Maxis accelerates growth for Sarawak entrepreneurs through AI and digital marketing upskilling
(standing, centre-left) Bhaarathyraja A/L Thanapal, Director of Regional Sales Management (Sarawak), Maxis; and (standing, centre-right) Azizul Abdul Rahman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Maxis, with graduates of the eKelas Usahawan Accelerator Programme in Sarawak.
Maxis Berhad (Maxis) has expanded its eKelas Usahawan Accelerator Programme to Sarawak, with 44 local business owners completing an intensive three-month training to accelerate their growth through AI and digital marketing upskilling. Drawn from urban and rural communities across the state, this fourth cohort includes ventures in food, beauty and fashion, construction, and farming.
Through hybrid coaching, participants learned to use AI for copywriting and promotional content, manage digital marketing campaigns, and optimise their online presence to reach a wider customer base. The curriculum also covered analytics, helping them better understand customer behaviour and assess campaign performance.
With hands-on guidance throughout the programme, participants applied these skills to expand their reach across digital and social media platforms and grow their business. This led to real results, driving average revenue growth of 20% across the cohort. To sustain this momentum, graduates can also access the programme's alumni network for ongoing support and mentorship.
“It’s inspiring to see how the programme has evolved. By equipping entrepreneurs with essential skills, we are helping them thrive in the digital world, ultimately driving economic empowerment. We are proud of the impact made in Sarawak and look forward to extending these opportunities to more communities, because Tomorrow Begins Today.” - Azizul Abdul Rahman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Maxis.
Top performer Sariah Jeman of Azfar Tailor doubled her monthly revenue from RM3,705 to RM7,589 by applying skills gained through the training.
“As a local tailor, I had steady customers but struggled to scale up. Leveraging AI for content planning and using digital tools to manage orders helped me attract new clientele and streamline my business. Significantly increasing my monthly income has made a real difference to my family’s financial security. I’m now looking to upgrade my equipment to meet growing demands.” - Sariah
Another participant, Heni Lim of ING Collection Shopee, reached more customers by pivoting from a physical shop to an online storefront.
“Relying solely on walk-ins barely covered my basic expenses. Through the programme, I gained the confidence to shift my business fully online using AI for content creation and digital marketing. Running an e-commerce site makes it much easier to showcase my products, and I now regularly ship to other states too. Moving forward, I hope to expand my reach and grow my enterprise further.” - Heni
Building on the foundation of Maxis eKelas Usahawan to empower Malaysian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the accelerator has trained 200 entrepreneurs since December 2024. This includes 96 in East Malaysia through its Sabah and Sarawak cohorts.
This initiative complements Maxis eKelas Usahawan's broader collaboration with the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) to drive local business growth through digital adoption.
