1337 Ventures

Calling all Malaysian SMEs, this is your moment. Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad BizSmart® Challenge Accelerator Edition 2026 is now open for applications, and the prize pool of up to RM2 million* is just the beginning. This is fuel for real business growth. Whether you're looking to scale, enter new markets, improve productivity or take your next big step, this programme is built to back founders who mean it. As 1337 Ventures' Investor Partner this season, we're not just here to judge. We're here to find the businesses ready to run further — and back them. If you're an SME with the ambition to match, make your pitch count. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/grbHA5RZ Submission closing date: 2 August 2026. Step up. Stand out. *Terms and conditions apply. Bikesh Lakhmichand Kellee Kam Norman Vanhaecke Cradle Fund

We brought together a room full of SME and MTC leaders this morning for one conversation: 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥-𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲? Here’s how the morning unfolded: 🔹 Mohd Jalallul Alam Jasni Zain Mohd Isa, General Manager of Capital Markets Malaysia, opened with why this moment matters for Malaysian businesses. 🔹 Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO of 1337 Ventures, walked the room through what the Elevate Programme actually looks like from the inside. 🔹 Sheen Nah Lee, AVP of Listing Development at Bursa Malaysia, got into the nuts and bolts of listing and compliance in Malaysia. 🔹 Arvin Chia, Senior Director and Head of Equity Markets at Affin Hwang Investment Bank, laid out the IPO playbook in plain terms. 🔹 Gavin Tan, FCA, Director of Investment & Investor Relations at COPE Private Equity, made a compelling case for private equity as a serious growth lever before you even think about listing. 🔹 Then came the closing panel. Hearing Datuk Mustafa Hussain (MH Global Sdn Bhd) and Dr. John Loh, DBA (Emerging EPC Sdn Bhd), both alumni of the Elevate Programme, spoken honestly about their Elevate journey was the highlight of the morning, moderated by Bikesh just real talk from founders sharing their experience.  If you were in the room today, thank you for showing up. If you weren’t, Cohort 6 will run from August to December 2026. ✨ Applications are open for Malaysian SMEs and MTCs with RM5M+ in annual revenue who are ready to take capital markets seriously. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gm8PtvVQ An initiative by Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), supported by Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia as Strategic Partners, and 1337 Ventures as Lead Delivery Partner.   #ElevateProgramme #CapitalMarketsMalaysia #1337Ventures #IPOReady #MalaysiaBusiness

Got a game-changing F&B idea? Bikesh is sharing his honest feedback. 🔥 Join Bikesh Lakhmichand at 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 session at MIFB - Malaysian International Food & Beverage Trade Fair next week, a space where F&B founders pitch their concepts live and get real, unfiltered feedback on the spot. No slides. No rehearsed answers. Just real conversations on what actually makes an idea commercially viable from both an investor's and a founder's perspective. Bikesh will be joined by Hagen Chen, Founder of Toast Maker and Jiran-jiran, who's built and scaled his own F&B business from the ground up. 📅 16 July 2026, 3:00 PM 📍 MIFB 2026 Knowledge Hub, Hall 1 🎟️ Register to visit: https://lnkd.in/gfy8_cz2 🪑 Secure your seat: https://bit.ly/4dVQjyW Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or industry professional, this is a session worth carving out time for. #MIFB2026 #KnowledgeHub #FoundersTable #FoodAndBeverage #FNBStartups

Cohort 6 of the 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 is now open for applications. If your business is doing 𝐑𝐌𝟓𝐌+ 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 and capital markets is your next move, this is the programme for you. Running from August to December 2026, the Elevate Programme is a fully sponsored 4-month initiative by Capital Markets Malaysia, for Malaysian SMEs and MTCs that are serious about raising institutional capital or preparing for a public listing. Before you apply, come meet us first at the Elevate Programme Onboarding Session 📅 14 July 2026 🕘 9:30am – 1:00pm 📍 Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara A half-day session for SMEs and MTCs to explore capital market fundraising as a serious next step. Seats are limited, RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gdGSWzv9 An initiative by Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), with Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia as Strategic Partners, and 1337 Ventures as Lead Delivery Partner. #ElevateProgramme #CapitalMarketsMalaysia #1337Ventures #IPOReady #MalaysiaBusiness

