Malaysia’s Top Startup Investors & Corporate Innovation Event
DisruptInvest Summit
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
26 JUNE 2025 9AM - 5PM
Venue: Level 7 & 8, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
NETWORKING PARTY 5.30PM ONWARDS @ HYATT PLACE
26 JUNE 2025 9AM - 5PM
Venue: Level 7 & 8, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
NETWORKING PARTY 5.30PM ONWARDS @ HYATT PLACE
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Engage with Our Inspiring Special Guests and Speakers!
Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam
Executive Chairman, Westports Holdings Berhad
Datuk Ruben was appointed to the Board on 5 July 2005 and currently serves as Executive Chairman of Westports Holdings Berhad since 1 February 2025. Datuk Ruben began his career at WMSB in 1999, rejoining the company in 2005 and later serving as CEO and Group Managing Director. He is Vice-Chairman and Owner of Queens Park Rangers FC, President of the Kuala Lumpur Business Club, and a Malaysian representative on the APEC Business Advisory Council. He also chairs the QPR Community Trust and is a board member of MATRADE and the Westports Foundation.
Alan Lim
Co-Founder, MBAN
Alan is a founding partner and Principle Advisor for NEXEA, where he is responsible for overseeing the development of strategic initiatives for startups under their investment. He is a member of the investment committee and an expert in advising and mentoring companies on strategic growth and regional expansion. Alan has a proven track record of successfully growing startups, having co-founded and served as CEO of MediaBanc Group, the largest media monitoring and insights company in Southeast Asia, and expanding other companies such as Commsight to multiple countries.
Alvin Vong
CEO of EquitiesTracker Holdings Berhad (ETH)
Alvin Vong is the Executive Director and Group CEO of EquitiesTracker Holdings Berhad, a company listed on Bursa Malaysia’s LEAP Market. With over 20 years of capital markets experience, he has led the group’s expansion into onshore and offshore licensed fund management. A University of Western Australia graduate, Alvin is also the co-creator of the EquitiesTracker.com Research Portal and co-author of the Value Investing & Portfolio series. His expertise in financial analytics and education has served investment banks, brokers, and retail investors across Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.
Gary Yeoh
Chief Marketing Officer PayNet
Appointed as CMO of PayNet in May 2024, Gary Yeoh brings nearly 30 years of experience across retail, finance, and payments. Since joining PayNet as Chief Commercial Officer in January 2023, he has driven strategic growth and impactful partnerships. A founding member of Boost and Bcard, and former Country Manager at Fave and GM at Atome, Gary has a proven track record of scaling businesses and fostering ecosystem collaboration. He holds a law degree from the University of Westminster (Barrister at Law, Lincoln’s Inn) and is known for his innovative, hands-on leadership in marketing and strategy.
Lim Kean Leong
Founder and CEO of CoffeeBot
Lim Kean Leong is the visionary founder and CEO of CoffeeBot, Malaysia’s leading automated coffee vending service, established in 2017 with a mission to deliver quality, affordable coffee with seamless convenience. Under his leadership, CoffeeBot has expanded across healthcare, hospitality, and corporate sectors while pioneering cashless solutions and impactful CSR initiatives—including providing 15,000 free coffees to pandemic frontline workers.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke
Group CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd
Norman is the Group CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), a focal point agency for Malaysian startup ecosystem development under the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia. Established in 2003, Cradle has funded over 1,000 tech startups via its early-stage grant programmes and is currently spearheading the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021 - 2030, MYStartup Single Window and capacity building initiatives, among others, all aimed at achieving the national goals of creating 5,000 startups by 2025 and positioning Malaysia among the top global startup ecosystems by 2030.
Chua Kee Lock
CEO, Vertex Holdings
Mr. Chua Kee Lock is the CEO of Vertex Holdings and concurrently Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, as well as Chairman of Vertex Growth Fund.
Before this, he held senior positions in Biosensors International Group, Ltd.; Walden International; NatSteel Ltd.; and Intraco Ltd. He co-founded MediaRing, a provider of voice-over-internet, which was later listed on Singapore’s stock exchange. Mr. Chua was appointed by the Singapore Government as a Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Panama in 2020. He currently serves on the boards of several companies, including Yongmao and Credit Bureau Asia, which are publicly listed.
