When you think of motorcycles, what comes to mind? Loud engines, rugged mechanics, and… mostly men, right? Now imagine walking into a sleek motorbike showroom, and being greeted by a woman who not only co-founded the company, but is also steering its growth across Southeast Asia. Meet Sharmeen Looi, the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of iMotorbike, a fast-growing Malaysian startup that’s changing how we buy and sell used motorcycles.
But her journey didn’t begin with gears and engines. It started with pageants and pocket money.
From Beauty Queen to Boardroom
“I entered competitions every semester during college, not because I aspired to be a beauty queen, but for pocket money,” Sharmeen shared with a smile. She won 12 titles, using them to help pay for her mass communication degree. This early hustle wasn’t just about cash, it revealed a knack for creativity, communication, and confidence, qualities that would later fuel her startup journey.
Sharmeen’s first real taste of entrepreneurship came when she co-founded ShopBack Malaysia, a cashback platform where users earn money for shopping online. “I’ve always wanted to build something of my own,” she said. That desire to create, paired with curiosity about e-commerce, pushed her to share ideas, experiment, and learn the ropes of startup life.
It was at ShopBack that she met Gil Carmo, who later became her partner in launching iMotorbike.
Starting iMotorbike: “What Haven’t Malaysians Built Yet?”
After five years at ShopBack, Sharmeen Looi was ready for something new. “We kept asking ourselves, ‘What’s something Malaysians need but hasn’t been built yet?’” she said. The answer was clear: a safe, easy-to-use platform for buying and selling motorcycles.
That idea became iMotorbike, co-founded by Sharmeen and Gil Carmo in 2016. Since then, it has grown into Southeast Asia’s top motorcycle platform, now operating in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, with plans to expand to Taiwan. The company’s growth picked up speed in 2024, with the launch of a three-storey showroom in Glenmarie, Selangor, and more than 10,000 customers served that year alone.
Another major achievement came when iMotorbike raised US$10 million (RM44.6 million) in Series A funding. The round was led by Headline, a well-known global venture capital firm, along with support from Ondine, 500 Global, Gobi Partners, Astor Management, and Endeavor Catalyst. The funding came in two parts, one in June 2023 and the second in early 2025.
Leading in a Male-Dominated Space
The motorbike industry is still largely male. Women only make up about 25% of the workforce, and at iMotorbike, female representation is currently 20%, up from 8% just last quarter.
That growth isn’t by accident. “We’ve worked hard to create an inclusive space. From recruitment to leadership, we ensure there’s no bias,” Sharmeen said.
Despite her role as co-founder, people still assume the guy in the room is the boss. “There was one time someone told me to wait outside before a meeting, they thought only Gil had decision-making power,” she recalled.
But Sharmeen doesn’t let it get to her. “A leader is a leader. Management style isn’t defined by gender,” she said.
Still, she acknowledges that unconscious sexism exists and needs to be addressed, not just in the workplace, but from childhood. “Toys shouldn’t be limited by gender. That affects what kids believe they can become.”
Inspiring More Women, As Riders & Colleagues
Beyond the boardroom, Sharmeen is also trying to shift how women are seen in the world of motorcycling.
Only 12% of iMotorbike’s buyers are female, even though 35% of their website audience and 20–25% of their ad views come from women. “The interest is there,” she said, “but many women are held back by lack of gear options and representation.”
To change that, iMotorbike is curating bikes for female riders, highlighting their stories on the company blog, and even offering riding lessons for female staff.
“The visibility of having a female founder helps,” Sharmeen said. “It shows women belong in this space.”
Steering Through Doubt With Confidence
In the early days, investors often mistook her for an assistant. Customers doubted her knowledge. “Whenever there’s a technical question, their eyes instinctively search for a man,” she joked. “But I’ve proved them wrong, every single time.”
Her advice for other women? Be bold.
“Believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t let fear stop you from taking risks. Surround yourself with people who support you, friends, family, or mentors, and stay focused on your goals.”
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