Echoes of Victory in the ESTECH 2023

A mindset of young CEOs and commitment to rider safety pays off in first place finish at X-Factor Challenge. Their story shows that young APU entrepreneurs can make a difference in the world, even if they are just starting out.

From left: Dr. Kuan Yik Junn (APU School of Computing Lecturer), Vishal Maheshwari, Sow Mei Yun, Prof. Dr. Norhisham Hamid (UTP Deputy Vice Chancellor Student Affairs), Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosdiazli Ibrahim (UTP Dean Faculty of Engineering /ESTECH 2023 Chairman), Nicholas Wong Zhi Loong and Teh Chen Ming.

Team ECHO from Enterprise@APU won the Young CEO X-Factor Challenge, one of the tracks in the Engineering, Science and Technology Challenge 2023 (ESTECH 2023) organised by Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) on 23^rd and 24^th August 2023.

The Enterprise@APU programme is a comprehensive initiative of the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) that aims to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets and anti-fragile characteristics to navigate through uncertainty and benefit or thrive in it.

This year’s ESTECH 2023 featured nine tracks, including the Next in Chemistry Challenge (NICC), Innovation Simulation Challenge (INNOSIM), PetroSolve Quest, Futuristic University Campus Design (FUCAD), Young GEO Explorer Challenge (YouGEC), Robotic and Automation Ideation Competition (ELECTRECUP 2023), Coding King, Sustainable and PoRtable Individual Transport (SPRINT), and the Young CEO X-Factor Challenge.

In a competition that aims to improve graduates’ quality and interpersonal skills for future employment, team ECHO comprised Nicholas Wong Zhi Loong (Data Informatics), Vishal Maheshwari (Business Information Systems), Sow Mei Yun (Cyber Security), and Teh Chen Ming (Data Analytics) stood out by highlighting the safety of food delivery riders.

Their innovative approach by developing a mobile app that helps food delivery riders stay safe on the road won them first place in the Young CEO X-Factor Challenge and a cash reward of RM5,000.

ECHO’s unique strategy also addressed this year’s theme, Towards Energy Sustainability and Smart Communities, which caught the judges’ interest because it matched the Sustainable Development Goals 7 (SDGs), which is Affordable and Clean Energy.

It is because team ECHO’s app uses GPS tracking to monitor the location of food delivery riders. If a rider is involved in an accident, the app will automatically send an alert to the rider’s emergency contacts and also provides riders with safety tips and information on the latest traffic conditions.

From 2018 to May 2021, there were 1,242 accidents involving food delivery riders in Malaysia — 112 fatalities, 82 serious injuries and the other accidents resulted in minor or no injuries — according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

By making food delivery riders safer, ECHO’s app helps to reduce the number of accidents and injuries that occur each year. This, in turn, helps to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted in the transportation sector.

In addition, ECHO’s app is a smart technology that can help to improve the efficiency of the food delivery industry. This can lead to a reduction in energy consumption and emissions, which is in line with the goals of SDG 7.

Creative, innovative & resilient

Team ECHO took part in the Young CEO X-Factor Challenge, which comprised two challenges on day one and day two.

The first day’s task involves justifying a chosen solution based on a case study. Team ECHO began by identifying the problem and analysing the facts in the case study.

They put a lot of time and effort into crafting their presentation material and pitches. Despite numerous challenges, they were able to deliver a successful pitch at the end of day one.

Team ECHO is explaining their prototype to the judges.

“This was our first experience working together as a team,” explained Vishal, adding that through this competition, they “Learned about each other’s strengths and weaknesses and it was an exciting new experience for all of us.”

The second day of the challenge required participants to pitch their business idea in front of a panel of judges.

Team ECHO was prepared for the second round with their planned solution to set up safety equipment for food delivery riders.

“We believe that this product can help to address the pain points of not only riders, but also customers who order meals,” Nicholas continued.

Participants were evaluated on their innovation, solution and value proposition, business model, pitching style, content delivery, ‘wow’ aspect of their business idea, and responses to the judges’ questions.

Following their pitch, team ECHO was bombarded with questions from the judges, all of which they confidently answered. They also demonstrated their prototype in front of the judges.

“We were glad that the judges liked our idea and saw the potential in it,” Mei Yun claimed.

Photography session with all ESTECH 2023 participants during the closing ceremony at UTP.

Despite experiencing different technological backgrounds, team ECHO was able to defeat other teams from other educational institutions and emerge as champions.

Their advisors, Dr. Kuan Yik Junn of the School of Computing (SOC) and Prof. Dr. Angelina Yee, Director of Research and Enterprise, were overjoyed with their accomplishment.

“Team ECHO’s achievement was due to their perseverance, dedication, teamwork, and guidance from their supervisors, especially Prof. Dr. Angelina,” Dr. Kuan pointed out.

“I hope that such an accomplishment will serve as an inspiration to other APU students.”

Prof. Dr. Angelina concluded that “Enterprise@APU will continue to mentor APU students for business-related competitions and guide them towards setting up their own startups in the future.”

Team ECHO lauded their advisers and Enterprise@APU for giving them the opportunity to compete in the Young CEO X-Factor Challenge.

They are also enthusiastic about continuing to improve their product, which they expect to bring to market in the near future.

Congratulations to team ECHO on their well-deserved triumph!