The 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 started this morning.  20 of Malaysia's most ambitious mid-tier companies began their journey toward capital market readiness with a 4-month executive leadership programme preparing MTCs and SMEs for successful capital raising. Day 1 opened with a deep dive into Funding Options, laying the foundation for every business leader in the room to understand the capital landscape and where their business fits within it. Sharing their perspectives today: Bikesh Lakhmichand (1337 Ventures), Muhd Farrish Ishak (Bursa Malaysia), and Arvin Chia ( Affin Hwang Investment Bank). Welcome to the Elevate Programme Khazanah Cohort: 1. AIM Solutions Group Berhad  2. Berkat OSH Services Sdn Bhd  3. BLH-Ban Lee Motor Sdn Bhd  4. Blue Fortress  5. ETD Makmur (M) Sdn Bhd 6. Fast Track SBOi Sdn Bhd  7. IMAN Media Group Sdn. Bhd.  8. Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Malaysia  9. MIE INDUSTRIAL SDN BHD  10. Nehemiah Reinforced Soil Sdn Bhd  11. Netmedias  12. Resta Enterprise Sdn Bhd 13. Shamawar Sdn Bhd 14. Sunnik Panel Tanks  15. Sungei Piah Mineral Resources Sdn Bhd 16. UltioTech Sdn Bhd 17. WIKICAREER  18. Yonming Group  19. Yusuf Taiyoob Sdn Bhd 20. YYC  An initiative by Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), with Khazanah Nasional Berhad as Bespoke Partner, Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia as Strategic Partners, and 1337 Ventures as Lead Delivery Partner. Learn more about the Elevate Programme at https://lnkd.in/gm8PtvVQ Mohd Jalallul Alam Jasni Zain Mohd Isa | Ziad Razak | Rifhan Rozlan |  CHEAH WEI KANG | Sabariah Said | Wayne Goh | Luke Shu | Gek Yeow Hong | Dr Nur Aisyah Zainordin | Nehemiah Lee | Nicsmans Ong | Teri Soh | Zainuddin Hassan | Aiwee Chong | Ban Yew Loh | ethan yan | Yusuf Taiyoob | Shin Yap  #ElevateProgramme #CapitalMarketsMalaysia #1337Ventures #Khazanah #IPOReady

📸 That's a wrap on JIWA SME x Astro AWANI  Thank you to everyone who joined us live and in person at Nu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur last weekend! 🙌 We had an incredible conversation on what it really takes for Malaysian SMEs to become "fundable" from common funding mistakes, to knowing when bank financing makes sense, to alternative pathways like Equity Crowdfunding (ECF). 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: ✅ Understanding what investors and financial institutions actually look for  ✅ Timing your funding approach to your business stage  ✅ Why ECF is becoming a real, viable option for growth-ready SMEs, not just a "last resort" A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise:  🎙️ Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO, 1337 Ventures & Leet Capital  🎙️ RIZAL KHIR, Head of Commercial Banking, CIMB Islamic Bank  🎥 If you missed it live, catch the full replay on Astro Awani's YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g5kD48GC  Ready to explore your own funding journey? Book a free 30-min Fundraising Consultation → https://lnkd.in/gMC-dgU2  #JiwaSME #JiwaSME2026 #JelajahJiwaSME #SMEMalaysia #ECF #EquityCrowdfunding

Got a game-changing F&B idea? Step into The Founder's Table: Live Idea Validation session at the MIFB Knowledge Hub, a space for F&B founders to share their concepts live and receive honest, unfiltered feedback from an experienced investor and a successful chain-restaurant owner who has built and funded his business from ground zero. No slides. No rehearsed answers. Just real conversations about what makes an idea commercially viable. Join our resident mentors: • Hagen Chen, Founder of Toast Maker and Jiran-jiran • Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founder of 1337 Ventures 📅 16 July 2026, 3:00 PM 📍 MIFB 2026 Knowledge Hub, Hall 1 Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or industry professional, this session offers invaluable insights into what separates a promising concept from a scalable business. Register to visit at https://lnkd.in/gmjA9Yk6 and secure your seat at https://bit.ly/4dVQjyW     #MIFB2026 #KnowledgeHub #FoundersTable #FoodAndBeverage #FNBStartups