Signalling that they were alive and kicking despite untoward rumours of a potential closure, Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) yesterday launched the second cohort for their Global Accelerator Programme (GAP) at their Cyberjaya campus.
Featuring 27 handpicked startups from around the world, the accelerator programme will run for four months beginning immediately and will culminate in a demo day where participants will be able to pitch their ideas in front of investors, industry peers, and members of the media. For further details about the programme including what these startups will go through and what they will receive, you can read our coverage here.
According to an official statement by MaGIC, these 27 startups represent various industries ranging from healthcare all the way to fintech, and were selected from a pool of 961 applicants based on their potential for rapid regional scaling.
Looking through the list of startups, we noted that 16 from the 27 (about 56%) are proudly local startups, with a mixture of new names as well as ones you’ve probably heard of before. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
1. Camdy
Camdy is an online marketplace founded in 2017 that allows shoppers to source for curated unique gifts from Malaysian artists and craftsmen, giving them a platform on which to showcase their talent.
They currently connect with over 400 small creative businesses, with approximately 3,000 gift products available on their marketplace.
Shoppers can find a wide variety of gifts for different individuals ranging from Swiss Army knives to keychains, and they also have the option to get their gifts personalised.
2. Cantikful
Cantikful is an e-commerce platformthat sells, reviews, and showcases cosmetic and wellness products including hand-soaps, lipsticks, and perfumes.
Founded in 2016, Cantikful is based in Cyberjaya and their unique proposition is that almost all of the brands on their marketplace are of Malaysian origin. Shoppers can expect to find a large selection of products from homegrown brands such as Airis Beauty and Glamora.
3. Caring Moms
Caring Moms is a platform built to empower mothers and other women alike to become entrepreneurs. Through their initiative, mothers are provided a safe environment to learn, interact and gain support in the area of running a business.
Caring Moms also runs a marketplace that helps these mothers sell products like food, fashionwear, and cosmetic products. From time to time, they also organise events to promote female entrepreneurship.
4. Dagang Algomecs
Dagang Algomecs is a a fintech platform that aims to disrupt the stock exchange trading scene in Malaysia by making automated trading through Bursa Malaysia accessible for all. They hope to achieve this using cutting edge algorithmic systems.
5. Delta Global Automation
Delta Global Automation provides B2B robotic solutions aimed at industrial automation. Their products are designed to meet a wide variety of needs including mechanical systems, electronics controls, and other similar verticals. Other services that they provide include control system management and programming services.
6. Food Market Hub
Food Market Hub is a restaurant purchasing and inventory system that aims to help F&B businesses better manage and control various inventory-related tasks including purchasing, stock count, costing, wastage, and production beginning from individual outlets all the way to the central kitchen.
The system is also available on iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
7. Heal Nutrition
A healthy beverage brand that promotes both health and taste, Heal Nutrition wants to bring the best-tasting protein beverages to the market. Their range of products include drinks such as coconut shakes, matcha lattes, and chocolate—all of which are protein-based and made from real ingredients.
8. Menur
Menur, established in Sarawak in 2017, focuses on producing uniquely designed yet affordable fashion pieces while also empowering skilled local craftsmen. They were also one of the startups to previously undergo the Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (Tegas) pre-accelerator bootcamp.
9. Poladrone
Poladrone is a tech startup that uses drone technology to boost efficiency in Malaysian farms. Using their drones, farmers can have a bird’s-eye view of their entire farms and obtain vital information such as crop health at a glance. These drones can be programmed to fly automatically without the need for farmers to manually control them. Currently, their focus is on palm oil estates.
10. Pocohouze
Pocohouze is an artistic do-it-yourself (DIY) kit that allows users to transform basic pieces of wood into highly detailed art pieces. The kit allows both children and adults to put together miniature models of rooms, houses, and shops easily by providing easy-to-follow instructions.
Buyers who enjoy doing DIY art projects can expect to build things like bookshops, European-style houses, and beach shacks.
11. QWERIFY
QWERIFY is a content creation platform that leverages on the crowdsourcing of micro content from creators around the world. Micro content consist of things like 100-word text pieces, single photos, and short videos.
The platform is also easy to use, with users only needing to send QWERIFY a topic suggestion before micro content creators around the world start sending over their creations. Users will then need to only drag and drop the content they want before paying and publishing.
12. Rtist Creative Platform
Rtist is an online platform that allows creative talents such as graphic designers, interior designers, or photographers to gather and gain exposure to increase their income. Through the platform, they are matched with clients who need to hire workers whether it be on a contract, freelance, or permanent basis.
13. The Picha Project
The Picha Project is a social enterprise that empowers refugees in Malaysia by allowing them to earn an income via food business. Through their platform, many refugee families have been able to sustain themselves by cooking, catering, and hosting events in their homes.
The Picha Project has also gained recognition internationally by winning funding at Chivas Venture 2018.
14. TresGo
TresGo provides e-fulfillment for online merchants via their proprietary system. By integrating with marketplaces and courier companies, TresGo can seamlessly provide fulfillment as well as storage and inventory management, and packing and delivery services for both online and offline merchants.
You can read up on our coverage of TresGo’s platform here.
15. Wonderfly
Wonderfly is an online ticketing platform for discovering and booking local experiences. Their platform services more than 10 countries in Asia such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. They connect with travel agents and attraction providers (theme parks, cable cars, zoos and aquariums, etc.) to provide easy access to tickets at affordable prices.
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- To read more about the launch of MaGIC’s second iteration of the Global Accelerator Programme (GAP), read this article.
- You can also read up on what our Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said during the launch event here.
