KUCHING, July 8: Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) is inviting startups and businesses to apply for its fourth batch of the Startup Lab accelerator programme.
Tegas in a press statement said interested startups and businesses registered under Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) can apply for the programme at bit.ly/TSLA4.
Tegas explained that the Tegas Startup Lab (TSL) is a five-month early-stage venture acceleration programme founded on the belief that connecting local startups with the right mentors, investors, and industry experts is the right way to achieve scale and generate explosive growth.
The programme will run from September 2021 to January 2022 in partnership with WatchTower & Friends and pitchIN.
Tegas chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh said, “The Tegas Startup Lab accelerator programme will further help local startups in achieving product-market fit.
“Since the introduction of the programme in 2018, we have supported fifteen local startups from all over Sarawak by providing mentorship, funding facilitation, access to market and ecosystem partners as well as free access to Tegas Digital Innovation Hub in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
“Our notable alumni, among others include Borneo Digital, Volume R&D, RealFun Learning, Darmadia and Call Aladdin,” Len Talif who is also Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment said.
Meanwhile, Tegas outlined that startups selected for TSL will receive mentorship from industry experts and Malaysia’s top startup founders, access to government and funding agencies as well as investor network and its ecosystem partners.
Apart from that, they are entitled a five-month access to Tegas Digital Innovation Hub in Kuching, Bintulu, Miri and Escape by Etiqa in Kuala Lumpur and a six-month access to FutureLab’s online mentorship platform.
Other benefits include scholarships for Digital Marketing Institute’s online professional certification course and green lane to participate in Tegas Digital Village scale-up programme.
Sam Shafie, Co-Founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of WatchTower & Friends and pitchIN added, “We are excited to once again partner with Tegas for this accelerator programme. We will further strengthen our ongoing partnership with Tegas in growing local startups and building an inclusive startup ecosystem in Sarawak,” Sam said.
In the meantime, WatchTower & Friends has produced a number of successful startups such as TheLorry, MoneyMatch, MyCash Online, PostCo, ParkIt, Lapasar and Omnimatics. Startups selected for TSL will get a first-hand account from some of these leading founders on their road to success in their startup journeys.
Tegas disclosed that TSL is open to startups and businesses registered under SSM (or other recognized 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.
Only five top startups will be selected for the five-month programme. — DayakDaily
