SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG AT FOUNDER INSTITUTE GRADUATION SESSION AT @CAT WISMA YEAP CHOR EE 28 JUNE 2016
ACCELERATING TECH & CREATIVE STARTUPS
Firstly, I am very pleased to be here this afternoon to witness this momentous occasion. Congratulations to each and every one of you. You should be very proud of yourselves for accomplishing this goal, persevering through one of the most challenging 14-weeks experience to become the first ever Founder Institute Penang graduates.
FOUNDER INSTITUTE PROGRAMME
Founder Institute (FI) is one of the world’s largest entrepreneur training and idea stage accelerator program originating from the Silicon Valley, offering weekly curriculum for 14-weeks of company-building sessions designed to help tech entrepreneurs to build every aspect of their business, from the core idea to the product and revenue model. After a highly successful test launch at the end of 2015 and early 2016, the Penang Chapter was officially formed and is now being led by local startup leaders Chan Kee Siak (Founder & CEO, Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd) & Heislyc Loh (Founder & CEO, CoRate) together with a selected group of top mentors who provide their advice and critical feedback. The official Penang program commenced on 15th March, 2016 and ended 2-weeks ago on 14th June, 2016, held at Penang @CAT, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee. Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that accepts founders with day jobs and shares equity with all participants.
EXCELLENT PLATFORM TO ENRICH ENTREPRENEURS AND FOUNDERS
With the emergence of the digital revolution we see a huge potential in the creative technology industry. To transform Penang into an international and intelligent city, we must embrace this new future of digital technology, especially in the growing fields of Big Data Analytics (BDA), cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT). In addition to the convergence of the manufacturing, services and public sector, the establishment of Penang @CAT will continue to unleash new synergies in both new and existing industries. I believe that in order for Penang to win the future, we have to invest not only in education but also master disruptive technology, innovation and automation. Penang @CAT is one of our initiatives to put us on track in Big Data Analytics, cloud computing and IoT.
In this 21st century, the millennial generation is creative and the future game changers in the marketplace. We want to help to develop the innovation-driven millennials who want to build their own businesses and tech startups through the platform of Penang @CAT. Penang @CAT and our partners, through this Founder Institute program will be an excellent platform for tech entrepreneurs and founders to catapult their company into greater heights.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Founder Institute’s dedicated local founders and mentors. They do not seek any praise but their expertise and devotion throughout the 14-weeks programme in mentoring these startups is enormous. We hope this first batch program will only be the start of many more to come and we look forward to a long term collaboration with Founder Institute.
PENANG @CAT IN INNOVATING TALENTS AND CREATING SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS
I believe Penang has a unique tech start-up scene made up of a close community of local start-ups and founders involved in various activities ranging from e-commerce, mobile applications, IoT, and many more. Penang @CAT space serves as a platform and launch pad in bringing the tech-startup community under one roof and provide necessary support and services to build a strong ecosystem.
As for the supply of talent for start-up companies, long term e-commerce and coding workshops will be conducted at Penang @CAT in the coming months aimed at providing opportunities to local tech and non tech community in learning programming and improving career marketability.
CREATING FUTURE AND LIVING DREAMS
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have always envisaged Penang as a platform for dream makers to make their dreams come true. We also aspire to win the future with our very own unique capabilities. That is why we are now doing as much and as best as we can to lay the foundations to transform Penang into high-income knowledge economy.
We will strive to enhance capacity, capability and competency in Penang’s creative technology industry because we believe that the lynchpin of Penang’s future is the 3Ts which is to establish a creative cluster – the Talent, Technology and Tolerance of new ideas. Our most passionate value of freedom will allow Penang @CAT to produce world-class content and be a national hub for digital and creative technology content services.
In addition to Penang @CAT, the State is taking pro-active measures to inspire and create more innovators through our Penang Science Cafe (PSC) which is aimed at rekindling the young’s interest in science and technology, Penang Learning Center which offers STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teaching and Penang Tech Dome (PTD) to create a hub for technology learning and exchange of ideas.
The Penang State government has invested RM23 million to refurbish this unique heritage building and rent it on a 30 years lease. We are always open to new ideas and collaboration to make Penang @CAT a Launchpad for entrepreneurial success.
In closing, I would like to extend my appreciation again to the hard work of the leadership of Founder Institute Penang Chapter, its mentors and partners for their contribution towards nurturing future leaders in technology from Penang. Let us continue to work together to build a greater future for our aspiring tech enthusiast.
