BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  Budget 2025: Hits and Misses for the Startup Scene

Budget 2025: Hits and Misses for the Startup Scene

Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO and Founding Partner, 1337 Ventures | Gokula Krishnan Subramaniam, Founder and CEO, Vircle

24-Oct-24 12:00

Budget 2025: Hits and Misses for the Startup Scene

Should Penjana Kapital and MAVCAP have been merged into Khazanah? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we dive into that and other key reactions to Budget 2025 and its impact on the startup ecosystem.

Last Friday, the government unveiled a record RM421 billion budget, with significant allocations for startups and tech innovation, including:

- RM1 billion for the National Fund-of-Funds (NFOF) under Khazanah, with RM300 million earmarked for venture capital fund managers in 2025.

- RM1 billion for the Dana Perintis fund, with RM200 million allocated for 2025 to support local startups.

- RM65 million for Cradle Fund to help startups expand regionally and globally.

But do these measures meet the expectations of the startup community?

Joining us to discuss the potential hits and misses of the budget are Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO and Founding Partner at 1337 Ventures, and Gokula Krishnan Subramaniam, Founder and CEO of Vircle. We’ll explore whether these initiatives truly address the needs of startups, what the community is looking for, and more.

This BFM Budget 2025 Special is brought to you by Mah Sing – Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

Produced by: Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketstechnologyeconomygovernmententrepreneurssponsored content

Tags:  startupsbusinessfundingventure capitalventure buildingBudget-2025-Mahsing ⁠Budget 2025





Play / Pause

Listen now : Bar None: Mandy Cebelle Chen joins us on the show to share...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited, Chicago tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Alfred Dy, Head of Philippines Research at CLSA, provides insights into the Philippines market.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Woon Khai Jhek, Vice President & Senior Economist, RAM Ratings

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, discusses the government’s initiatives on gender equality, child protection reforms, and key political developments in Sarawak.

8:30 AM

The Breakfast Grille (EXTENDED)

Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, discusses the government’s initiatives on gender equality, child protection reforms, and key political developments in Sarawak.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Amit Ranjan of the Institute of South Asian Studies discusses Nepal’s political future following the elections.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited, Chicago tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Alfred Dy, Head of Philippines Research at CLSA, provides insights into the Philippines market.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Advanced diagnostics are often confined to centralised laboratories, making them technically impressive but difficult to access for many who need them. We speak with Zainiharyati Mohd Zain, Founder of Ablesen, a Malaysian deep-tech startup building sensor-based diagnostic platforms designed for use beyond traditional lab environments. Selected as a top startup in the 2025 PACE Bootcamp by ARTEM Ventures, Ablesen is currently moving from prototype to early commercialisation.

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Rajen Devadason, CEO, RD WealthCreation

1:00 PM

Breakfast Grille (REPEAT)

Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, discusses the government’s initiatives on gender equality, child protection reforms, and key political developments in Sarawak.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

Two monumental works by Johannes Brahms take centre stage in an upcoming chamber music performance. We find out what’s in store from cellist Ivan Torres.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

For International Women’s Day, we look at the gender bias in healthcare AI tools, and what happens when women are invisible in the technology itself.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

We review the midweek matches that saw Arsenal extended their lead at the top of table after Man City stumbled.

8:00 PM

Bar None

Mandy Cebelle Chen joins us on the show to share her journey in the world of the wushu.

9:00 PM

The Selector

Covering all styles of music from indie, dubstep, folk, soul, electro and everything in between from some of the most exciting artists in the UK.