EY has unveiled the 12 Top Nominees for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2026 Malaysia awards, marking the 25th anniversary of the programme’s recognition of Malaysian entrepreneurs driving innovation, business growth and economic opportunities.
The Top Nominees were selected by an independent panel of judges based on four judging pillars: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact.
The nominees span four categories: Emerging Entrepreneur, Technology Entrepreneur, Woman Entrepreneur and Master Entrepreneur.
Emerging Entrepreneur
The three nominees in the Emerging Entrepreneur category are:
- Esther Erin and Ethan Wong, Dododots
- KeYee, Notti Pet Food
- CJ Woo and William Tham, The Solar House Sdn. Bhd.
Technology Entrepreneur
The Technology Entrepreneur category features:
- Dr Sunny Ooi, ClickAsia
- AK Tan, Agmo Group
- Datuk Wira Ts. Cllement Tan, Ramssol Group Bhd.
Woman Entrepreneur
The Woman Entrepreneur category recognises:
- Siti Farhana Abu Osman, PTTI Group Sdn. Bhd.
- Ain Azizah Arifin, Bubbles O2
- Jennifer Kok, Media Outreach Newswire
Master Entrepreneur
The Master Entrepreneur category comprises:
- Dato’ Calvin Chan, Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd.
- Dato’ SK Fong, SkyeChip
- Dr Chieng, PMG Healthcare
Winners to Be Announced in December
The winners of the four categories, alongside the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Malaysia award winner, will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1 December 2026.
The Malaysia country winner will then join award recipients from around the world in May 2027 to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2027 award in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The EOY Malaysia programme has been running for 25 years and is part of EY’s global Entrepreneur Of The Year programme, which celebrates and connects entrepreneurs across more than 60 programmes and 94 countries and territories.
Entrepreneurs Driving Business Growth and Jobs
The 2026 nominee pool recorded a record number of overall nominations, according to EY, reflecting the programme’s growing reach across Malaysia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The nominees represent businesses spanning technology, consumer products, healthcare and renewable energy. Collectively, they generate more than RM5.7 billion in revenue and support more than 10,000 jobs.
Dato’ Abdul Rauf Rashid, Malaysia Managing Partner at EY Malaysia, said the 25th anniversary was an opportunity to recognise entrepreneurs who had transformed ideas into businesses and contributed to Malaysia’s development.
“The increase in nominations this year across all categories demonstrates that Malaysia’s entrepreneurial spirit remains vibrant and resilient,” he said.
Philip Rao, EOY Malaysia Program Director and Partner at EY Malaysia, said this year’s theme, “The Shapers”, reflects the influence entrepreneurs can have beyond their own organisations.
The programme aims to recognise business leaders who are shaping industries, strengthening communities and contributing to Malaysia’s future through resilience, innovation and vision.
Entrepreneurship in a Changing Business Landscape
The awards announcement was officiated by Yang Berhormat Encik Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development.
He said entrepreneurship would become increasingly important to Malaysia’s long-term success as businesses navigate a more competitive global environment.
“For 25 years, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program has done more than recognize successful business leaders. It has helped elevate entrepreneurship as a vital force in Malaysia’s development while inspiring generations of entrepreneurs to think bigger and aim higher,” he said.
The programme’s 25th anniversary also includes Road to Monaco, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with BFM. The series features established entrepreneurs reflecting on the lessons, resilience and purpose behind their journeys from founders to business leaders.
Entrepreneurs Discuss AI, Growth and Succession
Alongside the Top Nominees announcement, EY hosted a panel discussion titled “Beyond success: What’s next for Malaysian entrepreneurs?”
The discussion brought together entrepreneurs and business leaders to examine the challenges of building enduring businesses, creating meaningful impact and navigating growth and succession.
Panelists included Tan Sri Datuk Dr Rebecca Sta Maria, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Pro-Chancellor of Sunway University; Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed; Ganesh Kumar Bangah; and Joel Neoh, Founding Partner of First Move and EY Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Malaysia.
Moderated by Shankar Kanabiran, Malaysia Consulting Leader and Partner at EY Malaysia, the discussion covered founder’s syndrome, business transformation, leadership transitions and the changing role of technology in entrepreneurship.
The panel also examined the shift from generative AI towards agentic AI, including differences in adoption across industries and the need to balance technological innovation with practical business considerations.
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Marks 25 Years
The 2026 programme marks 25 years of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in Malaysia. Since its launch, the programme has recognised entrepreneurs across different stages of business growth while connecting Malaysian entrepreneurs with a wider global network.
The 2026 judging panel comprises business and industry leaders including Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia; Ganesh Kumar Bangah; Ooi Lay Pheng; Anuar Fariz Fadzil; Ronnie Lim; Sharala Axryd; and Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed.
With the four category winners and Malaysia’s overall EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 winner to be announced in December, the programme will continue its 25th-anniversary celebration by highlighting entrepreneurs shaping Malaysia’s evolving business landscape.
