Latest news with #StartupWorldCup
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Business Angel Network officially launched to boost local startups
Ripin (standing behind, centre) witnesses the MoA exchange between Liew (third left) and Wee. Also seen on stage are Sudarnoto (right) and Norman (second left). – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (Aug 14): The Sarawak Business Angel Network (SBAN) was officially launched today, marking a significant step towards strengthening the state's early-stage investment ecosystem and driving its innovation-led economy. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, described the launch as a milestone and a bold and timely initiative that reflects Sarawak's commitment to nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth. 'In Sarawak, we are not just building roads and bridges. 'We are building the infrastructure of ideas, talent, and opportunity,' he said in a speech read by his deputy, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, at Makeramai Makerspace, Plaza Merdeka here. Abdul Karim stressed that innovation requires more than just funding ― it demands belief, mentorship, collaboration, and strategic risk-taking ― and that SBAN's role is to bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity by connecting entrepreneurs with supportive angel investors. 'With the formation of SBAN, Sarawak is making a bold declaration: We are ready to grow our own community of angel investors ― individuals who are not just investing in businesses, but in people, ideas, and the future of our state,' he said. He also urged investors to consider 'return on impact' by supporting rural entrepreneurs, women-led ventures, indigenous innovators, and changemakers. SBAN chairman Dato Patrick Liew said the launch was the result of more than three years of work, with the network officially established in March 2025. He noted the significance of SBAN's strategic partnership with the Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN), which he described as the national angel investment backbone. 'SBAN now stands as a critical platform to support and strengthen the Sarawak startup community,' Liew said, highlighting EB Tech Senabah, a Sarawak startup mentored by the network that will represent Malaysia at the Startup World Cup in San Francisco this October, as proof that local talent can compete on the global stage. 'One thing becomes clear — building a thriving ecosystem is not impossible, but it requires committed support, guidance, mentorship, and coaching. 'Ultimately, my passion and goal is to see Sarawak-born startups succeed on the global stage,' he said. The launch was attended by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) chief executive officer Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman, MBAN president Peter Wee, Cradle group chief executive officer Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, and council members from both SBAN and MBAN. A highlight of the event was the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between SBAN and MBAN, witnessed by Ripin, SDEC and Cradle representatives. The collaboration aims to link Sarawak's investor community to national and regional networks, expand access to quality deal flow, and share best practices in angel investing. The event also featured a panel discussion on building a robust angel investment ecosystem, with Liew, Sudarnoto, Wee, and Norman sharing insights and opportunities for SBAN's growth. entrepreneurship Sarawak Business Angel Network startup
Forbes
04-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
From Passive LP To Strategic Partner: How Corporations Can Leverage The Venture-Capital-As-A-Service Model
Anis Uzzaman (アニス・ウッザマン ) is the General Partner and CEO at Pegasus Tech Ventures | Chairman of Startup World Cup For years, the default way for corporations to gain exposure to the startup ecosystem was through passive limited partner (LP) positions in traditional venture capital funds. While this approach provides an opportunity to invest in startups, it offers little control, limited visibility and almost no direct strategic engagement. Today, as innovation becomes a strategic imperative, corporations are demanding more than financial returns. They want access to cutting-edge technologies, new customers and unique business models—all of which disruptive startups can provide. Perhaps more than anything, corporations want a strong voice in shaping where and how their capital is deployed, without any operational headaches. There's little doubt that innovation is critical for corporate success, yet it is hard to achieve. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports: 'Startups have more incentive than incumbent firms to engage in potentially disruptive [research and development] Why Venture Capital As A Service Is Relevant This is where venture capital as a service (VCaaS) enters the picture. The unique design of the VCaaS model can help corporations move from passive investors to becoming active, strategic participants in the venture capital (VC) ecosystem—without the cost, complexity or time of launching their own in-house corporate venture capital organizations. These factors make VCaaS especially relevant in today's environment. The Benefits Of VCaaS To Corporations In my experience as a corporate executive, founder and investor, I've seen corporations use VCaaS to create investment opportunities based on their business priorities. For