The Silver Gold-Rush: How to Find and Acquire Great Malaysian SMEs from Retiring Owners
Why Attend?
A generational shift is underway in Malaysia: thousands of successful SME owners are preparing for retirement, leaving behind profitable, well-established businesses. This event is your gateway to understanding how to identify, value, and acquire these hidden gems—transforming yourself from an aspiring entrepreneur into the next steward of a local legacy.
Key Highlights:
Discover why Malaysia’s SME landscape is ripe for acquisition.
Learn practical steps to find, evaluate, and finance your first SME deal.
Hear real-world case studies and connect with industry experts and peers.
The Opportunity
Malaysian SMEs are the backbone of the economy, with most being family-owned and deeply rooted in their communities. Yet, succession planning is a major challenge:
Only 15% of family-run SMEs have a robust succession plan.
Nearly one-third have no plan at all, putting decades of hard work at risk1.
This creates a “silver gold-rush”—a unique window for passionate entrepreneurs to acquire thriving businesses from motivated owners who want to see their legacy continue.
What You’ll Learn
1. Finding the Right Business
Where to Look: Public listings, business brokers, industry networks, and trade associations.
Sectors to Watch:
Manufacturing: Food & beverage, furniture, plastics
Traditional Services: Logistics, warehousing, specialized trades
Retail: Community-focused outlets with loyal customers
2. Valuing an SME
Asset-Based Valuation: Net value of assets minus liabilities.
Income-Based Valuation: Discounted cash flow projections.
Market-Based Valuation: Benchmarking against recent comparable sales.
Tip: Always engage a professional for an objective assessment.
3. Financing Your Acquisition
Commercial Banks: Maybank, CIMB, Alliance Bank, and others offer tailored SME loans.
Development Financial Institutions: SME Bank and similar organizations provide funding and advisory support.
Government Guarantee Schemes: Reduce risk and improve access to capital.
Seller Financing: Some owners may finance part of the sale, easing your upfront burden.
4. Success Case Study
Who Should Attend?
Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking a proven path to business ownership
Professionals interested in local markets, manufacturing, or traditional services
Investors and advisors looking to understand the SME acquisition landscape
Why This Event is Different
Actionable Insights: Practical frameworks and real-life examples tailored to Malaysia’s unique SME environment.
Expert Guidance: Learn from GenCap’s team, who have hands-on experience acquiring and scaling Southeast Asian SMEs.
Networking: Connect with business owners, brokers, and fellow entrepreneurs.
About Speaker
Eric is a seasoned operational leader with 10 years as COO across multiple high-growth startups in Web3, SaaS, adtech, and payment infrastructure. Eric's achievements include transforming a struggling business from -80% to +30% profit margins and successfully raising over US$10M in funding from Seed to Pre-Series B rounds.
At GenCap, Eric leverages his experience acquiring and operating Southeast Asian SMEs to preserve and scale lifelong business legacies. His versatility shines through his experience as a fractional COO across diverse sectors including corporate secretarial firms, AI-based startups, IT management ventures, angel syndicates, and biomedical device companies. Having led a startup to successful acquisition by a European multinational corporation, he has built and managed diverse teams of 50+ professionals spanning eight countries throughout Southeast Asia.
With an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business & Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering from the National University of Singapore (where he studied as an ASEAN Scholar), Eric combines practical operational expertise with strategic vision to help SMEs reach their full potential through acquisition and operational excellence.
Secure Your Spot
Don’t miss this chance to unlock the next chapter of your entrepreneurial journey.
Register now and be part of Malaysia’s “silver gold-rush”—where opportunity meets legacy.
About Gen Capital Partners
Gen Capital Partners ("GenCap") is a specialized search firm dedicated to micro-to-small buyouts in non-cyclical industries with promising long-term prospects. Supported by a network of prominent family offices and high-net-worth individuals, we collaborate with experienced operators to acquire and grow these high-quality businesses that are facing succession challenges. Our approach mitigates the high-risk nature of zero-to-one ventures, prioritizing sustainable growth and profitability. By leveraging the free cash flow generated by our portfolio companies, we aim to provide consistent liquidity and healthy returns for our investors.