PIKOM lauds new WITSA chairman ahead of next event in Sarawak
KUCHING: PIKOM congratulates Dr Sean Seah for being appointed chairman of the World Innovation and Technology Services Alliance (WITSA) for the 2022-2024 term.
This comes as its next World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) 2023 which will be held in Sarawak.
After making tremendous strides within the technological industry domestically, Dr Seah is now eager to share his expertise on a more global scale.
Dr Seah, who is also the chairman of PIKOM, took his first occupational steps in the tech industry nearly 30 years ago in the Silicon Valley before joining Sun Microsystems in 1997.
Then in 2001, he ventured into entrepreneurship as the cofounder of Afor Pte Ltd, which was later listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2008 as EpiCentre Holdings Limited.
Dr Seah also founded Galasys PLC in 2012 as its chief executive officer (CEO), further driving its growth towards its listing on the London Stock Exchange within a short span of two years.
The most recent positions held by Dr Seah included chief investment officer at SEATech Ventures Corp in 2018, director of AsiaFIN Holdings Corp as well as executive chairman of ANGKASA-X Holding Corp in 2020.
As chairman of WITSA, Dr Seah aims to further advance the global industry alliance platform.
“I aim to continue positioning WITSA as the global digital ambassador and promote greater international cooperation by supporting multilateral win-win trade agreements,” Dr Seah said at the WITSA Annual General Meeting during the WCIT 2022 held in Penang recently.
“With the new committee, we will drive greater awareness of the competitive advantage in the digital technology industry, in tandem with the vision to strengthen WITSA’s role in the development of technologyrelated international public policies.”
One of his most fulfilling accomplishments was leading SEADragon, a platform specially designed for start-ups and scale-ups seeking investment, growth and global market expansion.
Organised by PIKOM’s Venture Investment Chapter, shortlisted companies were coached and equipped prior to being showcased to global technology VCs and investors at SEADragon in WCIT 2022 where the top eight winning companies were announced during the event’s closing ceremony.
The top eight companies were announced at the SEADragon final pitching session on September 15, 2022.
They were Angkasa-X Innovation, iHeal Medical Group, Magnus Games Studio, MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd, ReSkills Edtech, SkyeChip Sdn Bhd, Swift Bridge Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd and WeAssist Sdn Bhd.
Dr Seah believes SEADragon will continue to flourish, as PIKOM plans its third edition in the first quarter of 2023.
“We had over 100 applicants this year alone in the tech startups and scale-ups space.
“While it is a competitive event, the judges were so impressed with the pitches that they decided to announce top eight SEADragon finalists instead of just five at WCIT 2022.
“For next year, we look forward to working with more tech startups through various industry associations so that Malaysia can produce more tech unicorns in the future.”
WCIT 2022 has received many commendable remarks from industry delegates, speakers and sponsors through postings on social media.
“We appreciate all the kind words many of our attendees expressed regarding WCIT 2022.
“One of them, Talbotiq Technologies, mentioned that they received phenomenal response from congress participants.
“Many of our delegates also commended WCIT 2022’s Titanium sponsor, Fusionex, for providing an online platform for all delegates (physical and virtual) to seamlessly access the congress.
“We look forward to working with many more stakeholders next year as we prepare for WCIT 2023 in Sarawak.”