Which Naza brother is the angel?
By Karamjit Singh October 5, 2012
- Maxman.tv founder declines to comment whether one of the Naza brothers is his investor
- A successful venture will encourage more high net worth individuals to follow suit
LOOKS like he kept his word. Back in July 27, Digital News Asia (DNA) spoke with Ahmad Izmir, the 30-year old chief executive officer of Izi Media Group Sdn Bhd, who promised that come September, he was going to launch his Internet TV site, maxman.tv, with about 200 hours of Video-on-Demand (VOD) content spread over 60 titles.
Well Izmir has quietly launched his entertainment site last month across five countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore.
“We already have 11,000 users, have 10 shows and have been live for three weeks,” he tells DNA via text message. However he answered with a “no comment” when DNA asked him if it were true that one of the Naza brothers was his angel investor.
The Naza Group of Companies is one of Malaysia’s largest with businesses in the automotive industry, property development, food and beverage and hotel management to name a few. The group traces its roots to a small motor trading company that was established by the late Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin in 1975.
As to which of the brothers it could be, SM Nasarudin, at 29 years old, is the closest in age to Izmir who is 30. But it could also be the eldest brother, Datuk Wira SM Faisal.
But rather than speculating as to which of the Naza boys it could be, let's just hope they have a good time with Izmir's content venture and make some money that will encourage them and their peers to also start taking bets on other technology start-ups.
Of course maxman.tv is not a technology play. Rather, its advertising-based business model is enabled by technology as a means of distribution. But let's not split hairs. Kudos to Izmir for having convinced one of the Naza brothers on the possibilities of his venture.
The Naza brothers of course have had their hand in the automotive industry, property, human capital via an automotive academy and a joint-venture with Help University. It was also responsible, along with Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, to building up Malaysia’s own Formula 1 Racing Team in 2009.
If there's one thing I would like to see is that angel investors who have seven zeroes to their bank balance should perhaps be excluded from the angel incentive the government announced during Budget 2013. The government needs to collect as much tax revenue as it can.
Or am I just having a serious case of billionaire envy?
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