Unleashing the

Full Potential
of Malaysia’s
Startup Ecosystem
Are you …

A founder An investor A professional

with a world- in search of looking for your
changing idea? sustainable returns? next opportunity?
START IN
MALAYSIA
Start in Malaysia
Expand Test ideas Stretch Access Settle
To high with a your world your
growth diverse investments leading family in
markets audience further industries with ease

ASEAN >30 ethnic groups 1/6th Top 2 largest palm Top 3 in English
Population ~700M represented in office rent* oil producer in the proficiency in Asia
Malaysia world
Middle East 1/3rd Top 10 best cities
Population ~500M >130 languages cost of living* 7% of global to live in (KL, as
and dialects spoken semiconductor ranked by expats)
East Asia in Malaysia trade
Population >1.5B 1/4th of median
Top 3 market for international
Islamic finance school fees*

Top 3 global solar

PV module
producer
Note: *Compared to developed economies
ENERGY & MANUFACTURING &
GREEN TECHNOLOGY AUTOMATION

3rd largest LNG Top 3 70% renewable 6th largest 7% of global IR4.0 through
exporter photovoltaic energy & semiconductor semiconductor New Industrial
modules leader in APAC exporter trade Master Plan
producer by 2050

BE PART OF LEADING
GLOBAL INDUSTRIES

AGRICULTURAL ISLAMIC
TECHNOLOGY FINANCE

Top 2 largest Top 5 largest Established & Top 3 largest #1 sukuk #1 Islamic
palm oil rubber award-winning Islamic market and Finance
producer producer research financial Islamic funds Development
centers market AUM Indicator score
(10 consecutive years)
Malaysia’s offer to the world

Vibrant Large Available Access to Seamless

startup addressable funding at all talent at all business
community market stages levels environment

Innovation Belt Startup City Connect VC Golden Pass Innovation Pass Startup Concierge

Unicorn Golden Pass VC Launch Fund Founder & Talent Single Window
Relocation Service
VC Academy KL20 GPU Scheme
Skills@Scale
Startup Seed Grants
Executive Digital
Leadership
 A VIBRANT
STARTUP
COMMUNITY
A ‘belt’ of vibrant innovation hubs, bringing together ecosystem players in one place to enable collaboration and
exchange of ideas COMMUNITY CURATOR
Manages the hub and curates
KL STARTUP experiences to bring tenants
HUB together through hackathons,
ISLAMIC brown bags and investor pitches
FINANCE HUB
SPECIALISED
Mid Valley City LABORATORIES
ENERGY & Areas with specialised infrastructure
CLEANTECH HUB and equipment to support ongoing
research projects
Cheras

MANUFACTURING &
AUTOMATION HUB
OFFICE SPACE
Seri
Kembangan Repurposed buildings with office
space and high-speed internet for RESTAURANTS
20-100 companies That meets the needs of
Kajang startups in terms of
Example anchor tenants (Agritech): physical space, cuisines
• Agricultural drone technology and activities
startup with global customers
AGRICULTURE • APAC-based VC with a $1B
COMMUNAL SPACES
TECHNOLOGY HUB global agrifood fund
Open space with amenities for
tenants to interact, share ideas
and spark potential collaborations
Globally recognised startups setting up a significant presence in MY, acting as the centre of gravity for startup
hubs, and infusing talent into the ecosystem

Is your startup ... What we can offer you …

Bold and innovative

High valuation reflecting
strong growth potential and Funding Visas for Concessio- Top-tier Industry-
investor interest opportunities your team nary tax office space specific
from leading (with fee rate on within a benefits
VC investors exemption) corporate startup hub tailored to
Validated by the market profits you
High revenues showing
consistent market traction for
your products and services We want you to …

Sustainable long-term
Clear path to positive
cashflow demonstrating Establish a physical Build a leadership team Hire a team based in
business model viability office in Malaysia in Malaysia Malaysia to support
regional operations
 A LARGE
ADDRESSABLE
MARKET
Deep collaboration and integration between Malaysia and other major regions/economies, allowing startups to
operate seamlessly across markets

