUMPUR: The Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024 programme, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of local economies globally, has unveiled its latest cohort of standout innovators.
Among the chosen entrepreneurs are Yovindra Kanezin and Annamalai Thani of Reclimate Sdn Bhd, along with Hidayah Shahidan, Dr Akhmal Hakim Roslan and Ariff Ikhzam of Synbiozymes Sdn Bhd, who emerged successfully from a highly competitive pool of 180 participants after an extensive selection process.
The Shell LiveWIRE programme winners also include Global Cerah Sdn Bhd from Sabah, as well as Koperasi Opah Sri Aman Bhd and 4x4 Quest Sdn Bhd from Sarawak.
The five emerged as the top contenders among 15 finalists from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, having previously won their state titles earlier this year.
The winners were presented the awards by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The winners underwent a rigorous week-long incubator workshop held across three locations, followed by a three-month national accelerator programme.
Their journey culminated in a final pitching competition, where they presented their business ideas.
The pitches were assessed based on the strength of their business models, team capabilities and market traction, demonstrating their commitment to scaling their innovative ventures.
Reclimate: Empowering Farmers, Driving Sustainability
Reclimate is a climate tech startup committed to empowering smallholder farmers in Malaysia by empowering them in transforming agricultural waste into biochar— a sustainable solution that improves soil health, reduces carbon emissions, and unlocks additional value from agricultural by-products.
Founders Yovindra and Annamalai said the programme has offered several key modules that were incredibly beneficial in helping address operational challenges as an early-stage startup.
"Sometimes, it is essential to step back from the daily grind and attend programmes like this to make strategic adjustments that align with our bigger goals.
"This programme gave us the space to do exactly that. The mentors assigned to us were also incredibly helpful. They provided valuable guidance, both in preparing for the finals and in refining our overall business direction," they added.
Yovindra and Annamalai said being involved in a business that collaborates with corporations, the recognition from Shell LiveWIRE provides a valuable boost to their credibility.
They said the achievement is not solely about them but also about the community they serve and the positive impact they aim to create.
"It is a reminder that sustainable solutions like biochar can truly make a difference, and this recognition gives us the motivation to push even further."
They said building Reclimate has been both fulfilling and challenging.
One of their main obstacles was overcoming the initial scepticism from the farming community regarding the adoption of new technologies, such as their digital system and the concept of biochar production.
They explained that many farmers were not familiar with the benefits of biochar or how carbon credits could create additional revenue opportunities.
"To overcome this, we focused on building trust by conducting on-ground workshops and demonstrating the tangible benefits through pilot projects.
"By involving farmers in the process and showing how biochar improved their soil health and crop yields, we were able to win their confidence.
"Another significant challenge was navigating the complexity of the carbon credit market. As a startup, it was daunting to understand and integrate the various compliance standards," they added.
Yovindra and Annamalai tackled this by collaborating with experts and continuously improving their system to meet these requirements, ensuring that credits are of the highest quality.
Moving forward, Reclimate will have two key areas of focus which includes regional expansion and research and development (R&D).
"2025 will be an exciting year for us as we embark on two significant journeys. First, we are starting operations in four new countries across Southeast Asia, with plans for Reclimate's Biochar projects to be active in five different countries by the end of the year, and we're aiming to scale even further.
"On the R&D side, we've signed a partnership with the University of Malaya, where we'll be developing high-value products from our ongoing projects."
Synbiozymes: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for Food Security and Agricultural Waste
Another winner of the programme, Synbiozymes, uses biotechnology to tackle Malaysia's food security challenges.
The startup converts poultry waste into protein-rich animal feed using enzymes and bacteria, reducing dependence on imported grains and supporting a circular economy.
Founded by Hidayah Shahidan, Dr. Akhmal Hakim Roslan and Ariff Ikhzam, Synbiozymes was born from a passion for sustainability and a determination to solve the global issues of agricultural waste and food security.
Hidayah explained that the idea stemmed from her background in biotechnology, particularly in microbe and enzyme technology, and her interest in transforming waste into valuable resources.
She said the Shell LiveWIRE programme has been a pivotal moment for Synbiozymes.
"Winning prestigious competitions like Shell LiveWIRE and GIST-Asean not only provided funding but also added credibility to Synbiozymes' vision. These milestones reassured us that we were on the right track.
"The programme has provided us access to experienced mentors, including seasoned entrepreneurs, who shared practical insights on tackling operational hurdles and navigating challenges."
Hidayah said the programme enhanced their business model, market validation and pitching skills, making their value proposition stronger, while connecting with a supportive network of entrepreneurs provided new insights and boosted their confidence.
Hidayah said her entrepreneurial journey has been both challenging and rewarding, with unexpected twists that shaped Synbiozymes.
"In December 2023, after joining an accelerator programme, I found myself starting as a solo founder when my initial team broke up. While it may seem tragic, I now see it as a blessing in disguise. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on the kind of team I wanted to build," she added.
Despite the many uncertainties and setbacks, Hidayah said the journey has taught them resilience, adaptability and the importance of staying true to their vision.
Hidayah said the recognition from Shell LiveWIRE programme not only motivates the team to push further but also serves as a testament to the potential impact of the solution.
"It is exciting to see our efforts acknowledged, and we are thrilled about the doors this win will open for Synbiozymes as we continue to scale and make a difference in sustainability and food security."
Over the next two to three years, Synbiozymes will focus on gaining traction, generating sustainable revenue, and ensuring their solutions effectively tackle the challenges faced by farmers.
"We plan to conduct pilot studies to generate reliable data, validate our technology, and fine-tune our approach based on real-world results.
"Additionally, we aim to expand our product portfolio to offer complementary solutions and maximise impact," she said.
Hidayah said in 10 years, they see Synbiozymes as a regional leader in Asean, with plans for global expansion and the possibility of going public through an initial public offering.
"While we are starting with feather protein as our focus, our long-term goal is to transform Synbiozymes into a full-fledged synthetic biology company.
"We aim to establish our own state-of-the-art lab and R&D facilities to drive innovation and develop new solutions, creating a significant impact on sustainability and industrial biotechnology," she said.