A big part of generating a flourishing economy lies in the ability of a nation to nurture and grow successful entrepreneurs. Simply put, entrepreneurs make investments, create employment, develop technology, pay taxes and reinvest back into the economy – these are fundamentals that drive economic progress and countries that do it well will most likely see income levels rise and quality of life level up.

Governments play a very strategic role in encouraging the formulation and growth of businesses with progressive policies around education, infrastructure and incentives. This will enable companies to expand and tackle new challenges with the reassurance that they have backing from the highest level.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is the agency established under the purview of the Ministry of Digital to lead Malaysia’s digital economy. By fostering the growth of local businesses, MDEC triggers a catalytic effect to the ecosystem – from founders, suppliers, customers to employees, the economy benefits from higher incomes and more efficient infrastructure. This in turn, will create a virtuous cycle of reinvestments into national development priorities.

In line with the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative, MDEC’s charter drives Malaysia to create and adopt the latest digital tools, services and facilities towards economic growth.

In this series of articles, Tech Wire Asia is focusing on companies that have benefited from the MD status and MDEC’s MD programmes (see our previous article here) at different stages in their growth and the effects the work of MDEC has had on their success.

MDEC, through its Founders Center of Excellence (FOX) programme, provides business founders with a supportive ecosystem to refine their business operations and enhance product quality. By facilitating connections with key networks and assisting in securing essential capital, MDEC accelerates the growth and expansion of these businesses, enabling them to achieve their goals more effectively.

Here are two examples where the government’s strategic role is paying dividends through home-grown tech companies that improve a nation’s standard of living. In this regard, the two companies highlighted here, Go Hub and Pixlr, are making significant contributions to improving daily life in Malaysia, positively impacting many lives across the population in everyday transportation and the nation’s burgeoning creative industries.

Go Hub changes lives by making daily commutes easier

Public transport is a key to a nation’s prosperity, where the timing and means to get to work will significantly impact the amount of resource, energy and productivity generated by the country’s workforce.

Go Hub significantly affects the daily lives of millions of Malaysians. Specialising in technology solutions for the public transport sector, it provides robust ticketing and fare collection systems, terminal operating systems, and fleet monitoring for operators. By streamlining public transport information and usage, Go Hub positively impacts thousands of commuters each day.

The company evolved from NSS IT Solution, which developed the first Centralised Ticketing System (CTS) in Terminal Bersepadu Selatan for express bus services. Today, with a combined staff strength of 200, Go Hub now focuses on providing comprehensive transportation IT, maintenance and support services, and transport terminal management, all the essentials that make a first-class transportation network.

The company’s technology is used in numerous bus terminals, stage bus operators’ operations, and rail companies in Malaysia and the Philippines. Passenger-facing technology includes the company’s Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system, which calculates fares based on point of embarkation and destination and offers passengers contactless payments.

Operating companies can integrate ticketing systems with control tower operations and efficiently manage and schedule bus fleets through the Terminal Operating System (TOS) and Bus Operating System (BOS), respectively.

MDEC awarded the MD status to NSS IT Solution and thereafter continued to support them through Malaysia Digital Catalytic Catalyst Grant (MDCG) which was awarded to another Go Hub subsidiary TCT Apps, to further enhance their company’s expansion plans.

Thanks to MDEC, Go Hub’s capabilities now include a range of booking functions that extend across the tourism sector, including sea transport and reservations for campsites, homestays, and sports centres. In June 2024, the company was listed on the ACE market, raising RM37.5 million, with 20 million shares allocated specifically to the Malaysian public.

Pixlr, not just another artificial intelligence solution

AI innovator Pixlr is well-known for its online image creation and manipulation platforms pixlr.com, designs.ai and vectr.com. MDEC provided the company with networking opportunities and strategic guidance to help enhance the power and reach of its portfolio of popular SaaS tools.

From its beginnings 15 years ago as the first online photo editor, Pixlr now offers a full suite of AI-enhanced creative tools that Google has recognised as a top Progressive Web App for the Chrome ecosystem.

Pixlr’s presence on Chromebooks makes it perfect for environments where ChromeOS is the default platform, making it an ideal tool for Malaysian students of all ages to begin using digital image creation tools. With the company’s nearest competitor being the Adobe Creative Suite, Pixlr offers an affordable option to unleash the imaginations of Malaysia’s youth without the cost of professional subscriptions.

However, the web-based SaaS apps are not directly targeted at Adobe users, nor are they only for use on low-powered laptops. By offering a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools at a fraction of the cost of traditional software, the company’s web-based platforms appeal to a wide range of users. The powerful software caters to individuals exploring their creative spirits, content creators in all walks of life, creative agencies, and commercial companies across industries.

The Pixlr sites serve over ten million users per month, a position attained thanks to its work and collaboration with the MDEC Founders Center of Excellence (FOX) programme. Pixlr has reciprocated the benefits it has received from the government-sponsored programme, becoming part of the MED4IRN Council, which focuses on building a national digital infrastructure in Malaysia. With the Ministry of Education, Pixlr also trains teachers in the use of AI, part of its mission to democratise design and foster innovation.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories

Technology impacts our lives in countless ways, making it logical for government initiatives aimed at improving a country to promote innovation and business excellence in the digital realm. By proactively engaging and promoting innovation and efficiency in Malaysian businesses, MDEC and the FOX programme benefits the economy and improve the lives of individual citizens.

Find out more about MDEC and the Malaysia Digital status, and discover the opportunities available for home-grown businesses and entrepreneurs.