Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle), a focal point agency for Malaysia’s early-stage startup, incorporated under the Ministry of Finance Malaysia (MOF) in 2003 with a mandate to fund potential and high-calibre tech startups through its Cradle Investment Programme (CIP). Cradle is presently administered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
Throughout its history, Cradle has helped fund over 1000 Malaysian tech startups and holds the highest commercialisation rate amongst government grants in the country. Having more than a decade of experience in the nation’s grant funding scene, Cradle further expanded its role from grant provider to investor through the establishment of its venture arm, Cradle Seed Ventures in 2015 and following its portfolio expansion to equity investment in early 2017, Cradle offered both funding and investment assistance.
Currently, two new grants are made available to the startup ecosystem namely CIP SPARK and CIP SPRINT. Allocated under the 12-MP, CIP SPARK is a funding programme targeting technology startups for the development of ideas and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as well as other pre-commercialisation activities and CIP SPRINT is for the commercialisation of innovative technology products and services, aimed at assisting technology startups at an early stage to develop and commercialise their products in the market.
Following the announcement of the Malaysian Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) in 2021, Cradle has been appointed as the focal point agency for Malaysia’s startup ecosystem and mandated to ensure the successful running of a holistic ecosystem to enable and encourage growth among startups. Cradle also spearheads the MYStartup initiative – one of the interventions identified under five Ecosystem Drivers in SUPER – where it contributes directly to efforts in increasing the number of innovative and quality startups.
Cradle also administers the Angel Tax Incentive (ATIO), designed for angel investors to be accorded a tax deduction of up to RM500,000 to stimulate and encourage angel investments from private sector into technology-based startup companies in Malaysia.
Cradle’s product offerings are not only restricted to monetary aid, but also include commercialisation support, coaching and various value-added services to cater today’s entrepreneurs’ diversified needs.
To be preferred provider of early stage funding to innovate and aspiring entrepreneurs to be recognised and respected for excellence in service and product offerings
Cradle launched 2 new grants – CIP SPARK, a Conditional Development Grant that offers a financing period of up to 18 months and is open to individuals, private companies, limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and Sendirian Berhad companies. While CIP SPRINT is a Conditional Convertible Commercialisation Grant that offers a financing period of 18 months and is open to Sendirian Berhad companies, including university and research institutes spin-offs.
Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030 and MYStartup digital platform were launched to unify and further catalyse the malaysia’s startup ecosystem.
Cradle hosted Week 2 of EXPO 2020 DUBAI with a theme of Creating Tomorrow’s Sustainable Startups and facilitated key players of the Malaysian startup ecosystem comprising 30 organisations and startup companies sharing the best of Malaysia’s innovation and technological breakthroughs as well as to promote global collaborations and strategic partnerships.
Cradle Buzz, Cradle's flagship conference returned for the second series with the theme - "Untold Stories: Start-Up and Beyond" and followed by a networking cocktail session, celebrating Cradle's 15th Year in the Ecosystem.
Cradle announced DEQ800 (Equity Investment Programme). The product offers an investment ticket size of up to RM 800,000.00 to early stage startups for expansion. CIP Catalyst and CIP500 undergone a major revamp and were later called as CIP 300. CIP300 is a funding programme set to support early stage start-ups to attain early commercialisation.
Cradle hosted its inaugural Cradle Open Day @ MaGIC Central, bringing different teams from Cradle under one roof for a full-day event filled with product & knowledge sharing sessions and networking activities. Cradle launched its own start-up-focused online channel, Cradle TV. It aims to be the media hub for the latest entrepreneurial happenings in the region.
Another notable achievement for Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd as its venture capital arm, Cradle Seed Ventures Pte Ltd (CSV) announced its official operations in Kuala Lumpur. CSV will manage the Cradle Seed Ventures Fund 1 (CSVF-1) which aims to invest between RM1 mill and RM3 mill into promising and scalable Malaysian technology startups.
Cradle collaborates with Golden Gate Ventures to bridge the funding gap under its inaugural co-investment exercise. We witnessed an MoU exchange between Cradle and Golden Gate Ventures, represented by the Founding Partner, Jeffrey Paine.
Cradle's Angel Tax Incentive initiative was launched with the aim to encourage angel investment and to grow the number of angel investors in Malaysia. The tax incentive provides personal income tax deduction equivalent to the amount invested up to RM500,000 per annum to qualified angel investors in Malaysia through education and training.
The Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN) was officially launched to encourage more angel investments and aims to grow accredited angel investors in Malaysia through education and training.
The Coach & Grow Programme was introduced with the intention of bringing together key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to train existing entrepreneurs to take their businesses to greater heights.
CIP500 seed fund was launched offering funding of up to RM500,000 for technology start-ups to commercialise their products.
Cradle partnered with various companies to encourage the spirit of technopreneurship. Cradle had also signed an MOU with a homegrown IT service provider, SKALI, to collaborate in obtaining better grant applications. Cradle also collaborated with Celcom and Microsoft to organise the Leagues of Extraordinary Developers Challenge, a competition to search for the best mobile applications.
The Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) was spun off to CIP Catalyst and U-CIP Catalyst, respectively. The initial funding amount of RM50,000 was increased to a maximum of RM150,000 for both grants. Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle) was established in the same year.
Cradle Investment Programme (CIP) which offered entrepreneurs funding up to RM50,000 to transform their raw technology-based ideas into commercially viable ventures was launched and managed by Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP)
Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd
Level 20, Sunway Putra Tower,
100 Jalan Putra, 50350 Kuala Lumpur.
@ Copyright 2022 Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd.
All Rights Reserved.
Level 20, Sunway Putra Tower,
100 Jalan Putra, 50350 Kuala Lumpur.
@ Copyright 2022 Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. All Rights Reserved.
@ Copyright 2022 Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd. All Rights Reserved.
Level 20, Sunway Putra Tower, 100 Jalan Putra, 50350 Kuala Lumpur.
