Accelerating success for local entrepreneurs

JEZZLYN Siu Cia Yee plans to grow her Sonobee Ultrasound business “by 10 times” and hopes to leverage on her win at an accelerator programme, to improve her business that specialises in ultrasound services.

“Our services are presently available at our own ultrasound centres or private clinics in Malaysia, but I hope to expand overseas,” said the company director.

Sonobee Ultrasound Sdn Bhd was one of five winners of Selangor E-Commerce Xccelerator 2023 (ECX23) Final Demo Day in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur.

The others were Nori Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Pastels Group Sdn Bhd, Shapee Trading & Distribution (M) Sdn Bhd and Big Bath Sdn Bhd.

(From third left) Yong and Ng with judges at ECX23 Final Demo Day. — Photos: SS KANESAN/The Star

Each entrepreneur won about RM25,000 worth of prizes, including RM3,000 cash and an overseas business trip to Hangzhou, China, to visit the headquarters of ecommerce giant Alibaba.

Other prizes include mentorship opportunities and access to CXO networking club.

Siu said she learnt a lot from coaches, trainers and mentors during her training sessions.

“The business trip will offer an opportunity to learn from a large-scale ecommerce company.”

She also welcomed mentorship as she hoped for guidance on how to address challenges such as recruitment and ecommerce.

The ECX programme was designed by Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) to provide ecommerce entrepreneurs and business owners with the tools, workshops and mentoring to succeed in the competitive digital market.

A total of 30 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were chosen to attend three-month intensive training and classes on digital entrepreneurship, business development, pitching clinic and mentoring sessions from industry experts.

Ten companies were shortlisted during the semi-finals for a pitching session on Final Demo Day, out of which five winners were selected to win from a cash prize pool of RM125,000.

The participants of ECX23 marked the programme’s first cohort.

At the closing ceremony, Selangor state investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said, “Selangor government wants to grow more SMEs and help them achieve the next stage in their businesses.

“We also want to create more business opportunities and high-quality jobs in Selangor, especially for youths.

“I hope the ECX23 winners will make full use of their Hangzhou trip to learn, get fresh ideas and bring that knowledge back to Selangor (to grow the state’s economy).”

Sidec chief executive officer Yong Kai Ping said ECX differed from Sidec’s Selangor Accelerator Programme (SAP), as ECX was for companies that offered consumer products while SAP was more technology based, focusing on elements such as biotech and artificial intelligence.

“Those who graduate from the ECX programme will be part of a CXO club where they will meet, network and exchange ideas about growing their businesses.

“There will also be meetings with successful entrepreneurs who have done initial public offerings (IPO), as we want them to grow their businesses to another level,” said Yong.