With over 25 years of experience in corporate strategy, leadership, change management, ESG, project management, and risk management, Dr. Fred Wu has played a significant role in supporting Malaysia’s fast-evolving innovation and startup landscape. His work extends beyond consulting and corporate strategy into mentorship, judging, and ecosystem development across universities, national innovation programs, and global startup competitions.
Dr. Fred has participated in numerous notable forums as a speaker, judge, and mentor, contributing his industry experience to help develop entrepreneurs and young innovators. His engagements include the Create@ Alibaba Cloud Global Startup Contest, the ITEC 2023 S.E.A. Edition, the Global Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Camp, NEX:US by ENACTUS UNM, and the Top Business Excellence Award Malaysia.
Driving Innovation Through Startup Competitions
One of Dr. Fred’s major ecosystem roles has been his involvement in the Create@ Alibaba Cloud Global Startup Contest (CACSC), where he served as both judging panel member and mentor. The contest is globally recognized as one of Alibaba Group’s largest entrepreneurship competitions and has been described as “the Olympics of technology venture capital.” 
As published in the GE Consult article:
- CACSC spans dozens of countries and nearly 100 cities worldwide.
- It serves as a major platform for digital transformation and tech innovation.
- The top three winners from Malaysia earn the opportunity to fly to China to pitch their business plans internationally.
- Participants benefit from access to Alibaba Cloud’s ecosystem, receiving mentorship, industry-expert workshops, and insights designed to strengthen digital talent pipelines and accelerate business growth.
University-Level Innovation Support and Mentorship
Dr. Fred has also been deeply involved in academic innovation ecosystems. His resume lists several official appointments, including:
- Judge, Universiti Malaya INTRAC 2025
- Judge, Universiti Malaya UG-iFEST 2025
- Associate Consultant of Enactus UNM (2017 to 2019)
- Judge of NEX:US Social Entrepreneurship (ENACTUS UNM) 2021
- Mentor for the Global Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Camp at the University of Nottingham Malaysia
Through these roles, Dr. Fred has supported student founders, social entrepreneurs, and university-level innovation teams, helping them refine business models, develop market strategies, and build sustainable project roadmaps.
NASA Innovation Challenge: Supporting Global Creativity and Problem-Solving
In 2025, Dr. Fred was invited to serve as a judge for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge Kuala Lumpur, an annual global innovation hackathon. His resume confirms:
- Judge, NASA International Space Apps Challenge Kuala Lumpur 2025
Participating alongside professors, scientists, and technical reviewers, Dr. Fred contributed to evaluating innovation ideas designed to tackle real-world challenges using NASA open data. His involvement highlights his commitment to fostering creativity, problem-solving, and global collaboration.
Role in Building Early-Stage Talent and Entrepreneurial Mindsets
Across startup competitions, university programs, and professional forums, Dr. Fred’s role has consistently centred on helping participants:
- Clarify business models
- Strengthen their value propositions
- Improve pitch delivery
- Understand market and funding mechanisms
- Build realistic strategic and operational plans
These engagements align closely with GE Consult’s philosophy of empowering entrepreneurs through structured planning, market insights, and long-term strategic thinking.
A Broader Commitment to Malaysia’s Startup Ecosystem
Dr. Fred’s contributions reflect a deep, ongoing commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through GE Consult, an established SME and startup consulting firm founded in 2003, he has long supported early-stage founders with:
- Investor-grade business plans
- Strategic SOP development
- Performance benchmarking
- Realistic financial projections
- Licensing and franchise expansion frameworks
As documented in GEC Business Review, these services have guided numerous startups and SMEs across Malaysia and the region, including Milkcow Malaysia, Discover Gaya Malaysia, Mastermind Abacus Malaysia, Neneq Java Essentials Indonesia, D-Avant Cap China, and Kadyn Plus Hong Kong.
A Philosophy Rooted in Growth and Innovation
Dr. Fred’s long-standing motto, “WE HELP SME FLY,” reflects his approach to empowering entrepreneurs to build stronger foundations, refine strategies, and accelerate sustainable growth. His blend of academic expertise, corporate experience, and ecosystem involvement positions him as an influential mentor and advisor within Malaysia’s growing startup and innovation community.
