LOCAL STARTUPS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN TOKYO - SIDEC

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Eight local startups selected by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) to participate in the Pitch Malaysia 2024 Programme have made significant strides in Tokyo, impressing industry leaders across a series of high-profile events.

Sidec in a statement today said that they were VirtualTech Frontier, Ejen2U, Zucca, Imagine AI, Vimigo, Voice For Health, Pay Recon and Eventsize.

"From May 12 to 18, these dynamic companies attended three industry-specific site visits, participated in two major conferences, delivered powerful pitches in three sessions, engaged with 10 venture capitalists and capitalised on three networking sessions.

"(These) effectively showcasing their innovative solutions and securing promising opportunities for expansion and collaboration," the statement said. 

The two conferences were SusHi Tech Expo Tokyo and Startup JAPAN 2024, and among the major networking sessions was ASEAN TechCrossroads Mixer in Tokyo, which brought together over 60 tech startups from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.  

During the seven days in Japan, the local startups also visited leading Japanese innovation hubs like Leave a Nest Japan, located at the Center of Garage (CoG) an unique incubation place for Deep Tech startups and participated in various industry-related visits including Plug & Play Japan, Kepple Capital Japan, and the Kawasaki Business Incubation Center (KBIC).

Sidec noted that the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to foster global competitiveness among local startups, aimed at giving these companies a platform to showcase their innovations and explore international business opportunities.

The delegation, according to the statement was led by Selangor State Investment, Trade and Mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han, who expressed his delight over the startups' performance on the international platform. 

"Their innovative spirit and the recognition they've garnered underscore Selangor’s commitment to fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem," he said. 

In the same statement, Sidec said that the Selangor state government shared ideas of potential bilateral collaboration with the Japanese government to increase global market access for its startups during a meeting with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. 

The statement noted that Japan now hosts some 10,000 startups, three times more than Malaysia. 

Sidec concludes that the Selangor delegation was inspired and ready to implement the valuable knowledge and connections gained during the Pitch Malaysia Tokyo. 

"This event has not only showcased their capabilities but also positioned Selangor as a key player in the global startup ecosystem," it said.

-- BERNAMA