FutureLab

13/05/2026

Whether you’re looking to kickstart your career or build talent within your team, understanding the nuances between coaching and mentoring can make a big difference. Let’s dive into this coaching vs mentoring guide to clarify these roles and how they can support your journey.

When it comes to professional growth and career development, two terms often come up: coaching and mentoring. While they might seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring these concepts, and I want to share what I’ve l...

12/05/2026

Too many students and young professionals graduate without knowing how the workplace actually works.

The gap is rarely knowledge.
The gap is guidance, confidence, and exposure.

That’s why mentorship matters more than ever.

We shared some of our thoughts and experiences at FutureLab.my
on how mentorship helps bridge education and the workplace, and why more companies and universities are investing in structured mentoring programs.

https://www.futurelab.my/post/exploring-the-role-of-mentorship-in-bridging-education-and-the-workplace

At FutureLab.my, we’ve spent the last few years working closely with students, graduates, young professionals, and companies across Southeast Asia. One thing has become clear across every mentoring program we run:Many people do not struggle because they lack qualifications. They struggle because t...

06/11/2025

We’re proud to share that FutureLab.my has been selected as one of 46 global social enterprises for the AWS & Deloitte Social Entrepreneur Accelerator (SEA) 2025 in Seattle, USA! 🇺🇸

The program unites mission-driven organizations from around the world to advance social impact through cloud, AI, and innovation across the key pillars of health, education, climate, and workforce development.

Representing Malaysia, our team will join leaders from 25+ countries to explore how technology and mentorship can build more inclusive, future-ready communities.

Thank you to the AWS and Deloitte teams for this incredible opportunity, and to our mentors, partners, and clients who continue to believe in our mission to bridge education and employment gaps through technology.

29/07/2025

Founders Forge Demo Day: Celebrating Innovation in Sarawak!

What an incredible day it was at the Founders Forge Final Demo Day, held on July 19, 2025, in Kuching! The vibrant Makeramai Makerspace at Plaza Merdeka set the stage for our top 11 mentees to showcase their groundbreaking innovations, marking a significant milestone in their entrepreneurial journeys.

These high-potential startups, having successfully navigated a rigorous selection process, delivered compelling pitches to an esteemed panel of judges:
Mr. David Chew, CEO at FAME International College
Mdm. Afida Khasuma Zaidi, Senior Manager, Strategic Planning & Partnership at TEGAS
Dr. Ayyappa, Assistant Manager in Tech Entrepreneurship and Investment at SDEC

After careful deliberation, we're thrilled to announce the top three ventures that truly stood out.

Our Top Innovators:
1st Place: Inigo from Ruai.my
Solution: A multilingual Voice AI that provides instant, 24/7 answers, automating booking, verification, rescheduling, and issuing e-queue IDs for clinics.

2nd Place: Joanne with her Product Testing Buddy
Solution: An AI-integrated automated testing tool designed for the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), from requirements to regression testing before deployment.

3rd Place: Syed Akmal from Blytz
Solution: An app for live auction bidding, inspired by the US-based Whatnot app, with a strategic focus on the dynamic Southeast Asian markets.

The success of the Founders Forge Programme and this Final Demo Day wouldn't have been possible without incredible support.

A huge shout-out to our mentors who tirelessly dedicated their time and expertise to our mentees since May. Your guidance has been invaluable in shaping these promising ventures.

Our deepest gratitude also goes to the entire SDEC team, including all the Digital Hub Coordinators across Sarawak. Your continuous commitment to fostering a thriving startup ecosystem is truly commendable.

The Final Demo Day not only provided invaluable exposure and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners for our promising entrepreneurs but also powerfully demonstrated the exceptional talent nurtured within The Founders Forge Programme and the burgeoning potential of Sarawak's startup ecosystem.

Heartfelt congratulations to all the mentees for their hard work and dedication, and a huge thank you to our judges, mentors, and partners for their invaluable support. The future of innovation in Sarawak is bright!

19/06/2025

Founders Forge Cohort 4 is here!

