The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has launched the second cohort of its GROWMatch initiative, bringing together 50 agri and bio-based entrepreneurs to connect with alternative financing opportunities and investors from across the capital market.
First introduced in August 2024, GROWMatch helps entrepreneurs in foodtech, agtech, biotech and bio-based sectors showcase their ventures while gaining access to equity crowdfunding (ECF), peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, venture capital (VC) and private equity firms.
The expanded 2025 cohort, more than double last year’s 20 participants, reflects growing demand for innovative solutions in food security and sustainability. Of this year’s finalists, 54% focus on climate-resilient farming, 34% tackle soil degradation and 12% address sustainable feed and livestock health.
SC Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said GROWMatch plays a crucial role in bridging the financing gap for underserved entrepreneurs.
“GROWMatch enriches the ecosystem for developing agri-solutions in food security and sustainability, while giving businesses the visibility to scale. This complements initiatives such as MyCIF, which has crowded-in more than RM6 billion into startups; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and MTCs through ECF and P2P,” he said.
He highlighted that since inception, Malaysia’s ECF and P2P platforms have raised over RM10 billion for 23,000 businesses, underscoring the impact of alternative financing in supporting MSMEs.
“Past GROWMatch participants have also gained traction — Entomal Biotech secured funding from Sarawak’s AgriFoodTech Sustainability Impact Fund, while Pacton Technologies unlocked new partnerships with 50 farms,” he shared.
GROWMatch is supported by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Invest Sabah Bhd.