Teoh Jiun Ee
CARSOME Co-founder & CARSOME Academy CEO
Teoh Jiun Ee, co-founder of CARSOME and former COO, now leads CARSOME Academy as its CEO, driven by a commitment to nation-building and developing Southeast Asia’s automotive workforce. Under his leadership, the Academy became the first in Malaysia and Indonesia to introduce TVET inspection skills training, aimed at fostering highly skilled nations and building higher-income economies. CARSOME Academy has trained over 1,500 students and 6,500 corporate employees regionally. Leveraging his experience, Teoh has facilitated strategic collaborations with major local institutions, including Sunway University, Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera, and Indonesia’s Program Kartu Prakerja.
Azran Osman-Rani
CEO of Naluri
Azran is the CEO of Naluri, a digital health startup that addresses mental health and chronic diseases together, in a preventive, holistic and outcomes-based approach. He was previously CEO of AirAsia X where he grew it from a business plan to a $1billion IPO with 2,500 employees in six years, and CEO of iflix Malaysia which scaled to 20 million users in 20 markets in 3 years. He held prior leadership roles at Astro, Bursa Malaysia and McKinsey. He holds a Masters and Bachelor's degrees in Engineering, from Stanford University. He chronicles his leadership challenges in his book, ’30 Days and 30 Years’. He is an Ironman triathlete.
Dato’ Sri Idris Jala
Chairman of PEMANDU Associates
Dato’ Sri Idris Jala is a world-renowned transformation guru who drives government and private sector performance through his Big-Fast-Results Methodology. He is currently the Chairman of PEMANDU Associates. In 2014, Bloomberg placed him amongst the world's top 10 most influential policymakers. He also served as a Cabinet Minister under the Prime Minister’s Department between 2010 and 2017. Prior to PEMANDU, Dato’ Sri Idris was the CEO of Malaysia Airlines. On top of his role in Pemandu, he currently serves as the non-executive co-chairman of Sunway Group, the Chairman of Heineken Malaysia, and the pro-chancellor of Sunway University. Dato’ Sri Idris also lectures annually at Harvard University under the Harvard Ministerial Programme.
Arsalaan (Oz) Ahmed
Founder & Executive Chairman of MMOB
Arsalaan (Oz) Ahmed has more than 18 years of experience in banking, including digital and traditional models, and is a recognised leader in banking and Islamic finance. He has held several senior management roles with international exposure in the UK, the Middle East and Asia. He has innovated financial services solutions and advised governments in Islamic finance regulations. He has been involved as an advisor and angel investor in the UK FinTech community for over seven years.
Georg Chmiel
Co-Founder & Chair of Juwai-IQI Holdings
Georg Chmiel has three decades of experience in rapidly growing, disruptive online businesses and has led more than 40 acquisitions, which have been taken over seven times. He has been instrumental in creating three unicorns so far during his career and is known to grow shareholder value significantly. For the last 12 years, he has been based in Malaysia and focused on the ASEAN & ANZ markets. He is a regular guest lecturer on disruptive technologies, AI and big data and entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen (USG/HSG), Singapore Management University (SMU), Asia Pacific University (APU), Technische Universität München (TUM) and speaker at many conferences and events as well author of business articles. He serves as mentor of emerging company directors across Malaysia, Australia and Myanmar.
Prashant Kumar
Founder of ENTROPIA
Prashant Kumar, a leading marketing futurist in the Asia-Pacific region, currently heads Gen AI for Growth Markets at Accenture. He founded ENTROPIA, later acquired by Accenture, and achieved remarkable growth as President of IPG Mediabrands Asia. Recognized on prestigious juries and a sought-after speaker, Prashant is a marketing mentor, charter member of TiE Singapore, and author of the bestselling "Made in Future." An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, MICA Ahmedabad, and Harvard Business School, he is not only a marketing visionary but also a budding aviator and a devoted father of two.
