By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Selangor is positioning itself as a regional hub for innovation and growth by building a vibrant digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem, said state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han.
The state government continually supports Malaysian businesses via various initiatives, including the Selangor Twin Accelerator Programme, the Malaysia Top E-Commerce Merchants Award, Selangor 1000 Digital, and a range of digitalisation training programmes primarily targeted at startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He said this is particularly crucial, seeing that SMEs make up 98.5 per cent of all businesses in Malaysia, with about a fifth of them (19.8 per cent) based in Selangor.
[caption id="attachment_406290" align="alignleft" width="410"]
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han delivers his speech during the Selangor Twin Accelerator Programme 2025 at the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, on July 3, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“They (SMEs) are undeniably the backbone of our economy,” Ng said in his opening remarks at the launch of the Selangor Twin Accelerator Programme 2025, at the Asia School of Business today. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo officiated the event.
The programme, organised by Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec), is a dual-track initiative aimed at scaling Malaysia’s most promising startups and SMEs across deep tech and consumer-facing industries.
It comprises the Selangor Deep Tech Xccelerator Programme (Deep-X) and the Selangor Retail Tech Xccelerator Programme (Retail-X), which are designed to future-proof emerging ventures and help them scale across local and global markets.
Backed by strategic partners including Affin, TikTok Shop, AEON, Shopline, Cradle, Xendit, DHL, and BytePlus, Ng said the twin accelerator reflects a strong public-private commitment to nurturing high-growth ventures, in line with Selangor’s digital economy ambitions.
Last year, the inaugural Selangor Twin Accelerator Programme shortlisted 100 companies, which collectively received RM1.2 million worth of perks and exposure.
Of these, 20 companies were selected for overseas expansion opportunities in Shanghai, China; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; and Manila, Philippines.
“This year, with the support of Sidec's global partners and the venture capital ecosystem across the region, we are looking to position Selangor as one of the key players in the Asia-Pacific innovation landscape,” he said.
The Deep-X programme targets AI-driven deep tech startups across sectors, including agritech, biotech, healthtech, robotics, semiconductors, sustainability, and net-zero innovation.
This 12-week accelerator offers mentorship, market access, investor engagement, and over RM300,000 in programme value.
Top-performing startups will be selected for an exclusive international mission to Plug and Play in Silicon Valley, the United States, with the opportunity to pitch to global investors, connect with leading accelerators, and explore commercial partnerships. Applications for the programme are open until July 20.
Meanwhile, Retail-X supports high-potential business-to-consumer (B2C) SMEs in sectors including fashion, lifestyle, food and beverage, health, beauty, wellness, and home living.
The programme focuses on smart inventory, AI-powered marketing, and omnichannel growth strategies.
Finalists will pitch to investors during the Retail-X Final Demo Day, with winners to receive cash and perks worth RM50,000, brand exposure, and a fully sponsored innovation mission to ByteDance, where they will gain behind-the-scenes access to TikTok Shop’s commerce technologies. Applications for Retail-X close on July 13.
