ARTS AND BLOCKCHAIN COLLIDE

KUALA LUMPUR, 30th APRIL 2026 - In Kuala Lumpur, a new frontier is taking shape where creativity meets capital.

At the recent Funders Meet Creators gathering, a curated group of artists and innovators came face-to-face with investors in a bold initiative to redefine how creative work is funded, owned, and scaled.

Organised by IMSTYLO, the event brought together some of Malaysia’s most compelling talents under the banner Hall of F.A.M.E an ecosystem spanning Fashion, Arts, Music, Entertainment, and Lifestyle in Sustainability. Here, creators didn’t just showcase ideas; they pitched fully formed visions to a panel of business advisors and capital partners ready to unlock pathways to market.

IMSTYLO, a Swiss-based blockchain IP under Stylo International, was founded by Datuk Nancy Yeoh alongside Singaporean venture builder Ivan Lim. Its mission is clear: bridge the gap between creativity and capital through technology.

Positioned as a Real World Assets (RWA) platform, IMSTYLO enables creative intellectual property—such as fashion collections, films, music rights, and cultural works to be structured as on-chain, value-backed assets. This allows for liquidity, transparency, and fractional ownership, opening access to global capital markets.

RWA is rapidly emerging as a major sector in on-chain finance, with total market value exceeding US$360 billion as of April 2026, driven by assets such as treasury instruments, private credit, and real estate. IMSTYLO extends this model into the creative economy unlocking new investment opportunities in arts and culture.

“The world is not short of creativity,” said Yeoh. “What’s missing is integration technology, structured ecosystems, and real access to capital markets.”

That gap is exactly what IMSTYLO aims to close.

Among the standout pitches was acclaimed filmmaker Datuk Shuhaimi Baba, together with co-producer Kavita Sidhu, presenting the highly anticipated Pontianak 3. The franchise has long shaped Malaysian cinema, helping launch Maya Karin into stardom and defining the region’s horror genre.

Also taking the stage was Rodin Kumar, composer, impresario, and founder of the International Jazz Festival, sharing his vision for music productions and live experiences. Azizul Latif introduced his edgy songkok label “We Are Nothing” alongside a bold RWA collectible concept titled Punk Rock Kelantanese: A Textile Motif.

From Penang, 2016 Malaysia Fashion Week winner and Jimmy Choo accessories designer Jonathan Yun presented his refined Nyonya jewellery collection, set to feature in the upcoming IMSTYLO showcase with a Peranakan ensemble entitled The Little Nyonya this June.

But beyond the diversity of creative expression, a common thread ran through every pitch: transformation.

“We are enabling creators to evolve from artists into asset builders,” said Lim. “From blockchain-backed ownership to structured investor ecosystems, we are creating a new model for global scalability.”

Supporting this vision was a distinguished panel of capital partners and advisors, including:

•⁠  ⁠Dennis O’Neill, Founder of O’Neill Capital Advisor, USA

•⁠  ⁠Eddy Virgo, Founder of Permai Indonesia

•⁠  ⁠Dato’ Sri Dr. Steven Eng, Business Advisor at KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific

•⁠  ⁠Rolv Andre Reissiger, Chief Business Development Advisor, International Blockchain Organisation Malaysia

As the lines between art, technology, and finance continue to blur, IMSTYLO’s initiative signals a powerful shift: creators are no longer just storytellers they are architects of investable, borderless intellectual property.