WebSite Malaysia.Net

By JO TIMBUONG
bytz@thestar.com.my

Incubator network Plug and Play Malaysia hopes to equip more local technopreneurs with the knowledge to take their products to the global level and close the gaps in the technopreneur ecosystem.

According to Radha Nadarajah, Selangor Development Cooperation (PKNS) special projects officer, Plug and Play Malaysia doesn't mean to compete with local agencies that are already helping startups.

Instead, it will complement their efforts by providing more market access and connect the technopreneurs with industry experts in Silicon Valley, in the United States.

"Many agencies that are now helping technopreneurs here haven't been able to create or identify market access for the local products," Radha said in an interview.

Plug and Play - a US-based initiative which aims to create strategic alliances with industry mentors and investors to equip startups with the tools to grow, is driven by PKNS in Malaysia.

Plug and Play Malaysia is tasked with priming startups to be ready to meet potential investors who can help them take their products to the next level.

This is done by coaching them on their communication skills, providing them with market intelligence, and informing them of the kind of competition they may face in developing their technologies.

Radha said Plug and Play Malaysia's connections with Silicon Valley-based mentors and investors can help with these initiatives.

"Communication and presentation skills are some of the crucial things startups have to master. Many have failed not because they didn't have a great product but because they didn't present their products properly," he said.

This will also prime local tech startups to meet the US market, which is one of the toughest to break into.

"With such knowledge, local technopreneurs will have the skills to impress even the most discerning of investors, and a chance to break into the global market," Radha said.

Once their presentation skills have been polished, Plug and Play Malaysia will help startups work on their technologies and products.

Startups can even work on their creations in Plug and Play's incubation centre in the Silicon Valley. But this will cost between US$10,000 and US$30,000 (RM30,000 and RM90,000) per project.

Plug and Play Malaysia can help startups that want to do this to raise the funds, or they can raise the funds themselves, according to Radha.

"In Silicon Valley, they will spend three months working on their product at the incubation centre. They will also meet with their mentors and can have discussions with other developers," he said. Plug and Play Malaysia is always looking to match up Malaysiann technopreneurs with knowledge-based mentors who are familiar with the kind of technology they are working on.

Such mentors are rare in the local ecosystem, so Plug and Play utilises those in Silicon Valley.

"These mentors have their fingers on the industry's pulse and will have plenty of knowledge to share with the technopreneurs," Radha said.

Since its establishment in October last year, Plug and Play Malaysia has been holding discussions with

Malaysian industry players to establish a centre to create more opportunities for startups.

For more information on Plug and Play Malaysia, go to http://plugandplaymalaysia.com.