Kuala Lumpur, 18 July 2025 – The Startup World Cup Malaysia 2025 – Kuala Lumpur Final brought together the nation’s top entrepreneurial talent in a high‑stakes pitch showdown at Asia School of Business. Organised by Growth Charger, the official organiser of the Startup World Cup Malaysia, and proudly supported by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) as the Title Partner, the event served as a platform to spotlight the next generation of innovative ventures aiming to scale regionally and globally.
Ten high-potential startups took the stage at the KL Final, pitching to a distinguished panel of judges comprising investors, industry experts, and corporate leaders. The winning startup will represent West Malaysia at the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, competing for the chance to secure USD 1 million in investment from Pegasus Tech Ventures.
Officiated by YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the event highlighted the collaborative strength of Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem. In addition to key supporters such as Cyberview, the Tech Hub Developer of Cyberjaya, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), whose initiatives continue to drive digital inclusion and global market access for local startups, and WORQ, which plays an essential role in cultivating co-working spaces where entrepreneurs and startups can collaborate and scale.
Qarbotech and the Startup World Cup
The afternoon kicked off with inspiring opening remarks from Pegasus Tech Ventures, followed by a keynote address by Cradle, the Title Partner of the event.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, said, “This competition is more than just a stage for great ideas—it is a strategic launchpad to elevate Malaysian startups to global prominence. As the national focal agency for startups, Cradle remains steadfast in our commitment to developing a robust ecosystem of high-growth, high-impact ventures that scale beyond borders. This aligns with Malaysia’s aspiration to be among the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems by 2030. We believe our homegrown startups are not only ready to compete but to lead in solving real-world challenges.”
The highlight of the evening was the winning pitch delivered by Qarbotech, who impressed the judges with their patented biocompatible quantum dots technology that enhances plant photosynthesis, increasing growth by up to 60%.
Chor Chee Hoe, CEO and Co-founder of Qarbotech, shared, “As an alumnus of the Asia School of Business, it’s a proud moment to win the prestigious Startup World Cup Malaysia right here on my home turf. Few know that I first connected with Professor Dr Suraya Abdul Rashid through a networking opportunity curated by ASB and Universiti Putra Malaysia. Those early days of commercialising a novel homegrown technology were filled with challenges, but this win is a powerful validation of how far we’ve come. It’s a shared victory for the entire Qarbotech team, our dedicated partners, and the 2,500 farmers across Malaysia who believed in our product. And this is just the beginning—we’re on a mission to scale our innovation globally to empower plants, people, and the planet.”
Iskandar Shafi’i, Co-founder and Director of Growth Charger, said, “As the official organiser of Startup World Cup Malaysia, Growth Charger is dedicated to nurturing a platform that not only celebrates innovation but also connects Malaysian startups to global opportunities. Kuala Lumpur’s rise as a leading startup hub reflects the strength and diversity of our ecosystem, and the KL Final is a testament to the bold ideas shaping our future. We’re excited to support these entrepreneurs as they take their ideas to the world stage.” He also added, “We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Qarbotech for emerging as the Kuala Lumpur champion. Their breakthrough in agri-tech innovation is a shining example of Malaysian ingenuity with global potential, and we look forward to cheering them on as they represent West Malaysia at the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley.”
The KL Final
The KL Final was made possible through the support of key partners across the startup ecosystem. Among the Strategic Partners were Cyberview, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and TEGAS, while Malaysia Debt Ventures (MDV), WORQ, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Makeramai Makerspace, and iCube Innovation contributed as Ecosystem Partners. The event also received strong support from additional ecosystem enablers and venture capital firms, reflecting a shared mission of accelerating Malaysia’s innovation economy.
All eyes now turn to the East Malaysia Final in Kuching on 31 July 2025, where the next wave of top founders will battle for a spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale this October in Silicon Valley.
