- Student startups span AI, fintech, enterprise tools and digital services
- Programme combines mentorship, industry input and hands-on venture building
The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) is expanding its support for student entrepreneurship through Enterprise@APU, an initiative aimed at helping students and graduates develop startup ideas into viable businesses.
Enterprise@APU serves as the university’s venture-building platform, offering programmes, mentorship and industry engagement to bridge academic learning with practical business experience. The initiative is part of APU’s broader effort to strengthen its role in Malaysia’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
Its core activities include the Enterprise Speaker Series, Bite-Sized Workshops, Startup InnovateX, the APU Sandbox Accelerator, and the Startup Internship Programme, which guide participants from ideation through to prototype development and early market validation.
The programme is supported by the APU Entrepreneurship Council, an advisory group comprising entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and public sector representatives. Established in 2020 and led by Professor Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s chief innovation and enterprise officer, the council provides input on strategy and industry alignment.
On 9 February 2026, council members met to review progress and discuss areas for expansion. Participants included representatives from Watchtower & Friends, Startup Malaysia, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Katalist Ventures, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Leave a Nest, and Fave Group. Discussions focused on strengthening industry collaboration, expanding opportunities for student founders, and aligning initiatives with evolving business and technology trends.
Startups emerging from Enterprise@APU span sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, enterprise software, digital transformation, gaming and smart technology. Examples include Pixalink, a customer engagement platform; Genta AI Solutions, which develops AI tools for enterprise use; and FinFin Edu, a financial literacy platform targeting students and young professionals.
Other ventures include X Automation Developer, which builds workflow automation solutions; Aqvantiq, focused on cloud and AI adoption; and IoTech Solutions, a spin-off from APU’s IoT research centre developing smart systems for operational efficiency.
Student-led ventures are also exploring areas beyond enterprise technology, including property redevelopment (Neos Development), game development (Dreamonaut Studio), 3D-printed product design (Shatterheart Systems), and AI-based parenting tools (XiaoBao).
The mix of startups reflects both enterprise and consumer-focused applications, ranging from automation and cloud-based systems to education, parenting and digital entertainment.
APU also points to research commercialisation as part of the initiative, with projects such as IoTech Solutions illustrating how academic research can be translated into market-facing applications.
The university said Enterprise@APU forms part of its broader strategy to support entrepreneurship among students and graduates, combining structured programmes, mentorship and industry partnerships to provide early-stage founders with practical exposure to building and scaling businesses.
APU is also expanding collaborations with investors and industry partners to strengthen support for student-led ventures.
The following table outlines selected startups founded by APU students and graduates.
| Startup | Founder(s) | Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pixalink |
Eddie Chong Vun Wei Ching Cheng Kang |
CRM & Customer Engagement |
A cloud-based customer loyalty and CRM platform that improves customer engagement and retention through rewards portals, merchant back-office tools and WhatsApp automation. |
| Genta AI Solutions | Mahmoud Ashraf | Artificial Intelligence | Develops practical and responsible AI technologies, including AI agents, enterprise automation tools and workflow optimisation systems for organisational use. |
| FinFin Edu |
Makhkambayev Shokhzhakhanbek Bakhtiyarov Sultansaidkhan Mashayev Abdulla Atymtaiuly Nurassyl |
Fintech & Financial Literacy | A gamified learning platform that simplifies financial concepts such as budgeting, saving and investing for students and young professionals. |
| X Automation Developer |
Yeong Wei Xun Goh Jun Leng |
Enterprise Automation | Builds AI-driven workflow automation solutions using the open-source platform n8n, integrating with CRM, ERP and communication systems. |
| Aqvantiq | Anson Lau Yi Xian | Digital Transformation | Provides cloud migration, DevOps-as-a-Service and enterprise AI adoption solutions for organisations in Malaysia and Thailand. |
| IoTech Solutions | Dipl-Ing Inv Ir Narendran Ramasenderan | Smart Technology | A technology spin-off from APU’s IoT research centre is developing scalable smart systems to enhance operational efficiency in digital environments. |
| Neos Development (M) Sdn Bhd | Thiriidev Kumar Murlidaran | Property Development | Focuses on revitalising underperforming properties into income-generating assets through technology-driven development approaches. |
| Dreamonaut Studio | Amirrul Rasyid Bin Norazman & Team | Game Development | An independent studio developing FiresOut!, a cooperative multiplayer firefighting game emphasising teamwork, humour and dynamic gameplay.An independent studio developing FiresOut!, a cooperative multiplayer firefighting game emphasising teamwork, humour and dynamic gameplay. |
| Shatterheart Systems | Yoosuf Shariq Shahid | Product Design & 3D Engineering | Explores plastic scale model kits using advanced 3D-printing technology under the entertainment concept JETFoRCE |
| XiaoBao | Than Chi Ren | AI Parenting Technology | An AI-powered mobile application that analyses baby crying patterns alongside daily care data to provide personalised parenting insights. |
