Over the past few years, Malaysia’s social enterprise (SE) ecosystem has experienced significant growth. This progress has been driven by the hard work of social enterprises, communities and strategic partnerships with a shared vision to address Malaysia’s social and environmental challenges. Through the Social Enterprise Accelerator Malaysia (SEAM), we’ve seen firsthand the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and scaling impact across communities that are marginalised.
Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem is growing steadily, thanks to the collective efforts of changemakers, dedicated organisations, and supportive policies at both the national and state levels. SEAM is proud to be part of this movement, working alongside other initiatives to empower social enterprises and drive positive change.
While SEAM focuses on equipping scaling social enterprises with tools, mentorship, and connections, we recognise that no single initiative can tackle all the challenges faced by the sector. True progress comes from collaboration—not competition—but aligning, complementing, and amplifying each other’s strengths. By joining forces, we aim to create ripple effects that benefit social enterprises at all stages, with the ultimate goal of uplifting marginalised communities across Malaysia.
Why SEAM Exists
At SEAM, we believe in the power of social enterprises to create lasting, positive change. Our mission is to support and amplify their efforts, ensuring they have the resources and networks to thrive and create a bigger impact on the communities they serve. Through the SEAM programme, we provide the tools, mentorship, and capacity-building needed to grow and scale social enterprises, ultimately driving a more inclusive and sustainable future for Malaysia.
Our vision is rooted in collaboration. We understand that for social enterprises to succeed, they need more than financial support—they must be integrated into a larger ecosystem of like-minded players. This is where our work becomes crucial: connecting social enterprises with key partners in the private sector, government, and civil society. By fostering these collaborations, we aim to create a sustainable ecosystem that generates impact for both businesses and communities.
Through SEAM, we’ve been able to partner with organisations like IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, whose commitment to driving positive change aligns with our goals. These partnerships are essential for scaling the impact of social enterprises and ensuring they are recognised as key players in Malaysia’s socio-economic development.
Aligning Efforts and Amplifying Impact: The Intention Behind SEAM’s Advisory Group
SEAM is guided by a diverse advisory board, embodying the programme’s spirit of collaboration and inclusivity. The board includes representatives from Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP), Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), Yayasan Hasanah, MYSDG Foundation, My Impact Alliance, Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development (CSED), PurpoSE, regional intermediaries like Instellar, and our programme partners at IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and IKEA Malaysia. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise, insights, and resources, ensuring SEAM remains aligned with national priorities and international best practices.
The advisory group is central to our goal of uniting efforts and amplifying impact across sectors. Each member brings a unique perspective, representing specific agendas that collectively drive our shared vision for social enterprises in Malaysia.
With Fellow Social Enterprise Initiatives
We view other programmes and ecosystem builders as essential partners, not competitors. Initiatives like Seedlab, Yayasan Hasanah, and PepperLabs each offer unique strengths. By collaborating, we ensure that social enterprises—whether in the ideation phase or scaling—receive tailored support at the right time.
With Policymakers
At the core of the programme, we align our efforts with national and state policies such as the Social Entrepreneurship Blueprint 2023 (SEMy2030) and SE*Hebat Blueprint by SDEC Sarawak. This collaboration benefits both sides:
- For SEAM: We support government targets, like increasing the number of registered social enterprises, contributing to Malaysia’s broader socio-economic goals.
- For policymakers: By sharing on-the-ground insights, we help better understand the challenges social enterprises face, leading to more effective, tailored policies.
This synergy ensures policies are informed by the realities on the ground.
With Corporates: Endless Opportunities for Collaboration
Corporations play a pivotal role in enabling markets for SEs to thrive. Initiatives like Initiatives like Buy for Impact, launched in 2020 by MaGIC (now part of MRANTI) and social procurement models have gained traction, emphasising the importance of linking SEs to sustainable markets. Through corporate partnerships, we aim to drive social procurement initiatives and integrate SEs into supply chains, supporting corporate ESG goals.
Mapping the Ecosystem
Understanding the landscape of the social enterprise ecosystem is fundamental to SEAM’s approach. By mapping the roles, strengths, and gaps of ecosystem players, we unlock opportunities for effective collaboration, ensuring no duplication of efforts and maximising resources.
Working with CSED and Asia School of Business, SEAM is contributing an ecosystem map to identify key players, resources, strengths, and gaps. This will inform better programme design and create a cohesive, responsive support system for social enterprises.
The Role of Policy: A Strong Foundation for Growth
In addition to building partnerships, SEAM closely follows key policy frameworks supporting social enterprise growth. The Social Entrepreneurship Blueprint 2023 (SEMy2030) provides a national roadmap for advancing social entrepreneurship in Malaysia, mainstreaming social enterprises as effective drivers of socio-economic development.
We’ve observed how frameworks, alongside capacity-building initiatives led by organisations like INSKEN, empower social entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and resources to succeed. INSKEN’s expansion in Sarawak, for instance, ensures entrepreneurs in underserved regions have access to critical support.
Facing Challenges: Moving Forward Together
While progress in strengthening Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem is evident, challenges remain. Market access, funding constraints, and the need for ongoing capacity building continue to affect many enterprises.
At SEAM, we are committed to supporting social enterprises to overcome these barriers by connecting them with the resources they need. However, this requires a collective effort—social enterprises, corporations, and policymakers must continue to collaborate to create solutions that benefit everyone.
Reflections from Our Journey: Lessons Learned and Growth Achieved
Reflecting on our journey at SEAM, we realise that the strength of Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem lies in collaboration. Through SEAM and other initiatives like SEMAI, SEhebat, and SEDAr, we’ve seen how partnerships amplify the impact of social enterprises.
From facilitating connections to providing mentorship and capacity-building opportunities, we’ve learned that a strong, collaborative network is essential. Social enterprises need to be integrated into a broader ecosystem that supports their growth and sustainability, which is strongest when we come together to share knowledge, resources, and opportunities.
What’s Next: Building a Future Together
While significant progress has been made, much more remains to be done. Moving forward, there are a few key areas where we can continue to strengthen the ecosystem:
- Increasing Market Access: Social enterprises need better access to markets to scale their impact. By connecting them with larger corporations and mainstream industries, we can open new growth pathways.
- Expanding Funding Opportunities: More funding options tailored to social enterprises are needed to help them scale their solutions.
- Fostering Greater Collaboration: The success of Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem depends on ongoing collaboration. We must continue building relationships and creating platforms where social enterprises, government bodies, and corporations can work together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges.
How We Are Achieving This
- Encouraging Sustainable Corporate Social Procurement: We work to integrate social enterprises into corporate supply chains, helping SEs access reliable markets while aligning with corporate ESG mandates.
- Facilitating Dialogues Between Key Players: SEAM provides a platform for SEs, corporates, policymakers, and intermediaries to meet, exchange ideas, and align priorities. These dialogues shape policies and programs that directly address the challenges social enterprises face.
A Call to Action: Strengthening the Ecosystem Together
As we move forward, we call on all stakeholders—corporations, government agencies, and social enterprises—to continue working together to build a more resilient and impactful ecosystem. Through ongoing partnerships, mentorship, and policy support, we can further empower social enterprises to achieve their full potential.
By uniting our efforts, we can ensure that Malaysia’s social enterprise ecosystem continues to thrive, creating lasting change for communities that are marginalised, driving inclusive growth, and positioning Malaysia as a leader in global social entrepreneurship.