Example areas for collaboration

Accelerated Mutually- Seamless access Increased Regulatory

business setup recognised visas to investment connectivity harmonisation
for companies enabling holders opportunities through higher over the longer
already to freely move across both flight frequency term to enable
registered in one and work in each countries for and express frictionless trade
country country registered immigration lanes across both
investors countries
 AVAILABLE
FUNDING
AT ALL STAGES
Regional VCs with a strong track record setting up a presence in Malaysia to engage with and invest in the local
startup ecosystem

Are you a fund that... What we can offer you …

Is a leading global
LP funding Secured Visa fee Networking Expedited
investor opportunities office space exemption opportunities license
Top global or regional VC from in established for senior with startups, approval for
with at least AUM of more institutional startup hubs leaders investors & fund setup
than US$100M investors corporate
leaders
Has a strong track
record We want you to …
Multi-year track record of
investing in and scaling
successful tech startups
Establish a physical Invest in Malaysian and Hire a team based in
office in Malaysia ASEAN-based startups Malaysia to support
investment operations
Creation of new local VCs to widen funding and investment options for Malaysia’s seed- and
early-stage startups

Fund of Funds (FoF) programme specifically focused

on investing in first-time Malaysian fund managers

ELIGIBILITY FEATURES CONDITIONS

• Focused on seed and pre-seed stage • Provision of ~RM5M per fund • Matching investments from external
investors
• Target allocation of >50% in • Upskilling and capability
Malaysia development program • At least 50% of total investments in
SC qualifying venture companies
• HQ in Malaysia • VC administrative support
• Local presence in Malaysia
Programme to upskill professionals looking to enter the venture capital industry, with comprehensive and practical
resources on Malaysia’s startup ecosystem

4-week course aimed at: Syllabus covers VC fundamentals:

Introduction to local VC Startup fundamentals

landscape covering trends, covering corporate entity
deals, and key ecosystem structures, cap tables,
players and business operations

VC fundamentals Due diligence process

FIRST-TIME NEW VENTURE OTHER YOUNG including fundraising, covering how to evaluate
FUND CAPITAL PROFESSIO- structuring, startups and develop an
MANAGERS ANALYSTS NALS and deal sourcing investment thesis

Venture deal structure Venture modelling

focusing on the legal and showing the fundamentals
Opportunities to network with local investors and contractual processes of projecting returns,
business leaders behind investing dilution, etc.
 All promising seed- and early-stage startups have access to funding, scaling the pace of
investments at the start of the deal flow cycle

TBG

Grants available to early-stage startups based in Malaysia

Private & confidential

KL20 Action Paper 16
ACCESS TO HIGH-
CALIBRE TALENT
Holistic visa programme that makes it attractive and easy for founders and talent to work in Malaysia, building up
capabilities required for the startup ecosystem to thrive

Founders/ Senior Highly skilled General

entrepreneurs management talent talent
ARE YOU… First-time or C-suite or Head of Experienced talent with Tech or VC talent
experienced founder Department candidate scarce and in-demand required for day-to-day
building a business in tech/ VC skillsets operations

VISA FEATURES

Duration 5 years* 5 years* 5 years* 2 years*

Right to work Self + Spouse Self + Spouse Self Self

Grace period Visa not linked to Visa not linked to 180 days in case of job 90 days in case of job
employment employment loss loss

Other Up to 5 visas for N/A N/A N/A

founding team

Spouse Programme available for recipients of all visa programmes

Note: * Option to renew
2-week Spouse Programme will help spouses
settle in and build a meaningful career in Malaysia

Introduction Experience 1-on-1 Networking Guidance Ongoing

to Malaysia sharing career sessions beyond work support
consultations
Classes covering Sharing sessions Consultations Connecting with Lifestyle services Post-programme
lifestyle, culture, with other expats with external recruiters and HR such as support, such as
and workplace and programme experts to professionals childcare, gatherings,
norms alumni develop career language online resources
plans classes, etc.
One-stop service to facilitate a seamless experience for foreign talents moving to Malaysia, addressing their
relocation and lifestyle needs

A seamless transition
from your old home …

Initial Housing Relocation Family Admin

consultation assistance assistance support support
Understand Secure Support the Identify Set up critical
needs ahead of temporary and move of suitable services such as
the move to permanent belongings and education and banking and
Malaysia housing options family to childcare tax
Malaysia options

