KUALA LUMPUR, 24 September 2026 — As social enterprises gain greater recognition within Malaysia’s mainstream procurement landscape and wider economy, Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia (SEAM) has returned with its second cohort, supporting nine impact-driven Malaysian enterprises working to address social and environmental challenges while building stronger foundations for sustainable commercial growth.

The nine selected enterprises are based across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Kelantan and Sabah, operating across areas including inclusive employment, the circular economy, sustainable food and agriculture, as well as aquaculture and marine livelihoods. Collectively, they are creating economic opportunities for communities including B40 youth, single mothers, women from the Asnaf community, persons with disabilities (PwD), refugees, marginalised artisans and coastal fishing families.

SEAM is a partnership between Biji-biji Initiative and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, with the support of IKEA Malaysia. Cohort 2 builds on the progress recorded during the inaugural cohort, where seven out of 10 participating enterprises recorded top-line revenue growth, nine reported improvements in financial stability and cost discipline, while eight expanded their active reach among the communities they serve.

Several enterprises from the first cohort also recorded notable commercial and operational milestones. Earth Heir, for example, added RM429,293 in B2B orders for Earth Heir Collective, while Batik Boutique doubled its weekly fabric output. Upcycled more than doubled its baseline income while generating over RM101,200 in direct community wages, highlighting the potential for social enterprises to strengthen both commercial performance and community impact.

The launch of Cohort 2 comes amid growing momentum to strengthen Malaysia’s social entrepreneurship ecosystem. In July 2026, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) reported that 649 social enterprises had received ministry ratings, while nearly RM20 million had been allocated to strengthen the sector. Initiatives such as the Malaysia Social Impact Procurement Framework (PRISMA) also reflect broader efforts to create an enabling environment for businesses that generate both commercial and social value.

According to Juliana Adam, Chief Executive Officer of Biji-biji Initiative and SEAM Programme Director, the experience from the first cohort demonstrated that there is no single pathway to growth for social enterprises. Different organisations may define growth through entering new markets, strengthening production, building teams or becoming ready for corporate procurement. SEAM Cohort 2 therefore provides tailored support to help each organisation identify and address the areas that can move both its business and social impact to the next stage.

The nine enterprises selected for SEAM Cohort 2 are Brutti, a sustainable bespoke furniture social enterprise based in Kota Kinabalu; Dodo Vegan Hut, a plant-based food enterprise creating employment opportunities for B40 communities; Enable OKU Solutions (ENOKU), which focuses on employment opportunities and workplace inclusion for persons with disabilities; Green Shoots, which combines circular product design with income opportunities for underserved women; Heartworks Solution, which provides flexible employment through a virtual assistant model; Ibupreneur, which supports Asnaf women and single mothers in building sustainable entrepreneurial pathways; Koperasi Penternak Akuakultur (KoAKUA), which strengthens livelihoods among coastal fishing communities in Kelantan; PichaEats, which creates employment and skills opportunities for refugee communities; and Sagemaker Asia, a community-powered production enterprise connecting marginalised artisans with skills development, employment and commercial opportunities.

Rather than applying a standardised curriculum, SEAM takes a tailored approach based on the growth priorities, challenges and circumstances of each participating enterprise. Participants will be paired with senior IKEA leaders and co-workers serving as Thought Partners, while also gaining access to industry mentors, specialists, strategic advisory support and wider ecosystem connections. The programme also provides access to a funding pool of up to RM750,000, with financial support linked to the business growth roadmaps developed and refined throughout the programme.

Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, said that scaling for social enterprises should not simply mean becoming bigger, but should involve strengthening capabilities, partnerships and business foundations so organisations can reach more people while maintaining the purpose at the heart of their work.

Participants will now begin the Strategy & Scoping phase with their Thought Partners and the Biji-biji Initiative team. During this stage, they will refine their growth priorities and develop a Growth Experimentation Plan (GEP) to guide the next stage of their journey. From January to August 2027, the programme will move into the Experimentation & Learning phase, where participants will test, evaluate and adapt their strategies through continued engagement, mentorship, field visits and learning opportunities before concluding with a Closing Summit and final reports.

Through Cohort 2, SEAM aims to further strengthen the capabilities, resilience and growth potential of social enterprises supporting marginalised communities across Malaysia. By combining business development, mentorship, industry connections and financial support, the programme seeks to help impact-driven enterprises build more sustainable pathways for growth while deepening the benefits they create for the communities they serve.