The journey to Program Usahawan Perantis (SPACE 3.0) began at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah. With anticipation running high, I found myself on a midnight flight to Kuching. Landing at Kuching International Airport just 30 minutes before 1 a.m., the exhaustion hit me. Instead of checking into a hotel, I decided to spend the night at the airport, a decision both practical and challenging. The airport was eerily quiet, with food franchises closed for the night. As I scoured the place for something to eat, disappointment set in—I would have to wait until morning. Resigned, I found a bench to sleep on, though it was far from comfortable, well at least I brought my 4 years old pillow ^^. I remember looking up at the sky and capturing a photo of the supermoon (take a look the picture below), its brilliance a soothing sight in the quiet stillness of the night. Eventually, I managed to get a few hours of restless sleep, waking up around 6 a.m. and finally finding some breakfast at KFC. It wasn’t the most satisfying start, but it didn’t dampen my excitement for the days ahead. Then my journey to this program just begin - I took a grab ride from airport to the destination namely Kuching Park Hotel which located approximately exact distance from my home to central city Kota Kinabalu of 8 km. Oh yeah, joining the program was free of charge, the organizer will provide the accomodation (hotel room) and meals. Perfect! But of course the flight ticket was sponsored by me, myself.
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| Program SPACE 3.0 in Kuching. |
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| AirAsia Airbus A320 with UPM livery |
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| My flight ticket to Kuching, Sarawak✌ |
Sleep at the Airport Kuching but suddenly realized there was a Super Moon occurrence that night😙
The first day kicked off with a warm Sesi Meet & Greet where we met the program facilitators, fellow participants, and representatives from KUSKOP and CEDAR SME Bank. The interactive session was an eye-opener, allowing us to get acquainted with each other's journeys. We were encouraged to share our entrepreneurial struggles and successes, creating a deep sense of camaraderie. By the time we dove into the afternoon's Business Model Canvas (BMC) session, it became clear that this program was designed not just to teach but to transform us into entrepreneurs who think critically, plan strategically, and adapt dynamically.
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| Hotel Park Hotel is the venue of the program/event. |
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| Presentation for the first day about the potential product base of banana. ^^ |
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| My BMC |
At about 7 o'clock, we were required to present our business model. Initially as we were placed in a group of 4 people, all 4 of us wrote our own BMC but eventually only one needed to present in front chosen as the best! Luckily, my BMC idea was taken, one of my team mates said mine was unique and different from others. But here we go! Curious with my business idea? Stay tuned, you will find out hehe :) We finally checked into our hotel
room only when evening came about , it was impressive at first glance,
especially with the room's AI-operated lamps. Unfortunately, despite our
best efforts, we couldn’t quite figure out how to get the system to
work properly, so we ended up using the manual switches instead.
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| Our idea on entrepreneurship |
Also, I had the chance to connect with
fellow participants. What really stood out to me was the mix of
experience in the room—some of the students had already run small
businesses for a couple of years. Their insights and stories were
invaluable to me. I took every opportunity to converse with them,
learning about the challenges they faced in growing their businesses and
the strategies they used to overcome them. It was these candid
conversations that gave me a clearer understanding of entrepreneurship,
beyond what could be taught in the sessions. These were people like me,
still learning, but filled with resilience and determination. It was a
powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is a journey, not a destination.
My roommates, are two other participants, were incredibly friendly. Both of them are Sarawakian though. We spent the evening chatting, exchanging thoughts about our business ideas, the program, and the future. It felt comforting to share the room with like-minded individuals, and those small conversations brought us closer. Even with the tech hiccup, the room was a cozy space for us to relax and reflect on what we had learned that day.
Our bed was a double-storey. The room light was facillitate by AI (but donno how to operate it 😂)
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| I took the video of rehearsal before pitching tomorrow xD |
Day two was intense but fulfilling. The Design Thinking and Digital Marketing sessions were particularly eye-opening, giving me fresh perspectives on how to approach problem-solving and promote my business online. But the real adrenaline kicked in during the Power Pitch preparation. Late into the night, as I fine-tuned my business plan, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. The pressure was undeniable, but the camaraderie in the room was palpable. We all wanted to see each other succeed, which made the experience even more memorable.
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| 👀😭 |
About food, we were fed 4 times a day here😭😭Makan, makan and makan!!😋
The next day’s Pitching Session was a rollercoaster of emotions, but the feedback I received was invaluable and will undoubtedly help me refine my business strategy. We were assigned based on number - Mine is the 16th participant. Indeed I have my own business plan in my mind that is tutoring service with a focus on science subjects such as Math and Physics (so far). We are required to pitch our business idea for 2 minutes which was very short hence participants were advice to manage their time wisely and explain only the important points as required. The important items to be highlighted by the participants had been briefed by the trainer a yesterday - Target Audience, Unique Selling Proposition, Marketing Strategy, utilization of Grant and durability of the business. Also, for your information, among 50 participants out of 150 took part who achieve the minimum aggregate will qualify for the next session where participants will be guided to run a business and upon accomplishment, they will receive a starting grant worth RM 3000 - That's a huge amount for me and should be enough to expand my small business.
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| Working hard to get the grant😄👀 |
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The photo as the program ends at day-3😄
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My business plan sample and its criteria
Once the program ended, I had the chance to unwind and explore the city with some friends from Sabah too. We made a stop at a local market, where I bought a beautiful Sarawak batik sarung and some kek lapis Sarawak as souvenirs. When buying the sarung, I asked confirmation from my Sarawak's friend during the program if this was really Sarawak batik - where he confirmed it. Of course, we couldn’t leave Kuching without visiting the iconic cat statue in the heart of the city. Unfortunately I could only take the picture from the grabcar since it wasn't our particular destination. It was a small but meaningful adventure, capturing the essence of Sarawak’s rich culture. We ended our day at a cozy cafe where I indulged in a bowl of ABC (Ais Batu Campur)—the perfect treat after a whirlwind few days.
Meow, meow, meow,meow~~ We were at central city of Kuching😹
Kuih Lapis Sarawak (Layered cake)
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| Floating Mosque in Kuching |
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| Boat service to across the lake |
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| The fort made during Brooke's era |
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| Before went to airport. |
As the day came to a close, we made our way back to Kuching International Airport at 4pm and our our flight scheduled at 9, flying back to Sabah. The airport felt familiar now, though the exhaustion from the trip was setting in. Reflecting on my experience, I realized how much I had gained—not just in terms of business knowledge, but in personal growth. From sleeping on airport benches to pitching business ideas in front of judges, every moment was a stepping stone towards a more confident, capable version of myself. The friendships I made, the knowledge I gained, and the memories I created will stay with me long after I return home at almost 12 midnight!
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| Arrive at the KK Airport at almost 12 xD |
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