Open For Business
Episodes
Old Recipes, New Ambitions: How Hock Kee Kopitiam Is Expanding
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn nostalgia into a scalable business in one of Malaysia’s most crowded food and beverage markets?On this episode of Open For Business,...
Anti-Coworking, by Design
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Open For Business, we look at why coworking seems to have lost its way and whether a quieter, more stripped-back model is the answe...
Anti-Coworking, by Design
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Open For Business, we look at why coworking seems to have lost its way and whether a quieter, more stripped-back model is the answe...
Anti-Coworking, by Design
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Open For Business, we look at why coworking seems to have lost its way and whether a quieter, more stripped-back model is the answe...
Suing Trump’s White House: Has Costco Cracked the Code?
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In late November, Costco filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the “Liberation Day tariffs", and the White House remained surprising...
FeedMe: The Operating System For Better Dining
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Restaurants are under pressure like never before like rising costs, staff shortages, shrinking margins, and systems that were never designed for today...
10 Years of APOM: From Selling Tees to “Rebranding Malaysia”
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2015, advertising veterans Chantelle Teoh and Kelvin Long grew tired of the generic, "embarrassing" souvenirs found at Central Market. They wanted ...
Sagtec: From POS Systems to NASDAQ & A 50% Stock Drop
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2018, Sagtec Global Limited was a three-person operation in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to digitise Malaysia's F&B sector. Fast forward to Mar...
Greening The Grey — A Farm In The City
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Paul Dass, Managing Director of Green Street Farms, about what it means to grow food with care in ...
No Equity, No Fee Accelerator? AppWorks’ Deal Flow Engine
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Startup accelerators are everywhere, but few operate like AppWorks. Based in Taiwan with a sizable footprint in Southeast Asia, the firm runs an accel...
Morgan Stanley to Fintech: Helicap’s Private Credit Play
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Private credit has exploded over the last decade. But is it a necessary structural shift or a "shadow banking" bubble waiting to pop?David Z Wang, Co-...
Can Ted Optimus Fix Retail Investing?
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysians are investing more than ever, but many are doing so in a market flooded with hype, social media tips, and unverified “gurus.” The resul...
AI Startups: Why Distribution is the Only Moat Left
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While skeptics dismiss the current wave of startups as mere AI 'wrappers,' a grassroots movement in Kuala Lumpur is ignoring the noise and building an...
Nomad Capitalist: Building a Life Where You’re Treated Best
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many entrepreneurs, the idea of living and working anywhere in the world is the ultimate goal. But for Andrew Henderson, it’s more than a dream—...
Replacing Microsoft Office with Memes? Inside Agnes AI
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The AI sector is frothy, filled with "wrappers" disguised as deep tech and companies blurring the line between innovation and snake oil. Yet, Agnes AI...
Being SME-First: How HitPay Scaled to $1B Volumes
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Southeast Asian payments landscape is a fierce battleground, crowded with global giants like Stripe and Adyen, regional heavyweights, and local ga...
Turning Buffet Waste Into A Business.
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think of buffets, they think of indulgence, not innovation. But for treatsure Co-Founder and CEO Preston Wong, surplus food became a ...
From Paper to AI: Why Arkmind is Digitising Money Lenders
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The non-bank lending industry, comprising licensed money lenders, pawnshops, and used car dealers, often operates on paper ledgers and Excel sheets. J...
The HOPE Box That Started a Movement
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prof. Dr. Billy Tang’s journey from paraplegic farmer to global changemaker is at the heart of PWD Smart FarmAbility, a disability-led social enterp...
Series A, B, Then Exit? Why SEA Has a $400M Exit Ceiling
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the rest of Southeast Asia was chasing the "super app" dream and burning cash on subsidies, Qualgro took a different path. For the last decade, ...
From KL to Texas: Superdough’s Global Expansion Story
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With a 50/50 revenue split between local and international markets, Superdough has quietly grown into an 8-figure entertainment powerhouse. Already op...
