economy
Digital Penang and MBAN launch angel investment accelerator to strengthen Penang’s startup ecosystem
Aims to drive innovation and position Penang as a hub for early-stage startups The programme will boost investor numbers & capital, strengthening funding for startups Digital Penang, in collaboration with the Malaysian Business Angel Network (MBAN), has announced the launch of the Angel Investment Accelerator Programmea pioneering initiative designed to nurture a new generation of angel investors while bridging the critical funding gap for early-stage startups in Penang. The launch event and LOA exchange, held in Kuala Lumpur during the MBAN Summit 2025, marked the beginning of a three-month accelerator that will deliver structured training, mentoring and deal-flow opportunities for both aspiring and existing investors. By cultivating a skilled pool of local angel investors, the programme aims to fuel innovation, attract entrepreneurial talent, and position Malaysiaparticularly Penangas a premier hub for 01 startup growth and investment. An ongoing MBAN members survey of 59 respondents highlights the significant role angel investors play in the ecosystem. To date, they have deployed close to US$24 million (RM100 million) across 402 startup investments. The Angel Investment Accelerator Programme is designed to build on this foundation and act as a catalyst to increase both the number of active investors and the total capital deployed, ensuring a stronger pipeline of funding for promising ventures. Ng Kwang Ming, CEO of Digital Penang, emphasised the importance of the collaboration, “By building on our partnership with MBAN and nurturing more angel investors, we can unlock funding for early-stage ventures to drive Penangs digital economy and Malaysias economy more broadly.” Echoing this, Peter Wee, president of MBAN, said, “This collaboration with Digital Penang is a significant step forward for Malaysias startup ecosystem. The Angel Investment Accelerator is not just about trainingit is about connecting capital with innovation. We are creating a structured pathway for investors to learn, discover and fund high-potential startups, directly addressing the funding gap for early-stage growth.” According to Digital Penang, this partnership reflects a collective ambition to deliver tangible outcomes that benefit start-ups, businesses, investors and the future workforce in Penang, while building a stronger and more sustainable investment ecosystem for the state. The programme is open to aspiring and active angel investorsincluding high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals and executiveswho are keen to diversify their portfolios while supporting innovation. Participants will gain from structured learning, peer-to-peer networking, and direct engagement with Penangs growing startup community.
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Pundit Says Bitcoin Is Still In A Bull Market Despite Price Crash; Here’s Why
Bitcoin has experienced a sharp price drop in recent days, but one well-followed crypto analyst remains undaunted. Popular chartist Egrag Crypto says Bitcoin is still in a bull market, even with the pullback. He believes what is happening now is only part of a larger repeating pattern that has played out since the end of 2022. According to him, this cycle is not over yet, and the market still has another strong upward move before an actual bear phase begins. Bitcoin Holds Strong Above Key Levels Egrag Crypto explains that Bitcoin follows a clear pattern that has been in place since December 2022. First, the price surges upward, then it retests support, bounces back, corrects slightly, and makes a new local high. Related Reading: XRP Holders Could Lose Millions Of Dollars In 10 Days, Heres Why Right now, the most critical level to watch is $103,000. As long as Bitcoin does not fall below that level, Egrag says there is no real danger. Instead, he expects one more big pump to arrive before the cycle tops out. His personal target for this move is between $150,000 and $175,000. In his view, this would mark the last push of the current bull run before the market flips to its next bear phase. Egrag stresses that corrections along the way are normal and should not cause panic. He believes traders often get caught up in short-term drops without realizing that they are only part of a larger trend. Looking at the bigger picture, it is clear that the Bitcoin bull market still has room to run. Market Parallels With Gold Suggest Bull Run Is Intact Egrag Crypto also draws a strong comparison between Bitcoin and gold. He points out that many analysts once thought gold had peaked at a technical target of $3,500. Instead, the price continued to rise due to what he calls a short squeeze. This sudden surge, he says, was meant to trap retail buyers into a suckers rally. Related Reading: Expert Reveals Why XRP Wont Mirror Bitcoins Path And Why A Decoupling Is Imminent He notes that gold demand is currently so high that even shop owners with decades of experience say they have never seen business like this. To Egrag, this kind of hype is usually a warning that the cycle is near its top. He expects gold to eventually fall by $600 to $1,000 once Russia and Ukraine restore peace, a move that he believes would once again confirm the cyclical nature of the market. For Bitcoin, the same lesson applies. Despite loud voices calling the bull run over, Egrag insists that the cycle is still alive. He views the current downturn as merely a pause before another significant surge. He plans to invest around $30,000 in the following macro cycle and later rotate into strong altcoins. In his view, staying patient and respecting cycles is the most effective approach. Featured image created with Dall. E, chart from Tradingview. com.
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