Ramachandran Muniandy
CEO & Co-founder of Asia Mobiliti
Ramachandran Muniandy is the CEO and Co-founder of Asia Mobiliti, an award-winning startup in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and digital city solutions. Recognized as a Digerati50 2020/2021 by Digital News Asia, he serves on the Talent Expert Network Panel of MDEC and is a Subject Matter Expert for Industrial Skills Framework (AI) at HRD Corp. Ram is also the Tech Advisory Panel Member of Sri KDU International School (Klang), a Mentor in the Malaysian chapter of the Founder Institute, and a member of various industry panels and committees, including the Entrepreneurship World Cup, Malaysia Finals 2024.
Ben Lim
Founder & CEO, NEXEA
Ben Lim founded NEXEA in 2015, and today it invests & supports Startups with over RM1 billion in revenues in total. NEXEA connects Startups with 50+ Angel Investors, 20+ Corporate Partners, and all relevant Government agencies.
Karamjit Singh
CEO, Digital News Asia
Karamjit Singh is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Digital News Asia. Karamjit founded Digital News Asia with a vision that media should play its role as the Fourth Estate and on the belief that timely, insightful and analytical coverage can help the tech ecosystem in South-East Asia, especially Malaysia, grow and develop.
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Agenda: Driving Startup Investments and Advancing Corporate Innovation
9.00AM
Arrival & Networking
9.35AM
Opening Remarks
Ben Lim, Founder & CEO, NEXEA
10.00AM
Powering Malaysia’s Next Wave of Startups: Public-Private Synergy in Action
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle)
Ben Lim, Founder & CEO, NEXEA
10.20AM
Collab or Collapse: B2B Startups & Corporates Winning Through Strategic Tech Alliances
Kayel, PAIX
Kayvin Khoo, OTA
Zach Azizul Othman, Lekir Tech
Justin Lim, NEXEA
11.00AM
Mid-Tier Companies and the Digital Divide:Challenges and Opportunities in Malaysia
Lim Kean Leong, Founder & CEO, CoffeeBot
Alvin Vong Chen Weng, CEO of EquitiesTracker
Darren Wong, Esente Advisory
Patrine Thoong Lay Ting, KWAP
11.40AM
Supercharge Your Startup Growth: Grants, Loans, and Public-Private Partnerships
Zehan Teoh
Weisheng Neo, Qualgro
Fadzli Hisham, MDEC
Gadiy Lim, Alliance Bank
12.20PM
Inside the Mind of Angel Investors: Ask Us Anything!
Mah Choon Leng, Founder of Wellings Pharmacy
Michelle Sum, Partner at NEXEA
Johnson Yap, Founder & CEO, Score EPCC
Heaster Andrea Hilary, MessengerCo
01.00PM
Built, Sold, Hired & Building Again: The Startup-Corporate Crossover and What It Teaches You
Ts.Idzat Naqeuddin, Doople Group
Kevin Teoh, Exitra
Ee Yong, Otter Barista
02.30PM
Talent Wars: How Startups Can Compete Against Big Corporates for Top Talent
Sharma Lachu, Founder & CEO, Accendo Technologies
Mahadhir Yunus, Krenovator
Michael Fong, Allianz Malaysia Berhad
Dr.Indera, MTDC
03.10PM
More Than Just Funding: How Deep Tech Enablers, Telcos & Fintech Can Help Your Startup Scale Faster
Gary Yeoh, PayNet
Anandhi, Digital News Asia
Anil Gill, FAOM
03.50PM
Regional Expansion: Story of A Malaysian Conquering Southeast Asia
Alan Lim, ex-iSentia
Kyan Liew, Parkit
04.20PM
Ecommerce Scale-Up Secrets: How Malaysia's Startups are Growing at Lightning Speed
Vincent Tong, CEO of Printcious
Gary Ng , Co-founder of Zucca
Geraldyn, Ventamin
Claudia Khaw, Vulcan Post
Networking Party
Valentina Cucina @ Hyatt Place
Words from Our Collaborators
What Awaits You?
Main Stage
Important insights from well-known entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and other industry experts (VIP Speakers).
