BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  New Fund on the Block - Former Fave Execs ‘First Move’ into Startup Investing

New Fund on the Block - Former Fave Execs ‘First Move’ into Startup Investing

Joel Neoh | Audra Pakalnyte, Partners, First Move

05-Jul-23 12:00

New Fund on the Block - Former Fave Execs ‘First Move’ into Startup Investing

Yesterday Former Fave executives Audra Pakalnyte and Joel Neoh officially launched First Move, a founder-led early stage fund for consumer-focused startups across Southeast Asia.

The fund is backed by 500 Global and will be providing pre-seed funding of up to US$100,000 (RM466,000) and already has a portfolio of seven companies in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In addition to providing direct funding to startups, First Move is actively partnering with other regional venture capital firms, including 500 Global. Besides the backing of 500 Global, First Move has also established the Consumer Tech Angel Syndicate, a group of experienced founders and executives in the consumer space. Angel Syndicate members will co-invest in First Move deals. Members include founders and senior executives from D2C, e-commerce, mobility and fintech scale-ups across Southeast Asia.

For more on First Moves’ first moves, we speak with First Move’s Joel Neoh and Audra Pakalnyte, former executives at Malaysian fintech firm Fave turned startup investors.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan, Richard Bradbury


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  entrepreneursSMEinvestmentstechnologymanaging

Tags:  pre-seed fundingstartupfundingventure capitalfintech





Play / Pause

Listen now : Health & Living: In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we hear from...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Poonam Goyal, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses how leading global brands are adjusting their approach to e-commerce.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Kellie Allsion Yap of Zaid Ibrahim & Co weighs in on Malaysia’s new Self-Assessment Stamp Duty System (STSDS).

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Today, we revisit conversations on notable foreign policy and ASEAN events.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Chin Chee Seong, National President, SME Association of Malaysia recaps 2025 and provides a 2026 outlook for small and medium enterprises.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) Kellie Allsion Yap of Zaid Ibrahim & Co weighs in on Malaysia’s new Self-Assessment Stamp Duty System (STSDS).

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Poonam Goyal, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses how leading global brands are adjusting their approach to e-commerce.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

Kevin Lee of CGS International discussing Malaysia’s nuclear future.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

(REPEAT) Kristy Ting, Founder, Side Gig Accelerator

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

(REPEAT) Kiron Kesav, Chief Strategy Officer, OMG Malaysia

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

(REPEAT) Selvamalar Alagaratnam, Partner & Head of Employment Practice Group, Skrine

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Today, we revisit conversations on notable foreign policy and ASEAN events.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

A feminist economist shares insights about women’s rights from the garment industry in Bangladesh, and what Malaysians can learn from it.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we hear from three experts - who are parents themselves - about why kids are turning to AI chatbots.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday