Cyberjaya: Ten Malaysian startups pitched their products to investors at the Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator (CLLA) Programme Cohort 20 Demo Day today, presenting locally developed solutions across various sectors.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the event was organised by Cyberview Sdn Bhd, aiming to help early-stage startups with market-ready products test, refine, and prepare their offerings for commercial rollout. Cyberview chairman Datuk Romli Ishak emphasized the importance of building confidence in local talent and technology to prevent Malaysia from remaining solely a consumer nation.

He stated that Malaysia needs to believe in its technology and products to progress from being merely a consumer country reliant on foreign innovations. He warned that continuing on the current path would leave the nation without unique achievements and hinder its upliftment. As Malaysia delves deeper into the digital era, including smart cities, Industry 4.0, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, reducing reliance on foreign technology is crucial.

Romli highlighted that this dependence makes Malaysia susceptible to geopolitical shifts, supply chain disruptions, and external pricing pressures, similar to the effects of current US tariffs. By creating, supporting, and adopting Malaysian technology, the country can transform into an innovation hub, retaining more value domestically. He envisions Cyberjaya as not only Malaysia’s tech hub but a global hub for innovators worldwide to develop and test solutions alongside local talent.

The event showcased startups addressing national priorities such as sustainable energy, health technology, smart automation, and digital inclusion, aligning with Malaysia’s shift towards a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. ADA Biotech Sdn Bhd, known for producing biodegradable products from agricultural waste, was named the judges’ favourite startup, winning the RM5,000 grand prize.

During the programme, the startups collectively secured RM3.8 million in investments from various funding partners. The programme’s partners include Cradle, MDEC, Leave a Nest, Nexea, MRANTI, MDV, MTDC, MBAN, pitchIN, Ata Plus Malaysia, 1337 Ventures, Petronas, Vynn Capital, The Hive Southeast Asia, MVCA, and Maxis.

The CLLA Cohort 20 began with 24 early-stage startups in phase 1 in February, narrowing to 17 in Phase 2 before selecting 10 to pitch at the Demo Day finale.