KUCHING: MYStartup NXT Sarawak brings together aspiring local entrepreneurs, existing start-ups and industry experts to foster inclusivity, impact, and sustainability within Malaysia’s vibrant start-up ecosystem.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) through Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) in collaboration with Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS), the micro-conference series was held for two days at TEGAS Digital Village.
The conference is part of the ambitious initiative to create over 5,000 quality start-ups by 2025, providing them with the comprehensive support and resources needed to thrive in the dynamic start-up ecosystem.
It said the conference is a platform that offers aspiring and existing entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn, network, and expose themselves to corporates, technology giants, investors, and other relevant stakeholders to start and scale a business.
Cradle senior vice-president of Ecosystem Development, Ahmad Kashfi Alwi shared his views of the difficulties faced by Sarawakian entrepreneurs to start-up businesses.
“Sarawak is a unique state on its own, where entrepreneurs face a very different set of challenges in starting and scaling their businesses.
“Together with our partners and stakeholders, we have specially curated the event based on the entrepreneurial landscape in Sarawak, in hopes of creating a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem for Malaysia,” he said.
The first day of MYStartup NXT on July 11 kicked off with a thought-provoking opening panel discussion entitled “Sarawak: An Undiscovered Launchpad to Southeast Asia”.
The panel shed light on the state’s untapped potential as a strategic business hub in Southeast Asia, given its ideal combination of factors, a supportive start-up ecosystem, abundant natural resources, and a strategic location neighbouring Nusantara, which will soon house Indonesia’s new capital.
In addition, the panellists explored the benefits of establishing start-ups in Sarawak, highlighting unique industry opportunities and shared strategies for global expansion.
Another session entitled “Sarawak’s Rise as a Tech Hub” highlighted the tremendous progress achieved through the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy (2018-2022), which has paved the way for the state’s transformation into a developed region by 2030.
The second day (July 12) started off with a session entitled “Building Stronger Foundation: Secure and Scalable Cloud Infrastructures for Start-ups”.
It emphasised the significance of establishing secure and scalable cloud infrastructures for start-ups to grow and scale in the modern business landscape in addition to building a robust foundation for a growing business, ensuring data security and adaptability to changing needs.
A fireside chat on “Building a Next-Gen Catalyst: Empowering the Changemakers of Tomorrow” provided a platform for discussing the crucial role of Sarawak as a catalyst for change and serve as a frontier for technological advancements and encourage collaboration among government, private sector, and civil society in fostering innovation and positive impact.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming response and engagement we witnessed at MYStartup NXT in Sarawak.
“This is a true testament to the untapped potential of Sarawak as an undiscovered launchpad to Southeast Asia,” said Ahmad.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup expressed confidence that the MYStartup initiative would continue to drive innovation, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the overall economic development of the region.
“At MoSTI, we remain committed to supporting initiatives under MYStartup that foster entrepreneurship and technological advancement as we work together to build a vibrant and sustainable start-up ecosystem in Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole,” he said.
MYStartup NXT will continue its journey with upcoming stops in Penang and Sabah, further bolstering Malaysia’s thriving start-up ecosystem.
