APU team wins Malaysia Business Events National Challenge 2026

Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) has a new national title. Its Team Backbone won the Malaysia Business Events National Challenge 2026, and will now represent Malaysia in China.

Nine university teams took part at the KLGCC Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on 8 August. It adds to APU’s run of student wins, which includes a global hackathon title and a blockchain award.

Here is who won, what they pitched and what happens next in Xiamen.

Who won and what they pitched

First, the field. Nine teams entered, and only one took the title.

Next, the winners. Team Backbone has three members: Haithm Abdulghani Hussein Al-Bakri, Sarah Manisha Oorjitham and Thiriidev Kumar Murlidaran.

Next, the idea. The team pitched “Backbone Fest Asia 2027”, a business event built around innovation, strategic planning and social impact.

Also, the purpose. The team looked at how technology could help people in need through the event.

Then, the format. The concept aims to go beyond a conventional event, with a clear purpose and practical uses.

So the team took the title. The win came with a trip abroad.

Also, the viability. The release says the proposal showed a commercially viable concept.

In addition, two students won Best Presenter awards. They were Thiriidev and Reshika Ravichandran.

The challenge asked teams to build a business event concept and present it. It tested planning, creativity, pitching and presentation skills.

The second team and the mentors

First, the other team. Team Powerpuff Girls also did well with “NeuroWave Expo 2027”.

Its members are Daisey Gabriella Ho, Reshika, Shaarmini Kohulan and Yaashvin Devraaj.

Also, the pitch. It was a strong showing. The team covered the concept, the marketing and the audience for a focused expo.

Meanwhile, three APU lecturers guided the students. They are Harjinder Kaur, Philip Tan Hock Guan and David Ng Kok Meng.

Harjinder is a senior lecturer and IAP coordinator. David is a senior lecturer and academic leader.

Assoc Prof Dr Devinder Kaur heads the School of Marketing and Management. Devinder said the result shows the students’ effort. It also shows their growth.

Professor Ir EUR ING Ts Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam is APU’s Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer. Vinesh praised their creativity. Vinesh also liked their ideas.

What comes next in Xiamen

First, the next stage. After the Malaysia Business Events National Challenge, Team Backbone will compete in the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2026. It is set for Xiamen, China, in November.

Next, the organiser. AFECA is a federation of Asian exhibition and convention bodies. The youth challenge has run since 2015.

Also, the scale. The last edition was billed as a record. It had 22 teams from 10 countries and territories.

Then, the task. It is a test of ideas. Teams plan and test a launch event in one business events segment, and judges look at innovation, practicality and presentation.

However, key details are still missing. No dates have been given for the Xiamen rounds.

Nor is it clear whether Backbone Fest Asia 2027 will be staged as a real event.

Still, the race is not over. The team now heads to Xiamen with the lessons of the national round. We will update this story when the Xiamen results are in.

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