GIST Investors Helps Build Stronger Startup Ecosystem in Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is quickly becoming a financial technology powerhouse in Southeast Asia. Ranked the 31st most powerful city by the Global Power City Index, the Malaysian capital is proving itself as an attractive and affordable location for entrepreneurs to setup shop. But despite its growth potential, the investor network available to support the ecosystem is still very young. This is where GIST Investors will work with Technology Park Malaysia to strengthen the local investor network and create more investment opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Malaysia’s investor network has a lot of growth potential even though it is less than five years old. In fact, the Malaysia Business Angel Network, the official trade association and governing body among investors and angel clubs in Malaysia, was only founded in 2014. Fortunately, the Malaysian government is a strong supporter of angel investor programs, which makes the infusion of investor training and knowledge by GIST Investors particularly beneficial for the local startup ecosystem.
GIST is partnering with Technology Park Malaysia to launch GIST Investors: Malaysia. Since its founding in 1996, Technology Park Malaysia has a proven track record of helping more than 3,000 businesses start and grow. Now it will work with GIST to provide in-country training and support to the emerging investor network in the country. The long term goal of the partnership is to create a robust investor network that is able to respond to the financial needs of the entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
GIST Investors is a public-private partnership program between the U.S. Department of State, private businesses, academic institutions and international organizations. The year-long program works with local, in-country investors to create sustainable investment networks and strengthen existing investment communities. The program includes in country workshops and seminars that will fill a funding gap often seen in emerging startup ecosystems.
To learn more about GIST Investors: Malaysia, click here.
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