By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SUBANG JAYA, May 15 — Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah has graciously conferred three disabled entrepreneurs with the Ikon Usahawan OKU Selangor award.
The participants were awarded during the final round of the fifth edition of the Selangor OKU Entrepreneurs League (SAY LEAD) today, surpassing seven other participants judged by Tengku Amir alongside four other jurors.
The first-place winner was health drink entrepreneur, Ahmad Anda Ismail, while the second place went to Mahmud Rasul (traditional cookies), and the third place to Sazman Nazlee Adha Mohd Ali (photography company).
All three winners received trophies and certificates of recognition from the Selangor Youth Community (SAY) as well as RM4,000 in business grants for the first place, RM3,000 for the second place, and RM2,000 for the third place.
They also received RM2,000 each in business grants from the National Institute of Entrepreneurship (Insken).
In addition, the trio are qualified to participate in SAY LEAD+, a year-long mentoring programme aimed at assisting in business development through access to new markets, the digitalisation of businesses, export markets, and free marketing campaigns.
This edition of SAY LEAD, which has been ongoing since October last year, was attended by 30 participants who underwent courses in entrepreneurial profiling, business model canvas, and business planning.
Other courses included branding and digital marketing, financial management, joint sessions with relevant agencies, workshops, and business presentations.
The final round was also judged by four other jurors, namely Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad's advisory and monitoring division head Ahmad Daud Abdul Rashid and Insken's chief executive officer Muhd Firdaus Azharuddin.
The other jurors were the Selangor State Development Corporation's entrepreneur development manager Yuzawati Yusof and Warga Hijrah Selangor Berhad's general manager Mohamad Syukri Ismail.
[caption id="attachment_356867" align="aligncenter" width="1002"] Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah (centre) shaking hands with a participant during the fifth edition of the Selangor OKU Entrepreneurs League (SAY LEAD), at Sunway Resort Hotel in Petaling Jaya on May 15, 2024. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/SELANGORKINI[/caption]