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ASIA FINAL

TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2025

Discovering and nurturing Deep Tech seeds
and entrepreneurs in ASIA
ABOUT
Purpose
At universities, research institutes, and corporate laboratories, the "seeds" of science and technology are being born, and it takes a lot of time and effort before they sprout into practical applications. The "TECH PLANTER" organized by Leave a Nest with its partner companies is an ecosystem that aims to discover these seeds and serve as a planter to turn them into businesses. Asia Final event will be showcasing Grand Winners and Leave a Nest Awards Winners from 6 SEA countries. From this year, we will also invite 2 Japanese startups selected from the grand winner awardees in the 7 domain Tech Planter conducted in Japan. This event will further provide the opportunities for the team to showcase their project to wider range of ecosystem players.
Target
  • Early stage startups and pre-startup researchers' team or individual in Deep Tech Field
  • Mature startups or SMEs seeking collaborators are also welcome, even if they are close to mass production or PMF establishment.
  • Visionaries that aim to change the world and/or their own country to a better place based on the science and tech based seeds
  • Those who are interested in the Japanese market or collaboration with Japanese corporations.
Categories of the TECH
Manufacturing, robotics, IoT, AI, agri-tech, bio-tech, healthcare, life-tech, food-tech, care-tech, marine-tech, ecotech, and etc.
Judging Criteria
A panel of judges consisting of Leave a Nest and its partners will evaluate each of the following items.
  1. 01NOVELTY
  2. 02PRACTICABILITY
  3. 03IMPACT TO THE WORLD
  4. 04PASSION
Awards
Grand Winner Award: 10,000 MYR & Invitation to Present at Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) in Tokyo 2026
Leave a Nest Award: Invitation to Present at Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) in Tokyo 2026
Corporate Awards: 4,000 MYR (Multiple)
SCHEDULE
8/1[FRI]

Announcement of Finalists

Selected Finalists will be announced in the beginning of August.
For those selected as finalists, interviews will be held to brush up their presentations for the final DEMO DAY.
In addition, it is possible to set up interviews with partner companies for the purpose of business consultation and to develop collaboration projects.

8/23[SAT]

DEMO DAY

The 14 finalist teams that was selected will be judged on their presentations.

