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Market Launcher Program 2024 
(Singapore & Malaysia) 

Rocket Forward – Ignite Your Cross Border Business in Singapore and Malaysia

Program Organisers:

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Calling out to all growth-stage startups and SMEs from markets beyond Southeast Asia! 

This programme, jointly-run by Meet Ventures and Sunway iLabs (Sunway Group), will help you expand your business footprint across Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets starting with Singapore & Malaysia.

The programme offers:

Introductions to Industry Leaders

Gain unparalleled access to experts from Sunway Group and other relevant players in Singapore and Malaysia.

Exposure to Rising Sectors

Explore business opportunities in high-value industries including Real Estate, Healthcare, Education and the Digital Economy

Advisory on Cross-Border Synergies

Discover market entry strategies and regulatory pathways to thrive in two of Southeast Asia’s most prosperous economies.

And More >>

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 WHY 

Singapore & Malaysia

1. Strategic Location and Infrastructure
Singapore and Malaysia are strategically positioned at the heart of Southeast Asia, providing unparalleled access to regional markets. Singapore serves as a major international transport hub with world-class infrastructure, including one of Asia's busiest airports and efficient seaports. Malaysia complements this with its own developing infrastructure and lower operational costs. These factors make both countries ideal locations for companies to set up regional headquarters.

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2. Business-Friendly Environment
Singapore is renowned for its business-friendly policies, transparent legal system, and ease of doing business. It offers:

  • One of the most investor-friendly tax regimes globally

  • A highly integrated financial system

  • Efficient company setup procedures​

 

Malaysia also provides a favorable business environment with a focus on economic liberalisation and growth in high-tech industries.

3. Skilled Workforce and Language Advantage
Both countries offer a highly skilled, English-speaking workforce, making them attractive for multinational corporations. Singapore's and Malaysia’s emphasis on education and training produces a talent pool equipped to handle high-tech industries and act as intermediaries for investments in Asia.

4. Advanced Sectors
Singapore and Malaysia excel in high-value industries related to real estate, education, and healthcare, offering unique strengths that attract global attention.

Real Estate, Singapore leads with smart, sustainable building innovations and world-class urban planning. Its REIT market is a magnet for foreign investment. Malaysia complements this with large-scale integrated developments like Iskandar Malaysia and a thriving resort real estate sector.

Education in Singapore is world-renowned, consistently ranking high in global assessments. The nation's focus on STEM and research fosters innovation. Malaysia positions itself as a regional education hub, hosting international university branches and offering quality education at competitive prices.

Healthcare in both countries is exemplary. Singapore is a leader in medical tourism, known for cutting-edge research and efficient, tech-driven patient care. Malaysia has grown its healthcare sector by offering high-quality, affordable medical services, attracting medical tourists and developing specialized medical centers.

 WHY 

NOW

Upcoming Opportunities for new areas of Singapore-Malaysia cooperation

1. Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) aims to foster closer economic integration between Singapore and Malaysia by creating a dedicated area for cross-border business activities, investments, and trade. This initiative is expected to attract foreign companies looking to establish a presence in Southeast Asia by offering streamlined regulations, tax incentives, and access to resources and talent from both countries. The SEZ has the potential to become a strategic hub for multinational corporations, leveraging Singapore's advanced infrastructure and financial services alongside Malaysia's competitive labor costs and abundant land resources

 

2. Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will significantly enhance connectivity between the two countries, facilitating easier movement of people and goods across the border. With a capacity to serve up to 10,000 commuters per hour in each direction during peak periods, the RTS Link will alleviate congestion at the Causeway and reduce travel time to about 5 minutes. This improved accessibility will benefit foreign companies by providing easier access to talent pools from both countries, enabling more efficient business operations, and fostering greater collaboration between Singapore and Malaysian businesses. Additionally, the RTS Link's integration with other transport networks on both sides will create a seamless travel experience, making the region more attractive for international businesses and investors

 

3. Others:

Potential Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR), and more….

