Top 9 Kuala Lumpur Startups to Watch in 2026
Kuala Lumpur's startup ecosystem is marked by significant investments in financial technology and core infrastructure.
For example, the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation has attracted $4.6B in debt financing. The landscape also includes consumer focused companies like TNG Digital, a prominent e-wallet provider.
Below is our list of 9 Kuala Lumpur startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 9 Picks
Digital Nasional Berhad is building Malaysia's national 5G infrastructure and network. They operate as a single wholesale provider, offering 5G services to the country's mobile network operators.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | MYR1.3B |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Deutsche Bank, Celcom Axiata Berhad, Digi, Yes, Telekom Malaysia |
TNG Digital operates the Touch 'n Go eWallet, a popular digital payment platform in Malaysia. Their platform provides users with a digital wallet for everything from online payments to urban mobility services.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $243.4M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Lazada Group, AIA Groupacq, Bow Wave Capital Management, Touch n Go |
Respond.io builds a conversational commerce platform that enables enterprise businesses to manage marketing and sales conversations at scale. Their software unifies customer communication from popular messaging apps into a single, centralized inbox for business teams.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Gerardo Salandra, Hassan Ahmed, Iaroslav Kudritskiy |
| Funding Amount | $8.8M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Headline, AltaIR Capital, Beyond Ventures, Smart Partnership Capital., Bas Godska |
The International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation issues short-term, Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate cross-border liquidity management. Established by central banks and monetary authorities, the organization works to strengthen the stability of the Islamic financial system.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $4.6B |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | — |
Aerodyne Group combines drone technology with AI-powered analytics to deliver solutions for complex industrial challenges. Their services help companies in sectors like energy and infrastructure manage and inspect critical assets more efficiently.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Kamarul A Muhamed |
| Funding Amount | $60M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Convertible Note |
| Top Investors | 500 Global, Gobi Partners, PETRONAS Ventures, Drone Fund, VentureTECH |
Dr Clear Aligners offers a modern approach to orthodontics with its custom-made, invisible teeth aligners. Their service is designed as a discreet and convenient alternative to traditional braces, making professional teeth straightening more accessible.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Jayden Cheng, Kevin Lim, Ryan Teo |
| Funding Amount | $8M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Insignia Ventures Partners |
Involve Asia built a partnership marketing platform that connects brands with publishers across Southeast Asia. Their technology helps advertisers drive sales on a performance basis while enabling content creators to monetize their audience.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Jimmy How |
| Funding Amount | $10M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | 500 Global, CAC CAPITAL, GDP Venture, Bintang Capital Partners, Orbit Malaysia |
Versa Asia developed a digital cash management platform to help users save and invest their money. Their mobile app simplifies access to financial products, allowing people to grow their cash reserves.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Nelson Wong, Richmond Yau, Teoh Wei-Xiang |
| Funding Amount | MYR30M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | OSK Ventures International, Teoh Wei-Xiang, AHAM Asset Management, Affin Hwang Asset Management, Hibiscus Fund |
Pandai develops a digital platform that provides students with gamified quizzes, practice questions, and other learning materials. Their e-learning applications are designed to help students master school subjects through engaging and interactive content.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Akmal Akhpah, Khairul Anwar Mohamad Zaki, Suhaimi Ramly |
| Funding Amount | $2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | 500 Global, Y Combinator, Global Founders Capital, RHL Ventures, Soma Capital |
