Malaysian deep tech founders working in AI, semiconductors, biotech and adjacent fields have one week to put their hand up for SIDEC's flagship accelerator. Applications for Deep-X 2026, the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation's twelve-week programme, close on 22 May 2026, with only 30 startups selected for the cohort.
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What founders get
The programme targets ventures building in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotech, agritech, healthtech, robotics and net-zero sustainability. The flat participation fee is RM6,000 once shortlisted, in exchange for what SIDEC values as RM300,000 of bundled mentorship, technical validation, cloud credits and partner perks. Cohort companies also get up to two hot-desk seats per startup at the Selangor Sandbox co-working space inside PFCC.
The Champion takes home a RM20,000 cash prize plus an innovation trip and investment introductions. Three runners-up share the top-four pool of prizes that include trophy, certificate and the same investor exposure track.
Inside the 12-week structure
Deep-X runs across four phases through the year. Selection happens April to May with shortlisting underway now. Acceleration kicks off in June and runs through August, covering modules titled Architecting the Intelligent Economy, Blueprint to 100x and Pitch Like a Unicorn alongside a dedicated AI track. The showcase phase lands in August and September with a final Demo Day, and the top performers join SIDEC's expansion track in November or December for what SIDEC calls its World Stage Venture push.
Scoring across the cohort is split four ways: 30% from workshop attendance across ten business sessions and five pitching courses, 15% from one-on-one mentor office hours, 5% from feedback forms, and 50% from the Demo Day pitch itself. The Demo Day pitch is the deciding stretch.
How Deep-X fits SIDEC's stack
Deep-X is the deep tech half of SIDEC's twin accelerator structure. The other half, Token-X, opened applications earlier this month for blockchain and web3 startups and closes on the same 22 May deadline. Both programmes plug into a shared partner bench that includes MRANTI, Plug and Play APAC, Fiuu, The Hive, Gobi Partners and Yayasan Hasanah. Past Deep-X top performers have been picked for a Plug and Play innovation journey in South Korea, which SIDEC says has opened cross-border investor introductions for participating founders.
Who should apply
SIDEC frames Deep-X around founders past the prototype stage and ready to push for real market traction. The vertical filter is wide enough to cover most of the science-led and engineering-led work happening in Malaysia today, with AI threaded through every track. The 30-slot cap and one-week window before applications close mean founders who fit the brief should move quickly.
Applications are open at sidec.com.my/deep-x, and SIDEC's contact for queries is Syazana at 013-363 2810. Founders who only learn of the programme after the deadline can register interest for the next cohort through the same site.