Alpha Startups™ Pre-Accelerator Cohort 68, organised by 1337 Ventures with Leet Academy, is accepting applications until 8 November 2026. The 11-week hybrid programme runs from 18 November 2026 to 3 February 2027 and supports mainly early-stage startups, from idea to MVP or recently launched. It is sector-agnostic, with particular interest in AI, fintech, industrial technology, healthtech, agritech, climate, and semiconductors.
Programme Overview
• Programme name: Alpha Startups™ Pre-Accelerator Cohort 68
• Organiser: 1337 Ventures, with Leet Academy
• Deadline: 8 November 2026
• Programme dates: 18 November 2026 – 3 February 2027
• Format: Hybrid, with virtual sessions and in-person activities in Kuala Lumpur
• Stage: Primarily idea to MVP and recently launched startups
• Investment focus: Pre-seed and Seed
• Geographic focus: Southeast Asia, subject to Malaysia-related eligibility requirements
• Duration: 11 weeks / 15 contact days
• Application fee: None
• Cohort size: Up to 25 startups shortlisted
Request for Startups and Seven Focus Areas
1337 Ventures highlights seven priority areas for Cohort 68:
• Vertical AI & Agentic Workflows: SME automation, copilots, industry-specific AI
• Fintech, Trust & Compliance: Embedded finance, Islamic fintech, RegTech
• Industrial AI & Smart Manufacturing: Machine vision, predictive maintenance, smart logistics
• HealthTech & Care Infrastructure: Clinic systems, AI documentation, remote monitoring
• Food, Agriculture & Supply Chains: Farm intelligence, traceability, cold-chain technology
• Climate Intelligence & Resource Efficiency: Energy analytics, carbon MRV, circular economy
• Semiconductor & HardTech Enablement: Design tools, verification software, test analytics
The programme remains sector-agnostic, and strong startups outside these areas may also apply.
Application and Selection Process
• 1. Apply: Submit an application by 8 November 2026.
• 2. Shortlisting: Up to 25 startups are selected and notified by email.
• 3. Onboarding: Hybrid onboarding takes place on 18 November 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
• 4. Programme: Participants complete online learning, assignments, mentoring, office hours, and pitch preparation.
• 5. Demo Day: The Top 10 finalists pitch in person in Kuala Lumpur on 3 February 2027.
Programme Timeline
• 18 November 2026 — Onboarding & Mentoring #1
• 26 November–17 December 2026 — Mentoring and Pitching Workshop
• 4–28 January 2027 — Mentoring, office hours, qualifying pitch, and final pitch preparation
• 2 February 2027 — Demo Day Dry Run
• 3 February 2027 — Demo Day in Kuala Lumpur
Perks and Benefits
• 10+ hours of mentoring with business and technical experts
• Access to 1337 Ventures and its investor network
• Cloud and startup software credits
• Corporate and market-access opportunities
• Co-working benefits for eligible teams
• Priority access to selected 1337 Ventures funding programmes
About Alpha Startups™
Alpha Startups™ is 1337 Ventures’ flagship pre-accelerator for early-stage founders. The programme uses Design Thinking and Design Sprint methods to help startups validate ideas, develop MVPs, test market demand, and prepare an investor-ready pitch.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements
• Applicants must be over 18 and able to communicate in English
• Teams of 2–4 are preferred, though individuals with a specific idea may apply
• Startups should be technology- or innovation-enabled and scalable
• The main focus is early-stage startups from idea to MVP or recently launched
• Startups must generally be Malaysia-based, serve the Malaysian market, or have at least one Malaysian co-founder
• Startups from any sector may apply, with preference for the seven focus areas
Frequently Asked Questions
• Is the programme limited to the seven focus areas? No. Other sectors are welcome.
• Is there an application fee? No.
• Is the programme hybrid? Yes, with both online and Kuala Lumpur-based sessions.
• Which stages are targeted? Mainly idea, pre-seed, and seed-stage startups.
• Will there be an in-person pitch? Yes. Demo Day is held in Kuala Lumpur.
Alpha Startups™ Pre-Accelerator Cohort 68 offers early-stage founders an 11-week pathway from idea validation to investor pitching, combining structured learning, mentoring, investor access, and a final Demo Day in Kuala Lumpur.