ENTREPRENEURS and aspiring business owners in Penang will have 30 opportunities this month to meet potential investors, build industry connections and learn how to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
The activities, organised under PENtastic Startup Month 2026 from Nov 1 to 30, will involve at least 21 organisations brought together by Digital Penang.
Penang digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the month-long initiative would bring together startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, technologists and industry players through a series of programmes held across the state.
“The initiative is not intended to be another standalone conference but a common platform to connect existing programmes and activities organised by different organisations,” he said during a press conference at Komtar.
Zairil said Penang’s startup ecosystem currently comprised about 354 companies, making it the second largest in Malaysia, with the state aiming to grow the number to 500 by 2030.
He said the startup ecosystem was estimated to contribute RM340mil in revenue and create 2,600 high-income jobs in Penang.
He added that a strong startup ecosystem required more than funding, incubators, technology infrastructure and the number of companies established, stressing that connections and engagement among ecosystem players were equally important.
Zairil said the participating organisations represented a broad range of stakeholders, including startup founders, technology companies, corporate training providers, universities, associations and community groups from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“The activities would cover artificial intelligence (AI), business digitalisation, startup financing, investment readiness, marketing, talent development, sustainability, business strategy and creative entrepreneurship,” he said.
Among the highlights of the event are Startup Venture Vibes and Creative Content AI 1-Person Company (AI-OPC) Showcase, which aims to explore opportunities for entrepreneurs to use AI in creative content production and business development.
The month-long initiative would also feature a Culture of Startups Photography Exhibition, showcasing the people, workplaces and everyday experiences behind startup companies.
Zairil said startups needed greater access to industry knowledge, mentoring, potential customers, investors and opportunities to test and commercialise their solutions, while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) needed practical exposure to digital technologies and emerging business models.
Digital Penang would coordinate the initiative and provide a common promotional platform, while participating organisations would contribute and run their respective programmes.
Present at the event were Digital Penang chief executive officer Ng Kwang Ming, and business ecosystem development director Lim Chong Seng.
Ng said Digital Penang wanted PENtastic Startup Month to give founders and SMEs practical opportunities to build their knowledge, explore digital tools and connect with people who can support their next stage of growth.
“By bringing independently organised activities onto one shared platform, we are making it easier for participants to discover relevant programmes and engage with Penang’s startup community,” he said.
For details on the event dates and venues, go to https://startup.digitalpenang.my/pentastic-startup-month-2026/
