A year ago, in January 2025, Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang announced a mission – Malaysia aimed to reach 5,000 registered startups by the end of the year.
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Fast forward to January 2026, and a quick check on January 28 shows that the MyStartup.gov.my portal had already recorded 5,019 registered startups.
This milestone deserves recognition. Congratulations to all parties involved in making this happen.
When KPIs Are Met, the Conversation Must Shift
With over 5,000 startups now registered on a national platform, it is worth asking these important questions:
- How many of these startups can the average Malaysian name?
- How many startup stories do we encounter regularly in mainstream or business media?
- How many founders are recognized beyond funding announcements, niche industry circles, or chat groups?
Closing the Gap in Public Awareness
Behind these encouraging numbers lies an ongoing challenge of startup visibility. This persists despite continuous efforts by government bodies and ecosystem builders. It’s a sentiment that my PR firm, Hashim Communications, actively observes and monitors.
Many founders have yet to fully internalize that public awareness is not about selling to everyone. It is about building the conditions that allow startups to grow. As a result of a lack of awareness, founders tend to focus more on selling to customers, often overlooking the importance of building broader public familiarity, which also helps widen the talent funnel.
While government agencies play an important role in promoting the ecosystem through various programs, startup visibility ultimately remains a founder’s responsibility. Government-led exposure can support awareness, but relying on it alone is not a sustainable approach to building long-term credibility.
Communications as the Next Lever
There is no doubt that registration numbers mattered. They signaled momentum, participation, and policy reach.
In 2026, as Malaysia’s startup ecosystem matures on many fronts, communications still need strengthening, to make innovation understandable, translate complexity into relevance, and turn participation into credibility. Effective communications connect startups with markets, policymakers, media, investors, and the public.
Taking Charge of Visibility
Kudos to the startups that have registered on the portal. Now is an opportune moment to reflect on what this milestone means and to reassess how communications are approached at their respective organizations.
Malaysia needs more recognized founders, more trusted startup brands, and more inspiring stories that resonate beyond the startup community itself.
Let Malaysia’s startup journey be defined by which stories rise, which brands endure, and which founders become known.
To startup founders, you have successfully registered your startups. Now it is time to make sure your stories are heard.
The world is waiting.
By Kam Hashim (LinkedIn)