Accelerate Global Chief Executive Officer Raudhah Nazran with students from Politeknik MeTrO Kuala Lumpur during one the financial literacy workshops held this year in collaboration with a local asset management firm
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 DECEMBER 2023 – Youth-led social enterprise, Accelerate Global took a pause on all social media fronts since early May this year following its agenda of working under the radar. One of the social enterprise’s most recent posts was to celebrate the graduation of eleven participants from their M(a)cropreneurs Accelerator Program (MAP) a Two-Month Upskilling Program with an added investment incentive for those deemed deserving of capital injection to scale supported by Zak Capital.
When asked if this was the only program they organised throughout the year, Chief Executive Officer, Raudhah Nazran highlighted, “Just because we took a pause on social media, does not mean we took a pause on our work. Accelerate Global’s achievements this year are far more impressive than our previous years. Our commercial partnerships rose five fold, our impact numbers ten fold, our revenue has tripled since the last audited financial year and we are on the path towards profitability. This was the objective when we decided to keep our head down and work under the radar for at least 4 months. There is a time and place to make waves publicly. This year we just needed solitude and to be in our own cocoon to recentre and focus. It was what we needed and I sure am glad we did it”.
Eleven participants graduated from the M(a)cropreneurs Accelerator Program. Present during the Graduation was Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of Zak Capital, Wan Dazriq Wan Zulfikifli, Director of Ethis Malaysia and Accelerate Global Board of Director Claudia Cadena
With the expertise of birthing micro entrepreneurs in the country, Accelerate Global took it up a notch this year and joined forces with Zak Capital, a family owned investment firm with a social impact focus of Tan Sri Nazir Razak. Together, they launched an accelerator program aimed at upskilling micro entrepreneurs to be investment ready so they may grow and scale their businesses. Further, this homegrown social enterprise was also chosen by a local Malaysian bank to further the economic empowerment agenda for the asnaf community in Malaysia through entrepreneurship and business as a whole. They too were chosen to further the agenda of financial literacy alongside a local asset management firm.
“You have to be willing to take risks in order to succeed even if it goes against the norm. Digital detox especially for businesses is a foreign strategy with a high risk of it being counterproductive. But if done intentionally, strategically and with knowledge, it can do you good. It did us good and we are better than ever”, expressed Raudhah, the 27-year-old Chief Executive Officer listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. This year alone, Accelerate Global has successfully impacted over 5,000 youths and partnered up with over 6 organisations; local banks, local investment firms all the way to local Start-Ups strengthening their position in the market and building on their home turf advantage.
This is not all that was achieved. Entering 2024, Accelerate Global will be celebrating its five year anniversary since its inception and two years since they onboarded 69 investors through equity crowdfunding platform Ethis Malaysia. Staying true to their promise to do investors good, a buy back with 59 of Accelerate Global’s investors was recently initiated by Raudhah, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer as part of their exit strategy. The buy back is at a 20% premium reflecting the financial performance of the social enterprise with the return of investment higher than market average and S&P 500.
This buyback exercise marks the first partial exit for investors investing via Equity Crowdfunding Platform Ethis Malaysia. Co-Founder Umar Munshi says “Our investor community invests to make profit and do good. Accelerate Global has allowed us to fulfil both objectives and even over-delivered on the social impact created. We are happy and honoured to have participated in their journey and thank Raudhah for this opportunity”.
Asked the Board of Director overseeing finance and growth on this buy back exercise, Surina Shukri expressed her excitement and pride that the social enterprise is able to provide return on capital to the investors. “We hope to be able to continue building on our track record as a purpose driven and investor friendly social enterprise”.
Accelerate Global Board of Director Surina Shukri giving a speech at one of Accelerate Global’s events
In the current market landscape where liquidity is low, Accelerate Global’s buyback exercise brings in a sense of vitality, new perspectives on social enterprises and an increase in investors’ confidence, especially retail investors affirming that not all investments are locked for an eternity after all.
“I hope it paves the way for many more social enterprises to become sustainable whilst also honouring their key stakeholders. This is just the beginning of a new chapter if you ask me. Going into the new year, I pray for prosperity for Accelerate Global. Bigger impact, larger revenue and wider reach both physically and digitally. This coming year, we are committed to expand our reach and we welcome investors and partners whose values are aligned to ours. Let’s work together”, expressed Raudhah.
With 2030 coming to us at a speed and with more to do to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, Accelerate Global calls upon all partners; corporations, institutions, multinationals and investors alike to work together with them to further empower the youths not only in Malaysia but also across Southeast Asia. Accelerate Global is currently gearing up for their next round of fundraising focusing on infrastructure, community and human capital building. Parties and individuals interested to work together with Accelerate Global are welcome to reach out to them via their email at ace@accelerateglobal.co or directly contact Raudhah at ceo.raudhah@accelerateglobal.co. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a champion.