SUNWAY ILABS AND CRADLE LAUNCH DEEP TECH VENTURES LAB TO ACCELERATE MALAYSIA'S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

 In a strategic leap to supercharge innovation across Southeast Asia, Sunway iLabs, the innovation arm of Sunway Group, is partnering with Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) to launch the Startup Deep Tech Ventures Lab (DTVL) — a transformative six-month co-creation programme dedicated to building and scaling high-impact artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech startups. The initiative aims to catalyse breakthrough solutions to some of the region’s most critical challenges, setting the stage for a new era of technological advancement and entrepreneurial excellence.

 

From left to right: Prof. Dr. Mohd Shahir Shamsir (President of Innovation and Technology Managers Association Malaysia – ITMA), Matt van Leeuwen (Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group & Chief Executive Officer of Sunway iLabs), Karen Lau (Chief Operating Officer of Sunway iLabs & Director of Sunway iLabs at Sunway University), Evan Cheah (Deputy President of Sunway Group), Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke (Group CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd), Khairu Rejal (Partner of Investible), and Audrey Aui Yong (CEO & Founder of Tsuin AI).

From July to December 2025, DTVL is tailored for early-stage startups operating at the intersection of science, engineering and impact. Participants will undergo a rigorous and structured journey, including expert-led workshops, personalised mentorship through monthly office hours, investor-readiness sessions, and access to global capital networks, geared towards turning ambitious ideas into market-ready solutions.

The programme is backed by a strong coalition of global and local innovation leaders. Core partners include Cradle, Malaysia’s focal point agency for early-stage startups under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI); Deep Tech Labs, a UK-based accelerator and venture capital fund backed by the University of Cambridge, ARM, and Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC); Investible, a venture capital firm based in Australia and Singapore focused on climate-tech early stage investment; and CloudMile, an AI and cloud technology company with a strong presence in Malaysia, enabling digital transformation across industries. These partnerships ensure startups benefit from world-class technical expertise, commercial guidance and international exposure.

Further strengthening the programme is a robust ecosystem network of collaborators and enablers. These include prominent venture firms such as Gobi Partners and The Hive Southeast Asia, alongside a consortium of Malaysia’s leading academic institutions, including Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Sunway University. 

Additional support comes from national innovation and commercialisation agencies such as Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) and a diverse bench of industry mentors from Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Together, this multidisciplinary coalition is building a launchpad for the region’s next generation of transformative deep tech ventures.

Following a competitive selection process, 20 startups were selected from a pool of 69 applicants, resulting in a 29% acceptance rate. These startups are tackling urgent global and regional challenges across seven key verticals: artificial intelligence and deep tech, food and water security, health and wellness, intelligent autonomy, semiconductor applications, energy transition, and decarbonisation through carbon capture, innovation, and storage.

The programme will culminate in a Pre-Demo Day this September, where all participating startups will present their progress to a curated audience of regional venture capitalists, corporate partners, and policymakers. A shortlist of five to ten standout ventures will be invited to the final Demo Day showcase in October or early November, providing a public platform to spotlight breakthrough technologies and Malaysia’s deep tech leadership globally.

“DTVL embodies our vision to drive deep tech innovation that delivers both commercial success and meaningful societal impact,” said Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs. “By empowering science- and engineering-led startups, we’re not just investing in technology — we’re investing in solutions that can shape a better future for Malaysia and the region.”

“This is exactly the kind of bold, future-forward initiative our ecosystem needs. Deep tech is about solving real, complex challenges at scale. DVTL reflects the spirit of collaboration we need between government, academia and industry to push Malaysia’s innovation frontier. Cradle is proud to be part of this momentum, and we’re excited to back founders who are ready to turn breakthrough ideas into global impact,” said Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle. 

Representatives from five key stakeholder groups — startups, universities, corporates, government, and venture capital — were invited on stage for a symbolic plant-watering ceremony, with each plant representing their unique role in nurturing Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem, naming the snake plant for startups, representing resilience; the calia lily for universities; signifying knowledge; the ZZ plant for corporates, reflecting long-term strategy and stability; the Ficus Ginseng for the government, symbolising its role as the rooted backbone of society; and the orchid for venture capital, symbolising high rewards when nurtured with care.

Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, Sunway is now embarking on its vision for the next 50 years and Sunway iLabs is doubling down on its role as a catalyst for future-facing innovation. Sunway iLabs is unlocking the full potential of science- and engineering-based entrepreneurship by bridging academia, industry, government, and startups. Deep tech is more than just a technology vertical — it is a national imperative and strategic pillar for economic resilience, global competitiveness and sustainable progress. Through DTVL, Sunway is building an ecosystem where breakthrough ideas can thrive, scale and solve real-world problems at a worldwide level.

Visit innovationlabs.sunway.edu.my/deeptech to learn more about the Deep Tech Ventures Lab or explore how to engage with the programme and its startups.