Following the success of the first Startupper of the Year Challenge by Total Oil in 2015, the multinational oil and gas company is bringing back the challenge this year in almost 60 countries worldwide, including Malaysia.

The previous edition of this challenge was held in more than 30 African countries and it proved to be a huge success.

The 2018 – 2019 Startupper of the Year Challenge will support and reward local entrepreneurs below the age of 35 years old, who have a project or business that is less than two years old in any business sector.

The candidates’ projects will be assessed based on their innovative nature, positive impact on society and community as well as feasibility and potential for development.

An experienced lineup of jury members comprising of Norhizam Kadir, Vice President, Growth Ecosystem Development of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Fadzarudin Shah Anuar, Chief Executive Officer of Fashion Valet, Leon Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Socar Malaysia, Dinesh Ratnam, Director of the CEO’s Office of Catcha Group and Sachin Singh, Managing Director of Total Oil Malaysia have been appointed for this year’s challenge.

Sachin Singh, Managing Director of Total Oil Malaysia, said,

“Total Oil Malaysia is delighted to be organising this challenge for Malaysians and we are excited for the participants.

“We are committed towards helping local entrepreneurs succeed in their careers by providing them with the right tools to kickstart a successful startup business.”

Registration for the challenge is currently open and the top 100 participants will be shortlisted by mid-November, after which there will be an online voting period by the public.

From December 2018 to January 2019, the panel of jury will review the votes by the public and the top 15 participants with the most votes will be selected.

All 15 shortlisted participants will be required to present their business proposals to the panel of jury and from there, the jury members will then select the top three winners in February 2019.

The top three winners will be announced in the first week of March 2019 during a celebratory event.

The top three winners will be awarded with the “Startupper of the Year by Total” title and receive financial support of over RM100,000 collectively, including professional coaching from the respective jury members as well as marketing support to advertise their project.

As a new category addition to the 2018 – 2019 challenge, the jury members will also have a special award for the Top Female Entrepreneur to encourage participation from women entrepreneurs in the country.

This special award is a way for Total Oil Malaysia to encourage and motivate more women to take part in this business challenge.

On a global level, there will be a grand jury appointed to meet and subsequently select six overall grand winners from among the first-prize winners of each country.

Other than being just a business challenge, the 2018-2019 Startupper of the Year challenge also reaffirms Total Oil’s commitment to nurture young talent in the countries where their business operates in, including here in Malaysia.

Participants may register for the 2018-2019 Startupper of the Year challenge via this http://startupper.total.com

Candidates will have until November 13 to submit their applications.