My Antler Malaysia Adventure

Are you someone who has always harbored dreams of being an entrepreneur but found yourself lacking startup ideas or a team? Antler might just be the gateway to turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

In this post, I'm excited to share my transformative journey as part of the first Malaysia cohort (MY1) with Antler, a global venture capital firm that's not just an investor but a catalyst for innovation and growth.

Antler: An Entrepreneur's Haven

Antler is a global leader in early-stage investments, boasting a large portfolio comprising 900+ companies and over 5,600 founders. What sets Antler apart is its inclusive approach – welcoming aspiring entrepreneurs and teams at the beginning of their startup journey. Antler has multiple paths to guide you through its residency program, even if you are at the "pre-idea" or "pre-team" stage.

My Antler Journey

My journey with Antler began shortly after graduating from 美国杜克大学富卡商学院 with an MBA focusing on Entrepreneurship and Healthcare. Antler's partnership with Khazanah Nasional Berhad caught my attention, presenting a golden opportunity to translate entrepreneurship theory into action by working on a real-world startup. The interview with Frank Kang led to my inclusion in the first cohort of the Malaysia Residency Program (MY1), standing as one of 60+ entrepreneurs chosen from a competitive pool of around 700 applicants.

Antler's support for first-time founders or seasoned entrepreneurs extended beyond mere investments. Their comprehensive backing included investments, tech perks, ecosystem support through advisors and door-openers, coaching sessions, idea validation, and assistance in finding the right co-founder.

My Antler experience was a whirlwind of activities – from weekly intensive bootcamps and team-building sessions to enriching masterclass sessions, fireside chats, workshops, and the essential socials that added a fun and communal touch.

Past speakers for Antler’s masterclass included: Aaron Patel , Azran Osman-Rani , Chee Mun Foong , CK Changr , Edwin Wang , Hann Liew, CFP, CFA , Jeng Hui Advent Phang , Julie Ng , Jussi Salovaara , Kamarul A , Magnus Grimeland , Murali Krishnamurthy , Rosalind Bazany , Sam Shafie , and many more!

?My Antler Project: Synbiozymes

My application to Antler carried a single purpose – to work on groundbreaking science-based ideas with co-founders boasting diverse skill sets. Together with Hidayah Shahidan (scientist, technology development, and partnerships lead) and Nicholas Teo (operations and product lead), we formed a team with minimal overlapping skill sets. Synbiozymes aimed to revolutionize the animal feed industry by harnessing biological waste to address food security and promote sustainability.

Despite my initial lack of experience in the food security space, Antler's encouragement to explore bold ideas fueled our determination. Our team's dedication was rewarded when we were ranked first by Khazanah during Week 3 Bootcamp, and subsequently, we found ourselves among the finalists for the MY1 cohort. This validation reinforced our belief that we were on the right track, addressing an urgent real-world problem in Malaysia – food security.

Lessons Learned and Personal Growth

My top five personal lessons learned:

1. Prioritizing founder-fit, regardless of the startup idea, is crucial for a smoother entrepreneurial journey. Betting solely on the idea without a good founder-fit can hinder your entrepreneurship journey.
2. Avoid becoming too attached to your own ideas; instead, explore a multitude of ideas during the weekly bootcamp.
3. Remember that an idea holds no value unless it is executed.
4. Approach the challenging topic of equity distribution with fairness.
5. Treat your co-founders as your best friends, fostering open communication and a more critical approach to each other's ideas and contributions.

Advice to the Incoming MY2 and Future Cohorts

To the new cohort, my advice is simple:

1. Trust the Antler process – Antler has produced over 5,600 founders globally.
2. Seek weekly feedback from mentors and coaches consistently.
3. Actively participate in the weekly bootcamp to find the right co-founder and idea.
4. Approach "Friday pitches" with the seriousness of an actual Investment Committee pitch.
5. Embrace and be actively involved in socials – they are more than just networking opportunities; they're a chance to forge meaningful connections.

?Gratitude to Those Who Made It Possible

A special shout-out to the incredible Antler team, including Markus Bruderer , Frank Kang , Sean Wong , Najla Zamri , Mouad Rhdaifi , and Jin Ee L. , for their guidance and support. I'm immensely grateful to my teammates, Hidayah Shahidan and Nicholas Teo , for their dedicated contributions and to my coaches, Sean Wong and Adrian Joseph , for their invaluable insights.

?Join the Antler Movement

If you're considering applying to Antler Malaysia, feel free to reach out to me. I'm more than happy to share my experiences with aspiring entrepreneurs if time permits. Applications for Antler Malaysia's 2nd cohort are now open! You can also contact Najla Zamri for more program details or apply directly at https://www.antler.co/location/malaysia.

Join me in reliving the entrepreneurial odyssey – apply to Antler Malaysia and let your entrepreneurship journey begin.