Dinesh please post the databases here for transparency. Are they similar to crunchbase.com? I agree a DB alone is useless but the DB is a first step toward surfacing the good stuff, tracking progress/growth and making connections happen. There are always many similar products out there but it doesn't mean we all have the same objectives and end results.

Yes I read it. Singapore's model is basically taken from the book and arguably some of the strategies have worked.

I will address some of these concerns tomorrow at the ED. Please bring them up so we can discuss. 

Yep, we're working on that too. But without a DB of all the good startups, it's tough for me to pick out which ones to feature. So we need to build a foundation that's a bit more sustainable in the long run. Once we have that platform, it would be easier to showcase our successes. 

Maybe we're not reaching the right people with these publications? I don't know. I do think that a startup database that's updated and current/relevant is needed... sort of a legit collection of profile pages for all startups that one can easily send to a potential investor, media, friend, parent, etc... for different purposes. We have over a hundred companies on Angelist but the visibility there is terrible, since it's not built for countries other than the US. 

haha l can't stop chuckling :) lets discuss all this behind closed doors. 

also by arms & legs, I have a strategy for this... would love to bounce it off you! i do believe in space to gather a community, and community is what i find lacking in existing co-working spaces, which is arguably one of the most important building blocks of a healthy ecosystem. 

Ah I wasn't referring to the "build it and they will come" mentality from the product-sense. But I see what you guys mean though. Yes you should go where your customers are, and you it also depends how much interaction w customers your startups need. 

As a space, unfortunately, I can't do anything about it - we were "gifted" the 110K sqft in Cyberjaya and trying to make the best out of it. But we'll have arms & legs around KL, PJ, Penang etc because MaGIC isn't just about Cyberjaya. Although to make up for it, our space will be available to qualified teams at a much cheaper rate than that elsewhere! And we're providing shuttles. 

Haha, I totally agree on the last part! 

Oh Francis. He's a quirky one :) 

In my opinion, the "KL to Cyberjaya is too far" mentality will not help. We go where there is value. 

What are some of the great products Malaysians have built? If we create a database of startups and entrepreneurs (aka crunchbase for Malaysia), will you guys all list your companies and participate? 

Shall we throw a "Burningman Malaysia"? :P