Networking Lounge
Meet new people at our exclusive networking space and develop new business partnerships and clients.
Networking Party
Come enjoy a fun-filled evening of drinks, fantastic music, and networking opportunities at Valentina Cucina E Bar, Hyatt Place Bukit Jalil.
Discover the Visionary Investors Joining Us!
Our Esteemed Summit Partners from the Past
What People Are Excited About
DisruptInvest Is The Largest Community For Startup Investors & Corporate Innovators in Malaysia
DisruptInvest Current and Past Speakers
Kyan Liew
Founder, Parkit
Kyan Liew, after working at a Big 4 accounting firm, founded ParkIt in 2017, driven by his realization of parking challenges in Malaysia. ParkIt is a mobility-as-a-service startup with a vision to simplify mobility, serving as a one-stop center for mobility needs. With a presence in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, ParkIt achieved a 7.5 million valuation within two years, which has since tripled. The company has grown 22X and aims to be ASEAN's leading smart mobility company within the next five years.
Zehan Teoh
Global Innovation and Ecosystem Development Executive
Zehan Teoh is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of global leadership, blending technical expertise, consulting acumen, corporate innovation, and startup ecosystem development to drive transformative outcomes across ASEAN, GCC, APAC, Europe, and Africa. His multifaceted experience delivers impactful results.
Mahadhir Yunus
CEO of Krenovator
Mahadhir Yunus is the CEO of Krenovator, an AI powered tech talent platform connecting top Southeast Asian developers with global enterprises. With over 13 years of experience in the software industry and digital transformation, Mahadhir Yunus has involved and led projects from startups to enterprise-scale solutions. Under his leadership, Krenovator empowers
28,000+ talents through AI-driven tools, career development, and a thriving tech community.
Sharma Lachu
Founder, CEO of Accendo Technologies
Sharma Lachu is the Founder and CEO of Accendo Technologies, a leading HR technology company recognized for its innovation and excellence. Under his leadership, Accendo has earned prestigious accolades, including the HR Vendor Awards 2023 for Best Innovation in HR, recognition in the Training Industry Watchlist (2020 & 2021), and being named a Best-in-Class Vendor in Gartner’s Innovation Insights for DEI Technologies. The company has also been a Deloitte Fast 500 Technology APAC Winner and holds GDPR, ISO 27001, and SOC2 certifications, ensuring top-tier data security and compliance.
Heaster Andrea Hilary
CEO of MessengerCo
Heaster Andrea Hilary is the CEO & co-founder of MessengerCo, transforming corporate gifting with AI. Bootstrapped from RM1,000, she scaled it to a 7-figure company in 13 months, now backed by Antler and shipping globally.
A proud Kadazan from Sabah, Heaster built MessengerCo with grit and vision, drawing from her finance background at Deloitte, Star Media, and Shopback.
At MessengerCo, diversity drives innovation. The company empowers local artisans, UNHCR refugees, and B40 mothers—proving business can be bold, impactful, and built with heart.
Gary Ng
Cofounder of ZUCCA
Gary Ng is the cofounder of ZUCCA, a modest fashion brand in Malaysia known for its real-time retail model and strong presence on TikTok. Under his leadership, ZUCCA grew over 10x in a year and became one of the top fashion sellers in Malaysia. Passionate about social commerce, Gary is also exploring new retail models like F2B2B2C to empower creators and micro-entrepreneurs.
Ts. Dr. Indera Shaiful Baharudin
Executive Vice President, MTDC
Ts. Dr. Indera Shaiful Baharudin is the Executive Vice President of Technology Ecosystem Development at MTDC, driving innovation, partnerships, and sustainable growth in Malaysia’s tech landscape. With 19 years of experience in transformation and consulting, he has led major projects both locally and abroad, including a USD 107.5 million profit turnaround in Qatar and RM700 million revenue growth at The Tailor Sdn Bhd. He holds a Ph.D. in Transformation Management and has advised over 30 organizations, making him a key player in building resilient tech ecosystems.
