Tegas board member Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (back third left) and SMA general manager Dr Zaidi Razak (back second left) are seen in a file photo with last year’s winners.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government through SMA-Tegas Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) is offering a free three-month co-working pass in an effort to help Sarawakian startups and social enterprises affected by the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are also offering support for entrepreneurs on a regular basis via free webinars, online capacity building programmes, and digital accelerators,” said Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) chairman Datu Len Talif Salleh in a statement yesterday.
The Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment said the DIH serves as an inclusive platform to support and empower early-stage startups and social enterprises in Sarawak.
Funded by Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and managed by Tegas, he said the DIH offers access to affordable co-working spaces, incubation and acceleration programmes, as well as access to Sarawak Digital Village Ecosystem network.
He also explained that under the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018 to 2025 (Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Action 37), the Sarawak government through SMA will establish one innovation centre in each division and facilitate others namely the private sector, universities, and local communities.
Meanwhile, Tegas in the same statement also announced applications are now open for the first ever Tegas Digital Pre-Accelerator (TDPA) programme, which will run fully online from July 13-18.
Tegas said it will work closely with strategic partners WatchTower & Friends, pitchIN, and SMA on the programme.
TDPA is a one-week programme designed to take early-stage startups to the next level, from validating ideas into creating a minimum viable product (MVP), and a go-to-market strategy.
The content is delivered by industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, covering topics such as starting up, team and product, going to market, fundraising, and pitching.
The programme prepares participants for ‘Digital Demo Day’ to select the top three winners and a chance to pitch to early-stage investors as well as a green lane to participate in Tegas Startup Lab Accelerator and Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE.
Demo day winners are set to receive an attractive package that includes company incorporation support from Tegas and three-month access to the SMA-Tegas DIH.
Last year’s Tegas Pre-Accelerator winner Gabriela Riyis said the programme gives participants the right platform at the right time to start growing their startups.
“Within one week, we networked with great mentors and also had the opportunity to pitch to a group of investors. The programme helped us to define our roadmap and create a go-to-market strategy,” said Gabriela, who is the founder of Hello Gabby.
TDPA is open to all Sarawakians (early-stage startups) or startups with at least one Sarawakian co-founder.
To apply, visit http://bit.ly/TDPASWK.