Malaysia, 5 May 2025 — Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), the backbone of Malaysia’s digital payments landscape, has launched the country’s first dedicated Fintech Hub — a vibrant community and accelerator designed to propel local fintech startups onto the global stage.
The PayNet Fintech Hub aims to bridge Malaysia’s innovative startups with the capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships needed to scale. Through close collaboration with over 45 industry players, the initiative provides startups with access to resources such as funding credits, advisory services, cloud computing support, and exclusive networking opportunities.
Farhan Ahmad, CEO of PayNet, emphasized the mission behind the initiative: “We believe that a dynamic fintech ecosystem is essential for building inclusive, future-ready financial services that support Malaysia’s growth. The Fintech Hub is our commitment to fostering innovation and ensuring Malaysian startups can compete internationally.”
What the Fintech Hub Offers
The program is built around two core pillars — Community and Catalyst. Startups accepted into the Community will gain:
- Access to a network of founders, investors, and industry players for knowledge sharing and collaborations.
- Over 450 hours of expert mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and domain specialists.
- Opportunities to partner with banks, tech giants, and payments firms.
- Financial incentives, including RM1 million in PayNet credits, RM600,000 worth of legal, financial, HR, and research advisory services, and up to RM3 million in cloud credits via AWS.
- Fully sponsored co-working space to foster collaboration and innovation.
Top-performing startups from this cohort will be selected for the Catalyst program — a high-profile, international accelerator in partnership with Imperial College London. This global program spans 10 weeks, including a week in London engaging with Imperial faculty, European startups, and investors. The program culminates in a demo day that exposes participants to VC funding and corporate partnership opportunities.
In addition, new collaborations with AWS will empower Catalyst startups with cloud credits and tools delivered through Malaysia’s newly launched AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region. The program also includes access to a Fintech Innovation Sandbox environment to test and scale solutions securely.
Driving Malaysia’s Digital Future
Farhan Ahmad highlights the broader vision: “The PayNet Fintech Hub is about more than startups — it’s about creating a thriving fintech ecosystem that underpin Malaysia’s digital economy, promote financial inclusion, and elevate the nation as a regional fintech hub.”
With this initiative, Malaysia aims to position itself as a key player in Asian fintech innovation, leveraging local talent and global partnerships to foster sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
For startups interested in joining or learning more, visit https://fintechhub.paynet.my.