Finally, congratulations to the graduates of Founder Institute Penang’s first batch. There will be many challenges ahead but when you are determined to succeed you will handle anything that gets in your way.
I wish to thank all of you for finding time to attend this graduation session and with a great honor; I now close the first batch of this programme.
Thank you.
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槟首长于2016年6月28在槟城叶祖意大楼的@CAT新创加速器创业家学院毕业礼上的演讲稿
创业家学院课程
创业家学院是源自硅谷，是世界其中一个最大的企业家培训及点子发想加速计划。创业家学院提供为期14周为科技企业设计的企业建设课程，全方位地建立他们的事业。所谓全方位包括从核心概念到产品及盈利模式。槟城分院自2015年底及2016年头试跑之后，之后终于正式设立，并由本地新创领袖，Exabytes网络有限公司的创办人Chan Kee Siak及CoRate创办人Heislyc Loh领导，并连同其他企业一流的导师提供咨询及重点指导。槟城创业家学院的课程从2016年3月15日开始至2016年6月14日止，已经在叶祖意大楼的@CAT新创加速器进行完毕，该课程是唯一一个以创业者日常运作与参与者分享的课程。
充实企业家与创业家的卓越平台
数码革命的崛起，让我们看到创意科技工业的潜能。槟城为了转型成为国际与智慧城市，就必须拥抱数码科技新未来，特别是正在成长的领域如大数据分析、云端电脑及物联网。 在制造业、服务业及公家机关的汇整之下成立的@CAT新创加速器将为新兴与旧型工业继续带来加乘效果。 我相信槟城要赢得未来，不只必须投资在教育，同时也要掌握具有前瞻性的科技、创新发明及机械。槟城@CAT新创加速器的设立就是我们致力于要投身大数据分析、云端电脑及物联网的创举。
在这21世纪，千禧世代是创意及未来市场上改变游戏规则的人。我们要透过槟城@CAT新创加速器协助创新导向的千禧世代建立他们自己的事业及科技新创企业。槟城@CAT新创加速器及我们的伙伴透过这项创业家学院的课程，将为企业家及创业家设立一个卓越的平台，让他们展翅高飞创新高。
我也借这个机会感谢创业家学院的本地创业家及导师，虽然他们并没要求掌声，但他们在这14个星期的课程奉献他们的专业与诚意，指导有志于新创者的贡献是巨大的。我们希望这第一批结业的新创者只是个开始，透过创业家学院的长期合作，紧接着还会不断有志于新创的创业家加入。
槟城@CAT新创加速器致力于培训创新人才及成功的新创企业
我相信槟城拥有独具特色的科技新创企业组成一个本地的新创与创业家社区，范围包括电子商务、行动应用软件、物联网及各种科技创新。槟城@CAT新创加速器的空间将提供平台及推展跳板让科技新创社区能凝聚在同一屋檐下，同时提供所需支援及服务，以建立一个强健的生态系统。
为了能提供人才给各家新创企业，长期性的电子商务及编写程式（Coding）课程将会于来临的月份在@CAT加速器内进行，目的是要提供机会给本地科技业及非科技业的社区学习编写程式及提升他们在人力市场的事业技能。
创造未来的梦想生活
我们时常将槟城设定为梦想家实现梦想的平台。我们期盼着以我们独有的能力赢得未来。这也是为什么我们如今孜孜不倦致力打好根基，好让槟城能转型为高收入的知识型经济。
我们将优化我们槟城的创意科技工业的才能与竞争力，因为我们相信槟城未来的关键在于人才、科技与包容新点子。我们最热衷的自由价值观，允许槟城@CAT加速器创造出世界级的科技内容及全国数码及创意科技内容服务的枢纽。
除了@CAT新创加速器之外，州政府透过槟城科学咖啡馆积极的采取措施以启迪及培训更多的创新者，槟城科学咖啡馆致力于重新吸引年轻一代对科学及科技的兴趣，还有槟城学习中心提供科学、科技、工程及数学的课程，最后是槟城圆顶科学馆创立科技学习的枢纽及交流科学概念。
槟州政府投资了2300万令吉维修及承租了这别具一格的古迹建筑。我们对新点子与概念随时敞开怀抱，携手合作让槟城@CAT新创加速器成为成功的企业精神伸展台。