10 “搖籃”企業家向投資者呈計劃

CRADLE’S ENTREPRENEURS PITCH IDEAS TO LOCAL & GLOBAL INVESTORS & VCS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 –Ten of Cradle Investment Programme’s (CIP) entrepreneurs were given a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of global and local investors as well as venture capitalists recently in the hopes of seeking further funding to develop and / or commercialise their ideas.

The ten different ideas from Cradle’s entrepreneurs were presented to representatives from several government agencies including Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP), Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDeC), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI).

Also present during the pitch were private equity firms, financial service providers and venture capitalists (VC) such as global VC firm Walden International, Singapore VC Azione Capital, local VC Kumpulan Modal Perdana, CIMB Private Equity, Kuwait Finance House and Pembangunan Ekuiti Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Bank Pembangunan.

Well known business organizations were also on hand to review the presentations. They include Cahaya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Intelligent Capital Inc., Tricubes Bhd, TM Net and TIME Engineering Bhd.

The ten Cradle entrepreneurs presented various technology-related ideas such as e-learning, 3G/mobile integrated video solution, intelligent wireless irrigation network, anti piracy and order frequency analysis software, and online Islamic financial news channel to name a few.

According to Dato’ Sallehuddin Othman, Chairman of Cradle, the presentation or pitch session takes place once every quarter of the year and in addition to funding, it is also held to allow Cradle entrepreneurs to interact and seek advise from established organisations.

“The pitch would ensure that Cradle entrepreneurs know and understand what is required of them and their idea in the ‘real world’. While having a good idea is important, the other pertinent aspect is the commercial viability or business model of the idea,” added Sallehuddin.

However, upon failure of attaining grants, funding or commercialisation opportunity, Cradle will once again step in and work together with the entrepreneur to further refine the idea as per the advises received.

“The main objective of Cradle is to encourage the development and business potential of technology-related ideas amongst Malaysians. In the long run, Cradle intends to narrow the gap in the innovation value chain, from the generation of ideas to the commercialisation stage.

As such, we will once again work with the unsuccessful finalists to attain success in the next round of presentation or even set-up meetings with organisations that would be interested to adopt the entrepreneurs’ ideas,” said Sallehuddin.

CIP is a funds provider managed by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) under the auspices of the MOF. Launched in 2003, it is Malaysia’s first pre-seed funding programme which assists individuals in getting their original technology-based ideas off the ground by providing grants, assisting, guiding as well as providing support to entrepreneurs.

Cradle provides conditional grants of up to RM50,000 and has to date disbursed a total of RM12.5 million to some 251 innovative entrepreneurs. A sum of RM100 million has been allocated by MOF for the programme.