… To your new one

A centralised tech skills marketplace to upskill trainees by matching them with experienced trainers from a variety
of different backgrounds

TRAINER SKILLS@SCALE TRAINEE

MARKETPLACE
Design courses and classes on tech Search for relevant classes/courses
skills and digital capabilities on digital skills
Streamlined, easy-to-
navigate interface
Deliver courses to registered Sign up for suitable courses based
participants through the platform on requirements and user reviews
Search functionality
to filter by topic,
Receive payment from participants trainer, rating, etc. Participate in courses through
interested in the courses relevant channels

Course subsidies to
Adapt materials and course encourage Rate trainers and provide feedback
structure based on participant participation based on your training experience
feedback
A 3-month programme to equip leaders with critical digital capabilities and knowledge to uplift Malaysia’s digital
economy via transformation of their organisation

3-month programme… Programme modules

To equip leaders
Senior Management in Government and Digital Ethics Cybersecurity & data
large corporates who aspire to digitally transformation
transform their organization Key ethical and social Risk management of
Digital transformation implications of digital platforms and
and driving it from digitalisation data-driven decision
Delivered by experts the top making
In partnership with Asia School of
Business and leading tech companies

Cloud Computing Emerging Tech Digital Marketing

Via a blended model
Select perspective of Overview of select key Overview of digital
The programme will be delivered via in-
person and online classes that are digital transformation trends, e.g., AI, IOT, marketing, e.g., CX,
curated by MIT through cloud blockchain communication
computing
SEAMLESS BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
A one-stop concierge service for high potential startups, providing direct support with their business setup,
operation, and growth activities

BUSINESS SETUP VISA APPLICATIONS

Registering new Applying for Setting up other Providing advice Completing and Monitoring
business entities Malaysia Digital administrative on visas for submitting application and
and obtaining status to receive requirements (e.g. specific roles visa applications following up with
relevant licenses relevant benefits bank accounts) relevant agencies

Providing Setting up Registering for Connecting to Connecting to Managing

information on meetings with approved vendor local partner applications for
Malaysia’s business local corporates lists with GLC and authorities to organisations grants to
landscape and GLCs government setup new (accelerators, offset expansion
organisations businesses banks, etc.) costs

DOMESTIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVT.

OTHER ‘Buddy Program’ where founders are paired with a leader in Malaysian industry for advice on navigating the
FEATURES business environment and key stakeholders
A one-stop concierge service for high potential startups, providing direct support with their business setup,
operation, and growth activities

STARTUP DATABASE BUSINESS INFORMATION

Comprehensive information on all How to start and run a startup
startups in MY or VC in Malaysia

Full list of all startups in High level business Processes required to Visa types and
Malaysia and key details metrics covering set up and operate a application overview
(name, industry, financial and operational business in Malaysia to hire foreign talent
contacts) performance into Malaysia
SINGLE
WINDOW
Fundraising status Fundraising history Local industry Regional market
indicating whether the including most recent information on market information including
startup is open to rounds raised, trends, key players, and key industries, and
investor discussions valuations, and key potential customers cross-country
investors expansion

RESOURCE REPOSITORY
Example documents and templates to speed up doing business
Critical checklists for Investment templates Video resources Business templates for
relevant processes, eg. for VCs aligned to covering educational startups covering key
setting up a business, Malaysian regulation topics on startups, VCs, operations such as
running a diligence and local industries financial statements
KL20 GPU Scheme
Provision of world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure to startups in Malaysia, laying the foundation for
Malaysia to become a regional leader in AI

KEY FEATURES

State-of-the-art GPUs Partnerships in place to GPU cost reimbursements

integrated with data centre provide startups with data for startups relying on
hardware at key locations centre capacity AI-related technologies
across Malaysia
Join
To achieve...

Malaysia’s
Startup Additional active
startups
Additional high-
skilled jobs

Journey
Top 20 global startup
ecosystem

Economy driven by Additional annual VC Additional startup

innovation investment valuation

Destination of choice
for ecosystem players
... By 2030
GET IN TOUCH WITH
US THROUGH …
SINGLE WINDOW www.mystartup.gov.my