Malaysia’s YDM and Cradle Forge Strategic Partnership to Boost Global Investment in High-Tech Startups

Formal MoU signing between Yayasan Dato’ Malaysia and Cradle to launch the Zenith International Investor Network.

20 August 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Dato' Malaysia (YDM) and Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle) today strengthened their strategic partnership through the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Zenith International Investor Network — an exclusive initiative aimed at attracting foreign investment from High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) into high-technology Malaysian startups.

This initiative marks the start of a new investment ecosystem focused on post-CIP Sprint startups, with particular emphasis on high-growth sectors such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).

The Zenith International Investor Network is the outcome of collaboration between Cradle , see the principal implementing agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), responsible for supporting startups via funding and developing the national innovation ecosystem — and Yayasan Dato' Malaysia, an elite organisation that unites titled individuals nationwide and has exclusive access to global high-net-worth investor networks. Masverse Sdn. Bhd. is the project coordinator, ensuring smooth execution and alignment with the initiative’s objectives.

Under this partnership, Cradle will provide data and access to investment pipelines for post-CIP Sprint startups ready for further funding. The CIP Sprint programme offers a commercialisation-focused grant of up to RM600,000.

Meanwhile, YDM will leverage its investor network to unlock direct foreign investment opportunities for Malaysian startups.

Key Objectives of the Collaboration Include:

Attracting and facilitating foreign HNWI investments into local startups, Providing strategic support through advisory services and capital access, Building a robust individual investment ecosystem with structured due diligence processes, Connecting stakeholders across national and regional levels to stimulate investment activity and Supporting the growth of advanced and innovative technologies to position Malaysia as a regional innovation hub

According to Dato' Sri Kenta Goh Saik Heng, Vice President of Yayasan Dato' Malaysia,

"Zenith is a strategic platform that combines exclusive investment access with Malaysia's national ambition in future technologies. We aim to ensure that titled individuals in this country are not merely social figures but active drivers of innovative economic growth."

Meanwhile, Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle, stated, "This agreement reflects our joint commitment to fostering a more sustainable and competitive startup ecosystem. Through our strategic collaboration with YDM, we are confident of creating more quality investment opportunities for local startups ready to scale globally."

In addition to its partnership with Cradle, YDM also plans to sign MoUs with two strategic entities, the Malaysia Mobile Technology Association (MMTA) and Micro Venture Group Limited (an international private investor consortium).

These collaborations aim to further expand strategic investment networks and strengthen Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem.

The partnership also encompasses initiatives such as investor development and certification, ecosystem engagement, deal flow sharing, and investor channel support for promising startups. As part of this effort, BlockchainCert.my by Masverse has been introduced to enhance investor verification through the Zenith Elite Program. Using blockchain-powered digital certifications, each qualified investor receives a secure, tamper-proof, and instantly verifiable credential. This not only streamlines due diligence but also fosters long-term trust and transparency within the investor ecosystem.

The MoU will remain valid for two years and will serve as a foundation for future, more detailed agreements.