Does Malaysia’s true regional value lie in being ASEAN’s startup sandbox? Could an integrated ASEAN startup ecosystem unlock the region’s full potential, or is this too ambitious for such a fragmented landscape? 

As Malaysia looks ahead to its ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, Enterprise Explores dives into the value, opportunities, and challenges of building a more connected regional startup community with Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle Fund, and Renuka Sena, CEO of Proficeo. We also explore Malaysia’s potential role in driving this agenda.

Does Malaysia’s true regional value lie in being ASEAN’s startup sandbox? Could an integrated ASEAN startup ecosystem unlock the region’s full potential, or is this too ambitious for such a fragmented landscape? As Malaysia looks ahead to its ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, Enterprise Explores dives into the value, opportunities, and challenges of building a more connected regional startup community with Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle Fund, and Renuka Sena, CEO of Proficeo. We also explore Malaysia’s potential role in driving this agenda.

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Helping you navigate the ever-changing universe of business, from headlines to the bottom line

Enterprise Explores

ASEAN As A United Startup Hub: Foolish or Ambitious?

As high-tech industries like semiconductors and digital technologies grow, the demand for skilled talent is rising. Traditional education often falls short, leaving many working adults struggling to keep up. Wawasan Open University (WOU) is changing that with flexible open distance learning, allowing professionals to upskill while continuing their careers.



Today, Vice Chancellor and CEO of Wawasan Open University, Professor Lily Chan, shares how the university is bridging the skills gap and supporting Malaysia’s economic vision with innovative programmes and strong industry partnerships.

As high-tech industries like semiconductors and digital technologies grow, the demand for skilled talent is rising. Traditional education often falls short, leaving many working adults struggling to keep up. Wawasan Open University (WOU) is changing that with flexible open distance learning, allowing professionals to upskill while continuing their careers.Today, Vice Chancellor and CEO of Wawasan Open University, Professor Lily Chan, shares how the university is bridging the skills gap and supporting Malaysia’s economic vision with innovative programmes and strong industry partnerships.

Flexible Learning Fuels Tech-Ready Talents

As foreign e-commerce platforms grow across Southeast Asia, there is rising debate about how to protect local SMEs from being outpaced. In this episode, we explore potential policies that could shape Malaysia's digital economy, weighing the benefits and risks for local businesses, innovation, and foreign investment. Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education, joins us to discuss strategies to support MSMEs while fostering a digital-first economy.

As foreign e-commerce platforms grow across Southeast Asia, there is rising debate about how to protect local SMEs from being outpaced. In this episode, we explore potential policies that could shape Malaysia's digital economy, weighing the benefits and risks for local businesses, innovation, and foreign investment. Dr Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the Center for Market Education, joins us to discuss strategies to support MSMEs while fostering a digital-first economy.

Digital Defense For Malaysian SMEs

In our continuing coverage of Budget 2025, today, we’re diving into Malaysia’s 2025 Budget and its focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Joining us today to break this down are Warren Leow and Khalil Nooh from the National AI Consortium (KAIN). Warren is CEO of AI-driven creative tools provider Pixlr and Khalil is Co-Founder & CEO of Mesolitica  -a  startup that is developing a Malaysian LLM. We’ll explore the hits and misses from Budget 2025, the critical steps Malaysia needs to take in AI development, and how KAIN is working to shape the country’s AI future.

In our continuing coverage of Budget 2025, today, we’re diving into Malaysia’s 2025 Budget and its focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Joining us today to break this down are Warren Leow and Khalil Nooh from the National AI Consortium (KAIN). Warren is CEO of AI-driven creative tools provider Pixlr and Khalil is Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Mesolitica -a startup that is developing a Malaysian LLM. We’ll explore the hits and misses from Budget 2025, the critical steps Malaysia needs to take in AI development, and how KAIN is working to shape the country’s AI future.

ASEAN As A United Startup Hub: Foolish or Ambitious?

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