PUTRAJAYA: The Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) has so far disbursed RM14 million in grants to 28 recipients under theBumiputera Entrepreneurs Startup Scheme (SUPERB) to commercialise innovative ideas.
Fifteen recipients from the second series of SUPERB received RM7.5 millionin grants from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today.
Najib, who is also finance minister, delivered RM6.5 million grants to 13 recipients from the first SUPERB series in April, said screenings for the third series would start tomorrow.
"I would like to urge more young Bumiputera entrepreneurs, including in Sabah and Sarawak to participate in the programme.
"I hope the grants will be used prudently to commercialise your ideas to the next level," he said at a ceremony to announce the SUPERB BizPitch Second Series 2014 here today.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wahid Omar and Datuk Seri Idris Jala, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, and TERAJU chief executive officer Husni Salleh.
Najib said TERAJU, along with government agencies, would continue to help businesses and provide consultancy services to Bumiputera entrepreneurs to enable them to get additional funding.
TERAJU, in a statement, said it would intensify efforts to get moreBumiputera entrepreneurs participation in SUPERB BizPitch screening sessions in each economic corridors during the third series.
The recipients in the second SUPERB series today were STI TechResources (installing computer systems for utility power providers), TanyaTechnology Services Sdn Bhd (rig cooling system), Tuah Majumas Sdn Bhd (portablewater injection system), Ayam Kampung Akar Putra (commercialising new breeds of chicken), Kemuda Bio Agro Tech Sdn Bhd (producing ruminant feed).
The others were Thinking Green Sdn Bhd (solar energy kiosk project), Revolusi Tani Sdn Bhd (bio-coal from coconut shell), PH Petro Sdn Bhd (chemical oil recovery), Lagisatu Travel Sdn Bhd (hotel metasearch), Taxi Monger Sdn Bhd (online taxi booking), ISKF FM Services (tree maintenance inventory system), and WWW 1337 Tech Sdn Bhd (business application, interactive advertising).
In addition, individuals who received the grants were Hakim Albasrawy Yusoff (aquaculture monitoring system), Muhammad Shafiq Shahrul Amar (Creative Minds -using LEGO sets in teaching of mathematics and science in primary and secondary schools), and Saiful Adil Ahmad Hawari (The Port theme-food centre).
Nearly 2,000 ideas were screened based on innovation and creativity during the second series of SUPERB and the successful ideas were selected during a business pitching process from May 1 to 16.-- Bernama