Branding Places, Not Just Projects: Inside IMAJEN’s Strategy
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s property market is crowded, competitive, and increasingly shaped by branding that goes far beyond logos and brochures. In this episode, w...
Symbiotica: Turning RM10K into a RM125M Global Export Biz
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2001 with just RM10,000 in savings and RM110,000 borrowed from friends and family, Symbiotica Specialty Ingredients has grown into a major ...
Building Game-Makers, Not Just Graduates
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s gaming industry has crossed the billion-dollar mark, but a critical talent shortage threatens its momentum — from programmers and tools...
From Family Legacy to Industry Leader: The Fire Fighter Story
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Michelle Hah stepped into her family’s fire safety business, it was already a trusted name built on decades of service. But she saw the potenti...
WORQ’s New Strategy: The 'Country Club' Office
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
18 months ago, co-working operator WORQ planned to raise RM40 million to fuel its expansion. But halfway through the process, they stepped back from t...
From Weddings to Corporate: Evenesis’ Pivot to Survive
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started in 2010 as a simple wedding RSVP tool has evolved into a complete event technology platform. After a crucial pivot away from the consumer...
Can ECCO’s Cow-to-Shoe Model Survive the “Promo Pandemic”?
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a crowded footwear market, how does a 62-year-old Danish brand stay relevant? For ECCO, it starts with a unique "cow-to-shoe" philosophy, owning th...
Should AI Watch Your Parents?
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Caring for ageing parents is becoming one of Asia’s fastest-growing emotional and practical challenges. Yet much of that burden remains invisible.We...
OMS Energy: From MBO to NASDAQ & A 40% Stock Drop
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In June 2023, How Meng Hock led a management buyout (MBO) of OMS Energy from Sumitomo Corporation to prevent the company from liquidation. Less than t...
Lit Books: "Always 2 Months Away From Shuttering"
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It started as a one-year experiment to cure a career frustration. Eight years later, Lit Books has become a favourite among many readers, particularly...
This Furniture Brand’s Plan to Grow 50X in 5 Years
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ladore Signature wants to ride "Rent-to-Own" (RTO) furniture all the way to an ACE Market listing. But with current revenues around RM500k, is their t...
How This AI Whiteboard is Changing How Teams Think
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrey Leskov, the Co-Founder of illumi, an AI-native whiteboard, aims to help teams turn scattered AI chats into visual workflows that build context,...
Vanilla Crepe: From Side Project to RM10M+ Biz
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started in 2014 as a lifestyle investment to feed his wife's love for cakes has grown into 43 outlets, with more en route. Vanilla Crepe has expa...
Aonic: From DJI Distributor to Made in Malaysia Drones
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysian drone company Aonic, with top-line revenue near RM300 million, is executing a major strategic push: its own “Made In Malaysia” proprieta...
Medalized: From Big Plastic Trophies to Bespoke Awards
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to modernise upon family legacy in a traditional space? For Emily Chin and Medalized, it meant moving from "big plastic trophies" to...
Mixing Innovation and Growth: How Thermomix is Cooking Up a Smarter Future in Malaysia
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re looking at a brand that has quietly transformed kitchens across the world. Thermomix, the smart kitchen appliance by Vorwerk, has sold ...
Satu Creative: From Creative Agency to Empowering Entrepreneurs
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Satu Creative operates as a 7-figure social enterprise, but you won't find them on an official accreditation list. After evolving from a creative agen...
Can A Petting Zoo Change How We Feel?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can animals help humans heal? Rajagopal Yagambram, Founder of Planet Zoo Malaysia, believes they can. After nearly two decades in agrotourism, he’s ...
How This Tech Startup Is Powering Climate Resilience
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Punita Nook Naidu, Co-Founder of H2O DataTech, shares how the Malaysian climate-tech company is turning complex climate and water data into actionable...
Sol's Vision to Break Stigmas Around Menopause
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grace Oh, Founder of Sol Menopause, Asia’s medically reviewed menopause app, shares how her platform is changing the way women manage midlife health...
