As outlined in the Malaysian Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030, Malaysia is aiming to be among the top 20 global startup ecosystems. Currently ranked 21 out of 100 best-developing ecosystems based on the Global Startup report, Malaysia has been expanding its efforts in supporting national policies and programs that promote high-tech innovation.
Malaysia's unparalleled connections, infrastructure, and talent, as well as strong government backing, provide a perfect environment for business growth. As a result, the venture capital and angel investor landscape in Malaysia has been on the rise, with a number of investors showing interest in the market. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of Venture Capital Firms and Angel Investors in Malaysia, so you may find the right funding partner for you.
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Why Should You Raise Funds in Malaysia?
You should consider raising funds for your startup in Malaysia for several reasons:
Growing startup ecosystem and favorable business environment: Malaysia has a burgeoning startup ecosystem and a favorable economic climate, thanks to a supportive government, active venture capital and angel investment networks, and numerous startup support programs. Furthermore, with a well-developed infrastructure, modern telecommunication services, high internet penetration, a strong financial sector, a business-friendly regulatory framework, and a low cost of living, Malaysia is a highly appealing site for entrepreneurs wanting to establish operations in the area.
Supportive government policies: The Malaysian government has enacted numerous policies to help the startup ecosystem thrive, such as tax breaks for investors and entrepreneurs, as well as startup financing initiatives. Many government entities provide funding to the ecosystem, notably setting aside a budget of RM 230 million (USD 54 million) to promote female entrepreneurs and an additional RM 150 million (USD 35 million) for young entrepreneurs in 2022. To foster and support innovation in the country, the government has also implemented measures such as the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox.
Digitally-savvy population and diverse market: Malaysia has a diverse, digitally-savvy population with a growing middle class, with a mobile penetration rate of 142.1% and 127.4% internet penetration rate. This particular market is attractive for startups to penetrate and scale their products and services.
Venture Capitalist Funds in Malaysia
The venture capitalist funds below are actively looking for investments in promising companies throughout various stages and sectors. The stages stated do not limit the possibility of getting funding if your company is at any stage other than what is listed.
Year of Inception: 2003
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Instaweb, CloudJoi, MyCash Online, Apping Technology
Cradle is Malaysia's leading influencer for tech-based startups. With the goal of creating an ecosystem that fosters a robust and inventive business-building environment, they support early-stage firms through various programs and activities. They offer two Cradle Investment Programmes: CIP Spark for pre-seed enterprises to help them actualize ideas and CIP Sprint for seed investments to help startups commercialize their ideas and scale their growth.
Year of Inception: 2013
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Agritech, AR, AI, Edutech, E-commerce, Foodtech, Fintech, Green Tech, HealthTech, HRTech, InsurTech, Proptech, Logistics, Retail, Retail Tech, Service, Social Enterprise
Notable Portfolio: FoodBike, Parkeasy, GrubCycle, Unearth, Tide Analytics
1337 Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups and assists them through every stage of growth. Apart from funding, they also run an accelerator program to help startups achieve product-market fit and grow their operations. Since its founding, 1337 Ventures has produced over 700 successful graduates and has now expanded to encompass some of the newest and most innovative fields in the market.
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: FinTech Solutions, Digital Media
Notable Portfolio: BEAM, Cryptos, Minerium, iFashion Group
Started out as Singapore's government-partnered incubator, Fatfish Group has since become a publicly listed technology venture-builder that has swiftly grown to other parts of Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe. Their venture capital branch in Malaysia, Fatfish Ventures Sdn. Bhd., has been named a co-investment partner of Cradle, Malaysia's Ministry of Finance's early-stage technology funding agency.
Year of Inception: 2016
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Internet, Mobile
Notable Portfolio: Refash, BEAMSTART, Hapz, MEGPlay, TAG La
TBV Capital is a VC firm that is dedicated to supporting you from day zero. They assist founders from the very beginning, collaborating with their expert teams to build the foundation for long-lasting enterprises. Each member of their group provides decades of industry experience and skills across key functions such as marketing, production, and R&D to assist your startup's growth.
Year of Inception: 2006
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Life Sciences, Agriculture, Industrial, Healthcare, Biotechnology
Notable Portfolio: Greenlight Biosciences, LanzaTech, Pivot Bio, Inscripta
As the name suggests, the Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund is a venture fund specializing in early-stage investments in life sciences, agriculture, industrial, and healthcare biotechnology. They have established two funds that invest in a diverse portfolio of biogreentech enterprises at various stages of development.
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: HAUZ, Lokein, RunningMan, JobWorks, EzySpark, Commsights
NEXEA is a startup investment firm that specializes in assisting and investing in tech startups that have the ability to disrupt any sector, address genuine issues, build solutions that shift market landscapes, and become technological giants. The NEXEA Early Stage Venture Capital Malaysia Programme is targeted at tech firms that have generated revenue and are ready to expand. Aside from finance, they also provide the best-in-class assistance through their renowned and exclusive network of mentors, experts, and partners.
