I have served as a final-round judge for eight of the ten editions of the Dream Factory Startup Contest (I couldn’t attend two editions in person due to the pandemic). Each year leaves me with different reflections.
Below are my highlights for the 10th Dream Factory Startup Contest held on 5th Jun 2026:
1. Many participants this year talked about expanding into the Malay market or the broader Southeast Asian market, and I think that’s a positive sign. After all, the Chinese community and even the Malaysian market are relatively small. Facing reality, the wiser strategy is to venture into larger markets.
2. Some of this year’s presentations had a very noticeable AI-generated feel. In my view, the story behind a startup competition should be closely tied to the entrepreneur and their journey. A presentation should still be crafted with human effort and heart—it gives it more character, authenticity, and soul.
3. This is undoubtedly the age of AI, which is why many teams incorporated AI into their pitches. However, AI should be part of the narrative for a good reason. If AI is included simply for its own sake, it can easily backfire and weaken the overall story.
The competition is now over, and it was only one step in the journey.
The road ahead is still long. What matters most is how you continue moving forward and ultimately achieve success.
Let’s encourage one another and keep striving ahead.
