About

Dr Melissa Foo heads the Social Innovation unit at the National Innovation Agency Malaysia (AIM; Agensi Inovasi Malaysia). 

She specializes in impact investment, ecosystem development and innovation. Melissa was based in New York from 2013 ? 2016 and worked on multiple early-stage deals in Healthcare, Education, B2B, FinTech, Real Estate Technology and Social Enterprise.

Melissa received an MBA from Columbia Business School with a dual-concentration in Family Enterprise Management & Impact Investing. She obtained dental qualifications from the University of Melbourne in 2005 and was attached to the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Hospital Sungai Buloh focused on trauma and facial reconstruction. She credits her passion for social impact to her experience working in healthcare services in the rural villages of Malaysia.

She is a speaker and mentor at Lean Startup Kuala Lumpur. Melissa has consulted for the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) on Ventures and Corporate Entrepreneurship. When she is not identifying the next big thing in impact and innovation, she is passionate about travel, meeting people, making connections and giving. Her philanthropic work with the family organization serves underprivileged communities across Southeast Asia.