At first glance, Malaysia does not have a lot going for women starter-ups.  It is a Muslim state with conservative gender codes that persist in the fabric of domestic life.  State Sharia law continues to disenfranchise women legally (limiting divorce rights, for instance).  Despite these cultural realities, three cultural and socio-economic forces have combined to allow for radical experimentation in female entrepreneurship: A grow-or-die commitment to growth through innovation; a national imperative to optimize the productivity of its native workforce; and a strong public sector positioned to execute daring interventions.