GenAI Open Innovation Malaysia 2025: Driving AI Adoption in Malaysia Through Enterprise–Startup Collaboration
On September 30, 2025, Kuala Lumpur became the center of AI adoption in Malaysia as the GenAI Open Innovation – Malaysia ignited a wave of collaboration and digital transformation at the Asia School of Business (ASB) Academy.
Hosted by GenAI Fund, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the flagship event brought together Malaysia’s leading enterprises and AI startups to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can solve real business challenges and accelerate the nation’s journey toward becoming a regional AI powerhouse.
Where Enterprises Meet AI Innovation to Accelerate AI Adoption in Malaysia 💡
The Malaysia edition of GenAI Open Innovation served as a bridge between corporations ready to adopt and scale AI and startups developing cutting-edge AI solutions.
Participating enterprises included Mindvalley, PayNet (Payments Network Malaysia) Fintech Hub, Resorts World Inc., Media Prima Berhad, MAMEE-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd, emart24 Malaysia, Royalton Coating Sdn Bhd, Mydin Malaysia, JK Wire Harness Sdn Bhd, and Asia School of Business — representing Malaysia’s most dynamic sectors from retail, manufacturing, and fintech to education.
1:1 Enterprise–Startup Matchmaking: Driving AI Adoption in Malaysia 🧭
Before the main program, selected startups and enterprises participated in an exclusive 1:1 Enterprise–Startup Matchmaking session — a cornerstone of the GenAI Open Innovation format.
Powered by GenAI Fund’s AI-driven collaboration platform, this session enabled leaders to discuss AI-powered solutions tailored to enterprise pain points, including predictive analytics, process automation, and generative AI applications.
By matching enterprises with the right startups through data-driven insights, every meeting was purposeful and outcome-oriented — accelerating real AI adoption in Malaysia.
Inspiring Keynotes and Expert Insights on AI Adoption in Malaysia 🗣️
The main session opened with Denning Tan (Partner, GenAI Fund) sharing the vision behind the GenAI Open Innovation series — connecting enterprise demand with startup innovation to drive AI adoption in Malaysia across ASEAN.
🎤 Engaging AI Panel Discussions
🔹 Panel 1: From Pitch to Production – How Startups and Enterprises Make AI POCs Work
Moderated by Tiffany Bloomquist (AWS), this session featured:
- Malik Murad Ali, Director of IT, Digital, HR & LPS – Mydin Malaysia
- Elmen Tan, CDTO – Sime Darby Property
- Zad Chin, Academic Manager – Asia School of Business
The panelists shared real-world experiences from developing AI Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs) — discussing what makes collaborations successful, how to overcome challenges in data readiness, scalability, and alignment, and how startups can bring measurable value to enterprise AI adoption.
🔹 Panel 2: Co-Creating AI Value – Scaling, IP & Long-Term Wins Together
Moderated by Denning Tan (GenAI Fund), the second panel explored sustainable enterprise–startup collaboration models.
Speakers included:
- Diana Gan, Advisor – GenAI Fund & Executive Coach, The Preston Associates
- Chee Mun Foong, Chief Product Officer – YTL-SEA Digital Bank Project & CEO, YTL AI Labs
- Chee Heong Lim, COO – Resorts World Inc. & Director, Genting Ventures
They discussed intellectual property (IP) frameworks, long-term value creation, and how enterprises can structure AI partnerships for scalable impact.
🚀Live AI Startup Demos: Innovation Powering AI Adoption in Malaysia 🚀
Three high-growth AI startups — Toku, Shieldbase AI, and fileAI — took the stage to showcase real-world innovations addressing enterprise challenges.
From AI-driven customer engagement to data protection and workflow automation, these startups demonstrated how Malaysia’s AI ecosystem is ready to deliver tangible impact.
📢 Key Announcements Boosting AI Adoption in Malaysia
- Amazon Bedrock is now available in the Malaysia Region, enabling developers to build and scale generative AI applications without managing infrastructure.
- GenAI Fund’s AI-powered matchmaking platform was introduced by Kai Yong Kang, connecting enterprises and startups faster and smarter to accelerate AI adoption in Malaysia. Check out the platform at: app.genaifund.ai
🌏 Malaysia at the Forefront of Applied AI
The GenAI Open Innovation – Malaysia 2025 marked another milestone in Malaysia’s AI transformation journey, driven by strong collaboration between GenAI Fund, AWS, and leading Malaysian enterprises.
The event showcased how AI innovation, enterprise adoption, and startup agility can converge to power real-world digital transformation — reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in applied AI.
🙌 Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to our partners, speakers, startups, and enterprise leaders who made this event a success.
Together, we’re accelerating Malaysia’s AI ecosystem, turning innovation into impact — one collaboration at a time.
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