The RM250K ECF Bet on an On-Demand Cleaning App
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The on-demand home services space is notoriously difficult, with high-profile failures like Kaodim. So why is Tim Goi, a founder of a traditional B2B ...
Women’s Wellness Festival 2.0 – Building Malaysia’s Wellness Movement
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wellness, it’s a word we hear constantly these days. But for many women, particularly in Malaysia, it’s more than a buzzword. It’s a balancing a...
Can 96 Years of Heritage "Make Teh Tarik Great Again"?
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the bold claim of "Making Teh Tarik Great Again", this new F&B brand is on a mission to elevate Malaysia's unofficial national drink. But thi...
70-Year-Old Wah Chan: From "Half a Shop" to 55 Outlets
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For 70 years, Wah Chan has been a Malaysian household name in jewelry. Now, with the third generation stepping in, the brand is navigating a major "re...
How This Former Pharmacist is Making Side Gigs Lucrative
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s story is about reinvention and what it really takes to build something completely new when the odds aren’t really in your favour.Kristy Ti...
FEV3R: The "Netflix of Healthcare"?
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could a subscription model for outpatient care, like "Netflix for healthcare", be sustainable? FEV3R is betting it can. For a fixed monthly fee, the h...
ASEAN Tech Needs 15 Year VC Cycles, Not 10?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why is this Silicon Valley VC bullish on Southeast Asian tech companies, despite faltering IPOs, blowups, and a scarcity of exits?Launched in 2024, Ra...
Xendit: From Failed Bitcoin Startup To Raising Over $500M
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a dramatic pivot from a failed Bitcoin startup at Y Combinator, Xendit has since raised over US$500 million since 2015, growing into a payments ...
Coda: From ‘App Tax’ Avoidance to Processing ~$2B Yearly
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a way for game publishers to escape the ‘app tax’ has evolved into a global monetisation and distribution platform. Fresh from acq...
So You Think Your Food Product Is Premium?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The packaged food and beverage space is overflowing with brands claiming to be “natural”, “premium” or “healthy”, but few survive beyond t...
From Copper Cables to Data Centres Powering AI
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Data centres are no longer just information warehouses; they are high-density hubs, or ‘airports for internet traffic’, and the demand for power i...
400 Trucks, 1.4M Litres – How To Pay?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Running a transport company in Malaysia is no small feat, especially with rising fuel costs and the challenge of keeping track of dozens of drivers an...
Why StashAway's Shariah Portfolio Took 7 Years to Build
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the recent launch of its direct ETF Explorer and a long-awaited Shariah Global Portfolio, is digital wealth manager StashAway signaling a major e...
IGL Coatings: Why a 19% Tariff Is Better Than Uncertainty
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marking its 10th anniversary, IGL Coatings has grown into an eight-figure business exporting its surface protection solutions to 50 markets. But this ...
Roboshop: The Malaysian Startup Teaching Kids to Build Robots
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We sit down with Shaerfatwa Intannadwah, Founder and Managing Director of Roboshop Technologies, to explore how a small series of robotics workshops h...
Can Quality Still Win in Construction? ALUMASTER Thinks So
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
William Koh, CEO and Managing Director of ALUMASTER, joins us to explore how a Sarawak-based aluminium solutions provider grew from a small local oper...
The NASA Scientist & Wall Street Trader Behind NanoSkunkWorkX
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does a former NASA scientist team up with a former Wall Street trader to build a deep tech company that manipulates atoms without a multi-million-...
A Glimpse of the Future? Lessons from China for Malaysia
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can Malaysian entrepreneurs and policymakers learn from one of the world's most advanced digital economies? Two of our own, Michele Chai of Kintr...
How Ambitionz Is Turning Gamers Into Creators?
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cipher is an AI engine built by Ambitionz, a bootstrapped gaming software company led by Pavel Bains, that helps creators and studios design, build, a...
A Founder’s Take on Budget 2026: AI, Costs & The Road Ahead
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Malaysia digests the announcements from Budget 2026, how are entrepreneurs and startup founders viewing the road ahead? Beyond the headline numbers...