example, a corporation might value artificial intelligence, sustainability, healthcare, education, healthcare technology or robotics. VCaaS allows them to tailor their investments based on such priorities. VCaaS also offers corporations the following opportunities: With VCaaS, corporations can receive curated deal flow tailored to their strategic interests. This helps them align their investments with company priorities and move the corporation's strategy forward. They have the ability to invest only in those startups that match their business interests. Companies can participate in due diligence and make investment decisions while relying on seasoned VC professionals for execution. Corporations can receive innovative startup investment opportunities in sync with a company's strategic and financial interests. Both the VC and the corporation will conduct due diligence before corporate executives make final investment decisions, and corporate executives get to make final decisions. Their VC partner will ensure the transaction is executed smoothly. Corporations can engage directly with portfolio companies for partnerships, pilots and technology collaboration. Because invested startups are selected carefully, they are predetermined to be a good fit with the corporation's priorities. This strategic alignment helps the company move its own interests forward through startup partnerships. With VCaaS, organizations can avoid building an internal investment infrastructure while still reaping the innovation benefits of startup engagement. Rather than trying to form a VC organization and hire investment professionals—which is expensive and challenging—VCaaS allows corporations to rely on their VC partner to build this infrastructure. I have seen several corporate VC organizations modifying or ceasing their activities in recent years. This is likely due to a lack of connection between a corporation's strategy and that of its investment arm, not being able to hire the right talent, the challenge of finding innovative startups and inherent VC risks. The VCaaS model is especially powerful because it helps R&D leaders tap into emerging technologies. Corporate strategy teams can explore disruptive markets, which can be difficult without startup engagement and investment. Merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities often emerge from startup investing, enabling corporations to build a long-term pipeline of M&A opportunities. VC firms, including my own, pioneered the VCaaS approach with corporate partners from around the globe. With this model, these corporations are positioned to benefit from investing in startups, yet they do not have the trouble and expense of setting up an investment organization. Finally, VCaaS has the potential to increase profits because corporations using this model often gain speed, insight and optionality. They can engage directly with startups when there's a strategic fit and step back when the situation is purely financial. By partnering with an experienced VC, corporations are better positioned to secure access to strong deal flow and ongoing learning opportunities. Considerations For The VCaaS Model As you might expect, the venture-capital-as-a-service model—like all VC models—has its pros and cons to consider. It's become more popular in recent years because it can be an efficient way for corporations to invest in the best startups around the globe. But one concern that might arise is that VCaaS involves relying significantly on an outside resource, so the corporation itself might not develop those capabilities internally. As a safeguard, I recommend that companies select a VC firm that has a good trade-off of support and internal development. It is important that incentives are arranged so that VCaaS providers do not focus on financial returns only, while ignoring the corporation's long-term goals of innovation. The key here is to obtain just the right balance of priorities. Another challenge is what corporations face in terms of having a high level of control over investments that are strategic or those who want very confidential startup collaborations. VCaaS is an external function, so even though it can work well, corporations should consider whether it will develop an internal innovation culture. Succeeding means that corporations should conduct thorough due diligence: taking a look at the VCaaS firm's transparency, flexibility, strategic alignment and its track record over time. In developing a corporate-VCaaS collaboration, it is crucial to consider governance structures, exit strategies and easy-to-understand key performance metrics. Overall, corporations that want to become more innovative should consider if VCaaS enhances their broader innovation strategy and if the model is likely to be successful. Empowering Corporations To Grow And Succeed In today's competitive business environment—an era where being reactive is no longer an option—VCaaS can empower corporations to act decisively, bridging the gap between financial capital and startup collaboration. I anticipate this trend will continue to let corporations achieve their financial and innovative goals while providing startups with the critical capital they need to scale. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How ‘Minority Report' Gave Birth To DISPL, An AI-Led In-Store Retail Media Platform