Geraldyn Low
Co-Founder of Ventamin
Geraldyn Low is the co-founder of Ventamin, a fast-scaling DTC health supplement brand that has delivered to 45 countries within its first year. She previously built, boot strapped and exited NIHON Skin in just 2.5 years through a successful eight-figure acquisition. With over a decade in pharmaceutical marketing, a pharmacist and an MBA in strategy, Geraldyn blends scientific credibility with sharp e-commerce execution—specializing in scaling consumer brands through data-driven growth, compelling storytelling, and digital-first strategies that drive results across global markets.
Patrine Thoong Lay Ting
Head of Special Projects Unit, KWAP
With 25 years of experience in private equity, capital structuring, and strategic investment, Patrine leads KWAP’s Special Projects Unit, focusing on portfolio performance, digitization, and sustainable value creation. She has held key roles at Country Heights, Hong Leong Investment Bank, and Deloitte, and played a vital part in the restructuring of Malakoff Berhad and the high-return exit of Munchy’s to CVC.
A Fellow of ACCA and member of MIA and ASEAN CPA, she holds a Master’s in Professional Accountancy from the University of London and a Forensic Accountancy certification from AICPA. Patrine also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Finance and Capital Market Committee at KLSCCCI.
Anil Gill
CEO / Co-Founder Omni 3 & President,
Fintech Association of Malaysia
Fintech Association of Malaysia
Anil brings over 23 years of experience in finance and financial services, having held roles in commercial and investment banking at HSBC, OCBC, CIMB, and AmBank. He later led Enterprise Risk Management and ESG functions at Silverlake Axis Ltd, while also overseeing strategic finance and investor relations. In 2025, he co-founded Omni3, a company focused on workflow optimisation and data visualisation. Anil holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, an MBA from the University of South Australia, and is a fellow of CPA Australia. He is also a member of MIA, ISCA, and CIMA. He served two terms as Treasurer of the Fintech Association of Malaysia and was elected President in April 2025.
Ee yong
CEO and Founder of Otter Barista
Eeyong is CEO and Founder of Otter Barista, a startup transforming the coffee scene with fully automated vending machines. With over 70 machines established across Klang Valley and Perak in hospitals and offices, Eeyong has a proven track record of making high-quality, affordable coffee widely accessible through ingenious technological applications. Their success showcases a remarkable ability to pivot from the corporate world into the fast-paced startup environment, always seeking out-of-the-box solutions to enhance customer experience. What truly sets Eeyong apart is her background, combining deep insights from technology and the Food & Beverage sector. This unique blend has fueled their innovative approach, proving that technology can elevate everyday experiences without compromising quality or price.
Gadiy Lim
VP of Strategic Alliances Bank
Ex entrepreneur with 13 years of experience in management, marketing, and ecosystem building across multiple industries. Currently serving as the VP of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships at Alliance Bank, he has spearheaded initiatives that have driven significant revenue growth and help earned industry recognition, including “Best SME Bank in Malaysia.”
Ts.Idzat Naqeuddin
Director/CEO of Doople Group
Since 2019, Idzat Naqeuddin has been the visionary face behind Doople Tech, serving as its founder and principal shareholder. Boasting an impressive tuner of over 9 years in the photovoltaic industry, Idzat Naqeuddin has left an indelible mark, having secured multiple patents in solar-related innovations, notably in Solar Grid Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) on design. His expertise is further underscored by his recognition as a Green Technology Professional by Lembaga Teknologis Malaysia.
Kayel
Founder & CEO of PAIX
Kayel is an innovation leader and serial entrepreneur who has built his career bridging traditional business transformation with emerging technologies. With a strong engineering foundation, he has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation across multiple sectors.
His entrepreneurial journey spans diverse industries including e-commerce, technology, Web3, and Fintech, where he has established a track record of identifying market opportunities and building successful ventures. As the founder of PAIX, his latest venture, he continues to push the boundaries of technological integration in business.
