Experts, academics groom finalists of Swinburne tourney
KUCHING: Industry experts and academics from institutions of higher learning in Malaysia and abroad played the role of mentors to groom finalists of the recent Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus ‘Swin Pitch Business Idea Competition 2021’.
They were invited by the Australian university’s branch campus to share their knowledge and experience with the 30 finalists during a one-day online workshop intended to prepare them for the ‘Final Pitch’, where the winners will be selected at the end of this month.
The finalists must produce innovative solutions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and rethink products, processes and services from its production and distribution to consumption that will create jobs, stimulate economies, reimagine supply chains, and improve outcomes for 10 million people by 2030.
Additionally, their business proposals must incorporate the United Nation’s 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals.
Coaching the finalists at the workshop were Facebook Blueprint Lead Trainer Jonathan Wong; Faculty of Economy and Business of Tanjungpura University, Indonesia academic Dr Helma Malini; SEGi Group of Colleges lecturer Haritharan Devanthran; and Hubridy Company managing director Alvin Lee.
Swinburne Sarawak Faculty of Business, Design and Arts lecturers Gabriel Wee, Irving Ting and Kevin Tan were also involved as speakers.
A current Swinburne Sarawak student, Joseph Ling, said this competition and the speakers have taught him valuable lessons of the obstacles faced by new and young entrepreneurs.
“This has also given me an opportunity to advocate mental health awareness,” he added.
Loo Yong Min from Hin Hua High School in Selangor concurred with Ling, saying it will inspire more young adults and teenagers to be more innovative and creative in accordance with the Swinburne actions for sustainability impact.
Divided into Category A for Swinburne Sarawak students and alumni, and Category B for secondary school students aged between 15 and 19, participants must form a team of four individuals.
The winning team of Category A will be invited to launch a start-up under the mentorship of Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the R&D and commercialisation arm of Swinburne Sarawak.
Apart from receiving a seed funding of RM4,000, they will have access to SWIM’s network of investors and mentors, and receive coaching on starting a business, as an office space for their business venture at SWIM, worth RM6,000, for up to a year.
The team that wins Category B will be awarded cash prizes ranging from RM300 to RM800, and scholarships of RM1,000 and RM3,000 per student.
The ‘Swin Pitch Business Idea Competition’ is organised by Swinburne Sarawak’s Faculty of Business, Design and Arts.