The Asia School of Business (ASB) hosted the transformative SEMAI Summit, a three-day event that gathered top innovators and leaders. Co-organized with the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, PurpoSE, and the Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development (CSED), the summit was inaugurated by Minister YB Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Wan Dazriq, Co-founder & Managing Partner of PurpoSE, highlighted the untapped potential in Malaysia’s social entrepreneurship. “Malaysia has vast potential in the social entrepreneurship movement that has yet to be properly unlocked. While government support through accreditation, grants, and incentives is in place, what’s lacking is mass awareness, understanding, and cohesion in the Malaysian social entrepreneurship space. The SEMAI Summit aims to bridge these gaps by fostering awareness and buy-in from private and public sector stakeholders.”
A key highlight was the launch of the ASBhive-Hasanah Impact Challenge. This collaboration between ASB and Yayasan Hasanah offers RM250,000 in grants to social enterprises focused on education, community development, and environmental sustainability.
Stanley Siva, Head of Social Enterprise at Yayasan Hasanah, shared, “Yayasan Hasanah is dedicated to empowering social enterprises and driving their scalability through the Hasanah Social Enterprise Fund. Our collaboration with ASB on the ASBhive-Hasanah Impact Challenge is a testament to our commitment to broadening our reach and amplifying our impact in this sector.”
ASB Deputy CEO Professor Joseph Cherian added, “ASBhive represents our commitment to developing social enterprises in Malaysia and addressing global issues with a local focus. While we may not solve all the world’s social problems, we strive to make a difference through action-based Social Innovation Challenges. Our collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah provides grants to social enterprises aiming to scale their impact and achieve sustainability.”
The SEMAI Summit buzzed with dynamic discussions and networking, fostering collaboration among corporations, government agencies, and social entrepreneurs. The event emphasized enhancing social entrepreneurship through knowledge sharing, resource access, and strategic partnerships.