East Malaysia’s startup scene has reached a historic milestone as Evolving Brilliance Technologies (EB Tech), co-founded by Dr Ashweein Narayanan and Moses L. Vinsien, clinched victory at the Startup World Cup Malaysia 2025 Kuching Final.
The win secures EB Tech’s place at the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley this October, where they will compete against champions from more than 70 countries for the coveted US$1 million investment prize from Pegasus Tech Ventures.
A first for East Malaysia
Held for the first time in East Malaysia, the Kuching Final at TEGAS Digital Village brought together ten top regional startups in a showcase of bold ideas and cutting-edge solutions. The event’s arrival in Sarawak marks a major step forward for the region’s innovation landscape.
“This expansion ensures no innovative idea is left behind,” said Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle. “Sarawak and Sabah are home to some of the country’s most promising startups, and our role is to provide the networks, resources and market access they need to thrive.”
Putting Sarawak on the global map
For Sarawak, EB Tech’s victory is more than a win — it is a statement. Their full-stack land-based asset management platform blends agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability, offering a solution rooted in the needs of the region yet globally relevant.
“Heading to Silicon Valley, you carry the hopes and aspirations of an entire region,” said Dato Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, CEO of the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC). “This is a turning point for East Malaysia’s innovation journey.”
TEGAS Chairman and Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Haji Len Talif Salleh, underscored the achievement by announcing an additional RM10,000 cash prize for the East Champion, symbolising Sarawak’s commitment to empowering its innovators.
From Sarawak to the global stage
For Ashweein and Moses, the journey has been powered by Sarawak’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with support from Sarawak Shell LiveWIRE, DiVA and Scale Sarawak sharpening their vision and strengthening their offering.
“We are incredibly excited and honoured to represent Sarawak and Malaysia on a global stage,” said Moses. “This is a dream come true — not just for us, but for every entrepreneur in East Malaysia proving that world-class innovation can start here.”
Ecosystem in motion
The Kuching Final was made possible through strategic partnerships between organisers Growth Charger, Cradle, TEGAS, Cyberview and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), alongside a strong network of collaborators including MDV, WORQ, SDEC, Makeramai Makerspace, iCube Innovation and Startup Miri.
Their combined efforts have set the stage for Sarawak to be recognised not only as a resource-rich state but as a breeding ground for high-impact innovation capable of competing with the world’s best.
As EB Tech prepares for the world stage in Silicon Valley, their success is proof that East Malaysia’s time has come — its ideas, talent and vision ready to shape the global future of innovation.