Year of Inception: 2018
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology, Supply Chain, Mobility
Notable Portfolio: Carsome, Travelio, Dropee, Pomona, Velotrade
Vynn Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in tech startups in Southeast Asia. As a sector-focused investor, they are particularly interested in the Supply Chain and Mobility sectors, but are open to startups in the fields of Logistics, Travel, and FMCG. In addition to providing capital, they also position themselves as partners to entrepreneurs; supporting them in navigating through the challenges of business-building and helping them grow to become world-changing enterprises.
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: MedTech, Pharmaceutical Biotech, Biorenewables
Notable Portfolio: Conformis, Acutus Medical, GreenLight Biosciences, Oncomyx Therapeutics, LanzaTech
Xeraya is a venture capital and private equity firm that invests in the future of life sciences. Their investments support the development of ground-breaking products and life-changing breakthroughs that aim to improve the quality of life for patients globally. They are a product of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia's national wealth fund, envisioned as an independent entity to provide financing assistance for innovative life science firms.
Year of Inception: 2002
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Carsome, Aerodyne, EasyParcel, Airwallex
With USD 1.5 billion in assets under management, Gobi Partners is one of the largest, most interconnected venture capital firms in Asia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, the VC firm invests in and assists entrepreneurs from the start through the development stages. Gobi Partners invests in a variety of industries and entrepreneurs, focuses on emerging and underdeveloped markets, as well as supporting female leaders, gender equality, and the Muslim economy. Their entrepreneurs are frequently pioneers or first movers in new industries and technology addressing Asia's most pressing issues, supported by their vast network of investors, startups, and public and private sector partners.
Year of Inception: 2016
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: ALAMI, Coffee Meets Bagel, Gushcloud, Versa, StackUp
RHL Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm based that invests in diverse sectors and industries across Southeast Asia. They have extensive experience and substantial knowledge of the Southeast Asian market and are supported by an advisory team comprised of industry leaders and investment veterans that portfolio firms can use to their advantage.
Year of Inception: 2001
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Bukalapak, Striple, GitLab, Kabbage, Airwallex, Carsome
MAVCAP invests in and supports local technopreneurs in bringing their technologies to the global market. They also promote the growth of the Malaysian VC ecosystem through public-private partnerships, both locally and globally. Since their inception, they have established 12 funds, with 1015 firms, and a number of unicorns in their portfolio.
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Series A
Focus: eCommerce, Location-based Services, Big Data, Analytics, IoT, Traditional to Cloud Services, Fintech
Notable Portfolio: EasyParcel, Avana, HolidayMe, Katsana, SupaHands
Intres Capital Partners is a Malaysian venture capital firm jointly founded by Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP), QuestMark Capital Management Sdn Bhd, and Teak Capital Sdn Bhd. They invest in innovative, high-growth firms and provide finance as well as assistance to invested companies.
Year of Inception: 2015
Stage: Series A, Series B
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Intrepid, Fastco, Softinn, FastJobs, Keyta
Kairous Capital invests with a cross-border strategy in mind. They invest in Chinese technology startups to model successful business models and technologies and export them to Southeast Asia. Via monthly meetings, they would convey market knowledge to their investees via our monthly meetings and help address any ideas or concerns. They use their vast networks to build new relationships for collaborations or partnerships, with a diverse spectrum of local partners in China and the ASEAN region.
Year of Inception: 1999
Stage: Series A, Series B
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Galasys, Rhombus Connexion, Zapzapmath, LeRoy International
Netrove is a venture capital firm and corporate finance advisory business that invests in early to growth-stage firms across Asia. With expertise in VC, corporate finance, and strategic management consulting, they distinguish themselves from the competition. Aside from financing, they provide complementary corporate finance consulting services such as strategic restructuring, fundraising, business IPO, and M&A advising. They aim to assist and empower each client by providing tailored solutions to each firm.
Year of Inception: 2014
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Property, Automotive, General Marketplace
Notable Portfolio: Hoppler, InfoCasas, AutoDeal, CarsDB, Zameen
Frontier Digital Ventures is driven to become the global leader of online marketplace enterprises in emerging markets. They specialize in online marketplaces, with a particular emphasis on the real estate and automotive industries, as well as general marketplace websites. They provide capital as well as strategic advice and operational guidance based on their long-acquired expertise in the online marketplace field to help you maximize the effectiveness of your business plan and grow faster.
Year of Inception: 2000
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Althea, StoneApple, Appier, TrustGate
FirstFloor Capital invests in high-growth technology firms, particularly those operating in the information technology, mobility, communications, and life sciences sectors. With years of experience investing in and managing various tech companies, the managing partners have amassed an insurmountable knowledge and network in a range of fields. With this strength, they are able to assist portfolio firms in expanding access to foreign markets and establishing strategic alliances to drive growth.