TROOPERS Are Redefining The Gig Economy
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can gig work be both flexible and fair? TROOPERS thinks so. With 400,000 verified users and RM50 million in worker earnings, the platform is redefinin...
Bringing Pizza Back to the Table
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From a humble roadside stall to five thriving outlets in just three years, Mokky’s Pizza is rewriting the rules of Malaysia’s billion-ringgit pizz...
GTS: From Local Beginnings to Regional Expansion
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2013, Global TechSolutions (GTS) began as a local start-up offering customised equipment solutions for semiconductor manufacturers. Over th...
Seek Sophie: Travel with Purpose, Adventure with Heart
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s go on an adventure… and a journey, with Jacinta Lim, Co-Founder of Seek Sophie, the travel platform curating hidden-gem experiences across A...
The "Temp Project" That Became a 14-Year Pastry Business
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started 14 years ago as a temporary home baking project has grown into Xiao by Crustz, a 7-figure patisserie. For founder Xiao-Ly Koh, the journe...
Scooping Up Success with Paolo Paolo Gelato
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From fashion editor to gelato entrepreneur, Miranda Yeoh has built Paolo Paolo Gelato (PPG) into a premium artisanal brand that’s crossed the seven-...
Why MalaysiaKini’s Co-Founder is Now Betting on AI
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Backed by 500 Global, AI startup Awatar Innovations is on a mission to build the next generation of agentic chatbots. But what does it really take to ...
How The “Burnt Banksy” Is Making Web3 Invisible?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
XION is a Web3 “invisible” trust protocol designed to remove the barriers that keep everyday users from adopting blockchain. Founded by Anthony “...
How Webull Is Aiming To Break Barriers In Retail Investing
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Launched in 2024, Webull Malaysia is a licensed digital broker regulated by the Securities Commission, offering access to Bursa Securities, Bursa Deri...
Bringing AWS-like Flexibility to Inventory Storage?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Self-storage is no longer just for de-cluttering your home. For Singapore-based Work+Store, it has become a flexible operational hub for SMEs and e-co...
Bomb Battle: From Paint Bombs to a Multi-Entertainment Hub
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What began as a single attraction built around paint bombs has since exploded into one of Malaysia’s most dynamic entertainment experiences. Bomb Ba...
Reimagining Intralogistics: XSQUARE’s Playbook for Smart Warehousing
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jens Bohnwagner, CEO at XSQUARE Technologies, leads a Singapore-based startup that simplifies warehouse operations with in-house automation software s...
Risk 1st, Revenue 2nd: microLEAP’s Winning P2P Play?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2019, P2P financing platform microLEAP has dispersed over RM420 million while maintaining a claimed industry-low default rate of 0.36%. We dive ...
The New Taste Of Old Remedies
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of Malaysia’s favourite herbal drinks like mata kucing, lin chee kang, or sea coconut longan, chances are you picture them at a pasar...
Timothy Tiah on SST, Closing Outlets & Creator CEOs
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eighteen months after our last chat, Colony's CEO Timothy Tiah is back with a story of wins, setbacks, and strategic pivots. From navigating new SST a...
Hygr: From a RM1.5k Side Hustle to Bootstrapped 8-Figure Brand
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a RM1,500 side hustle during the pandemic has exploded into Hygr, an eight-figure beauty and personal care brand. After a viral TikTok...
AI + Peers: How Tupai Is Tackling Malaysia's Math Problem
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With an alarming 80% math failure rate plaguing some schools, Malaysia faces a critical educational challenge. EdTech startup Tupai is on a mission to...
AWS, But For Manpower? GoGet's 11-Year Gig Economy Journey
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From a simple app for errands in 2014, GoGet has evolved into a digital staffing powerhouse with nearly 400,000 verified workers and an eight-figure a...
26 Years, 32 Restaurants, RM100M+: The Olive Tree Group
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From a single outlet in 2003, The Olive Tree Group has grown into a hospitality empire with 30 restaurants and bars across seven states and two countr...
