Bintang Capital Partners Berhad (Bintang), a Malaysia-based private equity firm, has on Wednesday announced the launch of gender lens Semiconductor Impact Fund (BSIF I).

The firm said in a statement that with a fund size of up to MYR 200 million ($46.56 million), BSIF I is designed to invest in high-potential growth-stage semiconductor companies in Malaysia, with a clear focus on environmental and social impact.

The BSIF I Venture Partners will play an instrumental role in guiding the fund to success, drawing on their collective expertise to support growth-stage semiconductor companies targeted by the fund.

Bintang noted BSIF I’s strategy is uniquely structured to align financial returns with measurable social outcomes, employing a “carry-at-risk” model where a portion of Bintang’s carried interest is tied to impact performance.

It highlighted that BSIF I’s strategy is consistent with both the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Policy on Women 2021-2025 which collectively aim to grow women’s participation in leadership and highly skilled manufacturing roles.

Bintang has also appointed three female Venture Partners to spearhead BSIF I’s mission of driving impact within Malaysia’s semiconductor sector.

It noted that the newly-appointed venture partners bring decades of experience and deep insights from within the semiconductor, technology, and manufacturing industries to BSIF I.

Ooi Hooi Kiang, who is Independent Non-Executive Director of Greatech Technology Berhad, is in excess of three decades of experience in finance, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance, with cross-border expertise across multiple markets including Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Vietnam, Russia and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Lim Bee Vian, former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Investment Development at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA); possesses a wealth of experience in policy advocacy and investment promotion, having played a key role in shaping Malaysia’s industrial strategies, including devising the NIMP 2030.

Kong Siew Mui, Independent Non-Executive Director of Greatech Technology Berhad, is also in excess of three decades of industry experience within the electrical and electronics contract manufacturing space.

She brings expertise in operations, supply chain and global business excellence where she helped inculcate continuous improvement processes across 30 countries over the course of her career.

“The B Corp movement, which Bintang is a part of, strongly advocates for gender diversity and equity – and thus we hope that by making investments in the semiconductor sector, which has predominantly been male-dominated, will help to create more inclusive and equitable work environments, not just for the sake of moral imperatives but also to enhance creativity and drive stronger economic growth,

“We believe that empowering women will lead to a more robust national economy and create a more equitable society for all,” said Adelene Low, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director, Investments of Bintang.

Ooi said unleashing the potential of women in Malaysia’s semiconductor industry can uniquely position Malaysia on the global stage.

“The transformative power that women can bring to the industry is a true game-changer, offering us a distinct edge in the global E&E value chain,

“This is precisely what inspired me to be part of the Bintang Semiconductor Impact Fund I, where we are committed to driving this impactful change,” she added.

Meanwhile, Lim shared that this impact fund which focuses on women empowerment within the semiconductor industry ecosystem in line with the Malaysian government’s aspirations of inclusive and balanced development.

“I strongly believe that this initiative provides opportunities for women to contribute towards nation-building whilst achieving gender equality and economic advancement – something I have always believed in and championed throughout my tenure in service of the Malaysian government,” she added.

Kong said she believes that good returns are consistent with doing good: companies who strike this balance create a virtuous cycle for themselves in the long run.

“This approach towards business and investing is very consistent with my decades of professional experiences and personal values,” she added.

Founded in 2018, Bintang is an impact investment focused private equity firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The firm backs visionary entrepreneurs who are aligned to Bintang’s twin core investment philosophies of innovation and impact.

BCPAF I is anchored by Dana Penjana Nasional, a catalytic fund of funds program under the Malaysian Government’s Ministry of Finance which is administered and operated by
Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the Malaysian state sovereign wealth fund.

Bintang’s shareholders include leading independent Malaysian asset management group, AHAM Asset Management Berhad and the Malaysian Armed Forces Fund Board (Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera) as well as leading global investment managers such as CVC Capital Partners and Nikko Asset Management.

Malaysia’s Bintang Capital invests in Singaporean integrated waste management firm Blue Planet