Year of Inception: 2014
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Telio, Momos, Althea, Curlec, Sorabel
Captii Ventures is an early-stage investor in Southeast Asian companies focused on technology and innovation. They invest primarily in Fintech firms that innovate in the delivery of financial services, as well as startups that use technology to solve enterprise challenges. As their portfolio firm, they will provide entrepreneurs with their deep industry knowledge to help them grow.
Year of Inception: 2007
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Youth Asia, Aemulus, Xentral Methods, fonYou
Teak Capital is a Malaysian venture capital firm that is currently managing Teak Ventures, their first venture fund run in conjunction with Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP) under its Outsourcing Partners' Programme (OSP). They invest in breakthrough technologies and high-growth industries from the early to the development phases, with an emphasis on internet firms. As part of their portfolio, they provide their knowledge and expertise in managing early startup challenges as well as in building the company's scalability. They will assist startups in grasping the fundamental building blocks of business management, such as proper governance, financing and fundraising, and the pursuit of new prospects.
Year of Inception: 2000
Stage: Series B, Series C
Focus: Consumer Retail, Education, Enterprise, Financial Services Technology
Notable Portfolio: Accendo, Blue Planet Environmental Services, FastJobs, Hubble, Milieu Insight, Octopus, Versa
OSK Ventures International strives to invest in firms with passionate founders and compelling product offers. They aim to collaborate closely with portfolio firms to equip them with the necessary financial and operational resources to help them succeed. To date, they have successfully fostered over 17 investee firms to the trade sale and/or IPO eligibility stage.
Year of Inception: 2001
Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
Focus: Technology, Electronics & Electrical (E&E), Renewable Energy, Green Technology
Notable Portfolio: Creopop, ParkEasy, MDT Innovations, Voltron, QEOS Technology
Kumpulan Modal Perdana is a wholly-owned venture capital arm of Malaysia's Ministry of Finance and is under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). They focus their investments on technology development in support of the Malaysia plan, scanning the country for extraordinary entrepreneurs and market disrupters who are solving the country's pressing pain points. They provide more than just finance, byt also commit their time, skills, and network to provide operational guidance and support entrepreneurs in driving success.
Year of Inception: 2011
Stage: Seed
Focus: Artificial Intelligence, eCommerce & Marketplace, Entertainment, Finance, Food Insurance, Logistics, Media, Property, Sports, Islamic Digital Economy
Notable Portfolio: Carro, Populix, Nodeflair, Intellex, Shopback, Ethis
Since its inception, Quest Ventures' mission has been to progress the 'digital economy' strategy in Asia. To support that goal, they operate a range of businesses, including multiple venture capital funds, accelerator programs, enterprise services, and an academy. Their venture capital funds include the Super Angel Fund, Asia Fund, Metaverse Fund, and Sustainable Impact Fund which invests in early-stage startups across diverse sectors.
Angel Investors in Malaysia
The Angel investors listed below are part of an Angel community located throughout Malaysia. They may act as an individual or as a syndicate to fund projects of their preference, so these networks are the best opportunity for you to find a potential Angel with an aligned vision and interests.
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
The Malaysia Investment Network is a platform where entrepreneurs may post their projects to be discovered by angel investors on the site. You can create your pitch with their provided template and distribute it among their network, which you can then connect with to develop your network and raise funds.
Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: -
The Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN) is Malaysia's official trade association and regulatory body in charge of accrediting individual angel investors and angel investment groups. If your firm is seeking angel funding, you can register as a Certified Investee Company under the Angel Tax Incentive Programme to make your company more attractive for investments as it will entitle investors to a tax break. They also operate a one-of-a-kind "Enter the Tiger's Lair" program, in which six entrepreneurs compete for investments from angel investors and a slot at their exclusive dinner with high-profile angel investors.
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: -
NEXEA is a comprehensive innovation platform that offers a range of investment and support programs for startups, including an angel investment network, venture capital, startup accelerator, startup-corporate matching program, and entrepreneurial program. The NEXEA Angel Investors network is comprised of seasoned business owners or C-suite executives who are interested in financing tech startups as well as providing mentorship and support to help you grow.
Closing Thoughts on VCs and Angel Investors in Malaysia
The startup landscape in Malaysia is currently expanding, with numerous venture capital firms and angel investors participating in the market. These investors don't just provide cash, but also assistance, resources, and numerous opportunities for startups to scale their operations. With the introduction of the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2030 initiative, the country has been coordinating efforts among all major stakeholders to establish a welcoming and effective environment for startups to grow. The rising interest in the startup market is projected to rise in Malaysia, creating numerous opportunities for both startups and investors alike.
Find VCs and Angel Investors in Southeast Asia:
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