The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) and Tradeview Capital Sdn Bhd have launched the MTDC Tradeview Quantum Fund, a public–private venture capital partnership channelled through joint venture entity Modal Lestari Sdn Bhd.
Modal Lestari, the venture fund management company established for the collaboration, is the first joint venture of its kind between a licensed fund management company and a government-linked venture capital firm, with committed capital from both sides.
The 50:50 venture is backed by an initial RM20 million in seed capital. The MTDC Tradeview Quantum Fund will focus on seed to Series A investments across semiconductors, Industry 4.0, industrial manufacturing, green energy, food technology, agritech and fintech.
The fund will target ticket sizes of RM1 million to RM2 million per company, with an expected portfolio of between 10 and 20 companies.
The fund — MTDC's first public-private investment fund — brings together MTDC's experience in technology venture development with Tradeview Capital's equity investment expertise, expanding the range of financing options available to Malaysian technology entrepreneurs.
MTDC operates as a strategic investment and ecosystem development agency under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) and is wholly owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
Meanwhile, Tradeview Capital is a boutique fund management company licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia, providing investment and fund management services across asset classes including equities, bonds and commodities.
“This collaboration represents another important step forward in strengthening Malaysia's innovation financing landscape. As Malaysia aspires to become a technology-driven and innovation-led economy, good ideas alone are not enough. We must also ensure that innovators and technology companies have access to the capital, networks and strategic partnerships needed to grow and scale,” said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang at the launch of the fund held at MTDC’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan said: “While public institutions play an important catalytic role, the long-term sustainability of technology investment requires the mobilisation of private capital, strong market discipline and deeper collaboration between public and private sector players. By combining this strength, we hope to create a more dynamic investment platform to support promising Malaysian technology companies as they scale and compete globally.”
Established in 1992, MTDC has long served as a bridge between early-stage technology companies and institutional support, but many start-ups have historically remained dependent on government-linked capital with limited exposure to private capital markets, said Tradeview Capital director Norlin Abdul Samad.
As the private capital partner in the Modal Lestari venture, Tradeview will contribute its capital markets expertise, particularly in the small- and mid-cap segment. The firm will provide strategic guidance to help portfolio companies prepare for later-stage financing and eventual public listings.
"Tradeview will bring our capital markets expertise, especially in the small mid-cap space, our insights to help with pre-initial public offering readiness and our network to ensure that Modal Lestari's portfolio companies are not just funded, but built, structured and positioned for public markets when the time is right. MTDC has spent more than 30 years planting the seeds of Malaysia's technology sector. Through Modal Lestari, Tradeview Capital hopes to play a small part in nurturing these portfolio companies into the local champions our nation deserves," said Norlin.