ACCELERATING TECH & CREATIVE STARTUPS
Firstly, I am very pleased to be here this afternoon to witness this momentous occasion. Congratulations to each and every one of you. You should be very proud of yourselves for accomplishing this goal, persevering through one of the most challenging 14-weeks experience to become the first ever Founder Institute Penang graduates.
FOUNDER INSTITUTE PROGRAMME
Founder Institute (FI) is one of the world’s largest entrepreneur training and idea stage accelerator program originating from the Silicon Valley, offering weekly curriculum for 14-weeks of company-building sessions designed to help tech entrepreneurs to build every aspect of their business, from the core idea to the product and revenue model. After a highly successful test launch at the end of 2015 and early 2016, the Penang Chapter was officially formed and is now being led by local startup leaders Chan Kee Siak (Founder & CEO, Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd) & Heislyc Loh (Founder & CEO, CoRate) together with a selected group of top mentors who provide their advice and critical feedback. The official Penang program commenced on 15th March, 2016 and ended 2-weeks ago on 14th June, 2016, held at Penang @CAT, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee. Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that accepts founders with day jobs and shares equity with all participants.
EXCELLENT PLATFORM TO ENRICH ENTREPRENEURS AND FOUNDERS
With the emergence of the digital revolution we see a huge potential in the creative technology industry. To transform Penang into an international and intelligent city, we must embrace this new future of digital technology, especially in the growing fields of Big Data Analytics (BDA), cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT). In addition to the convergence of the manufacturing, services and public sector, the establishment of Penang @CAT will continue to unleash new synergies in both new and existing industries. I believe that in order for Penang to win the future, we have to invest not only in education but also master disruptive technology, innovation and automation. Penang @CAT is one of our initiatives to put us on track in Big Data Analytics, cloud computing and IoT.
In this 21st century, the millennial generation is creative and the future game changers in the marketplace. We want to help to develop the innovation-driven millennials who want to build their own businesses and tech startups through the platform of Penang @CAT. Penang @CAT and our partners, through this Founder Institute program will be an excellent platform for tech entrepreneurs and founders to catapult their company into greater heights.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Founder Institute’s dedicated local founders and mentors. They do not seek any praise but their expertise and devotion throughout the 14-weeks programme in mentoring these startups is enormous. We hope this first batch program will only be the start of many more to come and we look forward to a long term collaboration with Founder Institute.
PENANG @CAT IN INNOVATING TALENTS AND CREATING SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS
I believe Penang has a unique tech start-up scene made up of a close community of local start-ups and founders involved in various activities ranging from e-commerce, mobile applications, IoT, and many more. Penang @CAT space serves as a platform and launch pad in bringing the tech-startup community under one roof and provide necessary support and services to build a strong ecosystem.
As for the supply of talent for start-up companies, long term e-commerce and coding workshops will be conducted at Penang @CAT in the coming months aimed at providing opportunities to local tech and non tech community in learning programming and improving career marketability.
CREATING FUTURE AND LIVING DREAMS
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have always envisaged Penang as a platform for dream makers to make their dreams come true. We also aspire to win the future with our very own unique capabilities. That is why we are now doing as much and as best as we can to lay the foundations to transform Penang into high-income knowledge economy.
We will strive to enhance capacity, capability and competency in Penang’s creative technology industry because we believe that the lynchpin of Penang’s future is the 3Ts which is to establish a creative cluster – the Talent, Technology and Tolerance of new ideas. Our most passionate value of freedom will allow Penang @CAT to produce world-class content and be a national hub for digital and creative technology content services.
In addition to Penang @CAT, the State is taking pro-active measures to inspire and create more innovators through our Penang Science Cafe (PSC) which is aimed at rekindling the young’s interest in science and technology, Penang Learning Center which offers STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teaching and Penang Tech Dome (PTD) to create a hub for technology learning and exchange of ideas.
The Penang State government has invested RM23 million to refurbish this unique heritage building and rent it on a 30 years lease. We are always open to new ideas and collaboration to make Penang @CAT a Launchpad for entrepreneurial success.
In closing, I would like to extend my appreciation again to the hard work of the leadership of Founder Institute Penang Chapter, its mentors and partners for their contribution towards nurturing future leaders in technology from Penang. Let us continue to work together to build a greater future for our aspiring tech enthusiast.
Finally, congratulations to the graduates of Founder Institute Penang’s first batch. There will be many challenges ahead but when you are determined to succeed you will handle anything that gets in your way.
I wish to thank all of you for finding time to attend this graduation session and with a great honor; I now close the first batch of this programme.
Thank you.