Speaker Profile
A graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance & CIS), Ashran started his career in the Oil & Gas sector with Petronas MITCO. He is a well-known figure in the local and regional entrepreneurship ecosystem and has led many organizations namely; Chairman, New Entrepreneurs Foundation (myNEF); Chairman, myHarapan; President, Malaysian Association of Bumiputera ICT Industry & Entrepreneurs (NEF); and Deputy Chairman, Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship Foundation. In addition, he also served as an Advisory Board Member to Malaysian SME Development Academy (MASMED) as well as a Board Member for SME Corp. In 2011, Ashran co-founded Joota, a social content networking site. Joota secured private investments of USD2.1mil, with patent and distribution partners in the USA. His recent initiatives include creating an accelerator for the creative sector via comics – ComicXcel and a new ASEAN regional award for start-ups – Rice Bowl Start-up Awards. Ashran was appointed as the CEO of MaGIC in May 2016.
