APU Student Leads Team’s First Prize Win in YLA Startup Incubation Finals 2025
The team took home RM50,000 seed sponsorship with Reweave, a social enterprise that blends Malaysian heritage with modern technology.
Published 12 Nov 2025
A new generation of changemakers is emerging where young people aren’t just fluent in technology, but they’re also deeply aware of the world around them. They are leaders who believe that innovation should serve people, not just progress. One such inspiring story comes from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), where student Viman Vinesh has shown what it means to combine empathy, creativity and cutting-edge tech to make a real difference.
Viman, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Software Engineering, recently made headlines after leading his team to victory at the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) programme, a nationwide initiative organised by McKinsey & Company in collaboration with Teach For Malaysia. The 12-week programme challenges university students to develop entrepreneurial solutions to real-world social problems, a challenge Viman and his teammates embraced wholeheartedly.
Together with teammates of diverse backgrounds — Howie Sim (Founder of YuMingGe, STEP Analyst at Standard Chartered), Amyla Atiqah Zainal Abidin (University of Melbourne Business School Alumni, FMO-STEP Analyst at Standard Chartered), Yeo Jia Yuan (Economics student at University of Nottingham Malaysia) and Adz Arieff (University Malaya student) — the team joined forces to build Reweave, a social enterprise that blends Malaysian heritage with modern technology. Their idea was to empower single mothers from B40 households by helping them produce and sell handcrafted batik pickleball tote bags. Each bag weaves a story of culture, community and care while providing sustainable income opportunities for women who need them most.
Their hard work paid off when Team Reweave took home First Prize at the YLA Startup Incubation Finals. At the award ceremony on 4 October 2025, the team was presented with an RM50,000 seed sponsorship supported by Standard Chartered Bank, setting the foundation for Reweave’s future growth.
But Reweave isn’t just about beautiful products; it’s about innovation that connects people. Viman led the development of two major tech features that made Reweave stand out. The first is an AI-powered virtual try-on tool, built using Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image API, which lets customers upload a photo to instantly see how the handcrafted designs would look on them. The second is an AI chatbot powered by Shieldbase AI, designed to engage visitors by answering questions, sharing artisan stories and explaining Reweave’s mission. These features make Reweave more than an online store; they make it an experience that combines tradition with technology in a meaningful way.
For Viman, the project was as much about leadership as it was about software engineering. From coordinating with artisans and managing materials to launching the e-commerce platform, he took on every challenge with resilience and heart. His journey mirrors APU’s focus on problem-based learning and industry collaboration, which prepares students not just to succeed in their fields but also to lead with purpose.
Associate Professor Dr Tan Chin Ike, Head of the School of Computing at APU, expressed his pride in Viman’s achievement, saying, “Sometimes you see a student's work and it just hits you. This is exactly why we do what we do. What I love about Viman’s story is how it captures the spirit of what we try to nurture here at APU; using technology not just to solve problems, but to create real human impact. Reweave is not just an AI-powered platform; it is a reminder that innovation means nothing if it does not make someone’s life better. That is the kind of mindset we want our students to carry, one that is tech-driven, creative and grounded in empathy.”
Reweave continues to grow with plans to launch new product lines in addition to a Pickleball Charity Tournament to raise awareness and support for single mothers nationwide. It’s a powerful example of how young Malaysians are rethinking what it means to be tech-driven entrepreneurs, on top of showing that compassion and creativity can be an integral part of coding and algorithms.
In a world that often measures success by profit or prestige, projects like Reweave remind us that the best kind of technology is the kind that touches lives. Viman’s story reflects APU’s broader mission — to educate not only skilled graduates but leaders who use innovation to uplift others and shape a kinder tomorrow.
Shape the future with tech at APU. Sign up below to discover more.
Amelia Ho
Always wandering, always wondering.
More from News and Events
