Latest news with #NormanMatthieuVanhaecke
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Cradle launches initiative to drive Malaysian SME innovation
PETALING JAYA: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, the lead agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti), has launched Cradle Innovation Advisory – a strategic partnership initiative aimed at accelerating technological transformation among corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises in Malaysia. The initiative is designed to address long-standing structural challenges in the national innovation ecosystem, including insufficient post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented connections between industry and startups, and limited SME involvement in research and development (R&D) activities. Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said innovation cannot thrive in isolation and emphasised the importance of collaboration and ecosystem building. 'With Cradle Innovation Advisory, we empower SMEs – Malaysia's economic backbone – to access the expertise, tools, and partnerships they need to innovate, scale and compete on a global stage,' he said in a statement. 'This marks a shift from simply offering support to enabling empowerment. By activating partnerships with universities, corporations, and global startup communities, we aim to create fertile ground where great ideas are not just developed, but launched into the market, with the potential to transform entire sectors.' Cradle Group CEO Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke said the initiative goes beyond introducing new frameworks – it is about building collaborative spaces for innovation. 'This is about creating a space where startups can work closely with key corporate players, thereby strengthening SMEs, which are the backbone of the country's economy. In this proof-of-concept phase, we will focus on refining and optimising the approach before scaling it nationally for greater, long-term impact,' he said. At the heart of the initiative is the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme, a structured platform that offers modular workshops tailored to the maturity and needs of participating organisations. Beyond workshops, Cradle will provide tailored advisory services, including innovation audits, the development of innovation roadmaps and support for R&D commercialisation. Participants will also have access to strategic services, including legal advisory and human capital planning. Aligned with national agendas such as Ekonomi Madani and the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap 2021–2030, Cradle Innovation Advisory aims to strengthen Malaysia's overall innovation capacity and enhance its position as a globally competitive startup and SME ecosystem.
Barnama
18-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Cradle Launches Initiative To Drive Corporate Innovation, SME Growth
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) -- Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), the focal agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), today launched the Cradle Innovation Advisory, a strategic partnership initiative to accelerate technological transformation among corporates and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. In a statement, MOSTI said the initiative was introduced to address structural limitations within the national innovation ecosystem, including inadequate post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented linkages between industry and startups, and limited SME engagement in research and development (R&D) activities. Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said the Cradle Innovation Advisory provided SMEs with access to the expertise, tools and partnerships needed to continue to innovate, grow and compete globally. 'This marks a shift from support to empowerment. By strengthening partnerships with universities, corporates, and global startup communities, we can create fertile ground where great ideas are not only developed but also launched into the market, transforming entire sectors,' he said. Meanwhile, Cradle Group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke said the initiative was not merely about introducing new frameworks but also about creating a space for startups to work hand‑in‑hand with key corporate players. 'In this proof‑of‑concept phase, we will refine and optimise our approach before scaling it nationally for deeper, long‑term impact,' he said. According to MOSTI, a key part of the initiative was the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme (CILP), a structured platform offering modular workshops tailored to the developmental maturity of participating organisations. The ministry also said that the initiative would offer bespoke advisory services, including innovation audits, formulation of innovation roadmaps and support for R&D commercialisation. 'Cradle will also offer access to strategic services such as legal advisory and human capital planning.
The Star
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cradle launches initiative to boost Malaysia's SME innovation
Cradle Fund group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. PETALING JAYA: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd has launched Cradle Innovation Advisory, a strategic partnership initiative to accelerate technological transformation among corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The initiative aims to address structural limitations within the national innovation ecosystem, including inadequate post-grant support, weak commercialisation pathways, fragmented linkages between industry and startups, and limited SME engagement in research and development (R&D) activities. 'With Cradle Innovation Advisory, we enable SMEs, Malaysia's economic backbone, to access the expertise, tools, and partnerships they need to innovate, scale and compete globally. 'This marks a shift from support to empowerment. By activating partnerships with universities, corporates, and global startup communities, we can create fertile grounds where great ideas are not only developed, but launched into the market, transforming entire sectors,' said Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, said the initiative also creates a space for startups to work hand‐in‐hand with key corporate players, thus strengthening SMEs. Central to the initiative is the Corporate Innovation Lab Programme, a structured platform offering modular workshops tailored to the developmental maturity of participating organisations. The Cradle Innovation Advisory will provide bespoke advisory services, including innovation audits, innovation roadmap formulation, and R&D commercialisation support. Cradle will also offer access to strategic services such as legal advisory and human capital planning.
