Disruptr MY

12/06/2025

In this personal reflection, Abdullah Hidayat Mohamad share lessons the team at Ficus Capital learned at since they began investing in 2021. From the unpredictability of founder character to the limitations of due diligence, it’s a journey that’s taught them one thing above all: people matter more than pitch decks.

Read the full piece on the paradoxes, pitfalls, and possibilities of venture investing — especially within a Shariah-compliant framework.

https://www.disruptr.com.my/lessons-from-ficus-capitals-investment-journey/

10/06/2025

After years of development behind the scenes, the company is stepping confidently into the spotlight, positioning itself as a future-ready payments innovator. With direct connections to Malaysia’s national payment rails and a streamlined, merchant-centric platform, Paydibs is set to compete in a crowded landscape of more than 60 providers.

Long-standing digital payments player Paydibs has officially unveiled a major transformation, emerging with a revitalised fintech identity, a strengthened leadership team, and a robust roadmap aimed at catalysing small and medium enterprise (SME) growth across Malaysia. After years of development be...

09/06/2025

When Petrina Goh first launched the Nuren Group, it was not with a polished strategy or guaranteed market fit. Instead, it started with a vision—one shaped by personal experience, gaps in the market, and a deeply rooted belief in the power of community. Today, what began as a humble platform supporting new mothers has become one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing parenting and women’s wellness ecosystems.

When Petrina Goh first launched the Nuren Group, it was not with a polished strategy or guaranteed market fit. Instead, it started with a vision—one shaped by personal experience, gaps in the market, and a deeply rooted belief in the power of community. Today, what began as a humble platform suppo...

16/05/2025

Jointly organised by Malaysia’s Satu Creative and Indonesia’s Gerakan 1000 Startup Digital—a flagship program under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi)—and supported by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), the half-day forum aimed to drive purposeful innovation across borders through a more connected, inclusive digital startup ecosystem.

Over 80 startup founders, investors, ecosystem leaders, and government representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore gathered at the MARKAS Indonesian HQ, Midpoint Place, for the high-impact Creative Exchange Jakarta—a strategic networking forum designed to accelerate ASEAN-wide ...

16/05/2025

Building on its momentum in Indonesia, Assemblr is now expanding its footprint into Malaysia—fueled by a US$400,000 investment from Ficus Capital through its Ficus SEA Fund. The deal marks Ficus Capital’s first cross-border investment, aligning with its focus on ESG-aligned and Shariah-compliant innovations across Southeast Asia.

Assemblr EDU, an immersive education platform backed by Malaysian venture capital firm Ficus Capital, has announced a strategic collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to bring augmented reality (AR)-driven learning into classrooms nationwide. Th...

16/05/2025

UOB Malaysia has announced a strategic collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Berhad to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices and accelerating their decarbonisation journey. The partnership forms a key component of UOB’s newly expanded Sustainability Accelerator Programme 2.0 (SAP 2.0).

UOB Malaysia has announced a strategic collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Berhad to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices and accelerating their decarbonisation journey. The partnership forms a key component of UOB’s newly expanded Sustainability Accele...

31/05/2022

Disruptr chats with Aaron Sarma, General Partner of ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator on the accelerator’s recently concluded Cohort 3 which announced investments into 11 startups.

He shares his thoughts on the highlights of the cohort, how have things changed since Cohort 1 and what can founders expect from Cohort 4.

Disruptr chats with Aaron Sarma, General Partner of ScaleUp Malaysia on the accelerator's recently concluded Cohort 3 which announced investments into 11 startups. He shares his thoughts on the highlights of the cohort, how have things changed since Cohort 1 and what can founders expect from Cohort....

09/05/2022

Technology has been the great propellor for civilisation since the dawn of time. Innovation gave us the wheel, the steam engine and the internet which powered industrial revolutions and globalisation transforming businesses and the very way we go about our daily lives.

By Datuk Tan Seng Kit, Group Managing Director, Strateq Group, Technology has been the great propellor for civilisation since the dawn of time. Innovation gave us the wheel, the steam engine and the internet which powered industrial revolutions and globalisation transforming businesses and the very....

09/05/2022

A local Malaysian entrepreneur is raising a notch in creating a skincare range that caters to all skin type. Kaii Lim, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of CLEF Skincare, took years to research and curate a skincare formula by incorporating effective ingredients that targets different skin-related issues.

By Kaii Lim, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of CLEF Skincare Entrepreneurship is in my DNA and the journey is one that’s familiar to me. I have been an entrepreneur since my college days, starting with a clothing brand called 97Bros, and eventually a jewelry brand called 18Celebration. Due t...

09/05/2022

Carsome Malaysia Group Pte Ltd (Carsome) has announced the acquisition of digital automotive content businesses under brands of WapCar and AutoFun from Tang Internet Limited and its subsidiaries.

Upon the completion of the acquisition, Carsome will set up WapCar AutoFun Sdn Bhd (WapCar), as a fully-owned subsidiary of the Carsome group in Malaysia.

Carsome Group Pte Ltd (Carsome) has announced the acquisition of digital automotive content businesses under brands of WapCar and AutoFun from Tang Internet Limited and its subsidiaries. Upon the completion of the acquisition, Carsome will set up WapCar AutoFun Sdn Bhd (WapCar), as a fully-owned sub...

05/05/2022

Disruptr speaks to Tony Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Penang, a government-backed non-profit organisation tasked to attract investment and entrepreneurs, on the growth Penang has experienced over the years, his aspiration in positioning Penang as a product development center and areas with potential for emerging startups to explore.

The startup ecosystem in Malaysia has never been exclusive to the Klang Valley and Cyberjaya, despite the high focus on both locations as hubs for local and international founders. In recent years however, states such as Penang, Sabah and Johor have been making strides in attracting startups, both l...

29/04/2022

Wahed a global fintech company that provides an efficient, reliable, and accessible way to invest, announced the appointment of Juliana Abu Bakar as Country Head of Wahed Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (Wahed Malaysia).

Her responsibilities will include managing local offerings, implementing growth strategies and spearheading marketing and business development functions in Malaysia.

Wahed, a global fintech company that provides an efficient, reliable, and accessible way to invest, announced the appointment of Juliana Abu Bakar as Country Head of Wahed Technologies Sdn. Bhd. (Wahed Malaysia). Her responsibilities will include managing local offerings, implementing growth strateg...