Retail media has become a growing force as brands and retailers pursue all sorts of ways of communicating with, and finding out more about, their customers. Emarketer puts the value of the U.S. market this year at $62.35 billion with a forecast CAGR of over 17% to 2028. Pushing the boundaries in this sector through AI-powered audience analytics and smart digital signage is Cyprus-based startup DISPL. After just 2.5 years, the company has raised more than $2 million and hired a team that includes former executives from companies like New Jersey-based cloud tech company Avaya and omnichannel communication platform Jivo. Last year, DISPL also represented Cyprus at the final of the Startup World Cup 2024 in San Francisco. Co-founder and CEO Serge Gale, a serial entrepreneur, is the driving force behind the DISPL. He has taken the best part of a decade and five pivots to bring the company to where it is today. DISPL's path began with mobile apps, inspired by the future-set 2002 Steven Spielberg-directed Minority Report. One scene featured a holographic salesperson and this made Gale think about creating all kinds of AI-driven solutions for retail that could redefine how businesses interact with customers. Gale, met the other co-founder Alex Rekish in 2012, and now DISPL's CTO, when they worked together at an outsourcing development studio that Gale founded. In 2016, Lina Fleitman, who had worked at Avaya, was brought into the fold as chief revenue officer. After some iterations, DISPL has become a platform for implementing retail media in-store. 'We help retailers, brands, and distributors unlock new revenue streams by monetizing physical spaces—making offline marketing measurable and seamlessly connected to digital,' said Gale. What does this mean? The platform collects real-time customer demographics and behavior data, allowing retailers to understand foot traffic, optimize staff performance, and deliver personalized marketing experiences directly in-store. This can enhance customer engagement to drive sales and position retailers to capture more market share. In providing these services, DISPL stressed that it is fully committed to ethical AI usage, prioritizing privacy and regulatory compliance. 'Our solutions comply with global data protection standards, ensuring no personal data storage or facial recognition,' emphasized Gale. DISPL's expansion model has been to establish strategic partnerships in different parts of the world to get the word out faster and show the platform's effectiveness. One of them is with Brazil's GlobalTera, with a view to reshaping Brazilian retailing through AI. The company, part of GT Holding, specializes in technology solutions targeting gas stations, supermarkets, and other stores. Bruno Lyra, the founder of GlobalTera, said: 'The ability to track visitor traffic was a game-changer. This type of technology is rare in Brazil, and when we show it to clients, they're immediately intrigued. DISPL's mix of digital signage and analytics was exactly what we needed.' The Brazilian company is using DISPL to expand in the country's retail market, which remains quite traditional and in need of a tech boost. Precisely understanding the audience that is in a store is becoming essential, but something retailers often neglect. Lyra said: 'It was love at first sight with DISPL, based on what we already knew from the market. The platform can control digital screens and analyze the audience. We decided it was the technology we needed to eliminate barriers and drive our expansion.' Rio de Janeiro state's supermarket chain Rede Economia, with just under 40 stores, was one of the first adopters in Brazil. Other South American markets are also a target for DISPL. Gale said: 'We are aggressively scaling across Latin America and also setting the foundation for major expansion in North America. Our platform is already powering in-store marketing across top-tier retail chains like PriceSmart, the membership warehouse club operator in Latin America, USA, and the Caribbean, as well as some brand zones in Mexico's Chedraui, and Walmart. It is changing how offline businesses run their marketing and analyze its impact.' In the latter two cases, DISPL has been implemented, through a partner, to help optimize brand spaces and fridge displays with AI-powered audience insights. 'Achieving these results is a strategic leap for us, and we're just getting started,' said Gale. 'You can also find our solutions integrated in leading car dealerships, electronics retailers, and high-traffic hospitality zones,' he added. 'While many of our flagship deployments are under strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), what we can share is this: global leaders choose DISPL when they want to combine measurable results, stable and efficient operations, and world-class tech.' Gale is now eager to get a slice of the U.S. retail media ad spend market, expected to be worth $98 billion by 2028. The tech company is currently active across the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, helping retailers generate new revenue streams. The startup chose Cyprus to launch for the country's favorable business environment: a 15% corporate tax rate; European Union membership offering easy routes-to-market; and strong IP incentives. 