KUALA LUMPUR — The Social Enterprise Education Laboratory (SEEd.Lab), known for its comprehensive incubation program, has recently announced the selection of 50 social entrepreneurs for its third cohort. This program, a collaboration between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), spans 12 to 18 months and focuses on end-to-end development of social enterprises.

According to BARNAMA News Agency, this cohort marks the addition of five new partners from varied sectors, enhancing the diversity and reach of the program. The new collaborators include Tenaga Nasional Bhd, AmBank Group, Taylor’s University, Manggis Group, Korn Ferry, and Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation. They will join the existing partners – Digital Impact Square, Zaid Ibrahim and Co, and Amazon Web Services – in providing essential mentorship, industry insights, and access to a broad ecosystem. This collaboration aims to empower SEEd.Lab’s participants to effectively address social challenges, develop impactful business solutions, and scale their operations.

Petronas’ Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of Downstream, Datuk Sazali Hamzah, highlighted the significance of SEEd.Lab in fostering young entrepreneurs committed to creating positive community change. He expressed pride in the achievements of the past cohorts and enthusiasm for the expanded network of partners sharing a common vision for a sustainable future.

The program, aptly terming its participants as SEEd.lings, guides them through the stages of ideation, vision crystallization, solution development and incubation, and eventually, the commercialization of their social enterprises. Post the 12 to 18-month incubation period, these SEEd.lings are expected to emerge as owners of socially impactful enterprises, offering unique solutions to various societal challenges. These areas include education and skills development, food and agriculture, environmental sustainability, health and hygiene, as well as personal and financial security.