Leave a Nest Malaysia Successfully Organized TECH VENTURE MEETUP MALAYSIA 2024 and the 2nd ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year Award

On January 17, 2024, Leave a Nest hosted the Tech Venture Meetup (TVMU) 2024 at MRANTI Park in Kuala Lumpur. Our esteemed partners for this event included the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI), Real Tech Holdings Singapore, Mizuho Bank, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), NanoMalaysia, Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (TERAJU), Bursa Malaysia, PICA Manufacturing Solutions Malaysia, and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) Digital Village. The event saw the participation of 352 attendees and took place from 9:30 am to 3 pm.

The event commenced with a warm welcome from Mr. Safuan Zairi, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer (CEDO) of MRANTI, followed by insightful opening remarks by Mrs. Mahirah Basri, Project Leader of TECH VENTURE Meetup Malaysia 2024. Sixteen dynamic startup teams representing Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore actively participated in pitching sessions. These startups spanned diverse industries, including deep tech, biotech, sustainable tech, and marine tech.

From left to right: Welcoming speech by Mr. Safuan Zairi. Chief Ecosystem Development Officer (MRANTI)  and opening remarks by Project Leader of TECH VENTURE Meetup Malaysia 2024, Mrs. Mahirah Basri, Assistant Manager, Frontier Development Division (Leave a Nest)

First Startup Pitch Session

1. A2Tech Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Specialize in building and developing robotics solutions with a primary focus on inspection for 3D (dirty, difficult, and dangerous) jobs.
2. ADA Biotech Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Produces biodegradable products from agricultural wastes.
3. Carmen Automotive (Singapore) Pte Ltd (Singapore): Application integrated with IoT for predictive vehicle maintenance.
4. Entomal Biotech Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Implementing a circular food system through Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology, offering a solution for biowaste treatment and simultaneously providing sustainable protein.
5. Midwest Composites Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Producer of sustainable biocomposite. 
6. Greenlabs (PT Inovasi Hijau Indonesia) (Indonesia): Producer non-carcinogenic bio based-plasticizers
7. Tigasfera Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Containerized, on-site waste conversion system designed to generate on-demand energy and valuable byproducts.
8. Satok Bridge Digital Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): AI and IoT-based wildlife monitoring system.

Presenters from the first Startup Pitch Session. Top (from left to right): Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Athif Mohd Faudzi (A2Tech), Ms. Ma Xin Wen (Ada Biotech), Mr. Chong Yeu Sem (Carmen Automotive, Singapore), Ms. Yanni Xinyan Ching (Entomal Biotech). Below (from left to right): Mr. Sethu Raaj (Midwest Composites), Ms. Eunike Kartika Salduna (Greenlabs, indonesia), Mr. Yusof Faizal Amin (Tigasfera) and Mr. Lavindar Singh (Satok Bridge). 

Second Startup Pitch Session

1. Rivil Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Rivil’s technology involves groundbreaking technology that harnesses the condensation process to transform humidity in the air into water vapor. 
2. Flexilicate Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Specializing in the manufacturing of custom-designed specialty optical fibers, micro-structured fibers, and micro-glass tubing structures.
3. SpaceIn Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Providing IoT satellite services along with a comprehensive starter kit for ground sensors.
4. KinetiCar Squad (Philippines): Generating energy through the compression of a car's shock absorber.
5. My Myracle Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Specializing in producing POSTBIOTIC and a variety of nutritious functional foods, leveraging advanced and controlled fermentation technology.
6. Venambak.id (Indonesia): Climate smart aquaculture solution. 
7. CHOSEN Digital Co Ltd (Thailand): Comprehensive system for supporting EV charging and payments.
8. DF Automation and Robotics Sdn Bhd (Malaysia): Offering design, manufacturing, integration solutions, services, and maintenance for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV). 

Presenters from the second Startup Pitch Session. Top (from left to right): Mr. Faizal Akmal Abd Rashid (Rivil), Dr. Norilmi Ismail (SpaceIn), Prof Dato’ Dr Ir Faisal Rafiq (Flexilicate), Ms. Lau Hui Wan (My Myracles). Below (from left to right): Mr. Jr R Palattao (KinetiCar Squad, Philippines), Mr. Achmad Jerry (Venambak, indonesia), Mr. Worapoj Ruenrerngwong (Chosen Digital, Thailand) and Mr. Dr. Yeong Che Fai (DF Automation). 

In addition, we are privileged to count on our esteemed partners, including Real Tech Holdings Singapore, Mizuho Bank, SDEC, NanoMalaysia, Bursa Malaysia, and PICA Manufacturing Solutions Malaysia who graciously shared insights into their invaluable support and collaboration opportunities for startups to enhance their business scalability. The event attracted 21 potential investors and accelerators who actively participated in the pitching sessions and explored the showcased products at the booths. A total of 85 startups, 9 government agencies from Malaysia and Japan, one stock exchange, 24 corporates, and 2 banks were in attendance. 

