KUALA LUMPUR: Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM) is helping the small and medium-sized businesses' (SMEs) in raising funds and getting ready for further growth with its Elevate Programme.
Supported by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Bursa Malaysia, the programme focuses on helping businesses meet governance requirements and prepare for fundraising through the capital market.
It also helps company leaders develop an innovation mindset and strengthen their business models.
According to SC Executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin, SMEs are vital to Malaysia's economy, and there is a need to help them get funding.
The Elevate Programme aims to support SMEs looking to grow, raise capital, or even go public.
The capital market is well positioned to foster investor confidence and attract capital to support further growth of our high potential small businesses.
"CMM's Elevate Programme is designed to meet the needs of businesses looking to scale up, raise capital or embark on their IPO journey. Against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive global marketplace, our aim is to accelerate the advancement of Malaysia's high-growth SMEs.", said Awang.
The Elevate Programme is one of several initiatives driven by the SC and its affiliates to support SME access to capital market financing.
In 2023 the SC signed a memorandum of understanding with SME Corp aimed at building a strong pipeline of capital-market ready MSMEs and to boost access to financing for this important segment of the economy.
CMM Board Member Brahmal Vasudevan highlights Malaysia's capital market as a great option for companies seeking growth.
He said the programme is fully funded by the government and covers topics like design-thinking, branding, marketing, and ESG considerations.
"The key is to ensure the company is ready for investment and to determine the best funding strategy for companies at different stages of growth. CMM's goal is to support high-growth Malaysian businesses and their leadership with the knowledge and network for their fund-raising needs and advancement," said Brahmal.
The programme ends with an investors' roadshow where companies can connect with potential investors. Past participants, like ICT Zone Sdn Bhd, have seen success, with some even transitioning to bigger markets.