MOSTI Inaugurates It’s First My MYStartup Pre-Accelerator Programme

Continuing its momentum in supporting and enhancing Malaysian startups, the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia, recently launched MYStartup Pre-Accelerator programme. MYStartup Pre-Accelerator seeks to inspire early-stage startups while offering money-can’t-buy guidance and coaching in implementing business strategies, access to market and funding. The programme will also enable startup founders to unlock their value and potential.

Commencing from 12 May 2022, the six (6) month-long programme saw close to 40 top quality early-stage startups have been selected to participate in the programme which saw them undergoing a rigorous four (4) stage selection process before securing other benefits such as networking opportunities with key industry players, potential investors, and business experts among others.

Rafiza Ghazali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle) as MYStartup implementing agency said, “The MYStartup Pre-Accelerator programme is part of the larger MYStartup strategy initiated by MOSTI where it aims to create global successful Malaysian startups. Cradle is proud to be able to bring together and link up this pool of innovative startups and investors, in realising MOSTI’s vision.”

“As we have often seen in the ecosystem, early-stage startups would benefit greatly from proper guidance or mentorship in seeking investment and in their journey of scaling their businesses. Having said that, Cradle hopes that through initiatives such as the MYStartup Pre-Accelerator programme, we would be able to enhance and empower them with business acumen and financial expertise while linking them with the much needed network and resources,” added Rafiza.

Also present at the event, S.T Rubaneswaran, Chief Executive Officer, BEYOND4, commented, “The BEYOND4 Ecosystem at its core is invested in accelerating various Talent DNA through our Intelligent Multi-Tier Accelerator Ecosystem. At the end of our funnel lies the Startup Accelerator with the end goal of accelerating the startup ecosystem regionally through strategic partnerships. We aspire the Top 40 teams to leverage the most from our available resources and dense Mentor Pool to grow and scale themselves forward.”

Participating startups stand to benefit from the overall mentoring theme of the programme which consists of masterclass sessions, mentoring sessions, a midterm review and access to on-demand learning courses made accessible to the participants.

The masterclass sessions will see startups gaining and enhancing their respective proficiency through virtual and hands-on workshops, ask-me-anything (AMA) sessions with product development experts and networking sessions, among others. In addition to the above, startups will also be allocated to a mentor from a specially curated pool of international and local key industry players, successful startup founders and prime investors to whom they can reach out to; including one-to-one sessions if the need arises.

However, the actual perks that await the participating startups are at the tail end of the programme. Successful finalists of the Demo Day stand a chance to receive potential investment from Cradle under its CIP SPARK funding programme valued up to RM150,000. This is in addition to investment and acceleration opportunities of up to RM50,000 in addition to an offer of joining BEYOND4’s very own accelerator programme.

Other benefits include opportunities to participate in local and overseas immersion programmes and access to various tools and resources.

MYStartup Pre-Accelerator is one of the many programmes and activities lined up under the ongoing MYStartup Programme which was recently launched in February 2022. Initiated by MOSTI and powered by Cradle, the programme will see participating startups benefiting from investments opportunities and various development programmes.

For more information on the MYStartup Programme, startups and ecosystem players are encouraged to log on to www.mystartup.gov.my.

About Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd

Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) is Malaysia’s early stage start-up influencer, incorporated under the Ministry of Finance Malaysia (MOF) in 2003 with a mandate to fund potential and high-calibre tech start-ups through its Cradle Investment Programme (CIP). Cradle is presently administered by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).

Throughout its history, Cradle has helped fund over 1000 Malaysian tech start-ups and holds the highest commercialisation rate amongst government grants in the country. Having more than a decade of experience in the nation’s grant funding scene, Cradle further expanded its role from grant provider to investor through the establishment of its venture arm, Cradle Seed Ventures in 2015 and following its portfolio expansion to equity investment in early 2017, Cradle offers both funding and investment assistance.

Following the announcement of the Malaysian Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) in 2021, Cradle has been appointed as the focal point agency for Malaysia’s start-up ecosystem and mandated to ensure the successful running of a holistic ecosystem to enable and encourage growth among startups. Cradle also spearheads the MYStartup Programme – one of the interventions identified under five Ecosystem Drivers in SUPER – where it contributes directly to efforts in increasing the number of innovative and quality startups.

Cradle also runs a market-driven programme to train entrepreneurs and administers the Angel Tax Incentive (ATIO), designed for angel investors to be accorded a tax deduction of up to RM500,000 to stimulate and encourage angel investments from private sector into technology based start-up companies in Malaysia.

Cradle’s product offerings are not only restricted to monetary aid, but also include commercialisation support, coaching and various other value-added services to cater today’s entrepreneurs’ diversified needs.

For more information on Cradle, please visit www.cradle.com.my.

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