Covid-19 and Your Startup:
Legal Resources and Updates
A collection of important updates and resources for startups and technology companies affected by Covid-19
Hi there...
Got here from our recent MaGIC webinar? Get a copy of the deck below.
While you’re here, we’d also like to invite you to check out our live resources below which we’ve made just for businesses and startups like yourself that we hope will be useful to you.
We are a startup too
As a startup ourselves, we understand that this is a challenging, stressful time for so many in our startup community in Malaysia and even around the world. We hope you’re taking care of yourself despite all that’s going on.
Also, to help you navigate these times and understand your legal obligations, we’ve collated a collection of resources to keep you up to date with the latest developments affecting startups, tech companies, and small businesses. You can find a list of these resources further below this page.
This page is a live resource, so be sure to check back regularly for the most up-to-date information in this rapidly changing environment. If you have any comment or suggestion on other resources that we should include this list, send us a note at [email protected].
How we're helping
With so much going on at the moment, it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to legally protecting your business in the face of Covid-19 pandemic. As a business, you may have questions like:
- Our overhead is high and we may not be able to continue paying employees salaries at the current condition. What are my options?
- I'm overcommitted and I may not be able to perform my obligations. I've heard about invoking force majeure. Does it apply to my business and my contracts?
- How do I manage remote working and business continuity?
We have consulted with several startups on the above matters. And we’ll be happy to get into a call with you as well to address any of the questions you may have above. Just pick a date and time on the calendar next to this column and we’ll give you a call. It’s that simple.
Our latest resources
Can you terminate a contract because of Covid-19?
As a business owner, it may be difficult to carry out your contractual obligations due to the current movement restriction. We take a look at two legal principles that permits a party to terminate a contract.
Employee pay cut and retrenchment due to Covid-19
Are you a company worried about breaching employment contracts because of covid-19? Read our quick tips on how to manage.
Other useful resources
A compilation of useful information like announcements by the Malaysian authorities and other informal and unofficial resources that may be useful to startups and businesses.
(Last updated 12 April 2020)
Resources for Malaysian companies
- Official Telegram for National Security Council for the latest updates (Telegram)
- Daily updated Covid-19 cases
- Latest announcements and speeches from the Prime Minister's Office
- List of free and discounted products for startups affected by Covid-19 managed by MDEC
- MDEC's announcement on its current services during MRO for expatriates, knowledge workers etc
- Wage Subsidy for SMEs [Prihatin Plus]
- Places to get Covid-19 testing
Resources for startups and tech startups
- Found8's Resource Pack - A compilation of useful products and services by Found8 partners and members (Found8)
- Part 1: How to build sustainability today and prepare for the coming economy recovery (Doc Siva/ Proficeo)
- Part 2: Preparing for the worst but looking forward to the future (Doc Siva/ Proficeo)
- Sequoia's Matrix for Covid-19
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What else are we doing to help the startup ecosystem?
We’ve are helping the Malaysian startup ecosystem especially those tech startups and businesses affected by Covid-19:
- volunteering as a legal adviser to local tech startups and businesses affected by Covid-19 under the MDEC tech relief programme - MDEC Tech Relief
- acting as one of the corporate partners in promoting the crowdfunding campaign led by MDEC to raise funds for the healthcare front liners - Global Sadaqah
- we've donated a portion of our profits this month for a crowdfunding campaign to purchase groceries for needy families affected by the Covid-19 - Pitchin
- volunteering as a speaker on the webinar series hosted by MaGIC to help startups navigate legal issues affected by Covid-19 - MaGIC
If you’d also like to help out as well, do reach out to us and let us know how you can offer your assistance to help tech startups and businesses affected by Covid-19.
Innovative companies that we've worked with
See what our clients say
Final thoughts
We operate fully on the cloud and will continue to operate during the Covid-19 situation. We hope that these resources may be able to guide you in navigating the current unprecedented scenario. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we’ll be happy to get into a call with you to discuss any question that you may have.
Above all, we hope you stay safe during these tough times. We are deeply involved in the local startup ecosystem. We’re committed to doing whatever we can to keep the Malaysian startup community thriving and grow.