SAP was first launched in 2018 as a 4-month accelerator for local startups to improve themselves through workshops, practice and mentoring. It comprised a series of classes on topics crucial to entrepreneurship and the growth of local startups. After the selection of the top 10 and top 5 startups for SAP 2019, these startups went for Overseas Study trip to Jakarta, Indonesia to learn about the startup ecosystem in Indonesia and to engage with the community there.
After the massive success of the second cohort last year, we can’t help but wonder where are they now. Here’s part two of catching up with these startups and learn more about their current success and achievements.
HOMA2u
HOMA2u is a curated home improvement platform that enables consumers to find their perfect bargain for home and renovation products. The startup is the first curated O2O overstock marketplace in Malaysia where they form an ecosystem to home improvement, renovation and building industry by creating better values for anyone within it.
They were the winner of 2018 Cowork Venture Incubator and Accelerator programme along with Top 10 Finalist at 2019 JCI Creative Young Entrepreneurs Awards and was selected in Coach & Grow Programme Batch 5. Homa received RM436,644 (Seed) ECF by pitchIN, RM50,000 (Pre-Seed) and Cowork Ventures Winner of RM50,000 Investment.
VentureGrab
VentureGrab is a business matching and solution hub to SMEs. They connect investors and business owners who are looking for expansion and franchise as well as sell- off their business. VentureGrab provides professional services to assist business owners’ requirement such as Marketing package, Trustee Service, Agent Service and other related facilitation services.
They received an ECF of MR556,680 from Mystartr and was nominated in Top 10 Dream Factory Startup Competition by Mystart.
Kwikcar
Kwikcar is a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform. It connects owners of idle cars to people who needs to rent a car, be it for a day or a month. Renters have access to thousands of conveniently located vehicles throughout the country at a much lower price.
They received RM350,000 fund from Angel Investor, RM200,000 by ScaleUp Malaysia and CIP300 by Cradle. They won the Public Prize and was a finalist in the Mobility category at World Travel Forum Lucerne Startup, a finalist for the ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards for Best Life Helper category and is in Top 10 ScaleUp Malaysia.
Printcious
Printcious is an e-commerce website specialising in personalised gifts where anybody can design their gifts with their easy-to-use online design tools. It creates no only a unique contribution to themselves but also to their loved ones.
The startup has been collecting awards like Young/Emerging Excellence Award in Sin Chew Business Excellence Award, winner of Rising Star Award in Selangor International Business Summit and was one of the finalists in JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur Award.
Dropee
Dropee is a B2B marketplace that brings together suppliers and retailers on a single platform. With Dropee retailers can now source for products directly from qualified suppliers; wholesalers, manufacturers and principals at a faster, cheaper and reliable.
They managed to secure a US$350,000 funding by Vynn Capital & Prasetia Dwidharma along with US$150,000 funding by Y-Combinator. The startup won Hong Leong Bank LaunchPad Activate 2019, ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Award winner for Founder of the Year 2018 and Best Newcomer 2018 categories, and they were awarded Startup of the Year by Coach & Grow Programme Award.
UPal
Upal.com.my, Utern.com.my, Uwohoo.com is first part-time job recruitment platform for university student, internship and headhunters. They connected with more than 60 thousand jobseekers and employers and collaborated with 13 universities in Malaysia. The part-time vacancy include jobs in IT, Banking & Finance, Medical, Logistics, Beauty, Healthcare, Tourism, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources (HR), Admin, Training, Account, Customer Service, Entertainment and many more.
They were previously one of the selected Top 10 startups in NTT Com Startup Challenge 2018 and Top 100 during the Echelon Asia Summit 2018.
Rtist
Rtist is a local creative talent-matching platform in Malaysia while fostering talents’ growth through job opportunities and community. Rtist helps companies hire the right, local creative talent flexibly- be it permanent, contract, freelance and internship; in all creative field, including designer, writer, videographer and photographer. They have received a CIP300 funding from Cradle and RM1 million ECF (Mystartr) funding and RM200,000 fund from an Angel Investor.
MindAppz
MindAppz is developing an online marketplace for learning solutions to help students find the best learning tools and enjoy learning with engaging video lessons and unlimited practice questions using personalised learning technology. They provide a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that helps students prepare for exams in the most structured way possible.
They have been awarded as Top Merchant at #MYCYBERSALE2018 Award for Education category and recognised as Best Practices for ICT Education sector by Malaysia Productivity Corporation. They have also been shortlisted as Participant of Malaysia’s Top E-Commerce Merchant Awards 2019.
Rentguard
The start-up was founded in 2016 by former property entrepreneurs. They believe that property transactions could be fast, secure and transparent by digitalising its operations. Previously the company launched an E-booking system to property agencies and negotiators. This cloud-based solution enables the property transaction (both rental and sub-sales) to be completely paperless and works instantly. Commissions are calculated automatically with reports and status tracking. It is the perfect digital tool for property agencies to save at least 50% admin headcounts and at the same time, this allows them to work anywhere.
Rentguard was selected as a finalist in Asean data Startup Accelerator (ADSA) by MDEC in December 2018. By March 2019, they launched Automated Rental Collection system to room operators and a month later, was awarded to London Big Data Week (ADSA top 6 finalists) by MDEC. In April 2020, they successfully raised RM644,600 from ECF during Movement Control Order period.
Programmes under SITEC include the Selangor Accelerator Programme and Pitch@Selangor are designed to help local startups to accelerate their business further. SITEC also provides training and education from industry experts and professional trainers.