{"id":130712,"date":"2025-11-03T16:18:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T08:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/?p=130712"},"modified":"2025-11-03T16:19:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T08:19:00","slug":"sarawaks-startup-village-lights-up-idecs25-turning-ideas-into-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/2025\/11\/03\/sarawaks-startup-village-lights-up-idecs25-turning-ideas-into-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarawak\u2019s Startup Village Lights Up IDECS25 Turning Ideas into Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New partnerships, ASEAN dialogues, and real-world success stories mark Sarawak\u2019s growing startup ecosystem<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KUCHING, 23 OCTOBER 2025<\/strong> – Sarawak\u2019s Startup Village at the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS25) pulsed with entrepreneurial energy this week, bringing together founders, investors, creatives, and changemakers across two days of idea-driven exchanges, new collaborations, and technology showcases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Startup Village IDECS25, YB Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, together with Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi, Chairman of SDEC and Deputy Chairman of IDECS, officiated the TikTok Shop Live Selling Competition Launch \u2014 a key highlight showcasing Sarawak\u2019s thriving digital commerce ecosystem.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Powered by Cradle and organised by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Startup Village captured the optimism and ambition driving Sarawak\u2019s digital-economy transformation. The launch was officiated by YB Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, representing YB Dato Roland Sagah Wee Inn, and attended by Dato Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, Chief Executive Officer of SDEC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day One opened with recognition for Digital Village Accelerator (DiVA) Cohort 4<\/strong> recipients, with seven promising startups awarded up to RM150,000<\/strong> in seed funding and business-development support. This was followed by the SeHebat Catalyst Programme<\/strong>, a joint initiative between SDEC and Yayasan Hasanah that empowers Sarawakian social enterprises with grants, mentorship, and digital enablement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day also celebrated student innovators through the TechFrontier Explorer x SCeNT Demo Day<\/strong>, where teams from Swinburne University and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) showcased AI and sustainability-focused prototypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Representatives from TEGAS at Startup Village IDECS25 showcased initiatives empowering Sarawak\u2019s youth and entrepreneurs through digital innovation, STEM education, and start-up support programmes.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Four new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)<\/strong> were exchanged, reflecting Sarawak\u2019s growing attractiveness as a digital-innovation test bed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Evolving Brilliance Technologies Sdn Bhd and Lubok Tiara Plantations Sdn Bhd on digital palm-oil management systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n