Shamir Rahim

KUALA LUMPUR (July 27) In a move to bolster Malaysia’s technology ecosystem, ViTrox Corp Bhd’s (KL:VITROX) co-founders are partnering with private equity firm Southern Capital Group to create a venture capital fund. Dubbed the Cambrian Fund, it aims to support local tech startups and nurture a robust tech ecosystem in Malaysia. The fund will focus on the Industrial 4.0 themes, including vision artificial intelligence and robotics. It aims to invest in early-stage tech companies whose founders have the right mindset, compelling vision, and exceptional execution capabilities necessary to achieve market leadership and success in a dynamic and competitive global environment. The fund intends to cast a wider net to attract other industry leaders and key stakeholders into the fund's ecosystem. The fund, which will be launched in October this year, is targeting to raise RM150 million, of which RM60 million is to be secured from ViTrox founders and Southern Capital. ViTrox's founders are Chu Jenn Weng, Steven Siaw Kok Tiong, and Yeoh Shih Hoong. Speaking at a pre-launch of the Cambrian Fund, Chu said Malaysia has the potential to become the Silicon Vallley of the East. He emphasised that achieving this vision requires industry players to contribute their knowledge and expertise, as well as increased investment from those who share the goal of strengthening the local tech ecosystem. “Southeast Asia is poised for significant growth and we see unique opportunities to foster local tech companies and create global champions. Our initiative aligns with the National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem and establish at least 10 Malaysian tech companies with over RM1 billion in revenue,” said Chu, who is also president, managing director and chief executive officer of ViTrox. Chu is the largest shareholder in Penang-based ViTrox with a 26.44% stake. The group produces machinery and equipment designed to automate the rigorous testing of semiconductor devices. He highlighted that Penang is an excellent destination that boasts strong infrastructure, a highly educated and motivated workforce, and successful companies founded by entrepreneurs, which create significant investment opportunities. “Permanent dislocations in global supply chains due to geopolitical changes have led to tremendous prospects for local operators and entrepreneurs to achieve massive growth, but this requires networks, knowledge and capital. "Southern Capital is excited to have the founders of Vitrox as limited partners and allies in this transformative venture. We share the same values and vision, aiming to leverage our collective experience and knowledge to help others achieve significant returns and growth,” Tan added.

10

Lovely start to my Speaking Series at Estonia over Healthcare impact across borders on the landscape of Singapore & Estonia. Everyone deserves Good Health. #UNSDG3 If you’re in Tallinn, drop by and amplify healthcare impact with us!

29

2 Comments

As we continue to innovate and disrupt, it’s crucial to recognize the common reasons why startups fail, enabling us to learn, adapt, and ultimately succeed. 1. Lack of Market Need: One of the most significant pitfalls is building a product without validating its market demand. 2. Cash-Flow Mismanagement: Startups often underestimate their burn rate or overestimate revenue projections, leading to cash flow crises. 3. Ineffective Team Dynamics: Investing in team cohesion and leadership development is vital. 4. Competitive Landscape Ignorance: Failing to understand the competitive environment can leave startups vulnerable. 5. Scaling Prematurely: Growth is exciting but scaling too quickly can stretch resources thin and dilute focus. 6. Failure to Pivot: Startups must be willing to pivot their business models or product offerings based on feedback and market shifts. #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #LearningFromFailure

4

2 Comments

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 This chart from a feature in today's The Business Times (S-E ASIA'S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONTINUES TO BRAVE FUNDING DROUGHT) authored by Benjamin Cher is striking- Funding has fallen off a cliff in the region and will remain depressed The article goes on to report that funders are looking at "𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄". Coincidentally, I met a fellow #healthtech #founder earlier this week who was actively spending down his runway to accelerate #growth, saying, "We are in this to win big. What's the point otherwise?" We in AMILI are growing in a measured way and are looking to next fundraise in 2026/27 with the two-fold thesis: 1️⃣ The #microbiome is still super hot and there is momentum; it would be foolish to hunker down and just survive 2️⃣ Venture investment will come back but it would be prudent to have the funds to wait out this winter and also use the time to demonstrate positive unit economics and a clear path with scale to profitability. That said, I fully understand my fellow founder's sentiments- 🚀 𝑮𝒐 𝒃𝒊𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆! 🚀 In #healthcare especially, we launch startups because we want to change things, and change them quickly because we see and live the existing frustrations. Healthcare is also so clearly broken in its current form that the needs are urgent and evident. Why not? Jeremy Ting Clifford Tan Clifford Chow Tommy Teo Minjie (MJ) Yu Harsh Rajpal Hoda Abou-Jamra Choon Hiong Tan Tobias Funke Jannie Tsuei Uten Lohachitpitaks Panjan W. Nathida Tangkongpanich Pichit Kangwolkij Nabil Fawzi Jun T. Cabais Aalok Mehta Naroote Foo Maarten Kelder Joseph Mocanu Jolynn Swee Kaixin Tan Willson Cuaca Wesley Tay Helmut Schuehsler Mark Wang #startup #vc #investing

