Our Leaders

Norman is currently the Group CEO in Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd effective 23 November 2023. Born of Malay and Belgian descent, Norman has been the acting GCEO of Cradle since 1 June 2022. Prior to joining Cradle in 2020 and initially serving as its Head of Finance and Corporate Services, he began his professional career as an auditor at KPMG and has since held various key Strategy, Financial and Management positions in both local and multinational oil & gas related companies and government agency. He holds a degree in Accounting from University of Queensland, Australia, and a degree in Software Engineering from Multimedia University, Malaysia. His deep interest in technology and innovation grew from his experiences and educational background, igniting his passion to drive local Malaysian tech companies to become more competitive compared to their global counterparts.

Juliana Jan joined Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd in 2004 and is currently Cradle’s SVP of Grant & Investment.

Juliana has an extensive and diverse experience in market research and grant as well as venture capital funding. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Missouri University Science and Technology – Rolla.

Juliana started as an analyst under the developmental grant (CIP50) team and in early 2009, she headed the developmental grant (CIP Catalyst) evaluation team. Then in 2010, she moved to head the commercialization grant (CIP500) evaluation team and eventually the entire CIP500 unit. With the evolution of Cradle and the initiation of its equity play, she moved to head the equity team.

Juliana continues to be committed in building and developing strong growth potential startups in the country specifically in early stage through her work in Cradle. She played a major role as part of the working committee in the setting up of the various products in Cradle and the development of processes, such as the CIP Catalyst (developmental funding), CIP500 (seed funding) as well as the Co-investment and DEQ800 initiatives in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Prior to joining Cradle, Juliana started her career as a market research executive in a technology-funding agency, which provides both grant and venture capital funding, where her industry and market research projects varied from consumer product and biotechnology to other high technology industries. This has given her a strong background in spotting market trends, analyzing gaps in the market and identifying market needs.

After two years in the market research division and another year in the CEO’s office, Juliana joined the investment unit in the same organization as an analyst where she acquired experience in venture capital funding.

With her career experience, Juliana understands the needs of the market and the issues in the funding ecosystem from prototype development in the pre-seed stage, the seed stage, up to the later stage of fund raising.

Juliana is very passionate about helping entrepreneurs and startups. The knowledge and know-how she gained prior to joining Cradle and also at Cradle has been invaluable in enabling her to assist Cradle recipients by advising them and sharing information about the market and funding criteria.

Zehan Teoh is a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in venture capital and digital transformation, having led initiatives across Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. His new role as the Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Development at Cradle is a testament to his global experience and investment insights aimed at propelling the organisation to new heights with impactful initiatives.

Zehan’s career includes key leadership positions in prominent organisations. Prior to his position at Cradle, he co-founded the Digital Venture Partners platform at Qatar Insurance Group (QIC), spearheading initiatives that led to the development of groundbreaking health ventures and strategic partnerships. At FWD Group, he established a $12.5 million Corporate VC fund in Malaysia and led the creation of FWD Startup Studio that contributed towards the development of Malaysia’s Fintech and Insurtech ecosystem.

During his tenure at PEMANDU Associates, Zehan expanded consulting operations into Eastern Europe, advising on national innovation strategies and public-private partnerships. His role at the Prime Minister’s Office further solidified his expertise in policy implementation and national development initiatives. Zehan’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident through his advisory roles and co-founding ventures, where he actively mentored startups and contributed to the growth of the digital ecosystem.

Zehan holds an MBA degree from the University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde Business School, and a BEng E&E Engineering from the University of Leeds. His academic background complements his extensive professional experience, equipping him with the skills to drive strategic growth and transformation.

Harmender Singh was appointed as Vice President, Corporate Affairs & SUPER Project Management Office (SUPER PMO) in April 2022, and is responsible in developing key strategic and growth initiatives, to realise Cradle’s strategic vision and ensuring a sustainable competitiveness. He is also tasked in ensuring Cradle-led initiatives’ alignment with the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) and coordinating the execution all of SUPER’s interventions. The role also sees him reporting to the Advisory Committee & National Digital Economy and 4IR Council (MED4IR).

Under his belt, he has over 16 years of experience in driving transformative initiatives and applying innovative solutions across MNCs, GLCs, SMEs and aligning it with organisational mission & vision.

His career experience spans multiple industries including working with telcos, property and also a consulting background cutting across various government and commercial sectors.

A certified advanced coaching and mentoring professional, he is also a certified change management specialist with a passion and focus on developing and coaching startups.

Harmender read Law at the University of Liverpool and went on to complete his Masters’s in Business Administration (MBA) at Lansbridge University. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Business Administration at HELP University & Charted Management Institute UK. Harmender is an innovator at heart and is always thinking of new ways of solving old problems.

Eliza Elias is the Vice President of Strategic Communications, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle). She manages the overall organisation’s marketing development, market research, communication strategy and planning.

With a wide experience spanning over 18 years in marketing and communications, Eliza transforms communications into a key enabler for Cradle’s rapid growth and success as the focal point agency in the startup ecosystem.

Prior to Cradle, Eliza was attached to the Technopreneurs Association of Malaysia (TeAM) – an association that furthers the interests of technopreneurs and assists in the development of the digital economy in Malaysia. During her tenure with TeAM, Eliza was actively involved in various projects such as The National Games Engine Project (NGEP), The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research project, and the TeAM book entitled ‘Go for Broke! Tales of Technopreneurship!’.

Eliza is very passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge with entrepreneurs. With her diverse working experience and skills in the funding industry, she brings a deep understanding of intercultural relations and global corporate culture to Cradle, its entrepreneurs and partners.

Dato’ P’ng Soo Hong assumed the position of Non-Executive Chairman at Cradle on 1 January 2024, bringing with him a dynamic leadership and distinguished track record.

Presently, Dato’ P’ng holds the position of Vice President at First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, where he actively shapes the company’s strategic direction and oversees critical operations such as Renewable Energy 100 (RE100), Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and Strategic Sourcing performance. He joined First Solar in October 2008.

Prior to his tenure at First Solar, Dato’ P’ng accumulated 17 years of professional experience at Intel Corporation, where he served significant roles in Operation Management, Manufacturing System/Process and Supply Chain Management development. Notably, he served as the General Manager for Intel’s largest Assembly-Test Chipset Operation in Chengdu, China, from 2004 to 2007. Following this assignment, he made a transition to Intel’s 300mm Fab in Arizona, United States. 

Beyond his current role, Dato’ P’ng holds various key positions that reflect his dedication to industry growth and community development. Among others, he serves as the President of the Kulim Industrial Tenants Association (KITA), Chairman of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) Sustainability Committee, and Chairman of the Kedah Industrial Skills and Management Development Centre (KISMEC). He also holds directorial positions at Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT), American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and Titijaya Land Berhad.