KUALA LUMPUR: A passion for community farming and strengthening the economic development of the Bottom 40 (B40) led Giva Kuppusamy and Wan Nur Hazwani Wan Rameli from GK Aqua to an enterprise development programme called Shell LiveWIRE.
The global programme supports thousands of entrepreneurs, helping turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
As part of the programme, 180 participants went through a week-long intensive incubator workshop in three locations, followed by a three-month LiveWIRE national accelerator programme in preparation for a final pitching competition.
Earlier this month, GK Aqua was one of five companies announced as the national grand winners of the Shell LiveWIRE 2023 programme.
The other four companies were Southeast Asia Treasure, Grace Creation, Materials in Works and Pungu Borneo.
GK Aqua is a biotechnology company that focuses on the production of freshwater prawns, using a monosex breeding technology that can produce "neo-female" brood stock that produces all-male offspring, resulting in a 300 per cent increase in freshwater prawn production and three-time higher market price.
Giva said the Shell LiveWIRE competition has allowed the company to expand its downstream operations and collaborate with local micro-sized businesses.
It has also boosted the company's visibility in environmental, social and governance thanks to its carbon-neutral prawn.
"With the funding received from the competition, we can pilot the development of dishes that highlight the use of freshwater prawns as the main ingredient.
"By partnering with local culinary experts, we aim to create dishes that showcase the versatility and taste of our prawns, while also supporting and empowering local entrepreneurs.
"As we continue on our journey, our goal is to expand our social enterprise, 'Malaysian Udang Galah Aquapreneur', and become the largest community of farmers using technology.
"Our aim is not only to enhance our financial gains but also to empower local communities through this approach," he said.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick presented the prizes to the winners at the national awards ceremony held at Wisma Shell on Dec 4.
The five winners were among 15 finalists that emerged state winners of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, earlier this year.
Assessments were done based on the finalists' business pitches that demonstrate their drive to grow their business ideas based on their business model, team capabilities, and business traction.
"Our Shell LiveWIRE programme makes a positive social impact on communities, while contributing to local business development, job creation, and social and economic solutions.
"Each year, this programme supports thousands of entrepreneurs globally to turn their bright ideas into sustainable businesses and I am truly happy to see our local entrepreneurs leveraging this to not only develop their businesses, but to also uplift their communities through employment opportunities," said Shell Malaysia country chair and Upstream Malaysia senior vice-president Siti Sulaiman.
The winners received a start-up fund of RM30,000 each and the opportunity to connect with the global LiveWIRE ecosystem, where they got to share their knowledge with entrepreneurs around the globe, while standing a chance to compete in the annual Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards.
Another winner, Materials in Works (MIW) presented a solution that benefits the environment and addresses raw material needs of local paper manufacturers by reintroducing residual paper liners into the production value chain as recovered cellulose pulp. MIW is founded by John Ooi Chong Sen and Chee Sheng Lau.
Ooi said the company benefitted from Shell LiveWIRE's support, encompassing business training, mentorship, and potential business opportunities.
"This transformative experience has equipped me with essential skills, mentorship, and resources that established and grew my business.
"The guidance in business planning, financial management, and sustainable practices has been invaluable. The network and connections forged through this programme have broadened my horizons and opened doors to opportunities I couldn't have imagined."
He said the programme's business training and mentorship helped him refine his strategy, as well as boosted his storytelling skills.
Networking also played a vital role, with active engagement with mentors, industry experts, and peers offering invaluable insights to participants.
He also advised fledging entrepreneurs to align their business with a larger purpose for a meaningful foundation.
The other winners were Southeast Asia Treasure, a company that produced a Seaweed "Smart Culture" tool that can reduce the death of turtles and fishes that attack seaweed farms.
The "Smart Culture" tool is an environmentally friendly system that helps to improve farmers' income in Semporna and all the areas that culture seaweed, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India and other countries.
Grace Creation is a social enterprise that produces Sabah ethnic handicrafts, specifically originating from the Murut ethnic group. The company impacts the community surrounding various areas, providing jobs for the women within the area, while Pungu Borneo is a social enterprise focusing on traditional handicraft, jewellery and culture with the aim of spearheading the digitalisation of the industry, preserving heritage and promoting sustainability.