Enterprise Speaker Series: “Startup vs MNC: From Corporate to Startup”

On 27th January 2026, Enterprise@APU hosted a Special Guest Lecture exploring the differences between startups and multinational corporations, as well as the realities of building a startup from the ground up. This special lecture was aimed at educating students on the entrepreneurial journey, the mindset shift required when moving from corporate structures into startup environments, and the key elements needed to turn an idea into a sustainable business.

The special guest invited was Ms. Law May, Co-founder of Rosary Labs. She has over 3 years of experience as a Venture Incubator and computer vision geoscience researcher at Petronas. Her startup journey began with a project known as “V-Cred,” where her team achieved outstanding recognition, including Top 2 in the RHB Hackathon among 90 teams across ASEAN, and Top 2 in the Standard Chartered Impact Hackathon among 100 teams. Her experience provided participants with an inspiring example of how corporate exposure can serve as a launchpad into entrepreneurship.

The 1-hour lecture conducted by Ms. Law May was highly informative, offering valuable insights on how and where to start a business. She emphasized teamwork, overcommunication, and transparency in building trust within fast-moving startup teams. She also shared her team’s culture, highlighting that team success is bigger than individual success and that supporting one another is essential. She discussed challenges in the startup journey, including the steep learning curve and the need for rapid prototyping, which allows startups to apply the latest technology while acknowledging that some work may be disposable. These insights gave participants a realistic and well-rounded view of entrepreneurship.

The lecture concluded successfully with an engaging Q&A session, where Ir Dr Bernard Lim addressed participants’ questions with practical and insightful advice on deep tech commercialisation and innovation challenges. Through this discussion, participants gained a clearer understanding of the realities and complexities involved in bringing deep technology to market.

To conclude the event, participants became more familiar with the deep tech ecosystem and the process of transforming scientific innovation into commercial success. Ir Dr Bernard Lim’s expertise and industry experience served as strong inspiration for students interested in technology-driven entrepreneurship and high-impact innovation.