PENANG Kia Kongsi Fest 2026, a youth entrepreneurship competition aimed at providing university and college students with hands-on business experience, was officially launched today, with registration now open.
The programme is organised by Jawatankuasa Belia Pulau Pinang (JBPP) Air Putih, co-organised by JBPP Paya Terubong, JBPP Air Itam and Generasi Penang, with support from the Bukit Bendera Parliamentary Service Centre, Air Putih and Paya Terubong state constituency service centres, as well as the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC).
During a media conference, JBPP Air Putih chairman Eliss Low said the initiative was created to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world entrepreneurship by allowing participants to turn ideas into actual business ventures.
“Many entrepreneurship competitions in the market focus mainly on ideas and proposal presentations. Participants pitch their concepts, submit their reports and the process ends there.
“We want to go beyond that. Participants will be guided step by step, from developing an idea and creating a product to testing it in the market and understanding how customers respond,” Low said.
Open to university and college students aged 30 and below, the competition seeks to provide a practical entrepreneurship journey rather than a conventional business proposal contest.
Low said participants would begin with a business idea before learning how to develop a proposal, build a brand, market a product and manage business finances.
To support this process, the organisers have lined up three workshops covering business ideation and proposal development, sales and marketing strategies, as well as budgeting and costing.
“The objective is not merely to teach entrepreneurship through theory. We want participants to experience entrepreneurship for themselves by learning, doing and solving real business challenges,” she said.
According to Low, participants will also be required to bring their products to market, allowing them to gain first-hand exposure to sales, customer engagement and business operations.
The competition will culminate in a three-day market event where finalists will operate their own booths and put their entrepreneurial skills to the test in a real business environment.
Low said the organisers are targeting 50 teams for the inaugural edition of the competition.
Registration opened today and will close on Sept 11. Participation is open to teams of between two and five members, with a registration fee of RM100 per team.
She described the fee as affordable and necessary to encourage participants to remain committed throughout the programme.
“Sometimes when programmes are free, attendance can be inconsistent. We want participants to take ownership of the opportunity and fully commit to the learning journey,” she said.
Meanwhile, Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng said the programme reflected efforts to empower young people through practical skills development and entrepreneurship.
He said youth development should not be limited to discussions and theories, but must include opportunities for young people to take action and gain real-life experience.
“Entrepreneurship is not just about talking or writing reports. It is about doing. Through this platform, young people can learn how businesses operate, gain confidence and develop skills that will benefit them in the future,” he said.
Lim also called on students and young people across Penang to seize the opportunity to participate, describing the competition as a valuable platform to explore entrepreneurship and innovation.
Also present were JBPP Air Putih committee member Yuki Ang, JBPP Air Putih secretary Tan Ying Hui, JBPP Paya Terubong chairman Janice Loh, JBPP Paya Terubong committee member Kang Kai Keat, Generasi Penang chairman Joshua Teng, PYDC officer Benji Ang, and JBPP Paya Terubong committee member Goh Chen Kai.
