Cradle Seed Ventures (CSV)
Directory: VC Companies in Malaysia
Overview
| Field |
Details |
| Founded |
2003 (Cradle Fund); CSV as VC arm |
| Parent |
Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Ministry of Finance Malaysia) |
| HQ |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Type |
Government-backed Venture Capital |
| Focus |
Early-stage Malaysian tech startups |
Cradle Seed Ventures is the venture capital arm of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's premier early-stage startup financier operating under the Ministry of Finance. CSV manages early-stage venture funds and complements Cradle's grant programmes (CIP) with equity investment. It is one of the most important entry points for Malaysian tech founders seeking institutional capital.
Investment Focus
Stages
- Pre-seed
- Seed (primary)
- Early Series A
Sectors
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
- Digital services
- Software / SaaS
- Deep tech with commercial potential
- IoT, AI, data analytics
Geographies
- Malaysia-based companies (primary)
- Malaysian founders building for global/regional markets
Ticket Sizes
- Grants (CIP SPRINT): RM50K–RM500K (non-dilutive)
- CSV equity investment: RM500K–RM3M typically
Portfolio Highlights
| Company |
Sector |
Notes |
| Piktochart |
Design SaaS |
Bootstrapped exit, partial Cradle-backed |
| Soft Space |
Fintech / Payments |
Series B company |
| PolicyStreet |
Insurtech |
Active growth stage |
| Schoology Malaysia |
Edtech |
LMS platform |
| Aerodyne |
Drone Tech / AI |
Now Series C, Gobi co-investor |
Programmes & Products
CIP (Cradle Investment Programme)
- Non-dilutive grants for pre-revenue/early-revenue tech startups
- CIP SPRINT: RM150K–RM500K for validated ideas
- CIP 500: Up to RM500K for commercialisation
- CIP CATAPULT: For post-revenue scaling
CSV Equity Fund
- Direct equity investment arm
- Co-invests alongside private VCs
- Typically takes minority stake
Team & Leadership
| Name |
Role |
| Rafiza Ghazali |
CEO, Cradle Fund |
| Investment Team |
Available via mystartup.gov.my |
How to Pitch
- Apply through the official CIP portal at cradle.com.my
- For equity investment, approach through MYStartup or direct email
- Must be a Malaysian-incorporated company
- Focus on: technology innovation, commercial viability, scalability
- Strong preference for companies with a working prototype or early traction
Notes & Recent News
- Cradle has supported over 1,000 startups since inception
- Key partner of Malaysia's SUPER Roadmap 2021–2030
- Runs periodic outreach events and roadshows across Malaysia
- Government mandate means more patient capital than private VCs
Last updated: 2026-05-06