BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  Time to Change the Start-Up-Venture Capital Funding Narrative

Time to Change the Start-Up-Venture Capital Funding Narrative

Dr Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Senior Partner & Co-Founder, ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator

26-Feb-24 12:00

Time to Change the Start-Up-Venture Capital Funding Narrative

Today Enterprise Explores 5 Ideas to shakeup the Start-Up and funding here in Malaysia and Southeast Asia with Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Senior Partner & Co-Founder, ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator.

Post-pandemic, startups now find themselves navigating through an uncertain environment courtesy of the higher interest rate environment, funding winter, lower valuations, and even down rounds. On top of that, the struggle to raise funds has caused many companies to resort to cost-cutting measures, including layoffs.

In a recent article in The Edge, Doc Siva notes that this downturn has changed investor perspectives and start-up founders will need a mindset change to succeed over the next few years.

Tapping into his 25 years of experience in the Malaysia tech ecosystem, as well as his startup investing history having made 52 investments in total as an angel investor but also through ScaleUp Accelerator, he proposes 5 ideas to change up the narrative and move away from the Silicon Valley growth-driven model that has been the de-facto way of doing business in the scene.

In this conversation we will get into and breakdown each of the 5 ideas in more detail, but to give you a sense of what’s coming ahead, here are the 5 headlines that he used in his article:

  1. 1. Build an enduring business

  2. 2. Change the growth model

  3. 3. Limit the amount raised

  4. 4. Spend time on the business, not fundraising

  5. 5. For enduring businesses, an IPO is a better ‘exit’

Produced by: Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


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

Categories:  marketsinvestmentsmanagingentrepreneurs

Tags:  pre-ipostartupfundingprofitrevenuecapitalexit strategyipo





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) We speak with Nick Ng, Founder and CEO of Hock Kee Kopitiam, about building a modern kopitiam brand rooted in heritage, community, and made-to-order tradition.

12:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

(REPEAT) We review Train Dreams and The Voice of Hind Rajab.

1:00 PM

Cruise Control

(REPEAT) The VW Golf GTI Mk8.5 might sound like an incremental upgrade, but it's worth checking out if you're a fan of the brand. Tune in to hear why.

2:00 PM

Matt-Splained

(REPEAT) In the first part of a series on technologies in ‘26, Rich and Matt take a look at consumer tech, imagine what IRL AI looks like, and advances in energy production.

3:00 PM

Earth Matters

(REPEAT) We find out about a Semai fruit season homestay finally opening to the public, supported by Gerimis Art, sharing forest life, culture, and community-led ecotourism.

4:00 PM

Bar None

(REPEAT) We review the recent Malaysia Open 2026 and look back at our shuttlers' performances throughout 2025.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

Two women with art galleries in Switzerland, London, Nigeria and the US talk about discovering and promoting new artists, building relationships with art collectors and the importance of supporting women in the art world.