INTI Students Shine at Japan’s Startup Competition: Innovations in Education and Sustainability
Two student-led startups from INTI International College Penang (IICP) participated in the 2nd ICT Startup Pitching Competition 2025 in Japan on February 21. This competition brought together young entrepreneurs from several countries, including Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand, who presented technology-based solutions designed for social and commercial impact. The IICP teams, SolarEd and SENIV, garnered attention during the event.
Recognition of SolarEd
SolarEd was recognized as the Third Winner for its development of a solar-powered portable digital classroom, which aims to improve educational access in rural Malaysia. This project, created by a group of engineering and computer science students, addresses educational inequality through innovative, sustainable technology.
Prasant Pillai a/l Vigneshwaran Pillai, team leader from IICP’s School of Engineering, acknowledged the significance of the recognition, stating it validates their concept and provides a platform for further development.
Teammate Yuganeswran a/l Murale, a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) student in Mechanical Engineering, described the competition experience as transformative, highlighting the practical skills acquired in converting ideas into feasible solutions.
Awards for SENIV
SENIV received the High Success Potential Award for its sustainability-focused innovation in electronics. The startup’s kinetic-powered prototype aims to eliminate the need for disposable batteries in small devices such as wireless keyboards and remote controls, addressing the growing concern of electronic waste.
Tharmeshh a/l Elangkovan, co-founder of SENIV, acknowledged the influence of INTI’s support in refining their ideas into impactful projects. Tharmeshh and his teammate Quah Kah Aik are both enrolled in collaborative degree programs with Swinburne University of Technology and Coventry University.
Evaluation Criteria
The startups were assessed based on their innovation, practicality, potential impact, commercial viability, and effectiveness of their pitches. Both teams benefited from mentorship and internal pitching practices, organized by the IICP Startup Incubator and INTI’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Comments from Faculty
Hazwan Halim, a lecturer at INTI’s School of Engineering and coordinator of the IICP Startup Incubator, stated that these achievements demonstrate student capabilities when provided with sufficient resources and support.
Hemalatha Murugiah, Chief Executive of INTI International College Penang, remarked that the students’ successes reflect their technical skills and commitment to addressing real-world challenges, while fostering a conducive learning environment for impactful innovations.
Future Prospects
As SolarEd and SENIV continue to develop their prototypes, they exemplify the educational experiences intended by INTI, which emphasize not only technical skills but also a global perspective and commitment to addressing significant issues.
(Source: INTI International College Penang)
