- Announced three winners of Cradle LIVE! PITCH IT
- Event served as a lead-up to the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025
Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), Malaysia’s focal agency for early-stage startups under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), has concluded the Cradle LIVE! Roadshow Johor, which brought together startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem players for a full day of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and business matching.
In a statement, the agency noted that the southern edition marked a key milestone in extending startup engagement beyond the Klang Valley and served as a lead-up to the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025, which Malaysia will host from 3 to 5 November this year as ASEAN Chair.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, said: “Johor is fast emerging as Malaysia’s southern innovation hub. With over 160 active startups, the state has both the capital and the talent to scale globally.”
He added that, coupled with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Startup ASEAN platform, Johor is well on its way to becoming a bridge between Malaysia, Singapore, and the wider ASEAN market.
With more than 130 participants, the roadshow underscored Johor’s growing role as a southern innovation hub. Through panels, fireside chats, and masterclasses, startups gained a platform to exchange insights, explore collaborations, and tap into both national and regional opportunities.
Highlights included the panel “Follow the Money: VCs, Innovation Zones & the South’s Startup Power Move”, which examined the impact of Khazanah’s US$22 million (RM1 billion) Fund-of-Funds and Innovation Belts, and the fireside chat “Not Just Neighbours: Teaming Up Across ASEAN”, which explored how startups can scale through cross-border partnerships.
The roadshow also introduced the newly launched Cradle Innovation Advisory initiative, complemented by masterclasses and 40 one-to-one consultations. Founders received tailored guidance on programmes such as CIP Spark, CIP Sprint, and strategies to leverage the KL20 initiative for growth.
In addition, the latest features of the MYStartup Single Window were showcased, demonstrating how startups can access funding, mentorship, and ecosystem benefits through a single platform.
The event concluded with Cradle LIVE! PITCH IT, where Johor-based startups presented their solutions to a panel of judges, with winners recognised for their innovation and growth potential.
Winners of Cradle LIVE! PITCH IT include:
1. Green Hydro Tech: Dr. Fariza Hanim Suhailin (Team Lead)
- Business Solutions: Eco-microPEx: A plant-based, biodegradable biopolymer that removes up to 99.2% of microplastics in water within minutes, supporting ESG and UNSDG goals.
2. BioCell Green: Dr. Nur Hidayah Ahmad (Team Lead)
- Business Solutions: A cellulose-based bioplastic electrolyte for safe, biodegradable and non-flammable batteries, converting agricultural waste into scalable clean energy storage.
3. Embedded System: Dr. Zulfakar Aspar Team Lead)
- Business Solutions: FPGA-based PLC Processor: A compact, energy-efficient processor that executes Ladder Logic directly, improving automation performance and enabling seamless integration with the industrial system.
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