At the crossroads of innovation and investment, the third panel of the 2nd Annual Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia Week 2025 examined how deep-tech and advanced manufacturing ventures can translate cutting-edge research into scalable business success. Moderated by Alan Ong, Penang Chapter Chairman, Malaysia Business Angel Network (MBAN), the session brought together leading voices from venture capital, corporate innovation, and public funding to explore what it takes to commercialise technology in the Industry 5.0 era. Panelists include:
- Riady Gozali, Managing Director, Golden Vision Capital
- Frank Kang, Associate Partner & Country Head, Antler
- Ts. Hj. Mohammad Hazani, Group CEO, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC)
- Maisy Ng, Founder & Managing Partner, Delight Capital
- Victor Fasahati, Founder & Managing Partner, Mayflower & Partners, Board Member, Singcham
The discussion covered several areas, such as:
1. Turning Deep-Tech Innovation into Scalable Opportunity
The discussion opened with a strong consensus: innovation alone doesn’t guarantee success, commercial strategy does. Riady Gozali highlighted that investors are drawn to technologies that align with real market gaps and scalability potential. “A strong business case, not just a strong idea, is what converts deep-tech from R&D into ROI,” he remarked. The panel collectively agreed that successful startups must balance vision with validation, grounding their breakthroughs in tangible industry demand.
2. Navigating Risk and Building Investor Confidence
Frank Kang noted that deep-tech ventures inherently carry higher risks but also higher long-term defensibility. He emphasized the importance of founder resilience and adaptability, qualities that can often outweigh early profitability. Echoing this, Ts. Hj. Mohammad Hazani explained that structured funding and mentorship programs are crucial to de-risk innovation. “Government-linked investors play a catalytic role by bridging the gap between research, commercialization, and market entry,” he shared, underscoring the role of ecosystem partnerships in sustaining innovation momentum.
3. Strategic Funding Models and Market Acceleration
Maisy Ng stressed that beyond capital, startups need active investors who bring networks, expertise, and access to global markets. “It’s not just about writing a cheque, it’s about building the bridge from innovation to adoption,” she said. The panel discussed the growing shift toward hybrid funding models combining venture capital, corporate partnerships, and government co-investments to accelerate commercialisation cycles and shorten time-to-market.
4. Collaboration as the Engine of Growth
Adding a global investment perspective, Victor Fasahati pointed out that Asia’s manufacturing ecosystem offers unique leverage for scaling deep-tech solutions. “Collaboration is the new competitive advantage, when startups, corporates, and policymakers work together, innovation moves from idea to impact faster than ever,” he said. The panelists agreed that regional cooperation, talent exchange, and knowledge-sharing networks are key enablers of sustainable industrial growth.
5. Paving the Way to Industry 5.0
Concluding the session, the panel emphasized that Industry 5.0 is not just about smarter factories, it’s about intelligent ecosystems where innovation, investment, and human ingenuity intersect. The future of deep-tech lies in creating an environment where investors fund purpose, entrepreneurs scale sustainably, and industries evolve toward human-centric, data-driven progress.
Aligning Capital and Creativity for Industry 5.0
Deep-tech commercialisation demands a blend of innovation, collaboration, and strategic capital. By aligning visionary technologies with market readiness and ecosystem support, Asia is well-positioned to lead the transition from advanced manufacturing to Industry 5.0, where innovation truly meets impact.
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Save the date: 3rd Annual AIM Asia Week 2026 on 23-24 September 2026 in Penang, Malaysia. Stay tuned for more details.