爱漫岛

Aaron Sarma, General Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia

Aaron Sarma is a notable figure in the fields of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and digital transformation, with a special focus on clean energy. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he has significantly influenced the startup ecosystem and digital landscape in the region. Sarma founded Touristly in 2015, which rebranded to Vidi and was acquired by AirAsia in 2017. At AirAsia, he played pivotal roles, contributing to travel3Sixty, BigLife, and as Founding Director and COO of AirAsia Superapp.

His consultancy role at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation since 2019 has been key in shaping national digital strategies. As a General Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia, Aaron has guided the investment in 38 companies, highlighting his talent for identifying and nurturing potential. Additionally, he co-founded Remote Ventures, successfully launching and funding five ventures in under two years.

At Gentari, Aaron is developing the green mobility digital ecosystem, focusing on solutions like EV Charging Stations, Fleet Management, and Carbon Credits. He also serves on the board of Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM). Recognized for his contributions, he has received awards like Tatler’s Most Influential, Digital News Asia Digerati 50 and Founder of the Year at the Malaysian Rice Bowl Startup Awards.

Known for his empathetic leadership and collaboration skills, Sarma is a regular speaker and contributor to various media outlets, sharing insights on entrepreneurship and innovation. His commitment to entrepreneurship and digital transformation is evident in his continuous pursuit of new experiences and his ability to drive growth and innovation in the tech space.

Aliza Knox, Tech Exec | Independent Director | Sr Advisor – BCG

Author Aliza Knox built and led APAC businesses for three of the world's top technology firms—Google, Twitter and Cloudflare. Named 2020 APAC IT Woman of The Year, she spent decades as a global finance and consulting executive and is now a non-executive board director, a senior advisor for BCG, and a regular columnist for Forbes, where she shares her wisdom (and humour) to help professionals who dream of "doing it all."

Aliza now shares her passion and lessons learned with the next generation of business leaders guiding companies across new frontiers while building and maintaining strong connections between teams around the world.