TECH GARAGE Seminar Vol. 11 Connects Deep Tech from Prototyping to Listing

Leave a Nest Malaysia successfully concluded TECH GARAGE Seminar Vol. 11: From Prototyping to Listing on 26 August 2026 at Center of Garage Malaysia, Cyberjaya, bringing together 91 participants from Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. The event connected startup founders, researchers, manufacturers, investors, corporates, and ecosystem stakeholders to explore the journey from technology development and manufacturing to investment, business growth, and IPO readiness. 

The program featured three main sessions: the KOBASHI Monozukuri Seminar, 144 Startup Showcase, and Fireside Chat Session: Gateway to Growth – From Venture Capital to IPO, followed by networking and booth engagement. 

From Prototype to Scalable Manufacturing

The KOBASHI Monozukuri Seminar, led by Mr. Ambrose Chia, Managing Director of 144 Ventures Pte. Ltd., introduced participants to the Japanese monozukuri philosophy and the practical requirements for moving deep tech from prototype towards scalable manufacturing.

  Mr. Ambrose Chia led the KOBASHI Monozukuri Seminar

The session highlighted three important stages—Proof-of-Concept, Functional, and Mass Production Prototypes—and emphasized that startups must be prepared to continuously validate and even redesign their products as they move towards commercialization. Strong design documentation and early collaboration with the right manufacturing partners were also highlighted as critical foundations for achieving consistent quality and scalable production. 

Dr. Shian Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Alphaswift Industries, joined as a special guest and shared his experience with Japanese manufacturing excellence, highlighting craftsmanship, Kaizen, zero-defect culture, and co-creation with manufacturing partners. 

The interactive Q&A demonstrated strong interest from participants in the practical steps towards manufacturing, particularly manufacturing readiness, design documentation, and how to identify the right manufacturing partners. 

Nine Startups Showcase Their Growth

The 144 Startup Showcase featured nine companies: Qarbotech, Entomal, Rymba, TEASK, Life Origin, ImpactFat, FlyLab, Move Robotic, and ProfilePrint, presenting their technologies, business models, market opportunities, and growth plans. 

Nine 144 Ventures portfolio companies presented their solutions and business models to the audience. Top row, from left: Qarbotech, Entomal, and Rymba. Middle row, from left: TEASK, Life Origin, and ImpactFat. Bottom row, from left: FlyLab, Move Robotic, and ProfilePrint.

Following each pitch, the startups received constructive feedback from Dr. Yukihiro Maru and Dr. Kengo Suzuki, Founders of 144 Ventures, and Mr. Daiki Kumamoto, Director of UntroD Capital Asia, covering business positioning, scalability, future growth, collaboration, and fundraising opportunities. 

Adding a cross-border dimension to the showcase, representatives from eight Japanese companies: Sintokogio, Chuoh Consultants, Dairei Industry, Eight Knot, KYOCERA, TERAL, MISHINA Holdings, and Hokuryo Denko, introduced their businesses and areas of collaboration interest. The session created opportunities for potential business matching, technology collaboration, and market exploration between Japan and Southeast Asia. 

Connecting Venture Capital to the Public Market

The afternoon Fireside Chat Session: Gateway to Growth – From Venture Capital to IPO brought together Leave a Nest Capital, Cradle Seed Ventures, UntroD Capital Asia, and Bursa Malaysia, providing perspectives across different stages of the startup financing journey. 

Discussions covered patient capital and operational support for deep tech, early-stage funding and co-investment, access to the Japanese market and corporate ecosystem, and the importance of corporate governance, transparency, sustainable value creation, and long-term credibility when preparing for a potential public listing. 

The panelists and audience engaged in an interactive Q&A session. From left: Dr. Shuichiro Takahashi (Leave a Nest Capital), Mr. Daiki Kumamoto (UntroD Capital Asia), Ms. Farah Wahidah Ab Rafik (Cradle Seed Ventures), and Mr. Muhd Farrish bin Ishak (Bursa Malaysia).

An interactive Q&A further explored practical founder concerns around fundraising, strategic partnerships, regional expansion, scalability, alternative financing structures, and IPO readiness. The discussion reinforced that there is no single pathway to an IPO; each company must consider its business model, market traction, governance, financing needs, and long-term objectives when determining its growth strategy. 

Building the Next Connection

The seminar concluded with a networking and booth session, enabling participants to continue discussions, discover technologies, and explore potential partnerships with startups, investors, manufacturers, researchers, and other ecosystem players. The booth area featured participating startups and organizations, including Center of Garage, Qarbotech, FlyLab, Learnado EdTech, Jutjel/UPM, Rymba, ImpactFat, Entomal and Life Origin.

Through TECH GARAGE Seminar Vol. 11, the journey “From Prototyping to Listing” demonstrated that bringing deep technology into society requires more than innovation alone. It requires manufacturing readiness, strong partnerships, market validation, access to capital, and an ecosystem willing to grow together.

Moving forward, TECH GARAGE will continue connecting these capabilities to support deep tech companies in progressing from idea to prototype, prototype to market, and market growth towards future listing.