pitchIN has further validated the attractiveness of equity crowdfunding (ECF) to Malaysian investors by becoming the first ECF platform to reach double digits numbers for successful deals in a year. 

Having launched its first ECF deal in May 2016, pitchIN has powered its way into becoming Malaysia’s leading ECF platform with a slew of eye catching successfully funded deals.

Malaysia recorded a total of RM65.4 billion of approved investments in the services, manufacturing and primary sectors for the first six months of 2017 (1H2017), a decline of 28.2% compared with RM91.2 billion for the same period last year. These investments involved 2,294 projects and will create 61,930 employment opportunities. 

The decline was mainly due to the 41% drop in the number of approved investment recorded for the services sector. This was in line with the slowing down in the property market. Approved investment for manufacturing sector has also declined, partly due to the large amount of investments that went into Pengerang and RAPID project in Johor in 2014-2016. In addition, Malaysia is unable to compete with a number of countries in the region which offer lower labour cost.

Malaysia reaffirmed its position as a regional hub for tech start-ups with the announcement of leading global venture builders setting presence in Malaysia to help accelerate the growth of start-ups in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. 

Mountain Partners, a Swiss-headquartered company builder, will set-up their Southeast Asia operations hub in Malaysia. The set-up will see Mountain Partners helping more than 15 of their global portfolio companies expand into Malaysia by creating their presence here, and creating more than 400 job opportunities, including more than 50 top C-suite talent roles. Mountain Partners will also set-up a USD100 million fund to invest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia tech start-ups.

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) turns 50 this year, the economic strides that have made the regional bloc the world’s seventh-largest economy will set it up for sustained growth, increased prosperity and exciting prospects for the next half century. Malaysia is one of the founding members of ASEAN. 

“Technology, and how it will continue to change the way people live, work, shop, dine, travel and save, is perhaps one of the most fascinating advances in recent times, and one that presents vast opportunities ahead.