Announces Partners and Esteemed Panel of Judges for Upcoming TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 Demo Day
Cyberjaya— Leave a Nest Malaysia is proud to announce the official partners and distinguished panel of judges for the upcoming TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 Demo Day, scheduled to take place on 16 May 2026 at the Centre of Garage, Cyberjaya.
As one of Southeast Asia’s leading deep-tech acceleration platforms, TECH PLANTER Malaysia continues its mission to empower researchers, startups, and innovators who are committed to solving deep societal issues through science and technology. The 2026 edition will bring together visionary entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem builders from Malaysia and Japan to foster meaningful collaborations and technological advancement.
This year’s Demo Day is made possible through the support of a strong network of local and global partners that share the vision of nurturing impactful deep-tech innovation.
Strong Industry Collaboration Through Strategic Partnerships
TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 proudly welcomes the following organisations as partners for this year’s programme:
Local Partners
- Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad
- Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC)
- Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC)
- Malaysian Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV)
Global Partners
- JT
- UntroD Capital Asia
- Ezaki Glico
Strategic Partner
- Koppiku
These partnerships reflect the growing commitment from both Malaysian and international organisations to support emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and cross-border innovation ecosystems.
Distinguished Panel of Judges
TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 will feature an accomplished panel of judges comprising experts from academia, industry, venture capital, and innovation organisations across Malaysia and Japan.
Heading the panel as Head Judge is:
Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi
Managing Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia
Mr. Abdul Hakim bin Sahidi is one of the pioneer members of Leave a Nest Malaysia, having joined the company in 2016. Since then, he has played a crucial role in establishing and leading a passionate team in the country. His primary focus lies in business and technological advancements that have the potential to create significant impacts on society. With his extensive experience, Mr. Abdul Hakim has been actively involved in mentoring researchers and startups in both Malaysia and Indonesia. He plays a vital role in bridging them with the right partners, both locally and from Japan, to facilitate collaboration and growth opportunities. Through his efforts, he aims to nurture and cultivate a new generation of technopreneurs in Malaysia, while also supporting the implementation of meaningful technologies that can benefit society as a whole.
Joining him on the judging panel are:
Mr. Chin Kok Woi
Head of the New Business Creation Department, Ajinomoto Malaysia Berhad
Mr. Chin Kok Woi holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (Honours) from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He joined Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad in 2005 as a Food Development & Application Executive, supporting product development and regional technical activities. He subsequently advanced into key leadership roles, including Head of the Food Development & Application Department and Technical Sales Advisor for the Industrial Business Division. He currently serves as Head of the New Business Creation Department, overseeing strategic initiatives and driving new growth opportunities for the organization.
Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi
Head of Research and Product Development Department, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC)
Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi earned his Ph.D. in Geoinformatics (GIS) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), specialising in 3D GIS. Currently serving as the Head of Research and Product Development at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Berhad, he leads initiatives focused on developing impactful digital technologies and fostering collaborations between government, academia, and industry to strengthen Sarawak’s digital ecosystem and innovation landscape.
Ts. Dr. Hassan Mohamed
Senior Manager (Corporate Ventures), Tenaga Nasional Berhad
Ts. Dr. Hassan Mohamed is a distinguished engineering leader currently serving as Senior Manager at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), where he oversees innovation and technology commercialization initiatives while exploring strategic partnerships with local and international innovation ecosystems to accelerate growth and value creation. Previously, he served as Principal Researcher at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), leading energy-related research, pilot, and demonstration projects. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and later obtained a PhD in Engineering, specializing in nuclear energy, from University of Cambridge. His expertise spans advanced energy systems, nuclear engineering, energy transition, and sustainable technologies, with a strong track record in driving innovation, research excellence, and industry collaboration within the energy sector.
Mr. Andy Othman
Country General Manager, Plug and Play Malaysia
Mr. Andy Othman is the Country General Manager for Malaysia at Plug and Play, a leading global innovation platform and early-stage investor. Dedicated to driving corporate innovation and nurturing startup ecosystems, Andy bridges local talent with global opportunities, empowering Malaysia's next generation of tech entrepreneurs to scale worldwide.
Ms. Shiori Yamashita
Manager of D-LAB, JT Inc.
Ms. Shiori Yamashita is the Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco. She is primarily responsible for new business development based on “Delightful Moment”. JT and D-LAB is not limited to a sector, but respects the “Delightful Moment” all over the world, and they think about what we can do for the moment every day. She is looking for people who can create the “Delightful Moment” with amazing technologies and knowledges together. She graduated from University of East Anglia (UK) with a bachelor in business management.
Mr. Daiki Kumamoto
Executive Director, UntroD Capital Asia
Mr. Daiki Kumamoto joined UntroD Capital Japan in 2019 as its first new graduate hire. He played a key role in launching the Real Tech Global Fund in 2020, focusing on deep-tech investments across Southeast Asia, and is currently in charge of Real Tech’s second Global Fund. Daiki has led cross-border investments and supported portfolio companies in scaling regionally and entering the Japanese market. In 2023, he was appointed Director of UntroD Capital Asia, where he oversees the firm’s regional strategy and operations.
Mr. Norio Asahara
Regional R&D Director, Ezaki Glico
Mr. Asahara is the Director of Research and Development at Glico Asia Pacific, where he leads new business initiatives across the region. Representing a company whose portfolio spans confectionery, ice cream, beverages, dairy, processed foods, and infant milk formula, he is seeking research partners and exploring opportunities for technical collaboration, investment, and ingredient sourcing to drive innovation and expand Glico’s presence in the Asia Pacific market.
Mr. Yusaku Okazaki
Representative Director and President, Futaba Denki
He graduated from Berkeley College in New York in 2015, majoring in International Business and Management. After returning to Japan, he joined the head office of Hitachi, Ltd., where he was responsible for major food manufacturing companies. In this role, he engaged in the sales of mission-critical business systems, production management systems, power receiving and distribution facilities, cogeneration systems, and control systems such as DCS. He later joined Futaba Denki, a specialized partner of Hitachi and the Hitachi Group. Today, he leads the company’s efforts to create higher value through engineering capabilities, digital transformation, AI utilization, automation, and energy-efficient solutions. Through TECH PLANTER in Malaysia, he looks forward to supporting deep tech startups and researchers by sharing practical insights from Japanese industry and business development.
Together, the judges bring extensive expertise in biotechnology, digital innovation, energy systems, venture investment, food technology, corporate innovation, and cross-border business development. Their insights and mentorship will play an important role in identifying and supporting the next generation of deep-tech innovators in Malaysia.
Advancing Deep Tech Innovation in Malaysia
TECH PLANTER Malaysia serves as a platform for researchers and startups to showcase breakthrough technologies while gaining access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and international collaboration networks. The programme focuses on creating sustainable solutions that address pressing global and local challenges across sectors such as food technology, healthcare, energy, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and digital transformation.
The TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026 Demo Day is expected to attract innovators, researchers, corporates, government agencies, and investors from across the region, further strengthening Malaysia’s position as an emerging deep-tech hub in Asia.
For more information about TECH PLANTER Malaysia 2026, please visit Leave a Nest Malaysia’s official channels and social media platforms.