Invest in East Coast Malaysia's Startup Ecosystem
Early-stage opportunities in an emerging market with lower costs, government support, and untapped talent.
Why Invest in East Coast Malaysia?
The regional imbalance in Malaysia's startup ecosystem creates unique opportunities for early investors.
Operating costs vs. KL (rent, salaries, overhead)
Local IT & business programs producing talent
No other accelerators or VCs in the region
🎯 First-Mover Advantage
Be the first VC/angel to establish presence in East Coast Malaysia. Build reputation and deal flow before competition arrives.
💰 Capital Efficiency
RM500K seed round in Kelantan goes as far as RM1.5M in KL. Lower burn rates = longer runway and better unit economics.
🏛️ Government Support
State government eager to support high-profile initiatives. Access to grants, subsidies, and public-private partnerships.
🌏 Regional Expansion
East Coast Malaysia serves as gateway to similar underserved regions across Southeast Asia (Penang, Johor, Indonesia, Philippines).
Our Investment Thesis
What we look for in startups and why we invest in East Coast founders.
1. B2B SaaS with Clear PMF
Preferred focus: B2B SaaS (investors love recurring revenue, scalability, and defensibility). However, we're open to any industry with clear product-market fit and traction.
Why: B2B SaaS startups built in low-cost regions can achieve profitability faster, giving them optionality to bootstrap or raise on better terms.
2. Founders Who Want to Stay
Key criteria: Founders from Kelantan/Terengganu who want to build in East Coast Malaysia, not relocate to KL after fundraising.
Why: This ensures long-term commitment to the regional ecosystem and maximizes cost advantages. Founders who stay contribute to community building.
3. Regional Talent Advantage
Opportunity: Talented engineers, designers, and operators from local universities who prefer to build careers in their home region.
Why: Regional talent markets offer competitive cost structures while delivering quality comparable to major cities—typically 50-70% cost differential. This creates sustainable unit economics.
4. Ecosystem Building = Deal Flow
Strategy: ECDC isn't just an accelerator—it's building the ecosystem from scratch. Early investors gain access to curated deal flow.
Why: As the first venture studio in East Coast Malaysia, ECDC provides early access to regional startups with less competition compared to Klang Valley.
Portfolio Companies
Our current portfolio (launching first cohort in 3 months).
First Cohort Coming Soon
We're currently recruiting our first cohort of 5 startups. Portfolio companies will be listed here once they launch.
Timeline: First cohort starts in 3 months → MVPs launch in 6-9 months → Seed fundraising in 9-12 months
Get Early Access to Deal FlowInvestment Opportunities
How you can invest in East Coast Malaysia's startup ecosystem.
Direct Investment in Startups
Invest directly in ECDC portfolio companies during their seed rounds (typically RM100K-500K).
- ✅ Access: Curated deal flow from ECDC pipeline
- ✅ Due Diligence: ECDC will have validated idea, team, and MVP progress
- ✅ Support: Ongoing technical and strategic support from ECDC
- ✅ Terms: Standard SAFE or priced rounds
ECDC Fund (Future)
We're exploring a small fund (RM2M-5M) to invest in our portfolio companies. Early LPs will get co-investment rights.
- ✅ Diversification: Invest across entire cohort (5-10 startups)
- ✅ Hands-Off: ECDC manages portfolio, you get quarterly updates
- ✅ Co-Investment: Right to invest additional capital in winners
- ✅ Timeline: Fund launch in Year 1-2 (interest list open now)
Strategic Partnership
Partner with ECDC to provide capital, mentorship, or resources to portfolio companies.
- ✅ Corporate VCs: Access to regional talent and startups
- ✅ Angel Networks: Co-invest in ECDC cohorts
- ✅ Government Grants: Leverage MDEC, MaGIC, MIDA programs
- ✅ Custom Terms: Flexible structures for strategic goals
Ecosystem Sponsorship
Support ECDC's events, workshops, and community building efforts (non-equity, brand exposure).
- ✅ Brand Visibility: Logo on website, events, materials
- ✅ Talent Access: First look at ECDC grads and founders
- ✅ CSR/ESG: Support regional economic development
- ✅ Deal Flow: Early intros to promising startups
Ready to Invest in East Coast Malaysia?
Join us in building Malaysia's next startup hub. Early investors get exclusive access to deal flow.