PARTNER
Global Partners
Local Partners
ASSET
  1. ASSET01Leave a Nest Communicator
  2. ASSET02Japanese Partner Companies
  3. ASSET03Local Partners
  4. ASSET04Super Factory Group
SUPPORT
  1. SUPPORT01Organizing the vision your business
  2. SUPPORT02Brushing up your presentation
  3. SUPPORT03Opportunities for collaboration with Japanese corporates
  4. SUPPORT04Support for R&D and prototype development
  5. SUPPORT05Support for Knowledge and IP Strategies
  6. SUPPORT06Investment and support for finance
DEMO DAY
Name of the DEMO DAY
TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2025
Place
Aerodyne Campus, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
Date & Time
2025/8/23 (Sat)09:30-15:30 in Malaysia Time
Eligible Participants
Closed, pre-registration required (finalists, partner companies, local supporters)
Organizer
Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. & Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Timeline
@Malaysia Time
09:30～10:00
Opening Ceremony
10:00～11:00
Presentation Round 1 (5 teams - Agritech)
11:00～11:10
Break
11:10～12:10
Presentation Round 2 (5 teams - Ecotech)
12:10～12:20
Break
12:20～13:10
Presentation Round 2 (4 teams - Lifetech & Deeptech)
13:10～14:00
Judging Time | Lunch & Poster Session
14:00～14:30
Partners Presentation
14:30～15:00
Award and Closing Ceremony | Photo Session
JUDGE
  • Dr. Yuko Ueno
    Chief judge
    General Manager, Group Creation Department, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.
    Dr. Yuko Ueno
    Dr. Yuko Ueno received her Ph.D in Ocean microbiology and joined Leave a Nest in 2013. She has experience in creating new projects by encouraging collaboration between academia and industry as a Science Bridge Communicator. With the experience of tech-startup accelerator, she is bridging Japanese tech startups to global tech-startup platforms to interconnect the technology and social issues. Dr. Yuko also holds the position of Director at Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
  • Dato’ Kamarul A Muhamed
    Founder and Group CEO, Aerodyne Group
    Dato’ Kamarul A Muhamed
    Dato' Kamarul is the Founder and CEO of Aerodyne Group, a Malaysian-based drone solutions provider that is ranked second in the world by Drone Industry Insights of Germany. He was recently named 'EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2020', 'EY Technology Entrepreneur of The Year 2020 Malaysia' as well as 'SEBA Entrepreneur of The Year 2020’. Kamarul led Aerodyne from a 3 person startup in 2014 to a global company with presence in 35 countries in just 6 years. He is a TEDx speaker and a drone industry thought leader, who has presented his ideas and innovation on AI, Drones and Industry 4.0 around the world. An auditor by training, Kamarul spent his formative years in the city of London before switching his career to the tech industry upon returning to Malaysia after a 10 year stint in the UK. Kamarul is an avid explorer and has travelled to more than 100 countries, both for business and pleasure.
  • Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi
    Head of Research and Product Development Department, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC)
    Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi
    Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi earned his Ph.D from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in the field of Geoinformatics (GIS), specialising in 3D GIS. His research interests include 3D change detection, 3D city modelling, digital twin and their applications in the context of smart city. In his current capacity as the Head of Research and Product Development at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Berhad, Dr. Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi leads his team in the pursuit of high-impact research aimed at developing new digital technologies with real-world applications. He also leads the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Digital Economy, aiming to foster partnerships between government, universities, and industries, to intensify collaborations and paving the way for the adoption of cutting-edge digital technologies, driving innovation, and propelling Sarawak's digital economic landscape into a prosperous future. Their collective efforts focus on translating innovative ideas into implementable and marketable products that drive economic growth. Additionally, his team collaborates closely with industry partners to develop viable solutions in areas such as smart urban farming, smart aquaculture, and smart city applications, contributing to the development of Sarawak's digital ecosystem.
  • Dr. Kengo Suzuki
    Co-Founder and Executive Fellow, Euglena Co., Ltd.
    Dr. Kengo Suzuki
    Dr. Kengo Suzuki is the Co-Founder and Executive Fellow of Euglena Co., Ltd., a Japanese biotechnology company that focuses on microalgae-based products. Dr. Suzuki holds a Ph.D. in Medical Science from Kitasato University and a PhD in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo. His expertise lies in the fields of phycology, food science, molecular biology, and immunology. Dr. Kengo has over 20 years of experience in research and development, including his current position as a specially appointed professor at Tohoku University and visiting professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. As his main affiliation, Euglena is involved in various businesses like healthcare and energy & environment among others. Additionally, he has experience in the mass cultivation of euglena and the establishment of microalgae production technology laboratories.
  • Mr. Yuya Takeuchi
    Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Mr. Yuya Takeuchi
    Are we truly envisioning a 'fulfilling' future?" This question drives Mr. Yuya Takeuchi's work. After studying theoretical physics and exploring the world's workings, Mr. Yuya drove industrial transformation through data science and DX consulting across diverse organizations. Currently, he explores "fulfilling moments," aiming to create businesses and industries for a world brimming with them. At D-0. a program he and his team developed, he leverages his expertise in behavioural change and systemic design to champion the passion. and systemic design to champion people’s passionate 'Day 0' aspirations.
  • Ms. Junko Nishimae
    General Manager, Health Science Division, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
    Ms. Junko Nishimae
    After working in sales, human resources, marketing, and public relations, Junko Nishimae engaged in new business development. She led the planning and operation of internal business contests and the launch of corporate venture capital, driving new business and innovation creation.
  • Mr. Shojiro Kobashi
    President & CEO, KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.
    Mr. Shojiro Kobashi
    Shojiro Kobashi is the fourth-generation successor of a family-run agricultural machinery manufacturer founded in 1910. He officially took over the business in 2016. KOBASHI has long contributed to the mechanization of Japanese agriculture as an agricultural machinery manufacturer. In 2017, in line with a group restructuring, he established KOBASHI HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., assuming the role of President and CEO. Under the corporate philosophy of “Cultivating the Earth (make the world better)“, he has worked to address global challenges by leveraging the company’s century-long heritage of experience, knowledge, and technology. In 2020, he founded KOBASHI ROBOTICS Co., Ltd., and launched the “Manufacturing Booster” program to comprehensively support startups engaged in product development and manufacturing. Through this initiative, he has actively built partnerships with deep-tech startups in Southeast Asia. He sees it as his mission to accelerate the real-world deployment of technologies that tackle the most pressing global issues through the power of manufacturing. He holds an MBA from Waseda University Graduate School of Business Administration.
  • Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara
    Chief Executive Officer, Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
    Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara
    Mr. Toshiharu Fujiwara is the CEO of Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Berhad. Prior to his current position, he was the General Manager of the Global Strategic Advisory Department at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., responsible for global advisory and global intelligence. Before becoming involved in supporting corporate customers developing overseas business, he had held senior leadership positions at Mizuho Bank, Ltd., mainly in the fields of corporate planning and business promotion targeting Japanese and non-Japanese corporate customers.
  • Mr. Hitoshi Suizu
    New Business Exploration Section, TERAL Inc.
    Mr. Hitoshi Suizu
    Joined TERAL Inc. in 2019, working in Fukuyama, Hiroshima on the design and development of control panels with a focus on pump systems. In 2022, he moved to the Tokyo branch to provide technical sales support for product promotion. Since April 2025, he has been involved in new business development in the newly launched New Business Exploration Section.
  • Mr. Akihiko Nagata
    Founder & Chief Executive Officer, UntroD Inc.
    Mr. Akihiko Nagata
    He served as Director of Euglena Co., Ltd., since its early pre-IPO stage and led the company's business strategy, finance, and the biofuel business. In 2021, he was appointed CEO and continued in that role until stepping down in 2024. In 2015, he founded Real Tech Fund to drive deep tech investment to tackle societal and environmental challenges. In 2024, appointed as CEO of UntroD Capital Japan, which manages the fund. In addition, he is passionate about creating social impact within the framework of capitalism. He founded Ame Kaze Taiyo, the first social impact IPO in Japan rooted in an NPO, and also serves as an advisor to HERALBONY.
FINALIST
  •  
    CirPro Innovations Corp
    Concepcion P. Ponce
    Liquid pectin which solves both the calamansi peel waste on the supply side and the relance of the Philippines' food and beverage industry on imported pectin on the product downstream side.

