How Malaysia could be a global SaaS leader

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Hello reader,

In a previous newsletter, my colleague Winston talked about the friendly rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia. This extends to nearly everything – food, culture, tourist attractions, and of course, our tech ecosystems.

That newsletter’s featured story had Kevin Brockland, managing partner of Kuala Lumpur-based Indelible Ventures, saying that Malaysia is a better place than Singapore to found a startup. Today we’re hearing from Brockland again about Malaysia’s potential to be a global SaaS powerhouse. Read on to learn more.

Today we look at:

• Why Malaysia could be a global SaaS leader
• A social learning startup that’s raised some funding
• Other newsy highlights such as GoTo’s management reshuffle and an Australian BNPL firm’s collapse

Premium summary

SaaS in the city

Image credit: Timmy Loen

When people talk about Southeast Asia’s startup scene, Malaysia usually isn’t one of the first names that comes to mind. But according to Brockland, the country’s tech scene has plenty of potential, especially in the realm of software as a service.

• Powerhouse potential: Malaysia is well-positioned to be one of the leaders in the enterprise SaaS segment in Southeast Asia, says Brockland. Moreover, with access to knowledge from many multinational corporations, Malaysian firms can serve not just the region but the globe.
• Against the big guys: The nation has a low cost base, allowing companies to leverage growth and turn it into creating globally competitive products that can then penetrate other markets across the world. Additionally, while SaaS firms from the US and Europe may set up offices in Malaysia, they won’t be a focal point, so local firms can build up a foothold before expanding.
• A side note: Aside from talking about Malaysia’s potential as a SaaS powerhouse, Brockland also shares some of the issues he’s faced as a VC there and what the current economic uncertainty may hold for investors.

Read more: Malaysia can be a global SaaS leader, says this VC

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