​TECH VENTURE Meetup Johor Bahru 2026

​Johor is seeing growing interest from startups, industry, investors and ecosystem organisations, alongside closer economic ties with Singapore and the wider region. The next question is how we continue nurturing technology ventures locally and how we build the right environment for them to grow, find partners and eventually contribute back to the ecosystem themselves.

​Leave a Nest has been supporting science and technology ventures across Southeast Asia for many years through initiatives such as TECH PLANTER, connecting founders with researchers, corporates, investors and regional partners.

​Through that work, we have also seen how an ecosystem develops over time. Startups that once joined as participants later return as collaborators, mentors, partners and connectors for the next generation of founders. TECH PLANTER alumni will also be joining the Johor Meetup, sharing what has happened since their participation and how the relationships built through the ecosystem have supported their growth.

​TECH VENTURE Meetup Johor Bahru is our first step towards building this kind of longer-term technology venture community in Johor.

​Rather than focusing only on pitches, the Meetup will bring together startups, researchers, corporates, investors, universities and ecosystem organisations to discuss what is needed to nurture more technology ventures in Johor and how stronger connections with Singapore, Japan and the wider region can support that growth.

​The programme will explore:

• ​how Johor can continue developing an environment where technology ventures can emerge and grow;

• ​what can be learnt from the startup and research ecosystems that Leave a Nest has worked with in Singapore, Japan and across Southeast Asia;

• ​how corporates, investors, universities and ecosystem organisations can play an active role beyond individual programmes or events;

• ​and how technology ventures can progress from early-stage development towards industry collaboration, market expansion and eventually becoming contributors to the ecosystem themselves.

​Programme

​Opening
Welcome and introduction to TECH VENTURE Meetup Johor Bahru.

​Keynote Speaker — Building the Ecosystem Around Technology Ventures
The role of ecosystem partners in supporting startups beyond individual programmes — from creating opportunities and connections to helping ventures access industry, capital and new markets.

​Panel Discussion — From Startup to Ecosystem Player
Founders, industry partners and ecosystem organisations discuss what technology ventures need at different stages of growth, what meaningful ecosystem support looks like, and how startups can eventually contribute back to the communities that supported them.

​Networking & Prayer Break
An opportunity to meet participating startups, researchers, corporates and ecosystem partners.

​Technology Venture Pitching Session
Selected technology ventures will present their technologies, the problems they are addressing and the partners they are looking for. The session is designed not simply as a competition, but as a starting point for potential collaboration, pilots, investment and market connections.

​Closing
Reflections from the day and the next steps towards continuing the technology venture community in Johor.

​Who should join?

​JB technology startups and researchers looking for industry and market opportunities; corporates looking for new technologies and collaboration partners; investors looking for emerging science and technology ventures; and universities, government agencies and ecosystem organisations interested in strengthening Johor's innovation landscape.

​Whether you are building a technology, looking for one, investing in the next generation of ventures or helping shape the ecosystem around them, we welcome you to be part of the conversation.

Please register your interest here https://global.lne.st/TVMUJB!