Together with DHL and Thought for Food (TFF), Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) jointly organised Match@Medini, creating a vibrant environment for startup businesses. The partnership is expected to transform the ecosystem for startups, encourage sustainable innovation, and open up a wide range of investment opportunities.
The programme aims to change the entrepreneurial landscape in Iskandar Puteri by strengthening IIB’s status as a digital innovation hub and reiterating its commitment to Khazanah Nasional Berhad’s (Khazanah) Advancing Malaysia vision.
20 innovative startups showcased their groundbreaking ideas today at the highly anticipated Match@Medini event in the presence of 22 venture capitalists, funding partners and corporations.
IIB will operate as a conduit between Malaysian start-ups and local and regional investors to enable access to funding. Khazanah Nasional Berhad is one of them, having pledged RM6 billion over five years as part of the Future Malaysia Programme under Khazanah’s Dana Impak mandate. The programme is an essential component of Khazanah’s Advancing Malaysia strategy.
Khazanah has made an initial investment of approximately RM180 million through the FMP, which aims to aid the local start-up ecosystem by cooperating with prominent local and international venture capital managers as well as corporate venture programmes operating in Malaysia.
In relation to this, IIB, together with DHL and TFF, hosted the Match@Medini, a Start-up Pitching session themed “Food Logistics Innovation.” This pilot programme under the TechMedini initiative offers a unique pitching session that serves as a gateway for start-ups to access the funding they need to thrive.
Penjana Kapital, an RM600 million venture capital fund under the Ministry of Finance, was also present. Penjana Kapital acknowledges IIB’s efforts to highlight investment potential outside of the Klang Valley, notably in Johor. Furthermore, investors expressed enthusiasm for the featured projects, demonstrating a high level of interest in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Dato’ Idzham Mohd Hashim, President & Chief Executive Officer of IIB, said, “We are proud to host the Match@Medini platform, which provides a comprehensive ecosystem where start-ups can interact with venture capitalists, investors, and other key stakeholders. Joining forces with DHL and TFF in this strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in our efforts to drive digital innovation and foster entrepreneurial growth. This platform also sets out to give the start-ups access to funding, including from the Khazanah Dana Impak.”
Dato’ Idzham added, “The start-ups must establish their presence in Medini and avail themselves of the supportive resources provided by IIB. They can position themselves for accelerated growth and seize the numerous opportunities available within Medini Iskandar Malaysia.
Through the Match@Medini platform, IIB would be able to further establish the Net Zero Carbon Central Business District (CBD) in Medini, to further demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and innovation.”
IIB, DHL, and TFF’s engagement reflects their shared goal of speeding digital transformation, encouraging sustainable innovation, and contributing to the economic growth of the start-up ecosystem. These institutions, when combined, have the potential to empower start-ups, promote economic growth, and fulfil Malaysia’s digital potential.
Speaking to the media, Ang Ker Soon, the spokesperson from Greenbugs, a health food business in Medini, said, “We are grateful and excited to announce that our startup has managed to gain access to funding for our business, via the Match@Medini initiative. This will serve as a catalyst for our growth and propel us towards new horizons. Together with our dedicated team, passionate stakeholders, and the backing of our investors, we are confident that this will take us to greater heights”.
Match@Medini’s intended audience and benefactors include venture capitalists, investors, corporate and ecosystem partners, funding partners, government agency partners, and startup companies. The IIB hopes to establish strategic collaborations and build a healthy funding ecosystem by bringing together key parties.
