ScaleUp Accelerator Sdn Bhd (ScaleUp Malaysia) and Proficeo Consultants Sdn Bhd (Proficeo) in partnership with Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd (Penjana Kapital) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), have announced the selection of the first 2 cohorts of 24 Founders for the 100Soonicorns program designed to groom the next unicorns of Malaysia.
Coined from the phrase “soon-to-be unicorns”, Soonicorns are startups with the growth potential to become Unicorns, ScaleUp Malaysia said in a statement on Thursday.
The selected Founders are all Chief Executive Officers or C-Level Founders.
To participate, invited startups need to have raised at least $1 million from a Venture Capital firm or institutional investor; or have generated $2 million in revenue over the last 12 months.
“As a former startup founder and now partner at ScaleUp Malaysia, I understand the immense value of a strong support network and camaraderie in building a hyper growth company,” said Aaron Sarma, Co-Founder and General Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia.
According to him, the 100Soonicorns program not only offers invaluable coaching and mentorship, but also creates a unique space for the selected Founders to connect and build relationships with each other.
“This sense of community and shared experience will be a crucial factor in the success of the program and its participants,
“I’m thrilled to be a part of a program that will help create the next generation of unicorns and further strengthen the bonds among the country’s thriving startup community,” he added.
Proficeo Chief Evangelist Sivapalan Vivekarajah said that the 24 Founders have had some really engaging discussions where they shared their own experience and challenges regarding the myriad of issues that they face as they grow their companies from the early stage to Series A stage and beyond.
“The program also enables them to engage with other successful Unicorn Founders like Moses Lo the CEO of Xendit who had a session with them to share how he built Xendit into a unicorn, how he raised all his funding from the United States and why he believes Southeast Asia is the next great destination for investors,” he shared.
According to the statement, the participants will be engaging with global unicorn founders, venture capitalists, experts from areas that are particularly challenging for founders like talent acquisition and management and will also explore new areas like Artificial Intelligence.
All these conversations and discussions offer a unique learning platform between successful Founders and experts.
Cohort 3 is now open for applications. Those interested can find more information and the application form here.
The participating Founders of the first 2 cohorts are:
1 Amanda Chin, CEO, Ablr Malaysia
2 Sharma Lachu, CEO & Founder, Accendo Technologies Sdn Bhd
3 Ramachandran Muniandy, CEO & Co-Founder, Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd
4 Giden Lim, CEO & Co-Founder, BLOOMTHIS Flora Sdn Bhd
5 Benjamin Croc, CEO, Briohr Sdn Bhd
6 Ang Xing Xian, CEO, CapBay
7 Sharala Devi Balakrishnan, CEO, Center of Applied Data Science (CADS)
8 Kuna Kathigesan, Group CEO, Commerce DotAsia Ventures Sdn Bhd
9 Lee William, MD, Easybook (M) Sdn Bhd
10 Clarence Leong, CEO & Founder, EasyParcel Sdn Bhd
11 Suthan Mookaiah, CEO, GASSTN Sdn Bhd
12 Muhamad Nasir Habizar, CEO & Founder, Govicle Sdn Bhd
13 Effon Khoo, CEO & Founder, Kakitangan.com
14 Nadira Yusof, CEO & Founder, Kiddocare Sdn Bhd
15 Tunku Danny Nasaifuddin Mudzaffar, CEO & Founder, Microleap PLT
16 Azran Osman Rani, CEO, Naluri Hidup Sdn BHd
17 Swee Wai Hoow, CEO, Newswav Sdn Bhd
18 Keong Chun Chieh, CEO, Ominent Sdn Bhd
19 Dr. Kev Lim, CEO, Qmed Asia (QueueMed Healthtech Sdn Bhd)
20 Melvin Chee, CEO, RPG Commerce Sdn Bhd
21 Parthiven Shanmugan, CEO, TixCarte Sdn Bhd
22 Kendrick Tan, COO & Co-Founder, Virtualtech Frontier Sdn Bhd
23 Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO, Web Bytes Sdn Bhd
24 Low Ziwei, Director & Co-Founder, Zcova Sdn Bhd
ScaleUp Malaysia partners Profiiceo to launch 100 Soonicorns