Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024: Celebrating a Decade of Entrepreneurial Innovation in Sabah
Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia is an initiative that acknowledges and celebrates the accomplishments of promising enterprises.
It is also serves as a tribute to Shell’s unwavering dedication to fostering entrepreneurship in Sabah.
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This programme is vital in driving local economic development and promoting innovation.
Shell LiveWIRE strives to spark enthusiasm among young entrepreneurs, while promoting creative thinking and creating practical business solutions that positively impact the society.
During a recent interview with the Daily Express, the five recently announced winners of the Shell LiveWIRE Malaysia 2024 Sabah challenge shared about their entrepreneurial journeys and shared their valuable experiences as Shell LiveWIRE participants.
The winners of the 2024 Sabah state challenge are Mofaz Enterprise, Global Cerah Sdn Bhd, Kokoriu Enterprise, Agroment Enterprise and Onsoi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd.
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These five enterprises have been granted a startup fund of RM10,000 and will receive a 3 months of business coaching to enhance their business plans.
The winners will also have the incredible opportunity to join the global LiveWIRE network, connecting them with like-minded entrepreneurs from around the world.
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Additionally, they will be eligible to compete in the prestigious Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards, where they will receive a one year of business coaching if they win.
Shell LiveWIRE, an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and boosting economic growth, was introduced in Sabah in 2015.
The programme’s reach has been steadily growing, expanding to Sarawak in 2016 and reaching Peninsular Malaysia in 2022. This expansion has had a significant impact, spreading its influence across the entire country.
Local entrepreneur turns agricultural waste into eco-friendly fuel
A budding entrepreneur from Sandakan is garnering attention in the sustainable energy sector due to his innovative methods for utilising agricultural waste.
Carlven Lenim from Agroment Enterprise
Carlven Lenim, founder of Agroment Enterprise, has developed a prototype for oil palm frond briquettes under his brand, Tangud Briquette.
“We are currently in the prototype stage, focusing on developing oil palm frond briquettes. This eco-friendly alternative fuel source is made from agricultural waste, aiming to provide a sustainable energy solution,” Carlven said.
Established in September 2023, Tangud Briquette aims to contribute to environmental sustainability, efficient resource utilisation and create new income streams for oil palm smallholder farmers.
Raw material
Carlven drew inspiration from the abundance of oil palm fronds in his hometown.
“I saw an opportunity to utilise these otherwise underused agricultural residues to create a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel source.
“Additionally, I wanted to provide a new income stream for my community, especially for the smallholder oil palm farmers who have been facing challenges due to the rising prices of herbicides and fertilizers for their plantations,” he said.
The young entrepreneur credits Shell LiveWIRE for impacting his business journey.
“I gained valuable insights into business development and sustainable practices. The mentorship and training programmes provided by the team in Shell has helped me refine my business model and improve our prototype,” Carlven said.
Oil Palm frond briquettes
Despite facing challenges in developing a reliable and efficient prototype, Carlven remains optimistic about the future.
“We aim to scale up production and improve the efficiency of our briquetting process. We also plan to promote the use of eco-friendly briquettes as an alternative energy source,” he said.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Carlven is a firm believer on the importance of resilience and adaptability.
His advice to budding entrepreneurs, “Stay committed, be adaptable and never stop learning. Entrepreneurship is challenging and full of obstacles, so dedication and persistence are essential.”
As Tangud Briquette moves forward, he envisions establishing his company as a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions while positively impacting the environment and the communities they serve.
Revolutionising waste management with innovative technology
Founded by Willie Ng, Global Cerah Sdn Bhd is a cleantech firm transforming agricultural waste into valuable resources, hence revolutionising the field of organic waste management.
“Global Cerah integrates organic waste management and production of alternative feeds and fertilizers into a sustainable solution supported by Internet of Things,” Ng explained.
The company began its research and development in 2018 with funding from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation before commercializing the solution in 2021.
Ng’s mission is clear - to advocate and replace conventional waste disposal methods such as landfills that cause soil degradation and emission of greenhouse gas from dumping sites, a major factor of climate change.