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 ABOUT 

Sunway iLabs

Sunway iLabs emerges as a dynamic fusion of collaboration and innovation, uniting the formidable forces of Sunway Group within a shared ecosystem aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship and catalysing market-driven innovations. 

 

Sunway Group's real estate arm, Sunway Property, Sunway Property, lauded as a Master Community Developer under Sunway Group, is renowned for its innovative residential, commercial, and retail properties. Sunway Property spans Malaysia, China, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, the UK, and Australia, earning consistent recognition as Malaysia's top developer.

 

Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) leads Malaysia's private healthcare sector with its flagship quaternary hospital, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur (SCKL), established in 1999. SHG collectively offers over 1150 beds and over 400 specialist consultants. Complementing its hospital network are ancillary healthcare businesses including Sunway Specialist Centre Damansara, Sunway Medical Centre Singapore, and Sunway Fertility Centre.

 

Sunway Education Group, established in 1987, is dedicated to providing accessible and high-quality education for all in Malaysia. With 23 educational entities under its umbrella, including Sunway University, Sunway College, and Sunway International Schools, Sunway Education Group is committed to continuous improvement and expansion, striving to become a world-class provider of quality education to all.
 

 ABOUT 

Meet Ventures

Meet Ventures, established in 2019, is an early-stage startup investor and innovation consultancy firm dedicated to driving transformative change. The firm specializes in running market access programs and innovation programs across South-East Asia. Some notable clients include Japan External Trade Organization, Seoul City Government, and Enterprise Singapore.

 

Meet Ventures currently has 4 offices in Singapore (HQ), Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The firm also has a total of 10 chapters across Asia. Each Chapter is helmed by an experienced industry veteran who provides insights and access to local markets.

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Rocket Forward – Ignite Your Cross Border Business in Singapore and Malaysia

Program
Highlights

  • Receive business introductions to stakeholders in Singapore and Malaysia (including Sunway Group) who can fast-track your market entry

  • Receive insights from experts with long-term experience in major sectors in Singapore and Malaysia like real estate, healthcare and education

  • Receive business advice on navigating the legal, financial, and logistical hurdles (among others) to enter Singapore and Malaysia

Program
Target Participants

  • Growth-stage startups and SMEs

  • From mature markets outside of Southeast Asia

Program
Pricing

US$5,000 Per Pax

  • Includes: 1-on-1 consultations with the Meet Ventures team

  • Excludes: Airfare, accomodation, F&B, local transport, other personal expenses

Home: Classes

PROGRAM OUTLINE

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KL

Kuala Lumpur

25-26 Nov 2024

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JB

Johor Bahru

27 Nov 2024

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SG

Singapore

28-29 Nov 2024

​​Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur

25 November 2024

Morning: Arrival in Kuala Lumpur + Hotel Check-In

Welcome lunch hosted by iLabs

Afternoon: Business introductions with local network partners

Day 2 - Kuala Lumpur

26 November 2024

Morning: Visit to corporate ecosystem partners

Afternoon: Networking with Sunway Group business units

Day 3 - Johor Bahru

27 November 2024

Morning: Arrival in Johor Bahru + Hotel Check-In

Afternoon: Site visit to Sunway Iskandar

Day 4 - Singapore

28 November 2024

Morning: Arrival in Singapore + Hotel Check-In

Afternoon: Welcome lunch with Meet Ventures

Afternoon: At least 3 business introductions per startup

Day 5 - Singapore

29 November 2024

Morning: Site visit to a Government Startup Agency

Afternoon: Panel discussion & industry networking

Afternoon: At least 3 business introductions per startup

Partners

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PROGRAM STAFF

John Lim, MBA

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Partner at Meet Ventures

John is a thought leader in the startup and innovation sector with close to 10 years of experience working in top VC firms and Big 4 consultancy firms.

 

Below is his career track record:

  • Former Head of BD & Marketing at LongHash, a US$100M VC fund

  • Former Program Manager at SGInnovate, a US$200M VC fund

  • Former Senior Consultant at KPMG Innovate

  • Investment Committee of Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

  • Wharton VC Executive Program Alumni and AWS Startup Scout

John has also been invited to judge at major international pitch competitions such as Project Kairos 2018, Startup Elevate 2019, Suzhou Venture Contest 2020, Win In Nanjing Pitch Contest 2019 & 2022, KTO Global Challenge 2020 & 2021 & 2022, Launchpad 2022, Fly Asia Awards 2022 and Slingshot 2020 & 2021 & 2022 & 2023. He was also Keynote Speaker at the Yale-NUS China Summit 2019, Maritime Port Authority (Singapore) Innovation Summit 2019, QED ChangeMaker Forum 2022, TEDx Newton 2022, and Amalgam 2024.

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Farhan Firdaus, MSc

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Partner at Meet Ventures

Farhan has spent the last 10 years building and growing startups in numerous capacities and has a demonstrated history in deal sourcing and value creation.

 

Below is his career track record:

  • Former COO at OraCare Group, largest dental group in SE Asia - Former Head of Corporate Affairs at Seristine Group, real estate developer

  • Board Advisor at Singapore Polytechnic Business School

  • Chua Thian Poh Scholar at Nanyang Technological University

  • Slingshot Domain Finals Judge in 2022 and 2023  

Farhan was recognized as an Outstanding Young Singaporean with the Ten Outstanding Young Person Singapore Merit Award and the Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award by the Nanyang Technological University. He was also recognized for being an emerging thought leader in the development of startups and new ventures as an EUVP Fellow by the European Union and as an IVLP Fellow by the US Department of State.

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Terrence Hoon, BAcc and BBus

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Director of Insights at Meet Ventures

Terrence has more than 5 years of working experience in tech startup & operations, venture capital investments and corporate strategy in MNCs.

 

Below is his career track record:

  • Former Investor at Qualgro Partners, a VC that invests in Series A/B tech companies

  • Former Project Lead at Stellar, a Series Pre-A venture-backed tech company

  • Other roles in investments and corporate strategy: Antler, Bank of Singapore, Julius Baer

Terrence helps to connect organisations that have multi-national ambitions with startups and venture ecosystems across Southeast Asia, to facilitate market research and gather on-the-ground intelligence for a broad range of business contexts.

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Bella Puteri, MSc

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Senior Associate at Meet Ventures


Bella has more than 5 years of experience in the startup and media industry.



 

Below is her career track record:


  • Program Manager for WingArc Accelerator Program

  • Program Manager for KOCCA Launchpad Program

  • Former Production Coordinator at Spotify  

 

Bella supports our accelerator and market access programs at Meet Ventures, providing strategic smooth operational support for our clients and portfolio startups.

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Karen Lau

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Chief Operations Officer

at Sunway iLabs

With 360° experience in startup investment, venture building, and research commercialisation, Karen works closely with corporates, entrepreneurs, and the university community to turn ideas into commercially viable products and scale businesses for success. She is the Chief Operations Officer of Sunway Innovation Labs, the innovation arm of one of the largest conglomerates in Malaysia - Sunway Group.

 

A startup ecosystem builder, Karen leads the key portfolios of Sunway iLabs, such as the Venture Lab, which scales Malaysia and cross-border startups through market access and investment. Apart from her venture's role, she also leads the entrepreneurship arm of Sunway University, iLabs Foundry.

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Brendan Beh

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Ventures Development Executive

at Sunway iLabs

Brendan is Ventures Development Executive at Sunway iLabs, driving innovation and growth through strategic partnerships and entrepreneurial initiatives. Experienced in fostering startup ecosystems, nurturing early-stage ventures, and accelerating business development. Proven track record in corporate innovation, venture investments, and ecosystem building across diverse industries. Passionate about leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to solve real-world challenges. Seeking opportunities to collaborate with visionary entrepreneurs and organizations to create impactful ventures and drive sustainable growth.

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Co-Organised by

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