For Sharmeen Looi, beauty pageants weren’t just about the spotlight – they were a masterclass in inventiveness. “I entered competitions every semester during college – not because I aspired to be a beauty queen, but, believe it or not, for pocket money,” she muses. With 12 titles to her name, Sharmeen didn’t just collect crowns, she turned them into a side gig that funded her degree in mass communication.
Hailing from Penang, Sharmeen attended the prestigious St. George’s Girls’ School. While she had countless ideas about her future, she saw communication as the perfect starting point – a field that would not only refine her voice but also serve as a bridge between her vision and the career she aspired to build.
Her journey kicked off at ShopBack
Even before graduating, Sharmeen had an entrepreneurial spirit that couldn’t be contained. “I’ve always wanted to build something of my own, and that included a business,” she recalls. With that drive, she went on to co-found ShopBack, a game-changing cashback rewards platform spanning Asia Pacific, New Zealand, and the USA. By partnering with merchants through affiliate programs, ShopBack allows online shoppers to earn back a percentage of their purchases.
“It all began when a friend introduced me to Joel Leong, the co-founder of ShopBack,” Sharmeen recalls. Intrigued by the world of e-commerce, she was eager to dive in and experiment. During her time at the company, she actively shared her ideas and insights, driven by passion to help ShopBack thrive and reach new heights.
At ShopBack, fate steered Sharmeen into the path of Gil Carmo – currently her co-founder at iMotorbike. United by a shared vision and an insatiable drive to excite the retail landscape, the duo sparked ideas that would soon revolutionise the two-wheeler marketplace.
“Anyone who knows me also knows I can’t sit still,” Sharmeen admits. “I started craving more and wanted to build something big, something meaningful. We kept asking ourselves, ‘What’s that one thing Malaysians need but hasn’t been built yet?’” The answer soon became clear: a seamless, trustworthy platform for buying and selling two-wheelers. After five dynamic years at ShopBack, she decided to take a step back as a silent partner and rev up a new venture. That led her to co-found iMotorbike, the thriving motorcycle resale platform we know today.
Riding high at iMotorbike
As the co-founder of iMotorbike, an innovative e-commerce marketplace, Sharmeen is celebrating yet another major milestone. “Buying a second-hand vehicle from a stranger comes with its fair share of uncertainty, including trust issues, endless paperwork, licensing hurdles, and the list goes on,” Sharmeen explains. “With iMotorbike, we set out to eliminate these barriers, creating a seamless, trustworthy, and hassle-free experience for buyers and sellers alike.”
In January 2025, iMotorbike secured an impressive US$D10 million in Series A funding – a game-changing investment set to accelerate its expansion into new regions while solidifying its stronghold in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. “My team and I are beyond thrilled by this milestone, and we’re wasting no time. iMotorbike’s expansion into Taiwan is already in motion,” Sharmeen shares with excitement.
Amplifying her voice and marking her territory
When it comes to trust, Sharmeen has had her fair share of sceptics. Customers walking into the centre often assume she’s out of place, questioning her expertise and even her physical strength as a woman in the motorbike industry. “Whenever a technical question comes up, their eyes instinctively search for a man,” she recalls with a laugh. “But I’ve proved them wrong – every single time.” In an industry dominated by men, Sharmeen doesn’t just participate; she changes perspectives, one conversation at a time.
In the early days, investor meetings came with their own set of challenges. More than once, Sharmeen found herself mistaken for an assistant rather than a founder. “I walked into a room full of potential backers, only to have them direct their questions to my male colleagues,” she recalls. But she didn’t let that slide. With a firm voice and a well-defined strategy, she quickly commanded the room’s attention – proving that she wasn’t just part of the conversation, but she was leading it.
Sharmeen may have faced hurdles early on, but she didn’t just navigate the industry – she reshaped it. Beyond making waves in the motoring world, she’s become a beacon of inspiration for other women looking to break barriers. “When I interview female candidates for iMotorbike, I can see the sense of reassurance they feel knowing there’s a woman in leadership,” she shares.
“No matter your gender, the key to changing perceptions in any industry is consistent results,” Sharmeen advises. “Over time, when you prove your capabilities again and again, the doubts fade away because your work speaks for itself.”
Steering a company while embracing motherhood
Sharmeen’s story is one of resilience – evolving from a young girl in pageants to hustling for a living, and now leading a thriving company. “I love what I do. Every morning, I wake up excited for what the day will bring – new ideas, new sales, new customers,” she shares. “Even now, as I await the arrival of my firstborn, I still show up to work because every moment of this journey excites me.”
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring trailblazers, Sharmeen doesn’t hesitate. “Just start. Take that leap of faith. Don’t wait for the perfect moment because there is none. You are your own toughest critic, and the only obstacle in your way is you. Every day is a fresh opportunity so make it count,” she affirms.
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Photography: Imran Sulaiman