“I want to recycle agri-waste into valuable feeds and fertilizers that are essential for local farmers due to rising prices of imported products,” he said.
The entrepreneur credits Shell LiveWIRE for enhancing his business acumen.
“Practical training and mentorships enhanced my current skill set and propelled me to look into my current business model, in addition to a mindset shift for me as a founder to focus on human capital development and resource management,” Ng said.
Despite facing challenges such as cash flow problems and low awareness of waste treatment importance in the agriculture industry, Ng managed to discover innovative solutions to overcome them.
“I decided to sell recycled feeds and fertilizers from our system to overseas markets, who are willing to pay a premium on those high-nutrition products,” he said.
Looking at the future, Ng has ambitious plans to obtain Research and Development grants/funds for upgrades of his second-generation system from the current version, improvement of compatibility, efficiency and addition of enterprise resource planning features.
The company also aims to expand into Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Ng emphasized the importance of balance.
“Finding the balance between purpose, people and profitability is crucial to start an impactful startup, while sustaining the business with positive outcomes in the long-term future,” he said.
His message to aspiring entrepreneurs is to be enterprising by optimizing the successful pursuit of opportunity.
“These include a passion for solving problems worth solving, a willingness to test assumptions and change course and a relentless desire to create shared value in a high-paced and dynamic working environment,” he said.
Global Cerah is evidence of the ability of creative ideas to solve environmental problems and generate sustainable commercial prospects as it keeps expanding.
Integrated Waste Management System
Project Discussion with the Community
Local entrepreneur pioneer’s heirloom seed bank in Sabah
Anjelen Daransun from Kokoriu Enterprise
Anjelen Daransun, founder of Kokoriu Enterprise, has been creating a buzz in Sabah’s agricultural sector with her groundbreaking methods in sustainable farming and seed preservation.
Anjelen’s journey began in 2015 with value-added agricultural products.
She started by innovating several agricultural products based on banana, pumpkin, chili, tuhau (a type of wild ginger, native to the jungles of Sabah), bunga kantan (ginger torch), ginger, lemongrass and cinnamon to add value to farmers’ produce.
The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted Anjelen to formalize her business.
“On May 11, 2020, I registered Kokoriu Enterprise. Kokoriu means supplies eaten when hungry and always carried around to avoid hunger,” she said.
Inspired by her farming family, Anjelen initiated the Heirloom Organic Seed Bank in Kampung Tiong Karanaan in 2023.
The latest seed bank
Part of Seed Bank Area
Engaging with public at an exhibition
“I was inspired to create our own seed bank based on Heirloom Organic Seeds so that local farmers, commercial agriculture, home gardeners and agro food companies don’t have to rely on foreign seeds,” she said.
The seed bank, named “Tangkob Sayat Kokoriu” aims to preserve rare and nearly extinct local seeds.
“We started with training on storage, selection, planting and seed breeding in the Tiong Karanaan village community,” Anjelen said.
Participation in Shell LiveWIRE has been instrumental in her journey.
“The journey with Shell LiveWIRE was very helpful, especially during the week-long boot camp. As participants, we were exposed to various knowledge, motivation and ways to make our ideas tangible,” she said.
Despite challenges, Anjelen remains optimistic about the future.
“The future plan is to make Tangkob Sayat Kokoriu a centre for obtaining heirloom organic seeds, collaborating with agencies or governments that can realize and recognize the creation of an heirloom organic seed bank,” she said.
Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Anjelen emphasized the importance of action.
“The biggest lesson throughout the entrepreneurial journey is how to make that idea tangible. Most importantly, talk less, do more,” she said.
Her advice to other entrepreneurs, “Never stop trying even if you have failed once. Continue to move forward and improve on past failures.”
With each passing year, Kokoriu Enterprise demonstrates the power of creative, long-term solutions to the problems plaguing Sabah’s agriculture sector and the need for increased food security.
Ranau farmer turns entrepreneur, modernises paddy cultivation
Mohd Fadzwan Ali from Mofaz Enterprise
Mohd Fadzwan Ali, founder of Mofaz Enterprise, is revolutionizing paddy farming in the Ranau district with his innovative approach to dry land paddy cultivation.