The Star
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
MYStartup Accelerator channels RM5.5mil into local startups
Cradle Fund group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. KUALA LUMPUR: Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd's MYStartup Accelerator has facilitated nearly RM5.5 million in investments over five cohorts, underscoring its role in strengthening Malaysia's startup ecosystem and advancing the country's position as a regional innovation hub. In a statement today, Cradle said the programme, under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is operated by Cradle in partnership with NEXEA, a venture capital and startup accelerator firm. "Having completed five cohorts, we have gained meaningful insights into the needs of Malaysian startups. "Our next goal is to expand our reach nationwide and ensure startups in all regions have equal access to growth opportunities," said group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke. According to Cradle, the Cohort 5 Demo Day showcased innovative solutions in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), aquaculture, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and smart retail. Of the eight finalists, five received cash prizes from Cradle, while four secured a total of RM800,000 in investments from NEXEA. The finalists were selected from a competitive pool of 747 applicants. It noted that among the standout startups were Paix Tech, which automates enterprise utility payments using AI; Ocean Rich Resources, which developed a scalable oyster farming system; and Recharge Xolutions, which offers integrated EV charging and green energy solutions. The MYStartup Accelerator continues to play a vital role in building Malaysia's tech-driven future by empowering bold, innovative, and sustainable startups, Cradle added. NEXEA is distinguished by its network of mentors, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs and C-level executives, and has helped its portfolio companies achieve annual growth of up to 16 times. Meanwhile, the focal agency for early-stage startups, Cradle, has supported over 1,100 tech startups and boasts the highest commercialisation rate among government grants. - Bernama
Cision Canada
14-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Joget Partners with Cradle to Empower Startups for Innovation and Ecosystem Growth Across Malaysia and Beyond
Strategic partnership combines Joget's AI-powered application and integration fabric platform with Cradle's startup ecosystem and capacity-building programs to accelerate innovation, empower entrepreneurs, and drive scalable growth. COLUMBIA, Md., May 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- Joget Inc., a global leader in open-source, AI-powered application development, has announced a strategic partnership with Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's early-stage startup agency under the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The partnership was unveiled during MYStartup NXT in Cyberjaya, in the presence of YB Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. It unites Joget's Education, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (EIE) Program with Cradle's MYStartup Single Window Platform, with the shared goal of empowering entrepreneurs and driving inclusive, technology-led growth across the startup ecosystem. "This collaboration aligns perfectly with Cradle's mission to enable and grow Malaysia's startup ecosystem," said Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle Fund. "The Joget EIE Startup Program provides startups with a powerful AI-powered application development platform, enabling them to automate smarter, scale faster, and build globally competitive solutions. Strategic partnerships like this unlock real value for early-stage innovators. We're excited to welcome Joget into our Startup Perks programme and look forward to seeing what startups will build with this opportunity." Empowering Startups with Scalable Innovation Tools Under the Joget EIE Startup Program, eligible startups will gain access to a suite of benefits, including advanced development tools, learning resources, and community support—empowering early-stage startups and tech-enabled business services organizations for rapid innovation, all the way from idea validation to minimum viable product (MVP) development and commercialization. A key objective of the program is to empower entrepreneurs build their products rapidly, and provide speed to market while keeping their development costs low. This further helps them with early customer engagement to iterate through their product for refinement, helping founders focus on product-market fit and revenue generation rather than infrastructure limitations, time and resource constraints, or technical complexity. Since its launch less than a year ago, the EIE Program has built a vibrant innovation network of more than 500 talent communities, including universities, students, and startups across Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and more. "Our partnership with Cradle opens up exciting new possibilities for startups in Malaysia and beyond," said Raveesh Dewan, President and CEO of Joget. "At Joget, we're reimagining how enterprises innovate. With Cradle's support, we're making it faster, easier, and more accessible for startups to scale and transform industries. This isn't just about building applications—it's about empowering founders to shape the future." A Shared Vision for Ecosystem Growth By combining Cradle's deep expertise in startup development with Joget's AI-powered platform, the partnership creates a powerful springboard for entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation, expand market access, and build sustainable businesses. Together, Cradle and Joget are reinforcing a shared vision: a thriving, innovation-driven startup ecosystem—made more accessible and impactful for the next generation of founders in Malaysia and the region. For more information about the Joget EIE Startup Program, please send an email to [email protected]. About Joget Joget offers an AI-powered, open-source application development platform that enables organizations to rapidly build and customize applications at any scale. Designed for business users, citizen developers, and professional developers, Joget empowers teams to create applications from simple departmental tools to enterprise-grade solutions serving millions of users. As an application and integration fabric platform, Joget seamlessly bridges existing and modern systems, enabling organizations to upgrade their digital infrastructure without disruption. Its open-source foundation ensures flexibility, while an extensive plugin ecosystem allows limitless customization. With Generative AI and Agentic AI capabilities, Joget Intelligence simplifies AI-powered app development and automation, helping businesses streamline processes through natural language and images. For digital solutions companies seeking a branded, tailored experience, the Joget OEM White Label solution provides full rebranding capabilities, aligning the platform with their corporate identity. Trusted by startups, Fortune 500 companies, and governments worldwide, Joget is the go-to platform for digital transformation across industries.