76

4 Comments

🌟 Reflections from the SCRI Clinical Trials Symposium 🌟 Last week, I attended the #SCRI2024 symposium organized by Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI). The event featured visionary leaders like Sir Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist at the WHO, Prof Kenneth Mak, Director-General of Health at Singapore's Ministry of Health, Adj A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO of CRIS, and many others. Additionally, experts from renowned companies such as Novartis, Takeda, and Duke-NUS Medical School discussed the future of clinical research and its profound impact on healthcare. Here is quick summary of some important innovations: 💻 Digital Trials: Embracing digital technologies to streamline data collection and analysis, making trials more efficient and accurate. 🏠 Decentralized Trials: Bringing clinical trials directly to patients' homes, enhancing accessibility and convenience. This approach is crucial in including participants who might otherwise face barriers to participation, such as those in remote areas or with mobility issues. ❤️ Patient-Focused Trials: Shifting the focus towards patient-centric research, ensuring that the treatments being tested genuinely meet the needs and preferences of patients. This approach enhances patient engagement and trust in the research process. 🔍 Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs): Encouraging researchers to lead innovative studies, exploring new therapies and treatments that may not yet be prioritized by the pharmaceutical industry. 🤝 Industry-Sponsored Trials (ISPs): Partnering with industry leaders to advance the development and commercialization of new therapies. These partnerships are essential for bringing cutting-edge treatments to market. ⚙️ Adaptive Trials: Utilizing flexible trial designs that allow for modifications based on real-time data. This flexibility helps to optimize resources and improve the chances of successful outcomes. These innovations are not only speeding up the development of new therapies and reducing costs but also promoting inclusivity. Diverse participation ensures that treatments are safe and effective for everyone, leading to better healthcare outcomes. By participating in these clinical trials, you can help bring groundbreaking treatments to those who need them most and contribute to the betterment of humanity. ✨ #ClinicalTrials #InnovationInHealthcare #DigitalHealth #PatientCentric #DecentralizedTrials #DiversityAndInclusion #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalResearch #FutureOfMedicine #JoinTheChange #BettermentOfHumanity

12

Just returned from an interesting Asia Tech Singapore! A thought-provoking quote resonated deeply with me: "AI will not replace humans, but humans using AI will replace humans not using it." One standout session was "Strategies for AI-Driven Profitability," (Feon Ang Linkedin, Jan Lim Lenskart, Anil Singh SparkBeyond ) emphasizing the critical importance of engaging all layers of a company to effectively harness the power of AI. It's all about teaching every team member how to work with AI to unlock its full potential. Another key learning from a presentation  "Why Governance is a Business Imperative for Scaling Enterprise AI," (Jason Chen IBM, Snehal Pansare IBM, Manoj Bhatia Tech Mahindra) revealed that 80% of business leaders face challenges scaling AI across the enterprise due to trust issues. Effective governance is crucial for overcoming these hurdles and ensuring successful AI integration. Milind's (Mercedes Benz) session on “The future of the workforce” addressed the synergy between AI and humans, highlighting how many organizations today are not designed for AI adoption. He pointed out that 60-80% of AI initiatives fail, primarily because 70% of developing AI capability depends on people and processes. Change must start with engaging people and reimagining business from the ground up to become AI-ready. Rahul Saxena (GSK )shared inspiring success stories on optimizing customer experience with AI-driven analytics and segmentation. With my AI certifications in hand, I'm prepared to lead and embrace the future. Feeling inspired and ready to implement these insights into my own AI journey. #ATXSG #MedTech #AITech #HealthcareInnovation #Leadership #FutureOfWork #AIReady

15

1 Comment