Tackling 3D Jobs: Qwork's New Manpower Playbook
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having built a successful gig platform for e-commerce and retail, Qwork is now taking on a bigger challenge: solving the talent mismatch in Malaysia's...
Rotiboy: From Near Failure to 800 Million Buns Sold
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For almost 30 years, the smell of a freshly baked Rotiboy bun has been an iconic part of the Malaysian food experience, but behind this is a story of ...
Why FusionQB Pivoted from PropTech to Building B2B SuperApps
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A shareholder clash sparked a 7-figure Superapp pivot? What started in 2016 as a niche proptech company has evolved into FusionQB, a mid-7-figure busi...
From Food Truck to RM10M+ Social Enterprise: Pepper Labs
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a single food truck to help one person in need has evolved into Pepper Labs, an eight-figure social enterprise that has impacted over ...
New CEO, New Name: Razorpay Curlec’s Post-Founder Chapter
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh off its rebrand, Razorpay Curlec is navigating a critical new phase: the post-founder, post-acquisition era. With a new CEO at the helm, the fas...
Leading with Heart in the City Centre
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From breakfast tables in Germany to boardrooms across Asia, Sebastian Krack’s journey with Hyatt Hotels has been one of passion, innovation, and lea...
Stories, Soil, and the Spirit of Adventure
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a passion project in 2022 has since grown into By The Billions (BTB), a platform that blends automotive storytelling, 4x4 expeditions,...
Vibefam: The Answer to Spreadsheet Hell For SMEs?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For many service-based SMEs in the health and wellness space, managing operations is a chaotic mix of spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages, and manual paym...
Netflix-style Personalisation for Banks. But Why?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While our favourite apps know what we want to watch next, our banking apps often remain transactional and impersonal. Singapore-based Fintech Moneytho...
Ritestream’s Shift from Television to Web3 Entertainment
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Riaz Mehta, Founder & CEO of Ritestream, an International Emmy-nominated producer turned Web3 entrepreneur shares how his journey from creating gl...
Machino: From RM100K & Family Ties to Budding 8-Figure Biz
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Launched in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Malaysian footwear brand Machino is on a mission to prove you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style. N...
Asian Flavours, Italian Craft, and a Healthier Scoop of Gelato
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Musang King durian to Vietnamese coffee, XO-ice have blended the best of Asia with the craftsmanship of Italy, creating gelato that’s lower in ...
LIGNO Biotech’s RM60M Goal, Powered by Tiger Milk Mushrooms
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What began as a PhD project inspired by Tun Dr. Mahathir has grown into a profitable biotech firm with over RM13 million in annual revenue. By success...
The 'Crazy' Story of How 2 Flight Attendants Built a Circus
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a chance meeting between two flight attendants has grown into an 11-year journey of producing circus shows in Malaysia. This is the st...
Making Tempeh a Truly Gourmet Brand
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tempeh and gourmet — not a pairing you’d expect. Yet Ethan Wong, Founder of Truly Gourmet, has turned a humble Malaysian staple into a thriving pr...
57 Pitches, 3 Years, $14M: Inside Naluri's Series B
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a grueling three-year journey involving 57 investor conversations, digital health startup Naluri has closed its $14 million Series B round. Now ...
Diolko’s Vision To Simplify Urban Logistics and Last-Mile Delivery
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last-mile delivery is the invisible backbone of city life. But it’s also a major source of congestion, noise, and carbon emissions. Yoann Gueguen an...
Batik Boutique: From ‘Naive’ Side Hustle to 7-Figure Biz
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does an American expat become the founder of Malaysia's only B Corp-certified batik brand? For Amy Blair, what started as a project to help one wo...
Leveraging Uncertainty To Build Your Entrepreneurial Act2
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In an age of retrenchment tsunamis and career uncertainty, many midlife professionals are asking: what's next? For our guest, the answer isn't just fi...
Threading the Needle Through the Messy Middle
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Needle, an AI-powered marketing platform from Singapore, starts by helping founders generate ideas and determine business and marketing priorities and...