Oct 7, 2024

By Philip Elijah & Karamjit Singh October 7, 2024 Eight startups selected to represent Malaysia on the global stage Digital innovations addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals identified Proficeo Sdn Bhd successfully concluded the World Summit Awards (WSA) Malaysia National Finals on Oct 2, marking the first time Malaysia held a national-level WSA competition. Prior to this, WSA partnered with Pikom, the National ICT Association of Malaysia, where Malaysian APICTA winners who fit into any of the eight WSA categories became the Pikom nominee for Malaysia. The event, co-hosted by Proficeo and Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), aimed to identify and support digital innovations addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From 153 nominations by 21 nomination partners across Malaysia, 17 startups were shortlisted to present their innovations at the final pitching with winners from each of the eight categories announced. The eight will now depend on Renuka Sena, who is the national expert for Malaysia, who will explain why they were selected and why they deserve to be among the top 100+ finalists. This includes responding to Q&A and clarifications raised by the online and Global Juries respectively to ensure that they receive the necessary pertinent information when assessing the applications. Renuka, a respected and popular pillar of Malaysia's startup ecosystem who is also founder and CEO of Proficeo, emphasized the importance of digital solutions in addressing local challenges aligned with the SDGs, stating, “We are showcasing the best of the best for Malaysia.” She also highlighted the role of WSA Malaysia in fostering a stronger national ecosystem for startups and innovators. Azleena Idris, Senior Director, Strategy & ESG, Payments Network Malaysia, discussed PayNet’s mandate to support nation-building initiatives, particularly through expanding digital payment systems. She pointed out the rapid shift toward cashless transactions and stressed that innovations like those seen at WSA Malaysia are crucial to keeping Malaysia competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape. Eight top digital innovators The eight Malaysian startups selected as category winners based on the relevance of their digital solutions in tackling local issues and alignment with SDGs are as follows: Mesolitica Sdn Bhd (Government & Citizen Engagement) Mesolitica focuses on improving how governments interact with citizens. Their platform leverages data-driven solutions to enhance public services and policy decision-making, creating a more transparent and efficient system for citizen engagement. SmartPeep Sdn Bhd (Health & Wellbeing) SmartPeep offers an AI-based patient monitoring system designed for elderly care. Their solution uses AI to detect falls or accidents in real time, helping caregivers provide timely assistance and improving patient safety in healthcare facilities. Pandai Education Sdn Bhd (Learning & Education) Pandai Education provides an e-learning platform that enhances learning experiences for students. Their app delivers personalized educational content, assessments, and analytics, helping students improve academic performance through interactive learning. Global Cerah Sdn Bhd (Environment & Green Energy) Global Cerah focuses on sustainable energy solutions, particularly in solar power. Their innovative technology enables efficient energy generation and management, contributing to cleaner and greener energy solutions for both businesses and communities. Imagine AI Sdn Bhd (Culture & Heritage) Imagine AI uses artificial intelligence to preserve and promote cultural heritage. Their platform offers digital tools that assist in archiving, documenting, and sharing cultural assets, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations. WeAssist Sdn Bhd (LocumApp) (Smart Settlements & Urbanization) WeAssist’s LocumApp helps healthcare facilities find temporary medical professionals efficiently. This digital platform connects hospitals and clinics with locum doctors, addressing staffing shortages and improving healthcare service delivery. LCWakaful Digital Sdn Bhd (GoBarakah) (Business & Commerce) GoBarakah is an Islamic fintech solution that provides Shariah-compliant financial products. Their platform offers digital takaful (Islamic insurance) services, making it easier for businesses and individuals to access financial protection that aligns with Islamic principles. Matrix Ideal Sdn Bhd (Evolet) (Inclusion & Empowerment) Evolet offers a digital platform focused on empowering marginalized communities. Through their solution, they provide access to financial services, employment opportunities, and digital tools aimed at enhancing financial and social inclusion for underserved populations. The competition’s selection process included mentoring and preparation sessions in September to ensure the finalists were ready for the finals and global competition. Picking the top 40 The eight Malaysian category winners will now enter the Global Stage of the WSA competition, joining winners from up to 182 member states globally. The WSA Global round typically sees approximately 600+ nominees on an annual basis from 120+ countries. The country winners will now be assessed by an online jury between 15th Oct (close of nominations) to end of Dec 2024. The jury includes 70+ representatives from WSA's network across the world who will review the submitted nominations via WSA's online platform. Following the online jury phase, between 15 to 20 solutions per category will be shortlisted for review by a Grand Jury, who are representatives from 20+ countries made up of WSA Board members, national experts and subject matter experts who will convene for an in-person deliberation in Vienna, Austria in Jan 2025 to select five Global Winners from each category (40 in total). The Global Winners will then be notified and invited to present their solutions and represent their respective nations at the WSA Global Congress in Hyderabad India, in April 2025 where the Global Champion for each category will be crowned. The selected startups will now compete against national winners from up to 182 countries at the global competition. Before heading to the international stage, the Malaysian winners will continue to refine their solutions based on the feedback provided during the finals. “The key thing is refinement for the eight categories,” said Renuka. “By the 15th, I will do the nomination for the global contest”. Collaboration with industry partners The event saw significant collaboration from 25 ecosystem and nomination partners, including government agencies, investors, corporates, and universities. Key representatives of the ecosystem included: Azleena Idris , PayNet Khairul Mazwan – Lead, Programmes, Innovation Development Department, TIPM/MRANTI Zehan Teoh – Senior Vice President, Ecosystem Development, Cradle Anita Ahmad – Chief Executive Officer, MySDG Foundation Kenny Lee – Head of Programme and Partnerships, Malaysia Impact Alliance (MYImpact) Elain Lockman – President, Registered Digital Markets Association and Chief Executive Officer, Ata Plus Farah Fauzi – Managing Director, Purpose Malaysia These partners played a crucial role in nominating participants for the competition, helping to ensure a diverse range of innovative solutions. Preparing for the global stage The competition aims to enhance Malaysia's presence on the global digital innovation stage, showcasing how local startups can contribute to solving global challenges. The winners will present their solutions at the WSA Global Congress in Hyderabad, India, providing a platform for startups to connect with global experts, investors, and industry leaders.