Khazanah Nasional Bhd is urging more Malaysian start-ups to tap venture capital and funding opportunities under its Dana Impak programme to scale their businesses and strengthen their path towards institutional investment and potential listings.
Managing Director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said stronger participation from venture capital players could provide early-stage companies with the funding and support needed to expand before attracting larger institutional investors.
He pointed to SkyeChip Bhd as an example, noting that significant venture capital participation helped the semiconductor company grow before Khazanah stepped in as a cornerstone investor ahead of its IPO.
Amirul Feisal said Khazanah hopes broader participation across the investment ecosystem will allow more Malaysian companies to follow a similar growth trajectory.
He identified semiconductors as a sector with significant potential amid rising global demand for artificial intelligence-related technologies, while robotics and agri-technology also present growth opportunities.
Khazanah, he said, aims to act as a catalyst alongside other government-linked investment companies by attracting emerging and regional fund managers, providing seed capital and supporting companies as they scale.
“We go in with venture capital players, and then hopefully other investors can come in at a later stage,” he said.
Amirul Feisal added that Khazanah may consider participating when companies reach the IPO stage, but stressed that its broader priority remains building a stronger funding ecosystem for Malaysian businesses.
