Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), Malaysia’s focal agency for early-stage startups under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), successfully concluded the Cradle LIVE! Roadshow Johor, which brought together startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem players for a full day of dialogues, knowledge sharing and business matching.

The southern edition marked an important milestone in extending startup engagement beyond Klang Valley and served as a key lead-up to the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025, which Malaysia will host from 3 until 5 November this year as ASEAN Chair, Cradle said in a statement on Wednesday.

Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer 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 talent to scale globally. 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 share insights, explore collaborations and tap into both national and regional opportunities.

Key highlights included the panel “Follow the Money: VCs, Innovation Zones & the South’s Startup Power Move”, which discussed the impact of the Khazanah’s RM1 billion Fund-of-Funds and Innovation Belts, as well as the fireside chat “Not Just Neighbours: Teaming Up Across ASEAN”, which explored how startups can scale through cross-border partnerships and collaboration.

The roadshow also introduced participants to the newly launched Cradle Innovation Advisory initiative, complemented by masterclasses and 40 one-to-one consultations. Founders received tailored guidance on programmes such as grants; CIP Spark, CIP Sprint and strategies to leverage the KL20 initiative for growth.

In addition, the latest features of the MYStartup Single Window were unveiled, showcasing how startups can access funding, mentorship and ecosystem perks through a single platform.

The event closed with Cradle LIVE! PITCH IT, where Johor-based startups pitched their solutions to judges, with winners recognised for their innovation and potential.
Winners of Cradle LIVE! PITCH IT:

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