'Additionally, our investor ASBIS Corporate VC has a hi-tech cluster here, providing office space, tax services, and support for relocating top talent, making it an ideal location for scaling up,' said Gale. However, the CEO is considering relocating the company's headquarters to Los Angeles, to tap into the much larger U.S. market and gain closer access to key partners, investors, and tech hubs. Gale said: 'The U.S. offers a dynamic ecosystem for tech growth, particularly in California, which has a strong base in media, retail, and AI—industries critical to our product. Establishing a presence here would enhance our visibility and facilitate fundraising with global VCs. Additionally, L.A. provides access to top talent in AI and marketing, which would support our scaling efforts.' DISPL says it is currently powering over 3,500 touchpoints globally with brands such as Greek electrical retailer Kotsovolos; Domino's Pizza and Indomaret in Asia (implemented by partner XION1); and Bang & Olufsen in Europe, in collaboration with ASBIS. From using digital signage to provide omni-channel experiences—where customers can, for example, scan a product with their mobile devices to access product reviews, videos, and special offers; to price checkers that also enable collection of anonymous analytics about visitors and show targeted content—the company has multiple solutions available to retailers. These interactive scenarios increase customer engagement, and the extra information provided can raise the chances of a purchase by up to 25%, also drive average transaction values, according to the company. 'Our mission is to help businesses operate smarter and more efficiently with AI technology,' explained Gale. Now DISPL is building an AI-powered analytics agent that simplifies and boosts marketing at the point-of-sale, helping retailers analyze and understand foot traffic insights, staff performance, and retail media monetization. This, the company believes, will transform physical retail spaces into data-rich marketing platforms. 'Each point-of-sale functions like an individual website, where manual marketing experiments are costly and complex,' said Gale. 'Our AI agent automates these processes, providing a programmatic approach to in-store marketing and, this year, we will launch this agent at scale. It is a major milestone that will enable our clients to manage networks of hundreds, or thousands, of stores across multiple countries by one marketing team.' Gale's ultimate aim is to make DISPL the equivalent of 'Google Ads for physical spaces.' By continuously adding useful new features, the CEO hopes to set the platform apart from competitors in the AI-powered retail media market so that retailers see it as a comprehensive go-to solution for all their offline marketing.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 18, 2025-- Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: [email protected] Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow: View source version on CONTACT: Janice Mok Senior Marketing Manager Email:[email protected] Phone: +1 (408) 645-5532 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE START-UP ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTREPRENEUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Pegasus Tech Ventures Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/18/2025 07:00 PM/DISC: 06/18/2025 06:58 PM
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize!
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Startup World Cup, the world's largest startup competition, today announced its latest series of global pitch events in collaboration with premier regional partners. This initiative will bring high-stakes pitch competitions to innovation hubs worldwide, offering startups a chance to compete for a $1 MILLION investment prize. Upcoming Startup World Cup Regionals - don't miss your chance to earn your spot at our Grand Finale and a $1 Million investment prize! Share Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions across six continents, the competition provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding. Startups can apply to pitch at our upcoming regional events and have a unique opportunity to propel their innovations onto the global stage. By participating in the Startup World Cup, startups will compete for a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025, for a chance to win a $1 MILLION investment prize! The winner of each regional pitch competition will earn an invitation to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale on October 17th, 2025 in San Francisco, California. At the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, startups not only compete for substantial funding but also gain access to an unparalleled network of global investors, customers, and media outlets, providing a launchpad for scaling their technologies worldwide. UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS: For more details and a full list of regional competitions, visit In 2025, Pegasus will host over 100+ regional events across six continents, culminating in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in October 2025, where the world's most innovative startups will compete for the $1 MILLION global investment prize. Contact us at: info@ Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating and learning more, can visit: About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus offers intellectual and financial capital to emerging technology companies around the world. In addition to offering institutional investors a top-tier venture capital investment approach, Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. For more information about Pegasus, please check out: Startup World Cup Social Media Channels to Tag & Follow:
