The MYStartup Pre-Accelerator Cohort 5 wrapped up with 12 finalists showcasing their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) at Demo Day after four months of mentorship, training, and business development under Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle).
(Bottom row, left to right): Tengku Naim (Chief Technology Officer, CourtIQ), Azri Raziq (CEO & Product Lead, CourtIQ), Shukri Yusof (Chief Product Officer, Cynco), and Mohammad Hazli Bin Johar (CEO, Cynco).
From an initial 30 startups, five emerged as winners, each receiving RM35,000 and exclusive access to MYStartup’s network of mentors, investors, and partners. The winning startups are:
- Cynco – An AI-powered platform transforming raw data into financial statements efficiently.
- Reclimate – A climate tech solution enabling farming communities to drive climate action via biochar.
- InsuredSpeaks (by Psystom Sdn Bhd) – An AI-driven platform for reviewing and rating health insurance policies.
- CourtIQ – A sports analytics tool using computer vision to track movement and enhance performance insights.
- Lestagro – A plant vitaliser enhancing fertiliser effectiveness and reducing plant heat stress.
The startups were evaluated by industry leaders, including Cradle’s Senior Vice President of Grant and Investment, Juliana Jan, alongside judges from FirstMove, ARTEM, and pitchIN.
Speaking at the event, Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, highlighted the programme’s impact, stating, “The progress achieved by these startups showcases the depth and potential of Malaysia’s entrepreneurial landscape. Through platforms like MYStartup, we are committed to nurturing the next wave of high-impact startups.”
One of the winners, Shankari Sukumaran, Co-Founder of InsuredSpeaks, shared, “The mentorship, structure, and validation we received have sharpened our approach, helping us fine-tune our product for market fit.”
Meanwhile, Hazli Johar from Cynco noted the value of mentorship, stating, “The advice we received helped us avoid common pitfalls and better position ourselves for scaling.”
The MYStartup initiative, under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), aligns with the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030, aiming to position Malaysia among the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems by 2030.
