Sunway iLabs gathered over 200 founders, investors, corporate leaders, and government representatives at FutureX Ventures Fest 2026, a major AI and deep tech forum focused on strengthening Malaysia’s startup ecosystem and positioning the country as a regional innovation hub in Southeast Asia.
Held at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon, the annual forum was officiated by Gobind Singh Deo, who highlighted the importance of collaboration between startups, investors, corporations, and policymakers in driving Malaysia’s ambition to become an AI nation by 2030.
The event featured discussions surrounding artificial intelligence adoption, emerging venture capital investment trends, startup growth opportunities, and Malaysia’s evolving role within Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing technology ecosystem.
According to Gobind Singh Deo, platforms like FutureX Ventures Fest play a key role in transforming ideas into actionable innovation and creating stronger pathways for regional growth.
“Malaysia is now becoming a place where technology is being built, where partnerships are being formed, and where ideas are being transformed into real opportunities,” he said during his officiating speech.
Returning for its second edition, FutureX Ventures Fest 2026 brought together speakers and panellists from leading venture capital firms, startups, and innovation ecosystems across Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Australia.
Among the notable international speakers was Michel Del Buono, chief investment officer of a16z Perennial, alongside Tim Cruttenden, chief executive officer of VenCap International, as well as regional investors and startup ecosystem leaders.
Throughout the forum, discussions centred on AI adoption across sectors such as healthcare, venture capital, and enterprise innovation, while also addressing the need for stronger regional partnerships and global collaboration to accelerate Malaysia’s position as a Southeast Asian AI and deep tech hub.
Evan Cheah said Sunway Group has been actively investing in Malaysia’s technology and startup ecosystem through strategic partnerships with global venture capital firms and talent development initiatives.
“To ensure we bring the best insights to Malaysia as AI adoption accelerates, we are collaborating directly with major venture capital firms from the world’s AI and innovation hubs,” said Cheah.
He added that Malaysia now has the right combination of talent pipelines and venture capital networks to develop impactful AI companies locally.
The forum also reflected Sunway iLabs’ broader strategy to strengthen Malaysia’s innovation landscape by connecting startups with international investors, industry leaders, and technology ecosystems through regional and global collaborations.
FutureX Ventures Fest 2026 comes amid increasing global interest in Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, digital transformation, and venture capital funding.
Recently, Malaysia has intensified efforts to position itself as a regional AI and innovation hub through initiatives including the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030 and the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap, aimed at accelerating technology adoption, talent development, and startup growth nationwide.
Founded as the innovation and corporate venture capital arm of Sunway Group, Sunway iLabs works closely with startups, investors, and ecosystem partners to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and scalable business growth across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.