Budget 2026: Expectations and Wishlist From the Tech Startup Ecosystem

We sit down with Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Founder & Senior Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator, and Ng Sai Kit, Chairman of the Malaysian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (MVCA), to look ahead to Budget 2026 through the lens of Malaysia’s tech startup ecosystem.

In a landscape where funding pipelines have tightened, valuations are being recalibrated, and global competition for talent intensifies, many founders are trying to sustain innovation while navigating an uncertain investment climate. Yet amid these pressures lies opportunity — from stronger public–private partnerships to smarter use of government procurement and policy tools that could reignite growth and confidence.

Dr Siva and Sai Kit share what meaningful support for startups and investors should look like, from improving access to capital and export readiness, to designing policies that attract quality investments and reward long-term innovation.

From funding gaps to procurement reforms, it’s a candid look at how Malaysia’s tech ecosystem can move from resilience to renewal as Budget 2026 approaches.

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