Alpha Startups Pre-Accelerator

From idea to MVP-stage startups, Alpha Startups has a place for you! Whether you’re looking to kickstart your startup, boost slow sales or scale your growth.

Apply to upcoming programmes to take your startup to the next level!

Upcoming Accelerator Programmes

Alpha Startups^TM Inno4Her Pre-Accelerator ^[NEW]

Feb 2025
10 Weeks
Virtual
Southeast Asia
Empowering FemTech & Female-Focused Solutions, this batch of Alpha Startups INNO4HER is the ultimate platform for FemTech innovators and female-focused startups

Digital Tourism Innovation Lab - Cohort 4 ^[NEW]

Feb 2025
6-8 Weeks
Virtual
Malaysia & Souteast Asia
The Digital Tourism Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking initiative to support the innovation of tourism tech solutions by start-ups and tourism-related companies in Southeast Asia by MDEC, Tourism Malaysia & 1337 Ventures.

Alpha Startups^TM Online

*All accelerator programmes are free of charge for startups.

About the Programme

Join our award-winning Alpha Startups™ Accelerator

Before you seek support and raise funds, put your idea to the ultimate test.

Idea > MVP + Validated Startups

This programme is FREE to join, however, startups must commit their time.

THE GAPING NEED, TODAY

How do you put running shoes to your ambitious idea? These days, most startups’ quickest resort is to seek funding and incubator support from accelerators and angel investors. There is a lot to achieve however to get your startup from “idea” to “minimal viable product” (MVP) and “market validation” stage – the main criteria for accelerators and investors looking to invest in a worthy start-up.

THE ALPHA STARTUPS OF THE FUTURE

We saw that gap, and we seek to be the bridge between your alpha idea and its critical acceleration curve! ALPHA STARTUPS | pre-accelerator is a 5-day intensive bootcamp where selected teams of entrepreneurs, developers and designers get to test and validate a scalable product/startup idea together with their peers. Daily deliverables are expected, mentorship is provided, and commitment is absolutely mandatory!

THE OUTCOME

All Alpha Startups that successfully complete the pre-accelerator programme will gain priority admission into funding programmes run by 1337 Accelerator, and other recognised funding organisations throughout the country.

Above all, they will be validated startups with strong pitch decks consisting of a viable product proposition, refined marketing plan and practical development roadmap.

Top 2 teams will receive funding of up to RM50K. Judges decision are final.

All participants will be given up to RM 16,000 in Digital Credits for various services.

Key Highlights of Alpha Startups

Success Stories

With a tried and tested curriculum, a powerful network of mentors, and a track record of taking startups to success. Get access to exclusive events, digital software and infrastructure, co-working spaces, and so much more.

Acquired by Jireh Group within 12 months after Alpha Startups

GetDoc

MedTech

Achieved a GMV of RM700K in 12 months. Acquired by Cat & the Fiddle Cafe.

Eat Cake Today

Gig Economy

Raised an undisclosed 7-digit amount from Axiata.

Maideasy

Gig Economy

Acquired money remittance license in 3 countries

Swapit

Fintech / E-Wallet

Acquired by ABSS (MYOB)

Financio

Fintech / Accounting

Acquired by TUNE in 12 months after completing Alpha Startups.

Gigfairy

Gig Economy

Raised first round of USD 150K (~RM631K) by Iterative VC based in Singapore and San Francisco. Became a Singaporean entity & expanding throughout Malaysia.

Hawkr

F&B / Foodtech

Find out more about Alpha Startups success stories

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How will the mentoring be carried out?

The mentoring will be carried out fully via video conferencing. We’ll have office hours throughout the programme, where teams can jump in our Zoom rooms anytime they have questions for the 1337 team or the partners.

How many contact hours in total?

There will be a total of 9 hours for the self-paced learning, 23 hours of live webinar, and 26 hours of available office hours. The live webinars (i.e classrooms) happen two days a week, while Mentor Rooms (i.e office hours and coaching) are flexible for participants to join. Self-paced learning sessions can be done at the convenience of the participant, as our videos and interactive teaching materials are online on our Leet Academy portal.

Will I be disqualified if I can’t join all the sessions?

No, however in order to qualify for the funding, you will need to ensure the key outputs required (i.e Lean Canvas, Pitch Deck, etc) must be completed in the timeframe required.

Will there be physical pitching sessions at the end of the accelerator or after the MCO is lifted?

To maintain the practice of social distancing even after the Movement Control Order (MCO) lifts, and to keep in theme with it being a Digital Accelerator, the Demo Day will be a live session online, with judges and audiences and ways to interact. However, sometime later in the year when the COVID-19 situation has stabilized, we will have physical networking sessions and value-add sessions like Introduction to Design Thinking workshops for our participants to join free of charge.

Do I need to pay to join this accelerator?

No, there is no application fee to join this accelerator.

Which vertical or industry is this accelerator for?

The Alpha Startups Pre-Accelerator accepts ideas from any industry or niche.

How are past accelerator programme carried out?

Well besides being fully digital, this is the most flexible program structure we’ve had yet! While participants must still commit to the key outcomes of the program, the way in which they can accomplish this is flexible. This is also a batch which does have an industry limitation, that is to say, anyone with or without an idea can join to develop a solution for any market or niche. We do however, want to encourage Malaysians who are keen on solving some of the issues brought to light by the COVID-19 outbreak, like logistics, agile workflows, medical software or hardware, and more. We also want to welcome Malaysians to consider more impact driven enterprises, as many Malaysians right now have been adversely affected by the Movement Control Order restrictions, despite it being necessary to ensure we minimize worse outbreaks. Unlike other programmes, this programme is also less stringent on its requirements and screening, in hopes that it is better able to serve Malaysians who always wanted to dabble in entrepreneurship. We have tracks for people who truly want funding and to start, and for those who are still exploring and just want to learn. We’re able to accommodate bigger batch size due to it being online, flexible, and injection of more mentors via our partners like MDEC, Accenture, MaGIC, KPMG, Digi, Found8, and more. As this is the first time we’re running a digital accelerator, there’s definitely more moving parts. The team has been crazy busy to ensure this program goes off as smoothly as possibly, and we can’t wait to bring it to the Malaysian people.

Entry Requirements

Submit a 2-3minute video pitch / pitch deck
Able to communicate and understand English
Above 21 years old
Startups must be based in Malaysia or serve a Malaysian market OR
Startups must have at least ONE Malaysian co-founder regardless of the market served or geographic location

Criteria may vary between accelerators.