Empowering Malaysia’s micro-entrepreneurs to boost e-commerce

By Digital News Asia April 3, 2018

50 high-potential eUsahawan participants completed the programme
Cumulatively, the participants achieved a total of RM12,043,069 in revenue

Empowering Malaysia’s micro-entrepreneurs to boost e-commerce

MALAYSIA Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) celebrated the successful completion of 50 high potential eUsahawan participants, who were among the pioneer batch of a special training and coaching programme aimed at creating sustainable e-commerce businesses.

A collaboration between MDEC and Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd’s Coach and Grow Programme, the eUsahawan Level Up programme is an extension of MDEC’s eUsahawan initiative.

Started in October 2017, the eUsahawan Level Up programme consists of two stages – six months and three months respectively. In the first stage, participants underwent a series of online and face-to-face training sessions and set their own six-month targets in consultation with assigned personal coaches.

Cumulatively, the participants achieved a total of RM12,043,069 in revenue; 125% more than the target set. The second stage will see these 15 chosen participants undergoing an intensive three-month programme focusing on funding and export readiness.

The training modules included in the eUsahawan Level Up programme are Design Thinking, Business and Financial management, Advanced digital marketing, Branding facelift, eCommerce Website Development, Marketing Production Development. In addition, participants also received face-to-face coaching sessions by industry experts.

“Our entrepreneurs are the drivers of Malaysia’s Digital Economy growth. Given that, MDEC and our partners are committed to train and equip our micro-entrepreneurs with the tools and skills to succeed in eCommerce, and ultimately reach global markets via the Digital Free Trade Zone,” said Yasmin Mahmood, CEO of MDEC.

She added, “The eUsahawan Level Up programme is a testament to MDEC’s commitment in providing an ecosystem for our micro-entrepreneurs to grow to the next stage. Ultimately, we want to encourage inclusivity in Digital Economy and enable Malaysian entrepreneurs to compete in the global market.”

At the same event, MDEC recognised the top five participants who not only achieved the highest additional revenue, but also showed the highest level of commitment over the duration of six months. They are as follows:

Muhamad Sharizal Saidin, founder of Perfume Heaven from Malacca.
Firdaus Mohd Hafiz Rozali, founder of Scentastic Perfume from Subang
Mazila Mohamad, founder of Jom Jahit, online sewing tutorial, from Kuala Lumpur
Tanty Marlena Abdullah, founder of Molinz, customised beads designer, from Kuala Lumpur.
Mastura Ahmad@Zakaria, founder of Almahijjaz Collection, Islamic fashion designer from Kelantan.

The top performer Sharizal, said, “Since I joined eUsahawan Level Up programme, my online business sales have increased tremendously from 5% to 95%. It opened a new revenue stream for my business by improving new customer acquisition and experience. Now, I can spend more time with my family. Thank you MDEC for giving me this opportunity.”

Tanty Marlena said, “Before I joined this programme, I went through ups and downs in my business. I design customised shoes beads. The personal coach who was assigned to me in Level Up programme has helped me to streamline my business and develop a new strategy that can propel my business to the international market Now, I am preparing to represent Malaysia in the International Footwear Competition in China which will take place in May 2018. MDEC has helped me to build more confidence to go for big projects.”

eUsahawan is a national initiative aimed at inspiring and providing know-how on digital entrepreneurship to Malaysian youths and micro entrepreneurs. To-date, 160,020 Malaysians have been trained nationwide by MDEC and partnering agencies, i.e. Ministry of Higher Education, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), Permodalan Usahawan National Berhad (PUNB) , FELCRA Berhad, Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga Dan Masyarakat (KPWKM), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and various universities and training institutions i.e University of Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), University Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), UiTM Technology Centre Sdn Bhd (UiTM TECH) and Giatmara.