The “Perak Incubator Entrepreneurial Program (PIEP) 2.0” recently concluded its Closing Ceremony at the Library Community Engagement space within the UiTM Tapah Campus. PIEP 2.0 stands as one of several initiatives by the Malaysian Academy of SMEs and Entrepreneurship Development (MASMED) at UiTM Perak Branch, designed to bolster student success in entrepreneurship. Its goal is to accelerate the progress and triumph of startups and early-stage ventures while mitigating the risk of business setbacks for aspiring young entrepreneurs. The program revolves around mentorship, providing crucial training, support, and guidance to budding entrepreneurs in their early stages. Mentorship promotes experiential learning, nurturing vital non-cognitive skills essential for entrepreneurial success such as creativity, perseverance, and effective communication. It’s not solely about starting businesses; these entrepreneurial skills are highly sought after by employers too.

PIEP 2.0 involved 20 student proteges and 10 mentors. The mentorship aspect encompassed extensive support, spanning networking opportunities, advice, knowledge-sharing, and more. Mentors specifically focused on guiding proteges through marketing strategies and financial management to ensure their success in the competitive market. As the program concluded, deserving young entrepreneurs received special rewards, including business incentives, vouchers, and interest-free loans, fueling their pursuit of success.

The program recognized outstanding achievements through awards such as the Best Mentee, Best Mentor, Best Business Innovation, Highest Profit, and Best Presenter Awards. What adds to the program’s appeal is that every participant is granted business incentives valued at RM100 each. Ultimately, this initiative aims to equip students with resilience, fostering their ability to thrive within the challenging business landscape.