Weisheng Neo
General Partner of Qualgro
Weisheng is the General Partner at Qualgro, a leading Southeast Asian venture capital firm based in Singapore, focusing on Series A and B investments in tech companies across Southeast Asia and India. With over 10 years of experience in consulting, tech, and startup leadership, he has led the majority of investments in Qualgro Fund 2 and supports portfolio companies in key areas like hiring, go-to-market, and product strategy. His investments include Supermom, Convosight, ErudiFi, and Hevo—data-driven platforms with strong tech capabilities. Previously, Weisheng held roles at Parthenon Group, Alibaba Group, and led UpGrad’s Southeast Asia expansion.
Darren Wong
Founder of Esente Advisory
Darren Wong is the Founder of Esente Group of companies, also known as Esente Advisory, where he serves as the CEO. Esente, which started from humble beginnings in 2003, is a leading Investor Relations Advisory firm and a pioneer specializing in investor relations, M&A, and advisory, with extensive regional involvement, having been involved in more than 100 IPOs regionally and serving notable clients from the region's largest across many industries from Aviation, Green Energy, Healthcare to Technology.
With more than 2 decades of experience supporting companies through IPOs and corporate milestones, Darren Wong is credited as the pioneer and founder of the framework for Investor Relations Service that is commonly practiced today by many IR consultants and practitioners.
Anandhi
Contributing Writer, Digital News Asia
A passionate writer with wide-ranging interests, Anandhi Gopinath covers the luxury lifestyle scene with a nuanced take on what discerning audiences look for when it comes to the good life. She writes primarily on watches, wheels, and whiskies, but this journalist at heart will never say no to a good story.
Fadzli Hisham
Head Funding of MDEC
Fadzli Hisham currently leads the Funding Facilitation and Investor Relations team at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), where he champions funding support and engagement for Malaysian startups and SMEs. He frequently represents MDEC on panels—sharing insights on fintech and tech investment, including sessions at the Borneo International Tech Summit and VC Office Hours focused on AI—and helps connect major regional VCs with local entrepreneurs. With a strong track record in convening industry, government, and investment communities, Fadzli plays a vital role in shaping Malaysia’s digital economy funding ecosystem.
Kayvin Khoo
CEO of OTA MY
Kayvin Khoo is the CEO of OTA MY, a fintech company from Penang empowering over 68,000 MSMEs across Malaysia with digital payment and acceptance solutions. With a sharp focus on underserved markets, Kayvin has led OTA’s growth from a bootstrapped startup to a Malaysia Digital-status company, ISO 27001 certified. Known for merging real-world merchant pain points with innovative digital tools. Kayvin is passionate about building technologies that create impact at scale.
Kevin Teoh
Chief Operating Officer, Exitra
Kevin Teoh is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving business transformation and innovation across the tech industry. Currently with Exitra, Kevin brings a strategic edge to corporate restructuring, leveraging technology to streamline operations, boost profitability, and foster sustainable growth. With a proven track record in CxO and founder roles, he has led companies through complex transitions, always with a clear focus on innovation, automation, and what he calls “technovation”, the smart application of trending technologies to future-proof organizations.
Zach Azizul Othman
Co-Founder & CEO of Lekir Tech
Zach Azizul Othman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Lekir Tech, a dynamic AI startup behind Assistnify AI Agent Digital Workers. He has empowered over 2,000+ SMEs, is MySTI-certified by MOSTI, and actively contributes as a DPMM, KAIN, NAIO AI advisor working group. As a founding member of Ai-Vengers and an industry expert at GMI and UTM, Zach champions Malaysia’s AI growth. His focus: helping businesses automate with closed-loop AI workflows, eliminate hallucination, and reduce OPEX. With real-world AI deployments like MiRA at MRANTI, Zach leads Malaysia toward AI-TR Level 4 and beyond. Let’s build a better AI-powered future together.