Partners Presentation by Real Tech Holdings Singapore, Mizuho Bank, SDEC, NanoMalaysia, Bursa Malaysia and PICA Manufacturing Solutions Malaysia. Top (from left to right):: Mr. Daiki Kumamoto (Real Tech Holdings Singapore), Mr. Masato Kaneda (Mizuho Bank), Mr. Khairool Adzelan Aman (SDEC). Below (from left to right): Ts. Devandran Krishnan (NanoMalaysia), Mr. Muhd Farrish Ishak (Bursa Malaysia) and Mr. Tan Aik Han (PICA Manufacturing Solutions Malaysia. 

Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Bin Hassan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia, led a VIP booth tour. A total of 28 booths, featuring startups from various industries, corporates, and government agencies, provided a comprehensive view of the dynamic technological landscape. 

Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman visited one of the booths during TVMU 2024.

The afternoon session continued with a keynote speech by Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman. He  delivered a powerful keynote speech, highlighting the TVMU 2024 is lauded for fostering innovation, collaboration, and recognizing deep tech startups' achievements. MOSTI commends the event, emphasizing Malaysia's commitment to global tech advancements. Initiatives like Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030 and the Malaysia Venture Capital Roadmap (MVCR) underscore the nation's dedication to supporting startups. He added that the event highlights initiatives such as MRANTI Park and Leave a Nest's Center of Garage in Cyberjaya, contributing to Malaysia's tech evolution. He concluded by encouraging the celebration of innovation's spirit, emphasizing the ongoing significance of technology as a catalyst for positive change.

Datuk Ts. Dr. Mohd Nor Azman delivered an insightful keynote speech to the audience.

A thought-provoking panel discussion, titled “Navigating Uncharted Waters: How Deep Tech Startups are Redefining Traditional Industries,” featured industry leaders. Panelists included Mr. Daiki Kumamoto (Director of Real Tech Holdings Singapore), Ms. Elizabeth Charles (Executive of SDEC), Ts. Devandran Krishnan (Deputy Vice President of NanoMalaysia), and Mohd Najib Jaafar (Senior Director, Strategic Delivery of TERAJU). The session, moderated by Abdul Hakim Sahidi, Managing Director of Leave a Nest Malaysia, highlighted the significant role of deep tech solutions in addressing societal issues.

Valuable insights from  Panel Discussion sessions shared by panellists. From left to right): Mr. Daiki Kumamoto (Real Tech Holdings Singapore), Ms. Elizabeth Charles (SDEC), Ts. Devandran Krishnan (NanoMalaysia), and Mohd Najib Jaafar (TERAJU) and Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi (moderator).

After the panel session, the event proceeded with an opening speech for the second ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year (DTVOTY) Award Ceremony by Dr. Yukihiro Maru, Group CEO of Leave a Nest. Following this, Dr. Yuko Ueno shared the history of DTVOTY. This prestigious award acknowledges startups in Southeast Asia that address profound issues and inspire others to challenge themselves in advancing their development. The awardees this year include Robopreneur (Malaysia), ProfilePrint (Singapore), and SolX Technologies (Philippines) for their exceptional contributions to society through innovation.

Dr. Yukihiro Maru inaugurated the ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year ceremony, followed by special remarks from Dr. Yuko Ueno.

Winners of ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year 2024 with Leave a Nest and MRANTI representatives. From left to right: Dr. Yukihiro Maru (Group CEO, Leave a Nest), Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman (Chairman, MRANTI), Dr. Hanafiah Yussof (Group CEO, Robopreneur), Mr. Sergius Santos (CEO, SolX Technologies, Philippines), Mr. Alan Lai (CEO, ProfilePrint), Mr. Safuan Zairi (CEDO, MRANTI), Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi (Managing Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia and Dr. Yuko Ueno, Director Leave a Nest Malaysia. 

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin delivered a special remark underscoring Malaysia's role as a hub for cutting-edge advancements through collaboration. The TVMU, as a bridge connecting startups with key stakeholders, aligns with MRANTI's goal of nurturing high-tech industries for sustainable growth. The event concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Abdul Hakim, Managing Director of Leave a Nest Malaysia, expressed hope for fruitful collaborations contributing to Malaysia's technology and innovation landscape.

Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman delivered special remarks, followed by Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi's closing speech.

Leave a Nest Malaysia extends gratitude to all partners, participants, and contributors for making TVMU 2024 a remarkable success. The event exemplifies a commitment to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and building a vibrant technology ecosystem in Malaysia.

Upcoming programs organized by Leave a Nest Malaysia:

Hyper-Interdisciplinary Conference in Malaysia (24th February 2024)

Sustainable Food Camp 2024 (28th & 29th February 2024) 

Career Discovery Forum (27th April 2024)

Tech Planter in Malaysia (18th May 2024)

Tech Planter in Indonesia (20th July 2024)

For more information on our programs, please contact us at [email protected].