AdminGrowth Charger, a leading startup accelerator and incubator, has been selected to host the Malaysia Finals of the Startup World Cup 2024. The Malaysia Finals, held in conjunction with Malaysia’s Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations, will offer one exceptional Malaysian startup the opportunity to compete on the global stage in Silicon Valley. The winner of this national competition will have the chance to vie for a grand prize of USD $1,000,000 in investment at the Startup World Cup 2024.
The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance innovation and the startup landscape in Malaysia in accordance with the Malaysian government aims to be among the top 20 in the Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE) by 2030 and to make Kuala Lumpur a key digital and startup hub in Southeast Asia. By bringing one Malaysian startup to Silicon Valley, Growth Charger aims to showcase Malaysian entrepreneurial talent on a global platform, thereby increasing opportunities for innovation and investment. This initiative aligns with the goals outlined in the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030, which emphasises the importance of attracting global attention, fostering innovation, and encouraging investment to strengthen the local ecosystem.
Highlighting local talent on a global platform
“At Growth Charger, we envision a future where Malaysian startups lead in global innovation. Leading the organization of this year’s Startup World Cup (Malaysia) 2024, our mission is to highlight the incredible talent within our local startup ecosystem. This event is the perfect platform to showcase our startups to the world. After a thorough evaluation, our esteemed judges have identified and selected the Top 10 finalists, representing the best of Malaysian innovation. We eagerly anticipate their pitches on the regional Finals and look forward to seeing one of them advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley this October.” said Iskandar Shafi’i, Director and Co-founder at Growth Charger.
Iskandar Shafi’i added that this finalist will not only represent Malaysia but also compete for a grand prize of USD $1,000,000 in investment, providing a transformative opportunity to engage with top investors globally. He also extended heartfelt thanks to Pegasus Tech Ventures for this incredible opportunity and to all the partners in Malaysia for their unwavering support.
Strategic partnerships for a global stage
During the partnership signing ceremony held at WORQ’s newly opened branch located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur in Intermark, Growth Charger is proud to announce a title partnership with Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) through MYStartup and strategic partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to support this initiative.
Additionally, WORQ and CloudMile were secured as ecosystem partners, alongside key players such as Cyberview, Invest Selangor, The Hive Southeast Asia, Gobi Partners, Iris Capital Partners, Curine Ventures, Kumpulan Modal Perdana (KMP), Artem Ventures, Sunway iLabs, Ficus Capital, Ignite Asia, Indelible Ventures, TRIVE, Antler, International Medical University (IMU), and Endeavor as supporting partners. These partnerships will provide invaluable support and resources to participating startups, enhancing their chances of success on the global stage.
Cradle’s commitment to global success
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, expressed pride in collaborating with Growth Charger for the upcoming Malaysia Finals of the Startup World Cup 2024. He highlighted that this partnership reflects Cradle’s deep commitment to empowering Malaysian startups to succeed on the international stage.
“By working alongside other key ecosystem players, we remain steadfast in our role to nurture innovation and provide the crucial support that our startups need to thrive. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships, we believe that our homegrown startups can bloom beyond borders, thus advancing Malaysia towards its vision to become one of the top 20 global startup ecosystems. We are hopeful and confident in the future successes of all participating startups as they take on this global challenge.” said Vanhaecke.
Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), highlighted MDEC’s dedication to accelerating Malaysia’s position as a leading digital economy through initiatives like the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative. “The Startup World Cup Malaysia Finals 2024 is a key step in this direction, providing our startups with a global platform to showcase their potential,” said Ts. Mahadhir Aziz.
Wong Chea Hao, Head of Real Estate and Product Development at WORQ, shared that WORQ is proud to support the Startup World Cup (Malaysia) as an ecosystem partner alongside Growth Charger. He stated, “This aligns with our commitment to fostering a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem that drives national economic growth through our cloud office infrastructure.”
Lester Leong, Country Manager of CloudMile Malaysia, encouraged startups by saying, “Dream big. Build bold. CloudMile, your tech ecosystem partner, empowers Malaysian startups to disrupt the world through the Startup World Cup!”
Top 10 startups to compete in Malaysia Finals
Among the 10 startups finalists selected during the semi-finals, the winner of the Malaysia Finals will have a unique opportunity to pitch their startup in Silicon Valley before world-class judges, compete for a grand prize of USD $1,000,000 in investment, and network with venture capitalists, global startups, and industry experts. This opportunity will not only put the winning startup on the global map but also provide a significant boost to their growth and development.
The 10 selected startups for Startup World Cup (Malaysia) 2024 Finals include:
1. Pandai, Malaysia #1 learning app for school students with gamified quizzes aligned to a specific school curriculum.
2. Braintree Technologies, Multi-action agriculture robotics solution, capable of millimetre level agriculture of precision.
3. Vidanex, AI-driven pathology solution accelerates cancer diagnosis by delivering swift and precise results through advanced algorithms.
4. Faradays Energy, Hydrogen green technology company that specialises in the development, manufacturing, and deployment of advanced hydrogen fuel cell systems for various applications.
5. Midwest Composites, Engineered composites for Aerospace, Military, Automotive & Mass Transit.
6. Ejen2U, Platform that helps entrepreneurs to manage stockists and agents digitally and helps increase their sales and agent numbers through “data analytics.”
7. Reclimate, Produces biochar by heating plant materials without oxygen, creating a carbon-rich substance for soil enhancement.
8. Messengerco, AI platform that streamlines corporate gifting with instant supplier replies and quote
9. ScancerAI, Revolutionizing lung cancer diagnostics by leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies.
10. MengajiOnline, One stop centre platform to teach and learn about islamic studies across the world.
The Startup World Cup is a global series of conferences and competitions designed to connect startup ecosystems worldwide and spotlight the most talented entrepreneurs, offering them the chance to win a US$1 million investment prize. The competition involves regional finals held across the globe, culminating in a semi-finals and Grand Finale in San Francisco.
Growth Charger’s role in supporting startups
Growth Charger currently manages 128 portfolios and has accelerated over 250 startups, of which have raised a total investment of over USD $173 million. With a history of successful collaborations with government agencies such as MDEC, Cyberview, MaGIC, MoU, Sidec, TERAJU and Yayasan Peneraju, Growth Charger has solidified its position as a key player in the startup ecosystem. This experience and expertise will be crucial in supporting the participating startups throughout the competition.
For more details about the Startup World Cup Malaysia Finals 2024, please visit: [https://www.growthcharger.com/startup-world-cup-malaysia-growth-charger-2024]
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