INTI Student and Alumnus Win Third Place with AI Business Solution
An artificial intelligence-driven business solution developed by an INTI student and alumnus has secured Third Place at the Penang State Youth Entrepreneurship Competition (YEC) 2025, demonstrating how AI can be applied to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The Hybrid team presents their AI-powered business solution for SMEs after securing Third Place at the Penang State Youth Entrepreneurship Competition 2025.
The team, known as Hybrid, comprises Tarunnesh Sri Sangar, a student from the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Accounting and Finance (3+0) programme offered in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire, UK, and Cheong Whye Jun, an alumnus of INTI International College Penang’s Foundation in Business programme.
Their approach addresses a common challenge faced by SMEs. Many businesses rely on separate systems for sales, marketing, accounting, and customer management, which often do not communicate with one another. This leads to inefficiencies, repeated work, and time spent switching between platforms.
Tarunnesh explained that this gap led the team to build an integrated system that brings these functions together in a single dashboard, supported by AI that can assist with planning and executing tasks.
“Many small businesses use separate platforms for accounting, marketing, customer management, and operations. Because these systems are not connected, it often leads to inefficiencies and repeated work,” he said. “Our solution brings these functions into one platform supported by AI automation, allowing business owners to reduce manual work, make better decisions, and focus on growing their business.”
His background in accounting and finance also shaped the approach, ensuring that the system remained practical and scalable for smaller businesses with limited resources.
“We designed it not just as a technology product, but as a tool that improves financial visibility and operational efficiency, especially for SMEs with limited resources,” he added.
For Cheong, the experience was built on the foundation he developed during his studies at INTI. He said the programme helped him understand key business areas while strengthening his ability to apply concepts in practical settings.
“The Foundation in Business programme gave me a strong understanding of key areas such as marketing, accounting, and economics. Through projects and presentations, I developed problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills that helped me apply what I learned in competitions like this,” he said.
He added that the idea continued to evolve as the team explored the challenges businesses with limited manpower face.
Tarunnesh Sri Sangar presents the Hybrid AI business solution during the pitching session at the Penang State Youth Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 in George Town.
“As we developed the concept, we saw how automation could make a real difference in how businesses operate. That motivated us to continue refining the solution,” he said.
As the concept took shape, the team conducted market research, built a prototype, and gathered feedback from industry professionals to refine their approach. Their work stood out during the competition, held on 24 January 2026 at Wawasan Open University in George Town, which brought together young entrepreneurs from across Penang.
According to Ang Wei Zhi, a lecturer from INTI’s School of Business at INTI International College Penang and the team’s advisor, the students demonstrated strong initiative throughout the process.
“They identified problems, developed ideas, and worked consistently to turn those ideas into practical solutions,” he said. “Experiences like this also help students build confidence, present under pressure, and respond to feedback beyond the classroom.”
Chief Executive of INTI International College Penang, Hemalatha Murugiah, said the achievement reflects the institution’s focus on practical learning.
“This achievement shows how students can apply what they learn to develop solutions that address real business challenges,” she said.
The team now plans to work with SME users to develop the prototype into a practical solution further, refining the system based on real business needs.