    Theme:
    Liquid pectin which solves both the calamansi peel waste on the supply side and the relance of the Philippines' food and beverage industry on imported pectin on the product downstream side.

  • MIZUHO AWARD
    Teraform Inc.
    Satoshi Hidaka
    Sustainable agriculture through nature-derived nano-hydrogel technology.

    Theme:
    Sustainable agriculture through nature-derived nano-hydrogel technology.

  • SDEC AWARD
    Lestagro
    Mohd Hafiz Yaacob
    Reversing global warming impact & commercialization of berry plants via temporary immersion bioreactor.

    Theme:
    Reversing global warming impact & commercialization of berry plants via temporary immersion bioreactor.

  •  
    Forte Biotech
    Kit Yong
    Affordable, portable, and highly sensitive DNA-based pathogen detection for real- time disease management in aquaculture.

    Theme:
    Affordable, portable, and highly sensitive DNA-based pathogen detection for real- time disease management in aquaculture.

  • KOBASHI AWARD
    Seamorny Holdings Pte. Ltd.
    Tung Le
    Sustainable AI-powered Seafood Farming; Issue: Mass mortality and inefficiency in traditional crab farming due to cannibalism and inability to harvest soft-shell crabs optimally.

    Theme:
    Sustainable AI-powered Seafood Farming; Issue: Mass mortality and inefficiency in traditional crab farming due to cannibalism and inability to harvest soft-shell crabs optimally.

  • TERAL & LEAVE A NEST AWARDS
    Enable Earth Co., Ltd.
    Pasinee Tangsuriyapaisan
    Valorizing agricultural wastes using AI logistics and industrial continuous pyrolysis.

    Theme:
    Valorizing agricultural wastes using AI logistics and industrial continuous pyrolysis.

  • UNTROD AWARD
    PT. Kurva Lonceng Khatulistiwa
    ArkaIrfani
    Coffee Leather, converting coffee skin waste into sustainable leather alternatives. Our product becomes an alternative to current synthetic leather that uses plastic as its main components.

    Theme:
    Coffee Leather, converting coffee skin waste into sustainable leather alternatives. Our product becomes an alternative to current synthetic leather that uses plastic as its main components.

  •  
    GreenPump
    Yzabel Angel So
    GREENPUMP: Generating renewable energy through Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilization of microplastics.

    Theme:
    GREENPUMP: Generating renewable energy through Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilization of microplastics.

  • UNTROD-KOBASHI AWARD
    BIKI
    Muhammad Hafid Rosidin
    End-to-end prevention solution for fruit and vegetable loss and waste.

    Theme:
    End-to-end prevention solution for fruit and vegetable loss and waste.

  • JT AWARD
    InnoPhytoTech Co., Ltd.
    Ketthida Cheevarungnapakul
    Revolutionary enzyme technology to convert fruit sugar into prebiotics.

    Theme:
    Revolutionary enzyme technology to convert fruit sugar into prebiotics.

  •  
    Naroma
    Phạm Kim Quốc Bảo
    Naroma nano perfume technology.

    Theme:
    Naroma nano perfume technology.

  • KIRIN AWARD
    SPHinX
    Makoto Sasaki
    Development of affordable and accessible infectious disease diagnostic kits for developing countries.

    Theme:
    Development of affordable and accessible infectious disease diagnostic kits for developing countries.

  •  
    PepShield
    Dhanya Mahalakshmi
    Peptide-nanonet coating for medical devices that traps and kills bacteria on contact, preventing colonization and biofilm formation to enhance infection control and device safety.

    Theme:
    Peptide-nanonet coating for medical devices that traps and kills bacteria on contact, preventing colonization and biofilm formation to enhance infection control and device safety.

  • AERODYNE AWARD
    nanoSkunkWorkX
    Iqbal Shamsul
    SUSANNE: A graphene nanofabrication platform enabling ultra-efficient AI compute, low-cost green hydrogen, and rapid biosensing.

    Theme:
    SUSANNE: A graphene nanofabrication platform enabling ultra-efficient AI compute, low-cost green hydrogen, and rapid biosensing.

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DEMO DAY