Eight startups selected as category winners for World Summit Awards Malaysia National Finals

via Digital News Asia

• Eight startups selected to represent Malaysia on the global stage
• Digital innovations addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals identified

Proficeo Sdn Bhd successfully concluded the World Summit Awards (WSA) Malaysia National Finals on Oct 2, marking the first time Malaysia held a national-level WSA competition.  Prior to this, WSA partnered with Pikom, the National ICT Association of Malaysia, where Malaysian APICTA winners who fit into any of the eight WSA categories became the Pikom nominee for Malaysia.

The event, co-hosted by Proficeo, Youth Ventures Asia and Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), aimed to identify and support digital innovations addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From 153 nominations by 21 nomination partners across Malaysia, 17 startups were shortlisted to present their innovations at the final pitching with winners from each of the eight categories announced.

The eight Malaysian startups selected as category winners based on the relevance of their digital solutions in tackling local issues and alignment with SDGs are as follows:

• Mesolitica Sdn Bhd (Government & Citizen Engagement)
  Mesolitica's MaLLaM project creates a national-level language model, promoting AI sovereignty and enhancing government services across Malaysia's diverse cultural landscape.
• SmartPeep Sdn Bhd (Health & Wellbeing)
  SmartPeep enhances elderly care with AI-powered monitoring solutions, providing real-time insights for improved management and quality of life.
• Pandai Education Sdn Bhd (Learning & Education)
  Pandai is an AI-driven education app that personalizes learning experiences, helping students achieve better grades through tailored feedback and gamified quizzes.
• Global Cerah Sdn Bhd (Environment & Green Energy)
  Global Cerah converts agricultural waste into sustainable alternative proteins, utilizing IoT technology to enhance food security in Southeast Asia
• Imagine AI Sdn Bhd (Culture & Heritage)
  Imagine AI uses artificial intelligence to preserve and promote cultural heritage. Their platform offers digital tools that assist in archiving, documenting, and sharing cultural assets, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
• WeAssist Sdn Bhd (LocumApp) (Smart Settlements & Urbanization)
  WeAssist connects healthcare professionals with lucrative job opportunities, enhancing social mobility and supporting the healthcare ecosystem in urban areas.
• LCWakaful Digital Sdn Bhd (GoBarakah) (Business & Commerce)
  GoBarakah is a smart giving platform that enhances donor transparency and beneficiary dignity by facilitating secure donations through e-vouchers.
• Matrix Ideal Sdn Bhd (Evolet) (Inclusion & Empowerment)
  Evolet enhances financial inclusion for migrant workers, enabling direct remittances of essential services through a digital platform that supports local economies.

The competition’s selection process included mentoring and preparation sessions in September to ensure the finalists were ready for the finals and global competition.