KUCHING, July 15: The second batch of the Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) Social Impact Accelerator (SIA) programme, which runs from November, 2021 to April, 2022, is now open for applications.
Its chairman Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh said the six-month programme will be conducted in partnership with Me.reka; an educational arm of The Biji-biji Initiative that provides capacity building programmes to youth, budding entrepreneurs and impact organisations.
He explained that the programme aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage social enterprises and businesses in order to effectively deliver goods to great impact for Sarawak and beyond.
“Tegas SIA programme merges the learnings of the future digital economics, with the entrepreneurial and impact creation mindset required for Sarawakians to establish their own social business.
“Previously, through the programme we have supported five social enterprises and businesses from Kuching, Miri and Baram (Long Nen), by providing them access to mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners as well as free access to our Tegas Digital Innovation Hub in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
“These include Pungu Borneo, Jonita Enterprise, EdaBeran, SupaReaders and Timogah,” he said in a statement today.
Len Talif, who is also Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, said social enterprises selected for this SIA will benefit a total pot of RM35,000 in grant funding, mentorship and access to investor network.
Six-month access to Tegas Digital Innovation Hub in Kuching, Bintulu or Miri and Me.reka Maker Space in Kuala Lumpur, six-month access to FutureLab’s online mentorship platform, scholarships for Digital Marketing Institute’s online professional certification course and green lane to participate in Tegas Digital Village scale-up programme are among other benefits, he added.
Meanwhile, Biji-biji Initiative and Me.reka chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder said through this intensive programme, selected social enterprises will receive bi-weekly mentorship sessions over six months’ time, which allows them access to markets, talents and capital.
SIA is open to social enterprises and businesses registered under the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or other recognised registration body with at least 51 per cent Sarawakian shareholding or one Sarawakian co-founder, in operation for at least six months and not more than five years with proof of traction in the form of revenue or customer acquisition.
Registered social entrepreneurs will participate in a series of bootcamps that will run from September to October, 2021 and only five top social enterprises and businesses will be selected for the six-month mentorship programme.
To apply, please visit http://bit.ly/TSIA2021. — DayakDaily
