When GLCs cosplay as corporate VCs
Also: Khazanah’s interesting tech bets and Malaysia's robotaxi trip.
There’s a lot of buzz right now after PM Anwar Ibrahim expressed a desire to limit his office to two terms or ten years. It’s a step in the right direction.
To be sure, we have attempted this constitutional amendment in 2019. In case, anyone thinks this is a new thang under Anwar’s leadership.
As promised, today’s startup-related newsletter covers:
The government’s BIG corporate VC plan (and some cautionary tales)
Chart: Mapping Khazanah’s 2025 tech investments so far
Malaysia’s robotaxi trip
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Startup agency Cradle has been actively engaging government-linked companies (GLCs) through its Bengkel Inovasi GLC (BIG) corporate venture capital (VC) programme.
This initiative represents an alignment under Anwar’s government to mobilise state-owned enterprises to invest in tech.
This is the second follow-through — the first being the recent ARM licensing deal targeting semiconductor companies.
Below are the key points on the BIG programme, compiled from Cradle’s press release and briefing slides presented by Cradle chief Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke on March 5 to stakeholders, including Finance Ministry officials: