Top ten startups from East and West chapters advance to Startup World Cup Malaysia national finals

• Top 10 startups from East & West chapters to compete for 2 places at Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley
• National champions to represent Malaysia against startups from more than 100 regional competitions for a US$1 mil investment prize

Growth Charger, the official Malaysia partner of Pegasus Tech Ventures’ Startup World Cup, has announced the top ten startups from both the West and East chapters of Startup World Cup Malaysia 2026, setting the stage for two Malaysian startups to earn a place at the global finals in Silicon Valley.

Anchored by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad, the programme has become one of Malaysia’s broadest platforms for startups seeking global exposure. The two national champions will represent Malaysia at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, where they will compete alongside startups from more than 100 regional competitions for a US$1 million (RM4.25 million) investment prize.

“At the end of the day, this is about the greater good of Malaysia’s startup ecosystem,” said Nick Khor, partner at Growth Charger.

“Every bootcamp, every semi-final and every stage we build is our way of giving back to founders who are putting in the work, while ensuring they have a genuine opportunity to expand beyond our shores rather than simply compete within them.”

Ahead of the semi-finals, founders from both chapters participated in dedicated bootcamps to refine their pitches before presenting to panels of experienced investors and ecosystem leaders. The West Chapter finalists progressed through the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur, while the East Chapter completed its programme in Kuching.

Now in its second year, the competition’s dual-finals format continues to ensure startups from both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia have equal opportunities to compete on the global stage. The West Chapter Final will take place on 23 July at the Khazanah Auditorium, Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, while the East Chapter Final will be held on 31 July at TEGAS Digital Village in Kuching.

“Hosting Startup World Cup Malaysia’s East Chapter reflects our commitment to uncovering Borneo’s most promising founders and connecting the region’s startup ecosystem to global opportunities,” said Haji Udin Bujang, CEO of TEGAS.

Strategic partner Cyberview said the programme also reflects the importance of building a stronger innovation ecosystem to help startups scale internationally.

“As a Tech Hub Developer, Cyberview accelerates startup growth by providing strategic support, resources and market access for regional and global expansion,” said Shafinaz Salim, head of Technology Hub Development at Cyberview Sdn Bhd.

“We are honoured to support this initiative and see startups from our Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator programme continue progressing to the next stage of growth, reinforcing Cyberjaya’s collaborative innovation ecosystem.”

The national finals will see the top ten startups from each chapter compete for two coveted places at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, where they will represent Malaysia on one of the world’s largest startup stages.