Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — SparkHub successfully concluded Huddle Malaysia, its first international community-led event, bringing together Maldivian founders and professionals based in Malaysia to celebrate entrepreneurship beyond borders. The event marked an important milestone in SparkHub’s efforts to showcase Maldivian startup founders abroad while strengthening connections within the global Maldivian community.

Huddle is SparkHub’s flagship networking and storytelling platform, designed to create open and informal spaces where founders share real experiences, lessons, and insights gained from building businesses. Since its launch in the Maldives, Huddle has become a recognised forum for meaningful founder-led conversations.

Huddle Malaysia was curated to spotlight Maldivian founders who have established their ventures in Malaysia or are operating from Malaysia as their base, highlighting how Maldivian entrepreneurs are breaking geographical barriers and building globally relevant businesses.

The session featured four Maldivian founders whose journeys reflected both ambition and adaptability. Mohamed Fauzaan, Founder of Pluk, spoke about his transition from a career in fintech to building an AI-powered product in Malaysia, sharing the realities of starting over in a new country while turning industry experience into a solution that helps teams better understand their data. Maail, Founder of Tiny App Studio Sdn Bhd and Senior Engineering Manager at Mindvalley, reflected on his path as an indie app developer who independently shipped over 20 apps to the App Store, and how listening closely to users inspired him to turn side projects into focused ventures built from Malaysia for a global audience. Shafiu, Co-Founder and Chef at Oviato, shared how his background in product design and years of building consumer products used by millions led him to explore making emerging technologies more approachable, as he now works on simplifying digital wallets for everyday users. Afrah, Co-Founder of Family Room Coffee, recounted his unconventional journey from forensic specialist to coffee entrepreneur, and how building the Maldives’ first specialty coffee experience grew into a community-driven brand that has now found a second home in Malaysia.

Speaking on the initiative, Hussain Jinan, Co-Founder and CEO of SparkHub, said Huddle Malaysia marked a defining moment for the organisation. “Everything SparkHub has built since 2018 — our programmes, platforms, and community-driven models — has been tested and proven in the Maldives. Taking Huddle abroad is the first step in reimagining how we show up globally to support Maldivian founders wherever they choose to build. 2026 will be a very different year for SparkHub, as we shift from operating within borders to building a truly connected global Maldivian startup ecosystem.”

Family Room Coffee also came onboard as the coffee partner for the event, serving its specialty brews and supporting networking among attendees, further reinforcing the spirit of Maldivian businesses supporting one another abroad.

The event was attended by over 50 participants and was open exclusively to the Maldivian community, creating a trusted and familiar space for learning, celebration, and inspiration.

Watch the Highlights Video - https://www.instagram.com/p/DTmoSBFD1-f/