Qarbotech to rep West Malaysia at Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley

The Startup World Cup Malaysia 2025 – Kuala Lumpur Final brought together the nation’s top entrepreneurial talent in a high‑stakes pitch showdown at Asia School of Business. Organised by Growth Charger, the official organiser of the Startup World Cup Malaysia, and proudly supported by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) as the Title Partner, the event served as a platform to spotlight the next generation of innovative ventures aiming to scale regionally and globally.

Ten high-potential startups took the stage at the KL Final, pitching to a distinguished panel of judges comprising investors, industry experts, and corporate leaders. The winning startup will represent West Malaysia at the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, competing for the chance to secure USD 1 million in investment from Pegasus Tech Ventures.

Cradle champions local startups as Qarbotech steals the show

Officiated by YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the event highlighted the collaborative strength of Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem. In addition to key supporters such as Cyberview, the Tech Hub Developer of Cyberjaya, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), whose initiatives continue to drive digital inclusion and global market access for local startups, and WORQ, which plays an essential role in cultivating co-working spaces where entrepreneurs and startups can collaborate and scale.

The afternoon kicked off with inspiring opening remarks from Pegasus Tech Ventures, followed by a keynote address by Cradle, the Title Partner of the event.

Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, said,

Qarbotech clinches KL title with UPM-backed innovation

The highlight of the evening was the winning pitch delivered by Qarbotech, who impressed the judges with their patented biocompatible quantum dots technology that enhances plant photosynthesis, increasing growth by up to 60%.

Chor Chee Hoe, CEO and Co-founder of Qarbotech, shared,

Iskandar Shafi’i, Co-founder and Director of Growth Charger, said,

KL Final wraps with full ecosystem support

The KL Final was made possible through the support of key partners across the startup ecosystem. Among the Strategic Partners were Cyberview, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and TEGAS, while Malaysia Debt Ventures (MDV), WORQ, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Makeramai Makerspace, and iCube Innovation contributed as Ecosystem Partners. The event also received strong support from additional ecosystem enablers and venture capital firms, reflecting a shared mission of accelerating Malaysia’s innovation economy.

All eyes now turn to the East Malaysia Final in Kuching on 31 July 2025, where the next wave of top founders will battle for a spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale this October in Silicon Valley.

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