Meet the 8 Companies Pitching at Tech Venture Meetup Johor Bahru 2026

Leave a Nest is pleased to announce the Tech Venture Meetup Johor Bahru (TVMU JB) 2026, taking place on 7 October 2026 at Menara Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Johor Bahru.

TVMU JB brings together startups, researchers, corporates, investors, universities, government agencies and ecosystem partners to discover emerging technologies, build new collaborations and explore how promising innovations can be transformed into pilots and businesses across Johor, Singapore and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

At the heart of this year’s meetup is a lineup of eight technology companies from Johor, Singapore and Japan, spanning biotechnology, medtech, robotics, advanced materials, circular economy, agritech and autonomous maritime technology.

Rather than being just another pitching event, TVMU JB is designed to create conversations. We invite participants to meet the founders and innovators behind these technologies, understand the problems they are tackling, and explore where their technologies could be tested, adopted and scaled.

The programme will also feature a panel session exploring how innovation can unlock new opportunities across Johor and Singapore, followed by open networking, 1-to-1 meetings, startup pitches and a poster showcase.

If you are looking for new technologies, potential partners, investment opportunities or simply want to discover what is emerging from the region, we invite you to join us in Johor Bahru.

 

Meet the 8 Pitching Companies

1. Protenga Pte Ltd

Technology: Insect biotechnology and circular food systems

Protenga is an insect technology company harnessing Black Soldier Flies to build more circular and sustainable food systems. Its Smart Insect Farm™ technology converts agricultural and food-manufacturing by-products into traceable insect protein, while its Hermet product portfolio includes insect protein, oil and frass for animal feed, pet food and fertiliser applications.

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2. Materials In Works Sdn Bhd

Technology: Circular materials and waste upcycling

Johor-based Materials In Works (MIW) is developing solutions to upcycle difficult-to-recycle packaging waste into new raw materials. The company recovers residual paper liner and converts it into recovered cellulose pulp that can re-enter manufacturing value chains and be used in products such as tissue, paper and packaging.

Based in Senai, Johor, MIW represents the kind of locally developed circular-economy technology that can create both environmental impact and new industrial value chains.

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3. CytoMed Therapeutics Pte Ltd 

Technology: Cell-based cancer immunotherapy

CytoMed Therapeutics is developing off-the-shelf cell-based cancer immunotherapies aimed at treating a broad spectrum of cancers. Its pipeline includes technologies based on CAR-γδ T cells, unmodified γδ T cells and iPSC-derived γδ NKT cells, leveraging the cancer-recognition capabilities of natural killer and γδ T cells.

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4. Glyken Bio Products Sdn Bhd

Technology: Biotechnology for high-value bird’s nest products

Glyken specialises in biotechnology and the development of high-value products derived from edible bird’s nest. Through proprietary extraction technology, the company produces bioactive bird’s nest peptides for food, nutrition and wellness applications, alongside functional supplements and ready-to-drink products.

Glyken operates an integrated biotechnology facility in Johor that combines R&D with manufacturing, demonstrating how Johor’s natural resources can be transformed through biotechnology into higher-value products.

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5. Matwerkz Technologies Pte Ltd

Technology: Advanced materials and thermal management

Matwerkz Technologies is a Singapore-based A*STAR spin-off developing advanced thermal-management materials for industries including transportation, logistics, telecommunications and construction. Its technologies include thermal-regulation, heat-resistant and fire-retardant materials designed to improve the safety, reliability and sustainability of products and infrastructure.

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6. A2TECH Sdn Bhd

Technology: Robotics, AI and IoT for difficult and dangerous environments

A2TECH is a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) spin-off established in Johor that develops robotics solutions for jobs that are dirty, difficult and dangerous. The company integrates robotics with AI and IoT for applications including industrial inspection, surveillance, rescue and agriculture.

Its portfolio includes duct inspection and cleaning robots, agricultural robots for oil-palm operations, autonomous surveillance systems and underwater inspection solutions.

A2TECH is also no stranger to Leave a Nest, having been selected as one of the nine finalists of TECH PLANTER in Malaysia 2024.

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7. Eight Knot Inc

Technology: AI and robotics for autonomous maritime navigation

Japan’s Eight Knot is developing autonomous navigation technology for vessels through its Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN platform. Combining robotics, AI, sensing, route generation, vessel control and cloud technologies, Eight Knot is working towards safer and more efficient maritime transportation.

The company’s technology can automate navigation and support functions such as vessel and obstacle recognition, route generation and vessel control. Eight Knot is now accelerating overseas expansion, including into Southeast Asia.

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8. Bambusoideae Technology Sdn Bhd (Dr. Buloh)

Technology: Bamboo innovation and sustainable bio-based solutions

Bambusoideae Technology Sdn Bhd, also known through Dr. Buloh, is a Johor-based company working around bamboo and sustainable bio-based innovation. Its activities connect bamboo resources with technology development and potential higher-value applications, contributing to the development of sustainable material and biomass value chains.

 

More Than a Pitching Session

TVMU JB has been designed to give participants time to actually meet and speak with the technology teams.

The day begins with registration and lunch before an opening address and a panel session exploring how innovation can unlock new opportunities across Johor and Singapore. An extended networking and 1-to-1 meeting period follows before the eight-company pitching session begins at 3:00 PM. The programme concludes with a poster showcase and networking session, giving participants another opportunity to continue conversations with participating innovators.

 

Join Us at TVMU Johor Bahru

Whether you are a startup, corporate, investor, researcher, university, government agency or ecosystem builder, TVMU JB is an opportunity to discover technologies coming from Johor and beyond—and, more importantly, meet the people building them.

Eight companies. Three countries. Technologies ranging from autonomous vessels and robotics to cancer immunotherapy, advanced materials, biotechnology and circular production.

Come discover what happens when technology meets the right partners and where collaborations formed in Johor could go next.

Registration Link: Register for Tech Venture Meetup Johor Bahru 2026

Date: 7 October 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Level 6, Menara IIB, Johor Bahru