SEAM's program for social enterprises search for applicants

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Have your own social enterprise but lack the resources to grow it to the level you want it to be? Fret not! Biji-biji Initiative and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship have come together to launch the Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia (SEAM), which is a comprehensive twelve-month programme for social enterprises that’s aimed at driving positive change and empowering marginalised communities across Malaysia.

And for this, they’re calling for any growing social enterprise across Malaysia to join them in taking part and to drive positive change. Here’s what the programme entails…

Gain access to a wide variety of resources and networking opportunities

Aimed to empower social enterprises in Malaysia, the SEAM programme offers local social enterprises with a wide variety of resources aimed at equipping them with the things they need to enhance their business models, strategies, and overall impact. Some of the key highlights of the programme include:

12-Months of Tailored Business Growth Programme: Participants will receive personalised guidance from industry experts, including IKEA co-workers, who will serve as business experts, thought partners, mentors and coaches throughout their year-long journey.
USD 200,000 Pool of Growth Funding: Access to a dedicated pool of funding to fuel the growth of participating organisations, accelerating progress towards their goals.
Connect with Malaysia’s Social Enterprise Ecosystem: Social enterprises will have the opportunity to connect with and be part of a vibrant and supportive social enterprise ecosystem in Malaysia. This ecosystem includes other social enterprises, industry experts, investors, government agencies, NGOs, and more. By being part of this ecosystem, social enterprises can access resources, networks, and collaborations that can further enhance their impact and sustainability.

However, due to the huge amount of benefits you could gain from being a part of SEAM, do note that entries are limited. In fact…

It will only be open to 10 selected social enterprises

For this programme, SEAM is primarily looking for social enterprises based in Malaysia. The social enterprises should have a focus on empowering vulnerable and marginalised communities (including people with disabilities, migrants, refugees, lower-income groups and indigenous communities), or sustainable development and environmental stewardship. So, if you fit these criteria, then SEAM might be for you!

However, the eligibility of the social enterprises will also be gauged based on these requirements:

Must be scaling stage organisations with a minimum of 2 years in operation
Must align with at least one of the programme’s thematic priorities (refer to paragraph above)
Possess a clear business model and a focus on making an impact
Show positive profitability projections, indicating financial sustainability
Legally registered entity with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) or
Registrar of Societies (ROS)
Highly motivated, committed to scaling their business and impact, and willing to fully
participate throughout the programme

As part of their recruitment process, there will be a series of recruitment drives that will take place in stages across various states in Malaysia, including Penang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak throughout the months of June and July. However, applications can be made online, before 29th July 2024.

For more information on the programme and the application process/criteria, you can check out their programme landing page here, or you can simply click on the image below!