International
Entrepreneurship
Convention IEC 2026
and IEC Startup Pitching Competition
Youth Forward: Creating the Next Wave
of Entrepreneurship Innovators
At a Glance
Why This
Convention
Matters
The International Entrepreneurship Convention (IEC) 2026 is the inaugural flagship programme from the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), IIUM. It positions the university as a serious regional player in the entrepreneurship education space across Southeast Asia.
Student entrepreneurs, industry leaders, ecosystem builders and emerging startups from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and beyond will converge in Putrajaya for two days of keynotes, panel discussions, live pitching, hot seat sessions and high-value networking.
This is not a lecture. IEC 2026 is where ideas get pressure-tested, connections get made, and the next wave of ASEAN founders take shape.
October 2026
Putrajaya
Who You Will Hear From
Speakers
Full Schedule
Programme
| 8:00 – 8:30 am | Arrival & Registration | |
| 8:30 – 9:30 am | Booth Setup / Exhibition Furnishing | |
| 9:30 – 9:45 am | VIP & Guest Arrival, Seating | |
| 9:45 – 9:50 am | Opening Opening Remarks by Emcee |
Emcee |
| 9:50 – 10:00 am | Ceremony National Anthem, IIUM Song, Doa |
|
| 10:00 – 11:00 am | Keynote 1 Financing Youth-Led Ventures in ASEAN |
Keynote speakers TBC |
| 11:00 – 11:30 am | Break Short Break |
|
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Keynote 2 Empowering the Next Wave of Innovators |
Dr. Lukman Raimi |
| 12:30 – 1:00 pm | Lunch Networking Lunch, Solat |
|
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Transition Transition / Networking, Lunch |
Booths remain open for browsing |
| 2:00 – 4:00 pm | Panel Discussion 1 Transforming Campus Ideas into Market-Ready Solutions |
Dr. Siti Norwahida Shukeri Prof. Madya Dr. Nazirah binti Mohamad Abdullah, UTHM |
| 4:00 – 4:15 pm | Break Tea Break |
|
| 4:15 – 5:30 pm | Session Malaysian Industrial Experience |
Muhammad Fikri Ashraf Abdullah Hasin, MRANTI Speaker TBC, MDEC |
| 5:30 – 6:00 pm | Break Check-In Hotel & Free Time |
Teams to secure exhibits before departing for the cruise |
| 6:30 – 10:00 pm | Evening Sunset Cruise / Dinner (Paid Participants Only) |
| 6:00 – 8:30 am | Break Breakfast & Free Time |
|
| 8:30 – 9:00 am | Opening Remarks by Emcee |
|
| 9:00 – 10:00 am | Keynote 3 Future-Focused Social Entrepreneurial Strategies |
Dr. Annie Dayani |
| 10:00 – 11:00 am | Hot Seat Session | Hang Sufi Bin Md Hang Tuah, UMK (AKKPT Winner) Azmi Basharudin, IIUM (Winner IIUM Takrim) |
| 11:00 – 11:30 am | Break Networking Break |
|
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Panel Discussion 3 Scaling Startups Across ASEAN Markets |
Dr. Izzat, Nagoya Institute of Technology Neelesh Bhatia, InnovNation Pte. Ltd. |
| 12:30 – 2:00 pm | Break Networking Lunch, Check-out |
|
| 2:00 – 3:30 pm | Panel Discussion 4 Youth Forward: Creating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurship Innovators |
Arif Tukiman, RunCloud Dr. Nor Amy Ismail, Wahed |
| 3:00 pm | Arrival of Participants | |
| 3:15 pm | Arrival of Rector, IIUM | |
| 3:30 pm | Arrival of Minister | Negaraku / IIUM Song / Recitation of Doa |
| 3:45 pm | Welcoming Speech by Rector | |
| 4:00 pm | Keynote Keynote Address by Minister |
Minister's speech |
| 4:20 pm | Awards Announcement of Winners |
Mock cheque, prizes, plaque, certificate |
| 4:45 pm | Token of Appreciation for Minister | TBD |
| 5:00 pm | Photo Session & End of Programme |
Convention Venue
Pulse Grande Hotel
IEC 2026 will be hosted at Pulse Grande Hotel in Putrajaya, a dedicated hotel venue suited for a 300+ pax convention with conference sessions, networking, exhibition activity and guest hospitality in one destination.
Collaborative Partners
Become Our Partner
Position your organisation at the centre of ASEAN's next generation entrepreneurship movement. Each tier delivers real visibility, direct engagement and access to 300+ future founders and decision-makers.
- Official Title Sponsor
- Largest logo placement
- Logo on all publicity materials
- Opening ceremony recognition
- Speaking opportunity
- VIP seating
- Exhibition booth (Premium)
- Social media campaign
- Exclusive networking session
- Custom sponsorship benefits
- Prominent logo placement
- Exhibition booth
- Speaking opportunity during panel session
- Social media recognition
- VIP invitations
- Certificate of appreciation
- Medium logo placement
- Exhibition booth
- Social media acknowledgement
- Certificate
- Logo on conference materials
- Exhibition booth
- Social media acknowledgement
- Certificate
- Logo on appreciation slide
- Social media acknowledgement
- Certificate of appreciation
Our Collaborative Partners
Latest Updates
News & Announcements
IEC 2026 Officially Announced: ASEAN Youth Forward Comes to Putrajaya
The Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), IIUM is proud to announce the inaugural International Entrepreneurship Convention 2026, bringing together student entrepreneurs, industry leaders and speakers from across ASEAN on 7-8 October 2026 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Read article →Get in
Touch
For enquiries on registration, exhibition booths, or collaborative partnership packages, reach out to the EDC Secretariat directly.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)