[This is a sponsored article written in collaboration with Cradle Fund.]
If you’re a startup or business owner in Malaysia, chances are you’ve heard of Cradle Fund (or better known as Cradle).
But what you might not know is the extent of its recent brand refresh exercise after 22 years of supporting the local startup ecosystem.
Beyond just a new logo and consolidations to initiatives like the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021 -2030, early-stage funding, MYStartup Single Window platform, Startup ASEAN, and Bengkel Invovasi GLC (BIG), Cradle also announced a new flagship innovation conference—Cradle LIVE!.
It brings together their best programmes, grants, showcases, and partnerships under one unifying brand. Here’s what we know so far.
One brand, year-round momentum
Simply put, Cradle LIVE! is set to be a strategic engine that serves internal programmes and delivers sustained value to commercial partners all year round. It’s broken down into four main components, each serving different purposes.
Cradle LIVE! Open Day
Tailored for startup founders in Malaysia, this open day will be held every month at Cradle HQ in KL.
These hands-on sessions will allow 30 to 50 entrepreneurs to meet directly with Cradle’s grant officers, investment analysts, and legal team. They walk you through the grant criteria and provide tips when applying.
Don’t miss out on the one-on-one “grant clinic” slots either to get immediate grant eligibility feedback and advice.
Cradle LIVE! Brown Bag Day
The name might sound peculiar at first, but brown bag sessions are essentially meetings to facilitate knowledge sharing in a casual environment. And that’s exactly what this annual ticketed event is all about.
Described as a masterclass, Cradle’s Brown Bag Day is a similarly intimate event for scale-ups and venture capitalists (VCs). Each edition of this half-day, interactive masterclass will feature high-profile industry leaders. Think VC partners, unicorn founders, and tech regulators, each sharing deep-dive case studies to help you grow.
By joining, you’ll get access to top decision-makers, actionable frameworks on scaling your business, fundraising strategies, and policy alignment. Attendees can expect lunch round-tables and small-group breakout sessions too.
Cradle LIVE! Roadshow
Fret not if you don’t live in Selangor or KL, founders from other states aren’t forgotten by Cradle! On a quarterly basis, startups can expect a regional micro-conference held in Malaysia’s major tech hubs—Penang, Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, and of course, the Klang Valley.
It combines a mini exhibition, panel discussions, and a networking session all in one spot, accommodating up to 500 attendees.
Aside from meeting local investors and ecosystem players, Cradle’s Roadshow will have a stage prepped for founders to practice their business pitches. The micro-conference is co-hosted with local accelerators too, making it easier to learn more about market-access programmes specific to that region.
Cradle LIVE! Flagship Summit
Last, but certainly not least, is Cradle’s flagship summit. It’s set for early November this year in KL with a theme of “ Scaling ASEAN Startups Beyond Borders.”
Over 3,000 ASEAN delegates are expected to be there, with this year’s theme focusing on:
- going regional and global
- unlocking growth capital, and
- breaking past borders, be it regulatory, geographic, or simply mindset.
The three-day summit will be held in different locations across the three days. Festivities include grant-alumni booths, success-panels and alumni pitch-offs, a NIPA Korea-ASEAN AI hackathon, and founder workshops.
According to Cradle’s team, participants might get the opportunity to meet notable, international figures such as TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew and Canva’s co-founder Melanie Perkins.
You won’t want to miss out on the star-studded panel sessions either. Learn from successful entrepreneurs including Forrest Li of Sea Limited (the company behind Shopee), Jeffrey Tiong of Patsnap (a Singapore-based unicorn company), Paul Rivera of Kalibrr (a Filipino-based AI-driven job-matching platform), and Christy Ng (a Malaysian fashion entrepreneur).
More details about the summit’s agenda will be shared closer to the event date, so stay tuned to Cradle’s page for updates.
The next wave of ASEAN innovation
Malaysia is fast becoming ASEAN’s preferred innovation gateway thanks to its geographic location, strong governmental support for startups and scaleups, and regional and global partnerships.
With these new Cradle LIVE! initiatives, local founders and entrepreneurs will be able to reap more from these benefits.
Ultimately, Cradle’s aim is to ensure founders at every stage and location have repeated, high-value touch-points with the ecosystem.
“This is where ideas become industries, startups become scaleups, founders meet investors, and policymakers set the future. It’s where Malaysia leads ASEAN’s innovation story—confidently, creatively, and collaboratively.”
- Learn more about Cradle Fund here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Cradle Fund here.
Featured Image Credit: Cradle Fund
