The team with Director of UNIMAS Entrepreneurship Centre (UEC)
Demonstrating outstanding entrepreneurial skills and sustainability-driven innovation, Team UNIMAS successfully emerged as a finalist in the Business Combat competition, securing a cash prize of RM2,000. The competition was part of the Program Keusahawanan Muda Peringkat Nasional, organized by Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) and was held on 15 January, 2025 at Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor (DATC), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam.
The team brought their innovative product, MyceliBanana, an eco-friendly mushroom substrate made from banana waste. This groundbreaking solution repurposes agricultural waste into a nutrient-rich growing medium for mushrooms, providing a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for mushroom farmers. By utilizing banana waste, MyceliBanana addresses two key challenges: reducing organic waste and enhancing mushroom cultivation efficiency. Its unique formulation supports higher yield production, improved substrate stability, and environmental sustainability, making it an ideal choice for commercial mushroom growers and an important step toward circular economy practices in agriculture.
MyceliBanana: Mushroom Substrate from Banana Waste
This achievement was made possible with the strong support and guidance from the UNIMAS Entrepreneurship Centre (UEC), which has been instrumental in nurturing entrepreneurial talent, providing mentorship, and facilitating business development opportunities for students. The centre continues to empower UNIMAS students by providing opportunities and industry connections that bridge the gap between academic research and commercialization, fostering the development of student-led startups and entrepreneurial ventures.
Representing Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in this national-level competition was a multidisciplinary team from the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology and the Faculty of Economics and Business :
🔹 Darren Lim Wei Jie (Faculty of Resource Science and Technology)
🔹 Riesshen Singh (Faculty of Resource Science and Technology)
🔹 Phidias Voon Yik Ying (Faculty of Resource Science and Technology)
🔹 Eva Arlynn Ayra (Faculty of Resource Science and Technology)
🔹 Ahmad Izzthaqif Iman (Faculty of Economics and Business)
Mentor: Dr Mohamad Hasnul bin Bolhassan (Faculty of Resource Science and Technology)
Bringing together expertise in biotechnology, business strategy, and market analysis, the team successfully developed MyceliBanana as a scalable, commercially viable product. Their strong research-driven approach, innovative thinking, and compelling business pitch impressed the judges, securing their place as one of the finalists in the competition.
Congratulations to Team UNIMAS on this outstanding accomplishment! May this be the beginning of greater successes in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.
UNIMAS Entrepreneurship Centre (UEC)
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