Where is Malaysia at? A deep dive into Malaysia’s tech & startup ecosystem

So much has been said and written about the vast potential of the Malaysian tech ecosystem – and for all the right reasons.

Within ASEAN, Malaysia was one of the first countries to invest in the Digital Economy with the establishment of multiple government agencies, seeding policies, industry blueprints, and the development of many acceleration programs. Coupled with its multicultural society, ease of adoption in digital economy services, and a well-exposed middle class, the nation has always been a prime destination for Asian and multinational companies to expand their business footprints.

For our inaugural APAC Startup Ecosystem Conversations Show, we spoke to Alan Lim, President, MBAN & Principal Advisor at NEXEA Angels & Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Senior Partner, Scaleup Malaysia, pioneers in Malaysia’s startup ecosystem, to get their perspective on where Malaysia stands as a tech and startup hub in ASEAN and how this rich ecosystem has evolved over the years.

During the conversation, both gentlemen spoke about:

The evolution of Malaysia’s startup ecosystem, starting with Internet 1.0 in the 90s to 2000, through to pre-Covid times.
What Malaysia’s tech, funding and startup landscape looks like today.
Where Malaysia stand as compared to its peers in the region.
Malaysia’s winning formula to nurture and build a rich ecosystem.
The role of the Malaysian Government as a catalyst for capacity building, including how the private sector has come together to pledge support for the ecosystem.
How Malaysian talents rank (in terms of maturity) as compared to Singapore and Indonesia.
How an event like MBAN Summit 2022 bridges the gaps in Malaysia’s tech ecosystem.