{"id":130948,"date":"2026-02-04T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T02:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/?p=130948"},"modified":"2026-02-04T10:00:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T02:00:21","slug":"sdec-sis-2026-highlights-tech-startups-as-engines-of-economic-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/2026\/02\/04\/sdec-sis-2026-highlights-tech-startups-as-engines-of-economic-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"SDEC SIS 2026\u00a0highlights\u00a0tech startups\u00a0as engines of economic growth\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KUCHING, 2 FEBRUARY 2026<\/strong> \u2013 Startups go beyond business creation, serving as critical platforms for learning, experimentation, and the development of entrepreneurial leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

YB Datuk Dr Annuar bin\u00a0Rapaee<\/strong>,\u202fDeputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I\u202f(Education and\u00a0Innovation) said\u00a0this today at the\u00a0Startup Innovation Showcase\u00a02026 (SIS 2026),\u00a0a tech demo day combining\u00a0the\u00a0Digital Village Accelerator (DiVA)\u202fCohort 4\u00a0and\u202fSarawak SaaS Accelerator\u00a0(SaSAR)\u00a0Cohort 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both initiatives are\u202fled by\u00a0Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)\u00a0under the Sarawak Digital and Innovation Ecosystem,\u00a0a catalytic initiative\u00a0within the\u00a0Post COVID-19\u00a0Development Strategy\u00a02030\u00a0(PCDS 2030)<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProgrammes such as\u202fDiVA\u202fand\u202fSaSAR\u202fprovide structured environments where founders can grow with discipline and purpose.\u202fThey expose participants to mentors, industry\u202fperspectives\u202fand ecosystem expectations, helping them mature not only as entrepreneurs, but also as leaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Ministry\u2019s perspective, this is critical. These programmes complement formal education by offering practical pathways for innovation,\u202fentrepreneurship, and lifelong learning,\u201d Annuar said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
YB Datuk Dr Annuar bin\u00a0Rapaee<\/strong>,\u202fDeputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I\u202f(Education and\u00a0Innovation)<\/em> delivering his speech<\/em> at<\/em> SIS.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The inaugural SIS featured seven selected startups from DiVA and ten from SaSAR, who pitched and showcased their technology solutions and business models to potential investors, government agencies, and corporate partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a rigorous selection process last year, the most scalable startups advanced to the next phase of\u00a0DiVA. These early-stage digital ventures receive up to RM150,000<\/strong> in seed funding, along with personalised mentorship, business development support, pilot opportunities, and exposure to investors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seven, namely\u00a0Maxeon\u00a0Technologies\u00a0Sdn\u00a0Bhd,\u00a0Robopreneur, OINC\u00a0Sdn\u00a0Bhd,\u00a0Sustainaviro\u00a0Technology\u00a0Sdn\u00a0Bhd,\u00a0Stinablis\u00a0Sdn\u00a0Bhd,\u00a0CtrlD\u00a0Studio, and\u00a0SpaceIn\u00a0Sdn\u00a0Bhd,\u00a0represent a diverse range of focus areas, including artificial intelligence (AI),\u00a0robotics\u00a0and automation,\u00a0agritech\u00a0and smart farming, digital\u00a0content\u00a0and creative technology<\/strong>, among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together with its Accelerator Partner, Growth Charger, DiVA expanded its eligibility criteria this year to welcome startups not currently based in Sarawak but planning to establish operations in the region within the next six months. This strategic move reflects SDEC\u2019s commitment to attracting high-calibre innovators while accelerating the growth of Sarawak\u2019s digital economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, SaSAR, launched in November 2025, is designed to fast-track the growth of software startups, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers. The programme offers a focused pathway for software-driven companies to progress beyond product development\u2014scaling their user base, generating sustainable revenue, expanding into new markets, and ultimately becoming investment-ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme is delivered in collaboration with AWS Malaysia as Supporting Partner, providing cloud infrastructure, training, and technical enablement, and NEXEA Group as Accelerator Partner, leading structured mentorship, market validation, and venture readiness components. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inaugural cohort attracted more than 200 applications nationwide, with 23 shortlisted participants from Sarawak, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Penang. Complementing DiVA, SaSAR is expected to strengthen SME digital adoption, enhance Sarawak\u2019s digital competitiveness, and contribute to the broader growth of Malaysia\u2019s technology ecosystem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on SIS,\u00a0SDEC\u2019s Chief Executive Officer Dato Ir. Ts.\u00a0Sudarnoto\u00a0Osman<\/strong>\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0a\u00a0good idea\u202falone is not enough\u00a0as founders need structured\u00a0support such as\u00a0mentorship, ecosystem access, market\u202fexposure,\u00a0and investor engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMore importantly, these programmes send a clear message\u2014that Sarawak believes in its entrepreneurs, and SDEC is committed to supporting those who are prepared to build and scale from here,\u201d Sudarnoto added.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
SDEC\u2019s Chief Executive Officer Dato Ir. Ts.\u00a0Sudarnoto\u00a0Osman<\/strong><\/em> delivering his speech<\/em> at SIS<\/em>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Growth Charger, Iskandar\u00a0Shafi\u2019I<\/strong>\u00a0said, the surge in high-calibre\u00a0applications underscores a pivotal shift.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSarawak is no longer just a participant in the digital economy. It is becoming a preferred launchpad for innovation. At Growth Charger, our focus goes beyond short-term acceleration. We are here to ensure that as these startups scale internationally, they remain anchored in Sarawak, creating a self-sustaining cycle of high-value talent and economic resilience,\u201d Iskandar said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0providing cloud infrastructure, training, and technical enablement,\u00a0AWS Malaysia is\u00a0helping Malaysian entrepreneurs productionise their solutions,\u00a0and scale from development to sustainable revenue and market expansion, said its Country Manager, Hussein Mohd Ali.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe’re proud to support SMEs, SaaS ISVs, and startups through the accelerator programme. When we enable local innovators with world-class capabilities, we’re investing in nation building and Malaysia’s digital economy,” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben Lim<\/strong>, Chief Executive Officer of NEXEA remarked that the\u00a0strength of SaSAR\u00a0is clearly reflected in the calibre and traction of its participants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCollectively, these startups have already attracted over RM20 million in investment interest, with more than RM500,000 secured during the programme itself. Several companies have also recorded strong momentum, achieving 50% to 100% year-on-year growth. This demonstrates that SaSAR is not just about ideas but also about building real businesses with measurable outcomes and investor confidence,\u201d said Lim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SDEC and its partners remain committed to empowering innovative startups, in line with the shared goal of building a vibrant ecosystem that drives technological advancement and sustainable economic growth in the region. For more info on DiVA and SaSAR, email to Elizabeth\u202fLinli\u202fCharles at\u202felizabeth@sdec.com.my<\/a>.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KUCHING, 2 FEBRUARY 2026 \u2013 Startups go beyond business creation, serving as critical platforms for learning, experimentation, and the development of entrepreneurial leadership.  YB Datuk Dr Annuar bin\u00a0Rapaee,\u202fDeputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I\u202f(Education and\u00a0Innovation) said\u00a0this today at the\u00a0Startup Innovation Showcase\u00a02026 (SIS 2026),\u00a0a tech demo day combining\u00a0the\u00a0Digital Village Accelerator (DiVA)\u202fCohort 4\u00a0and\u202fSarawak SaaS Accelerator\u00a0(SaSAR)\u00a0Cohort 1.\u00a0 Both initiatives are\u202fled by\u00a0Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":130952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-en","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130948"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":130951,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130948\/revisions\/130951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdec.com.my\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}