Vincent Tong
Co‑Founder & CEO of Printcious
Vincent Tong is the Co‑Founder & CEO of Printcious, Malaysia’s leading personalised‑gift ecommerce platform launched in October 2015. With over a decade of digital‑marketing experience, he helped scale Printcious from a local startup into a regional DIY‑printing marketplace featuring hundreds of independent artists and designers. Under his leadership, the company secured Cradle’s CIP500 funding, earned MSC status, and won multiple awards—such as the SITEC Top E‑Commerce Merchant and Golden Eagle Award. Vincent also spearheaded impactful CSR initiatives, including COVID‑19 awareness tee campaigns, and a partnership with UTAR for a custom merchandise e‑store launched in August 2024
Claudia Khaw
Writer, Vulcan Post
Claudia Khaw is a writer and interviewer who tells stories about startups, tech, and business in Malaysia. She’s interviewed founders, creatives, and industry leaders for Vulcan Post, a publication that seeks to inspire entrepreneurs and inform consumers.
Mah Choon Leng
Founder & Managing Director, Wellings Pill House
Mah Choon Leng is the Founder of Wellings Pharmacy and Managing Director of Wellings Pill House, which includes both Wellings and Georgetown Pharmacy. From a single outlet in Penang, he has grown the business to 40 outlets across northern Malaysia. In 2020, he led a successful RM48 million M&A deal with Caring Pharmacy for a 60% stake. A pharmacist by training, Mah has transformed retail pharmacy operations with a focus on customer service and data-driven strategies. He also led Wellings to become the first Malaysian pharmacy brand to expand overseas, partnering with Caring and Erajaya to enter the Indonesian market. Beyond retail, Mah is passionate about machine learning, blockchain, and big data, and actively mentors young entrepreneurs.
Michelle Sum
Partner, NEXEA
Michelle Sum is a Founding Partner at NEXEA, a leading startup accelerator, angel network, and venture capital firm investing in over 35 startups across Southeast Asia. At NEXEA, she oversees finance and deal flow quality, serves on the Investment Committee, and mentors startups in finance, HR, and governance. Previously CFO for iSentia in Asia—a company listed on the ASX for A$450 million—Michelle brings deep financial expertise and has evaluated thousands of startups throughout her career.
Johnson Yap
Founder & CEO, Score EPCC Sdn Bhd
Johnson Yap is the Founder and CEO of Score EPCC Sdn Bhd, a Sarawak-based CIDB Grade 7 company specializing in engineering, procurement, consulting, construction, and turnkey project management. A trained civil engineer, Johnson began his career with Black & Veatch UK, working on wastewater infrastructure projects for Welsh Water. He later joined Press Metal Sarawak and Press Metal Bintulu as Project Manager, playing a key role in the commissioning of the Bintulu aluminium smelter. Since founding Score EPCC in 2016, he has grown the company to over 400 employees, delivering large-scale construction, maintenance, and project management services for major clients including Press Metal and PMB Silicon.
Noomi Fessler
CFO, Lapasar
Noomi Fessler is a partner at NEXEA, specializing in helping startups improve their business models and growth strategies. She has experience working with early stage startups and is committed to incorporating technology into their ventures. She has successfully worked with the startup Lapasar, which is an online business for purchasing supplies in bulk and continues to grow in the Malaysian market. Fessler's first-hand experience provides valuable insights to future startups.
Chua Kee Lock
CEO, Vertex Holdings
Mr. Chua Kee Lock is the CEO of Vertex Holdings and concurrently Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, as well as Chairman of Vertex Growth Fund.
Before this, he held senior positions in Biosensors International Group, Ltd.; Walden International; NatSteel Ltd.; and Intraco Ltd. He co-founded MediaRing, a provider of voice-over-internet, which was later listed on Singapore’s stock exchange. Mr. Chua was appointed by the Singapore Government as a Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Panama in 2020. He currently serves on the boards of several companies, including Yongmao and Credit Bureau Asia, which are publicly listed.
Dato’ Sri Idris Jala
Chairman of PEMANDU Associates
Dato’ Sri Idris Jala is a world-renowned transformation guru who drives government and private sector performance through his Big-Fast-Results Methodology. He is currently the Chairman of PEMANDU Associates. In 2014, Bloomberg placed him amongst the world's top 10 most influential policymakers. He also served as a Cabinet Minister under the Prime Minister’s Department between 2010 and 2017. Prior to PEMANDU, Dato’ Sri Idris was the CEO of Malaysia Airlines. On top of his role in Pemandu, he currently serves as the non-executive co-chairman of Sunway Group, the Chairman of Heineken Malaysia, and the pro-chancellor of Sunway University. Dato’ Sri Idris also lectures annually at Harvard University under the Harvard Ministerial Programme.