If you're a Sarawak-based founder with an innovative idea, this is the sign you've been waiting for. We are looking for ambitious startups and businesses that are ready to SCALE UP and DIGITALIZE.

What you'll get:
✅ Expert mentorship
✅ Practical workshops
✅ A powerful founder community
✅ The chance to pitch to investors

Don't just dream it, build it. Founders Forge is a startup accelerator designed to help you scale up and succeed. If you're a Sarawak-based founder ready for the next step, this is for you!

Find out more and register your interest today at bit.ly/foundersforgeinfo

Founder's Forge by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation is a pre-accelerator program for early-stage tech entrepreneurs in Sarawak looking to bring their game-changing ideas to life.

17/06/2025

At FutureLab, we believe leadership isn't just about technical excellence—it's about nurturing empathy, confidence, and the ability to guide others.

Thank you to the incredible team at Resolve IR Sdn Bhd🟠 for trusting us to be part of your leadership training program for new managers. Watching organizations intentionally equip their senior team members with mentorship skills reminds us why investing in people development is so powerful.

When leaders are empowered to coach, support, and uplift their teams, growth naturally follows. 🌱

Ready to future-proof your leadership pipeline? Learn how we can help at https://www.futurelab.my/business .

09/06/2025

🚨 We’re hiring!
FutureLab is on the lookout for a Business Operations Intern to join our team.

If you're eager to learn, love solving problems, and want hands-on experience in a fast-paced startup environment—this one’s for you.

✨ What We’re Looking For:
✔️ Strong English communication skills (spoken & written)
✔️ Super organized with a sharp eye for detail
✔️ Comfortable with repetitive tasks and following through
✔️ A people person—you enjoy helping others
✔️ Knows your way around Google Workspace or Excel/PowerPoint
✔️ Growth mindset and eager to learn
✔️ Owns a laptop + has stable WiFi

If this sounds like you, we want to meet you. 🙌

Email your CV to [email protected] 🚀

05/06/2025

🔥 Founders stepped up. Ideas came alive. And Sarawak’s entrepreneurial spirit shined brighter than ever.

We just wrapped up the Founder's Forge Bootcamp by Digital Economy Corporation is a 4-month pre-accelerator program for early-stage tech entrepreneurs in Sarawak looking to bring their game-changing ideas to life.

Over the course of the program, participants sharpened their business models, strengthened their value propositions, and built the confidence to tell their story—and back it up.

🚀 Huge congratulations to all the founders who dared to dream, build, and pitch. We’re incredibly proud to have been part of this journey to nurture the next wave of changemakers in Sarawak.

Special thanks to all our mentors who guided these young talents.

Interested in Founders Forge Cohort 4? Fill up our interest form now:
https://forms.gle/oFLNRiEUDFNjNn766

15/05/2025

Mentorship supports your personal and professional growth.

Hear from our founder Brian Tan on when he decided to explore a path different from what he studied!

29/04/2025

Last week marked an incredible milestone as we officially launched the Gen Z Entrepreneurship Challenge with an inspiring session at SMK Desa Cempaka!

We were thrilled to welcome a vibrant group of 95 enthusiastic students who are brimming with potential and ready to unleash their inner digital innovators.

This challenge is a mission to bridge the opportunity gap for Malaysian youth, particularly those from marginalized communities, by providing crucial social capital and career development resources. We extend our sincere gratitude to Hong Leong Foundation, our dedicated sponsor, for their invaluable support in making this important initiative possible.

Together, we aim to foster greater equity and empower these talented individuals to build successful futures.
The energy at our kickoff session was electric!

Students embraced the challenge of creating digital solutions to everyday problems, and the initial ideas were truly remarkable – from a “magic pen” that captures pictures to a solar-powered cooling shirt!

A special shoutout to our mentor, Aidiel from Pandai App , for sharing his inspiring journey and igniting the entrepreneurial spirit in these young minds. His insights were invaluable.

Over the coming weeks, these brilliant students will be developing their initial ideas into viable business concepts. We’re incredibly excited to witness their ingenuity unfold!

Stay tuned as we cheer on these future leaders and innovators as they take their first steps towards shaping a brighter tomorrow.