“Mofaz Enterprise is a social enterprise where we help paddy dryland farmers in Ranau district to sell their product to the bigger market.
“If before, this dryland paddy was grown for subsistence purposes only, but now dryland paddy is grown for commercial purposes,” he said.
Fadzwan, a third-generation farmer, started this project in 2020.
“Last year, we started growing dryland paddy with a new and modern system. We planted paddy in greenhouses and in polybags with an irrigation system. In this way, we can produce organic and premium rice,” he said.
The young entrepreneur’s participation in Shell LiveWIRE has boosted his confidence.
“To be honest, I’m more confident to go in front and pitch after the Shell LiveWIRE program. The program also gave awareness to my project and product. People started to ask what is Beras Meridi? What are they doing? How can we get this rice?” he shared.
Despite facing challenges, particularly societal perceptions about farming, Fadzwan remains determined.
“My biggest challenge is people see me as a farmer, not an entrepreneur. You know how our society perceives and responds to farmers. They are seen as dirty, poor, contemptible and having no future,” he said.
To overcome this, Fadzwan focuses on education and networking.
“I go out there, looking for knowledge, skills and network. I learn from experienced farmers, technology and modern farming.”
Looking to the future, Fadzwan has ambitious plans of building more greenhouses so he can plant more paddy and produce more rice.
“Then we can help more farmers increase their income,” he said.
“We’re also in progress to apply for myGAP and myOrganic certification from Jabatan Pertanian so we can enter the organic and premium market.”
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Fadzwan shared a valuable lesson.
“My biggest lesson in my journey is like the king cobra and python story. That’s how people destroy each other. Because they are always boasting, feeling that they are the best and more powerful than others.”
Team Mofaz at work
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to learn from other people’s failures and mistakes. Not from their success.
“Our people really like to see people succeed. Actually, there are so many things behind the story. There are tears, sacrifice, sweat, rejection. So, learn from people’s failures and mistakes so you will know how to deal with these situations,” he said.
With their products
Mofaz Enterprise’s continued success is evidence that creative, long-term solutions may update age-old farming methods and boost farmers’ incomes in Sabah.
Turning hometown coffee into a thriving business
Sharon Voo from Onsoi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
Sharon Voo, founder of Onsoi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, is gaining attention in Sabah’s beverage industry with her groundbreaking Ready-to-Drink Coffee Tenom.
“We started this during the pandemic in 2020, turning a crisis into a business opportunity,” Sharon explained.
“Without adding preservatives or artificial ingredients, it’s truly natural,” she said.
Sharon’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age.
“My first ‘small business’ was selling candles, mineral water and tissue paper at graveyards during Qingming,” she reminisced.
“I earned a few hundred from that. Thinking back, I’m still satisfied with that first experience.”
The Tenom native’s current venture is a labour of love. “The current business pursues me because I am doing what I love while promoting my hometown’s name and coffee,” Sharon shared.
Participation in Shell LiveWIRE has been instrumental in Sharon’s journey.
“The great impact of joining Shell LiveWIRE is unexpected,” she said.
“I started by learning the ropes from my coaches. Secondly, this is where I made a lot of new friends. Finally, I am more confident to go forward now that our brand is becoming more well-known,” she said.
Despite facing challenges, Sharon remains determined. “I think the biggest challenge I have is the distance between my head and my feet, meaning how to turn my vision into action and make it come true,” she explained.
To overcome this, Sharon adopts a strategic approach by cutting her big dreams into smaller pieces, from 10-year plans to 1-year plans to 1-month plans, to 1-week plans and to 1-day plans.”
Looking to the future, Sharon has ambitious plans.
“Our short-term plan is to upgrade our factory, buy more machines to increase our daily production.
“Next year, we would like to expand the business to the whole of Sabah,” she said.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, “Entrepreneurship can be stressful. Get yourself mentally and physically prepared for this journey.”
The continued success of Onsoi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd showcases the promise of local products in the cutthroat beverage industry and draws attention to Tenom’s famous coffee history.
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