YB Gobind Singh Deo
Minister of Digital Malaysia
GOBIND SINGH DEO was appointed as the Minister of the newly-established Ministry of Digital in December 2023.
He has served as Minister of Communications and Multimedia from May 2018 until February 2020. In that time, he pushed for reforms in various sectors such as making broadband more affordable and accessible, media freedom, transitioning national broadcaster Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) into the digital era, and enhancing the country’s digital connectivity through 5G.
Justin Lim
Principle of Nexea
Starting his career at CIMB as a management trainee and then as an associate in credit risk, he has hands-on experience with the financial crisis of 2007 - 2008. The exposure built a strong appreciation of how complex systems work and where opportunities are in crises.
In 2011, Justin became an Associate Director in credit trading, managing a G7-denominated global trading book whilst building CIMB’s retail bond franchise. He was voted The Asset's Most Astute Investor for Asian G3 bonds (Malaysia) between 2016 - 2018 and led the business development for CIMB’s Indonesia retail bond franchise, introducing innovations in the distribution process.
Kenny Lim
CEO, Spritzer
Kenny took the position of Deputy General Manager and was responsible to assist the Managing Director and General Manager to plan and set up the company’s policy and objectives. At the same time, he was involved in strategic planning and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Company. In 2011, he had been promoted to be the Group General Manager.
Joel Neoh
Founder, Fave
Joel Neoh is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Fave, a leading mobile app for cashless transactions and deals in Southeast Asia. Neoh has a background in e-commerce and digital marketing, having previously co-founded Groupon Malaysia and served as the CEO of Groupon Asia Pacific. Beyond his work with Fave, Neoh is also an active investor and mentor to other entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia. He has been recognized for his contributions to the tech industry, including being named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2016.
Teoh Jiun Ee
CARSOME Co-founder & CARSOME Academy CEO
Teoh Jiun Ee, co-founder of CARSOME and former COO, now leads CARSOME Academy as its CEO, driven by a commitment to nation-building and developing Southeast Asia’s automotive workforce. Under his leadership, the Academy became the first in Malaysia and Indonesia to introduce TVET inspection skills training, aimed at fostering highly skilled nations and building higher-income economies. CARSOME Academy has trained over 1,500 students and 6,500 corporate employees regionally. Leveraging his experience, Teoh has facilitated strategic collaborations with major local institutions, including Sunway University, Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera, and Indonesia’s Program Kartu Prakerja.
YB Gobind Singh Deo
Minister of Digital Malaysia
GOBIND SINGH DEO was appointed as the Minister of the newly-established Ministry of Digital in December 2023.
He has served as Minister of Communications and Multimedia from May 2018 until February 2020. In that time, he pushed for reforms in various sectors such as making broadband more affordable and accessible, media freedom, transitioning national broadcaster Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) into the digital era, and enhancing the country’s digital connectivity through 5G.
DisruptInvest Summit: Shaping the Future of Innovation!
Build & Grow the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Connect Corporates to Startups for Deeper Collaborations, Investments & Acquisitions
Share key support from Government for Startups
Build & Grow the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Connect Corporates to Startups for Deeper Collaborations, Investments & Acquisitions
Share key support from Government for Startups
Build & Grow the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Connect Corporates to Startups for Deeper Collaborations, Investments & Acquisitions
Share key support from Government for Startups
Build & Grow the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Connect Corporates to Startups for Deeper Collaborations, Investments & Acquisitions
Share key support from Government for Startups
Connect Startup Investors & Corporate Innovators with the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Accelerate Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions Within The Startup Ecosystem
Share key support & Insights from Governments to Startups
Build & Grow the Startup Ecosystem
Share Key Learnings from Successful Investors, Corporates and Entrepreneurs
Connect Corporates to Startups for Deeper Collaborations, Investments & Acquisitions
Share key support from Government for Startups
