Malaysia: Sunway Group launches incubator Sunway iLabs

Visual from Sunway Group Facebook page.

By Shiwen Yap

May 8, 2017

The Sunway Group has launched Sunway iLabs, a non-profit startup incubator that will host accelerator programmes to support the development of Malaysia’s startup ecosystem.

Sunway iLabs will see Sunway University, Sunway Group, and Sunway Ventures, the group’s corporate venture arm, collaborate and combine their strengths with stakeholders across academia, industry and government. Their aim is to foster entrepreneurship and stimulate market-driven innovations enabling entrepreneurs to scale their business faster.

At the Sunway iLabs, students from Sunway University will be able to apply their talent and technical expertise to growth-hack Sunway Group’s 12 business units.

Sunway Ventures was set up last year to drive Sunway’s future growth. It will fund viable startups that are complementary to the core business operations of the group.

Sunway iLabs will also work with the wider startup ecosystem in Malaysia and abroad through collaborations and strategic partnerships to enable entrepreneurs to scale their business.

Sunway iLabs has already established links with government bodies such as the Malaysian government agency responsible for overseeing MSC Malaysia implementation, MDeC; Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM)-owned national technology commercialisation platform in collaboration with SME Corporation Malaysia, Platcom Ventures; Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC), Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) and its official trade association
and governing body for Angel Investors and Angel Clubs in Malaysia, Malaysian Angel Business Network.

Sunway Group chairman and CEO Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, said, “iLabs marks the first joint initiative undertaken by Sunway Ventures and Sunway University. It will drive Sunway’s growth for the decades ahead and identify sunrise industries for us to invest in. It is a novel project that is aligned with the Government’s stated goal of making Malaysia the startup hub of the region.”

Also Read:

Malaysian food delivery startup Dah Makan closes $1.3m seed round

Malaysian startup Printcious aims to become ASEAN version of Zazzle

Malaysia’s RHL Ventures invests in US-based tech startup Sidestep

 

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW