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This Spotlight is sponsored by Nescafé.
Imagine being a student and you're pitching your million ringgit idea to the Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia & Singapore. Well, these students did just that.
There was excitement in the air at 1 Powerhouse, Bandar Utama, as the Nescafé Youth Entrepreneurs Programme 2025 (NYEP 2025) reached its Grand Finale of its Nescafé Business Case Challenge on 10 November
After six months of brainstorming and caffeine-fuelled nights, nine finalist teams from universities across Malaysia stepped into the spotlight at the Nescafé headquarters, ready to pitch their boldest million-ringgit ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, including Juan Aranols, the Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia & Singapore.
These finalists were shortlisted from a total of 1,400 student registrations from 44 universities across Malaysia.
And trust us, these weren't your typical student projects. These were polished, high-stakes, boardroom-ready pitches that could very well become real businesses tomorrow.
During the finale, each team had brought their A-game with impressive presentations and pitches
Picture being in the students' shoes, facing industry leaders and knowing that this pitch you're about to give has the potential to shape your own future. Many participants came from non-business backgrounds, yet they delivered with the confidence of young founders ready to step into the industry.
Every presentation told a story of creativity and passionate entrepreneurship, showing just how much Malaysia's youths have to offer when given the right platform.
This year, a team from Universiti Putra Malaysia were crowned the champions of NYEP 2025. A team whose grit, heart, and humour carried them all the way to the top.
These champs walked away with RM15,000 and the loudest cheers of the day. But beyond the cash, they walked away with something bigger, a newfound belief in their ability to grow, adapt, and lead.
When asked what they planned to do with the prize money, they didn't even hesitate: "Hotpot first. We've been through a lot together. Then maybe a new phone, something to remind us this was all worth it."
The first runner-ups were from Kolej Yayasan UEM, who won RM10,000.
They were the youngest participants, something they only discovered on the day of the Grand Finale, which added to their nerves. Yet, they delivered with the confidence, structure, and maturity of seasoned young professionals. They plan to invest their winnings into their future, but not before treating themselves to a well-deserved celebratory meal.
The second runner-up team from Universiti Malaya also had one of the most heartwarming journeys. Coming from an engineering background, business wasn't exactly familiar territory, but they threw themselves into the challenge, figured things out fast, and walked away RM7,000 richer. Plus, way more confidence than when they started.
There was also a TikTok challenge that garnered a total of 29 million views, with the winning team from Universiti Putra Malaysia having 13 million views from their video alone.
But what really made this year's Business Case Challenge special was everything that happened off the big stage. The friendships formed, the skills discovered one mistake at a time, the sudden realisation that "oh wow, I actually can do this."
This programme wasn't just a competition. It pushed students to think differently, to pitch with conviction, and to face real feedback from real industry leaders. In the process, they didn't just grow as entrepreneurs, they grew as people.
The Nescafé Business Case Challenge 2025 further solidifies the brand's effort in providing a platform for youths to turn their ideas into reality
Over the years, Nescafé has proven it's more than just a coffee brand. It's a platform that empowers youth to dream bigger, think differently, and take charge of their future.
Besides the prize money, the top six presenters during the Grand Finale managed to secure a fast-track access to Nestlé Malaysia's Management Trainee Programme.
The business challenge is just one of Nescafé's many initiatives to empower young Malaysians and give them opportunities to hone their skills.
Another such initiative is the Nescafé Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (NYEP), which has trained and supported over 7,000 young entrepreneurs across 21 universities in Malaysia, equipping them with hands-on commercial skills.
Find out more about the Nescafé Business Case Challenge and the NYEP initiative today!
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