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Malaysia’s biggest kidpreneur platform makes its TV debut with powerful stories of innovation and creativity.
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 January 2026 – Goodday KidSTART 3.0, Malaysia’s biggest children’s entrepreneurship programme, has officially crowned 12-year-old Pearl Liang Yee Herr as its new champion following the highly anticipated series finale on Astro. Now in its third consecutive year, the programme has evolved into a compelling reality-style TV series, marking a significant milestone in its mission to nurture confidence, creativity and real-world problem-solving skills among young Malaysians.
Pearl Liang, from SJK(C) Serdang Baru 1, Selangor, walked away with the RM20,000 grand prize with her innovative idea, “AI Unicorn,” a customised, AI-powered solution designed to help students find the right school uniform size. The idea was inspired by her own experience of struggling to find off-the shelf uniforms that fit properly and her desire to help other children with similar challenges feel confident at school. She impressed industry judges from Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. and the Asia School of Business (ASB), earning praise for her confidence, clarity and real-world potential.
Second place went to 12-year-old Mohammad Nukman from SK Sungai Ara, Pulau Pinang, who won RM10,000 for his eco-focused idea, “Food Rescue Hub,” a concept that uses AI and drones to collect surplus food and turn it into organic fertiliser. He said the programme opened doors to new experiences and friendships outside of school. Third place was awarded to 9-year-old Teo Kevan from SJK(C) Kuen Cheng 2 for “Furever,” a short-term pet experience that allows children to enjoy guided play and pick up basic pet-care skills without long-term commitments.
Launched in 2022 to build financial literacy, creativity, communication and entrepreneurial thinking among children aged 7 to 14, Goodday KidSTART has rapidly grown into one of Malaysia’s most influential platforms for young innovators. In just three years, it has evolved from a simple ideation challenge into a nationwide movement that empowers children to observe the world around them, identify everyday problems and propose meaningful solutions.
This year marked the programme’s strongest showing yet, with more than 8,000 submissions — double last year’s entries and the highest participation since the programme began, reaffirming Goodday KidSTART's role as a catalyst for nurturing the next generation of confident, empathetic and socially conscious innovators.
For its third edition, Goodday KidSTART 3.0 made a significant leap by moving beyond a closed-door pitching format to debut as a nationwide TV series, , providing finalists with broader visibility and a platform to inspire peers nationwide. Key enhancements for this year included:
- A 4 episodic TV series format will be aired on Astro Ceria & Ria
- Immersive challenge rounds, including a business simulation at KidZania Kuala Lumpur
- Guidance from industry mentors from Cradle, ASB and seasoned entrepreneurs
- Real-world pitching and evaluations to strengthen confidence, communication and critical thinking skills
Amy Gan, Vice President of Marketing at Etika Sdn. Bhd. and spokesperson for Goodday Milk, shared that the programme reflects the brand’s long-term commitment to shaping confident, forward-thinking young Malaysians. “Nurturing children goes beyond providing nutritious products. It’s also about creating the right environments for them to explore ideas, push their creativity and discover what they’re capable of. Each year, the participants remind us just how bold and imaginative young minds can be, and that’s why we continue supporting a platform that helps them grow.”
Amy continued, “Evolving Goodday KidSTART into a national TV series with Astro was a deliberate step to broaden its reach and deepen its influence. Bringing the children’s journeys into Malaysian homes allows families to witness their growth from refining ideas to presenting with confidence and shows that innovation can come from any child, anywhere. This expanded format has allowed us to celebrate their stories on a larger stage, making the programme not just a competition, but a platform that inspires belief and possibility across the nation.”
The programme is backed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), and Puan Aniza binti Kamarulzaman, Director of the Educational Resources and Technology Division, shared her support during the taping of the final episode. “The Ministry of Education Malaysia is proud to support initiatives that cultivate creativity, problem-solving and communication skills among our students. Programmes like Goodday KidSTART offer invaluable hands-on experiences that complement classroom learning, and we want to thank Etika Sdn. Bhd. and Goodday Milk for championing such an initiative for the betterment of our future generation. It has been inspiring to see how much these children have grown, and we commend the organisers for their dedication and impact.”
Marking the first year of collaboration between Goodday KidSTART and Astro, Agnes Rozario, Chief Content Officer, Astro, shared, “Content has the power to shape curious minds. Being part of Goodday KidSTART’s journey to inspire learning, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in children, and to help unlock their potential, is a privilege for us. Astro is proud to partner with Goodday KidSTART and to support the programme as it continues to scale new heights, reaching a wider and more diverse audience while creating greater impact for children across Malaysia.”
Closer Look at the Finalists: Grit, Guts & Growth
Grand Prize Winner, Pearl, dedicated her victory to her parents, sharing, “I never imagined I would become the Goodday KidSTART Champion. I learned to be brave, believe in my ideas and keep trying. I do want to take my business idea further, but first I want to surprise my parents by buying them a new air conditioner because ours isn’t working. This win is for you, Mommy and Papa.”
From the 20 finalists selected nationwide, eight advanced to compete for the top prizes this year. In addition to the traditional pitching rounds, finalists also took part in a special challenge at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, where they were tested on real-world problem-solving, teamwork and practical business decision-making. This immersive experience gave judges deeper insight into each child’s capabilities, helping them identify the most well-rounded young innovators.
Beyond the Top 3 winners, outstanding talents were recognised across multiple award categories:
- Best Presenter (Above 10): Cinta Zandra Alayna Paul, 12 (Selangor)
- Best Presenter (10 and Below): Chong Jo Ann, 9 (Kuala Lumpur)
- Rising Star Award: Muhammad Arish Aidan Bin Mohd Hamzy, 12 (Selangor)
- Best Social Impact Award: Solomon Lim Tee Guan, 9 (Sarawak)
- Most Innovative Idea Award: Lau Wai Liang, 12 (Selangor)
Building on last year’s momentum, this year Goodday Milk honoured SJK (C) Yuk Chai with the Highest Participation Award, clinching first place and RM10,000 after recording over 600+ entries, the highest participation among all schools this year.
Judges’ Reflections
Judges from Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., the Asia School of Business (ASB) and Astro played a pivotal role throughout the programme — assessing ideas for innovation, feasibility, impact potential, commercial readiness, storytelling and personal growth. Beyond judging, they served as mentors and thought partners, pushing participants to refine their concepts, sharpen their pitches and think more strategically.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., shared that many of the ideas demonstrated genuine commercial potential beyond classroom creativity. He noted that what stood out most was how quickly the children absorbed feedback, sharpened their concepts and articulated real-world problems with clarity and confidence well beyond their age. Through Cradle’s continued guidance and ecosystem support, selected winners will be further nurtured to refine, validate and bring their ideas closer to real-world implementation.
From an academic lens, Dr Melati Nungsari, Deputy CEO and Associate Professor at Asia School of Business (ASB), commended the children’s polished, strategic presentations and their maturity in embracing feedback. Echoing this, Malaysian actor and TV host Datin Lisa Surihani Mohamed praised the finalists’ spirit and storytelling, noting that the television format brought to life the heart, grit and creativity behind each idea.
As the curtains close on this year’s competition, Goodday KidSTART continues to stand as a powerful reminder of what can happen when children are given the space to imagine, create and believe in themselves. The milk brand remain committed to nurturing the next generation of confident, future-ready Malaysians, ensuring that even more young innovators can step forward in the years to come.
