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In its efforts to further the Asian startup ecosystem, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has partnered with betahaus – a Berlin-based co-working space and community of more than 500 entrepreneurs, startups and freelancers – to hold the ‘Launchpad to Europe Workshop’ and BetaPitch Competition in Kuala Lumpur, on 7^th November 2018.

BetaPitch is a global startup competition taking place in 12 countries around the world (Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Egypt, Bosnia, Turkey, South Korea and Malaysia). Malaysia will be the first country in Southeast Asia to hold a BetaPitch event.

Norhizam Abdul Kadir, Vice President of Growth Ecosystem Development at MDEC, said, “With German businesses being at the forefront of global innovation, and Berlin being the startup capital of Europe, MDEC has decided to host the first BetaPitch competition with betahaus in Southeast Asia. The partnership with betahaus will help smooth the way for Southeast Asian startups to enter the German and European markets and allow them to leverage upon betahaus’s network and expertise. The BetaPitch competition will let us showcase the inherent potential of technology startups based here and across Southeast Asia.”

The winning startup of the BetaPitch KL pitch competition will score a trip to Berlin on 15^th November 2018 to attend the Investor Day, and to pitch and compete against the global startup finalists from each local competition. They will also walk away with prize money of €5,000, a trip to the Silicon Valley, a free co-working space at Berlin-based co-working hub betahaus for one month and assistance for market access through betahaus’ European network.

At the Investor Day in Berlin on 15^th November 2018, there will be business matching, investor speed dating and networking sessions. The winning BetaPitch KL startup will also get the chance to meet investors and ecosystem partners from Europe.

Founder of betahaus, Maximilian von der Ahé stated that the purpose of the initiative is to pivot strategies for market expansion for global startups into Germany and eventually Europe. “We’ve watched the startup ecosystem heating up in Malaysia over the last 2 years, so we couldn’t be more excited about this initiative with MDEC. Additionally, the region is an incredibly attractive first point of entry for startups looking to enter SEA. With the help of startup support programs like the ones MDEC is organising, it should be simpler than ever for our community to expand into the region and vice versa.”

Earlier this year, MDEC had signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with betahaus and Startup AsiaBerlin (SUAB) in Germany, aimed at accelerating the cross-market penetration by businesses and entrepreneurs between the two countries. betahaus will provide a soft-landing zone and assistance to Malaysia-based companies seeking to enter into the German and European markets and channel businesses in its network eyeing the Southeast Asian market to MDEC. In return, MDEC will provide betahaus’ recommended start-ups easy access to Malaysia Digital Hubs, as well as business advisory and assistance.

The BetaPitch Competition in Kuala Lumpur is now open for startups to register for participation. More information and registration form can be obtained on their website – https://www.betapitch.net/kl/

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