UNIMAS INNOVATORS TRANSFORM WATER LETTUCE INTO FISH FEED

A playful bet between three university friends has grown into a biotechnology startup with the potential to reshape Malaysia’s aquaculture landscape.

What started as a challenge between 23-year-old students at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has since evolved into Lettuboost Enterprise, an innovation that transforms an invasive aquatic weed into a more affordable ingredient for fish feed.

Today, the startup is gaining national recognition for turning a persistent environmental problem into an economic solution for fish farmers.

Lettuboost Enterprise, founded in 2025, is the brainchild of three young innovators from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) — S. Pavithran Julieus and Neil Erickson Nelyson, both Master of Biotechnology students from the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, and Mohammad Zulhilmi Abang Mohammad Reduan, an alumnus of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology.

Today, Zulhilmi serves as chief executive officer (CEO), Pavithran as chief technical officer (CTO) and Neil as chief operating officer (COO). However, the trio’s journey began with a simple pact: win a competition hosted by UNIMAS and turn their innovation into a company.

“If we win this competition, we will open a company,” Zulhilmi recalled telling Pavithran. The team secured second place and in the very same year, went on to win Shell LiveWire Sarawak.

“That was when it became real… and the rest is history,” Zulhilmi said.

MAKING FEED AFFORDABLE FOR FARMERS

At the heart of Lettuboost’s innovation is water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), an invasive aquatic plant that clogs waterways, accelerates eutrophication and threatens ecosystems.

Rather than viewing it as waste, the team saw untapped potential.

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Using biotechnology processes, they convert water lettuce into powder form and incorporate it into fish feed formulations, partially replacing expensive ingredients such as fish meal and soybean meal.

For Pavithran, fondly known as PJ, the breakthrough was not just scientific, but economic.

“For us, the turning point was when we realised water lettuce was not just biologically viable, but economically viable,” said Pavithran, who is of Bidayuh and Indian parentage and has been fascinated with science since his teenage years.

He said fish meal alone can account for 60 to 70 per cent of feed formulation costs, while farmers typically spend up to 80 per cent of their operating expenditure on feed.

“When we saw that this raw material is abundant, essentially free, and could replace part of the nutritional value in fish meal, we knew this could scale beyond the lab and into the real economy,” he added.

According to Neil, Lettuboost aims to reduce fish feed costs by 15 to 20 per cent. With commercial feed priced at around RM9 per kilogramme (kg), the startup is proposing a price of approximately RM7 per kg.

“Farmers buy in tonnes, not kilos, so every RM2 difference per kg can translate into substantial savings,” said the middle child of three siblings.

An extrovert who is active in sports, music and performing arts, Neil’s people-oriented nature now complements his role overseeing operations and community engagement at Lettuboost.

FROM CAMPUS COMPETITIONS TO NATIONAL RECOGNITION

The startup’s credibility has been reinforced through a string of achievements.

After winning at the Sarawak level, Lettuboost went on to be named one of five national winners of Shell LiveWire Malaysia 2025, emerging from a pool of 180 entrepreneurs nationwide and selected among 15 state-level finalists from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

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As a national winner, Lettuboost received RM30,000 in start-up funding and access to the global LiveWire network, opening doors for international collaboration and knowledge exchange. The team will also stand a chance to compete in the Shell Global Top Ten Innovators Awards.

To further encourage Sarawak participation, Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak awarded an additional RM20,000 cash incentive to Lettuboost.

Beyond Shell LiveWire, the startup also placed second in the Vibes Innovation Challenge 2025 and emerged champion at the Youth Innovation Challenge 2025 (Zon Sarawak), organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation through Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia.

Winning at national level, Zulhilmi said, significantly strengthened investor confidence.

“It boosted our credibility and momentum. It opened doors to industry partners, mentors and leaders that we would not have had access to before,” he said.

He said the startup has since secured three confirmed investors — two from Peninsular Malaysia and one from Sarawak — and is currently formalising investment arrangements.

“What sets us apart is that we’re solving two problems at once. An environmental problem and a social problem, while being backed by science and research and development (R&D),” said the eldest of four siblings.

BUILDING A CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

Scaling up, however, presents challenges.

Ensuring consistent supply and standardised quality remains a key technical focus, as water lettuce grows under varying environmental conditions that affect its nutritional profile.

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Currently, Pavithran said Lettuboost sources raw materials from lakes in Serian and the Samarahan area, while working with local communities and authorities to formalise harvesting networks across Sarawak.

“We’re converting something that was once invasive and harmful into something beneficial which is giving it back to the ecosystem in the form of food,” he said. 

Over the next 12 months, the company aims to expand feeding trials, increase production capacity and validate results with more farmers to strengthen market trust.

In five years, the founders hope Lettuboost will be recognised as one of Southeast Asia’s leading sustainable animal feed producers and ultimately, as a biotechnology company known for turning invasive biomass into high-value solutions.

“I am looking forward for lettuboost to reach millions of valuation next year. We would like to scale for more animal feedstocks and revolutionised animal growth with deep tech through gene editing,” Zulhilmi said. 

The trio also credited UNIMAS for providing facilities, mentorship and platforms that enabled their innovation to flourish.

From a friendly bet between friends to national recognition and investor backing, Lettuboost reflects the growing potential of Sarawak’s youth in driving science-based and socially impactful enterprises.

For Malaysia’s younger generation, their journey offers a compelling reminder: sometimes, big change begins with curiosity, courage, as well as the willingness to take a leap of faith.