Everything you need to know about Startup Week Malaysia that’s happening from Dec 1 to 9

Back in June, Bernama reported that Malaysia ranked 20th in the World’s Strong Starters Ranking list, based on Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023.

Part of this achievement can be credited back to the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap 2021-2030 by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI). 

The roadmap was developed to transform Malaysia into a Top 20 global startup ecosystem by 2030, which leaves us with about seven years on the clock.

Aside from governmental agencies, though, the local startup community also has a role to play in this. As the saying goes, a crucial part to success is having the right support system. 

But where do you even begin to find the community, especially if you’re a newcomer to the startup scene?

Enter Startup Week Malaysia, an exciting week-long annual event happening from December 1 to December 9, 2023, dedicated to educating, inspiring, and connecting entrepreneurs across the nation.

A nationwide event by industry experts for the startup ecosystem

A coalition of startup organisations came together to launch Startup Week Malaysia. This includes:

Since this event is set to be a cornerstone for startup founders and the ecosystem at large, it won’t just be concentrated in the Klang Valley. 

Startup Week Malaysia will also have programmes in locations like Penang, Johor, Melaka, Sabah, and Sarawak. 

But the main venue in Klang Valley is the Asia School of Business in KL, where classrooms can fit up to 100 pax and auditoriums up to 300 pax. 

Throughout all nine days, there will be multiple sessions happening around the same time across the country. 

Each programme and activity will cover different topics in the startup sphere and will be suitable for both aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs. At the same time, it brings together angel investors, community leaders, and other pivotal players in the startup ecosystem.

Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to gain insights from industry experts, forge co-founder relationships, and secure mentorship to aid in their startup’s success.

A quick look at what Startup Week Malaysia has to offer

One of the first sessions is Startup School, happening on December 4, 2023 from 9:30AM to 5PM. 

Its speaker line-up includes industry experts and successful entrepreneurs like Richard Ker (founder of RK Digital), who will share insights on expanding your value through storytelling, and Mike Smith (Managing Partner at 1337 Ventures), who will break down the essentials of startup funding. 

Besides that, startups can join “Peer Power: Level-Up & Thrive Together” to meet with experts in fields like branding, business support, and law. This is a good session to meet and find mentors to help in your startup.

These are some of the few full-day events being hosted, whereas others (like the ones below) are being held for a couple of hours. 

For those who want to hone their pitching skills for future fundraising efforts, there’s “Pitch@ASB”. Through this, startups would train and receive feedback from panellists to enhance their presentation skills.

Following that, there’s a roundtable session titled “Bridging the Tech Talent Gap in Malaysia”. This session will address the mismatch between the current tech education syllabus and the practical skills needed by the industry. Some of its notable panellists include representatives from MalaysianPAYGAP and 42KL.

If you’re curious about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business, Dylan Tan (creator of Ah Beng GPT, and previously fintech startups like Split and Sugar) will be sharing his insights during “How to leverage AI for your marketing?”.

Whether you’re an ecommerce marketer, retailer, brand, or agency, this session could help to transform your online store with the impressive capabilities of AI.

But if you’re someone who prefers the outdoors and likes to multitask, there’s “Start Up Week Slow Run” held in KLCC Park and “Founders Hike” with Fave’s co-founder, Yeoh Chen Chow. 

For those who like to discuss things over a cup of coffee, there’s also Dining with CEO: ZUS Coffee. There, you can learn from Venon Tian, the COO behind one of the nation’s fastest growing coffee brands.

Building an inclusive and diverse platform for entrepreneurs

For its inaugural year, the co-founder of Startup Week Malaysia, Daniel Cerventus Lim, shared that their goal is to create an inclusive and diverse platform for learning and networking.

“Our main focus is to encourage new entrepreneurs and let them know there is support for them to build startups all around Malaysia. It is also time for people in the ecosystem to reconnect after a long time after COVID-19,” he explained.

Over 30 events will be open for participants to choose from. Currently, 18 of them are available online with full details. Some partners like the Malaysian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (MVCA) will also be hosting their own programmes.

You’ll have to pre-register for most of the events, but there are some that don’t require it, such as Startup Week Malaysia Marketplace. To check out the full agenda for Startup Week Malaysia and each programme’s breakdown, you can check out its Peatix page. 

As for the pricing, each session has its own ticket rates that you can find on the Peatix page. Most of the programmes are free, but there are a few with an admission fee between RM15 to RM150.

There is no cut-off date for registrations, but this event runs on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

So if you’re ready to take your business to new heights, it’s best to sign up for Startup Week Malaysia before all the spots are taken.

Featured Image Credit: Mr Money TV’s Biz Gear UP! event that was held in collaboration with NextUpAsia