Open For Business

Pacific Senior Living’s Malaysian Entry And Ambitions Ahead

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

By 2030, Malaysia is expected to transition into an ageing society, with individuals above age 60 and older to make up 15% of the population - Pacific...

The Past, Present and Future of Meals In Minutes

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Founded back in 2020, Meals in Minutes provides frozen, portioned meals tailored for quick and effortless meal preparation, mainly targeted to busy in...

How the Life in the Kitchen Chose Leen’s Ameer Alzalek

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Syrian-born chef Ameer Alzalek’s journey into the culinary world was not always on the cards, but a ripple effect from war that pushed Ameer to leav...

DF Automation’s 12 Year Journey, ECF Raise, Growth Plans Ahead, and IPO Target

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2023 alone, investments in robotics soared to $12.9 billion, underscoring the promising outlook for the global autonomous mobile robots industry an...

Sustainable Shrimps

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're exploring the vibrant and essential world of aquaculture, a sector that's at the forefront of sustainable food production and marine conservatio...

DoctorOnCall: Bookings.com Meets Medicine, Raising a $10 Million Series B

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DoctorOnCall was founded by former management consultants Maran Virumandi and ex-colleague Hazwan Najib, with their entrepreneurship journey starting ...

BloomThis’ 9 Year Growth Story, Reasons for Buying Out Their Investors, and Tech-Enabled Ambitions

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Founded in 2015 by Giden Lim and Penny Choo, BloomThis wanted to address the gaps in the floristry industry observed by the husband-wife duo, includin...

Circles of Trust

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s world, it’s important that parents understand the challenges of exposing gadgets to their kids. Some highlight negative effects on chil...

Aerodyne’s Production House Origins, Continued M&A Appetite, Series C Funding Status, and IPO Plans

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Profitable Aerodyne could IPO as soon as next year. The drone solutions provider made $65 million in revenue in 2023 and expects to hit $143 million t...

Modernising Logistics with Hoor Fatt Enterprise

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the ever-evolving landscape of logistics and distribution, companies in this sector face the ongoing challenge of providing high-quality services...

WORQ’s Profitable Journey, Growth Despite WeWork’s Failure, And Amazon AWS Aspirations

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Founded in 2017, WORQ is currently present in 7 locations across the Klang Valley and an additional unique location at Perhentian Island, with more in...

From Dropee To Borong, Raising a $10 million Series B Round, And Why IPO Over Trade Sale

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Open For Business, Lennise Ng, Founder and CEO, and Aizat Rahim, Co-founder and Managing Director, get into, among other things, wh...

Practising a Healthy Work-Life Balance with TasteBudds

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we’re all busy with our daily routines at work, it is common that we face similar issues like having insufficient time to practise a sustainable ...

Lessons From Building RinggitPlus, Why Crypto Fund Management, And What Lies Ahead for Halogen Capital

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hann Liew and Lucas Ooi are co-founders of fintech firm Jirnexu, the company behind RinggitPlus, and after 11 years building the company, they left th...

Wealth Vantage's Non-Product Pushing Mission, 7 Year Journey, And 20X Growth Ambitions

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Open For Business, we speak to Wealth Vantage Advisory’s Rafiq Hidayat and Idham Idris about the business of financial planning, ...

From Microsoft Office Engineer To Starting And Scaling Kakitangan.com

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kakitangan.com is a one-stop HR platform that wants to empower businesses to work smarter with a fully automated HR system that covers payroll, leave,...

Precision Pivoting: A Sweet Transition

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Precision mechanical components are not something we talk about or come to mind everyday. This industry, however, is a critical segment of modern engi...

Azran Osman-Rani: From AAX CEO To Digital Health Startup Founder

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of Open For Business, we speak to Azran Osman-Rani, CEO and Co-founder of digital health startup Naluri, about his transition from the...

From Humble Beginnings to Global Ambitions: The Journey of Love, Bonito

21 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Love, Bonito’s 14 Year Journey, Brick-And-Mortar Growth, And Tapping Into The Asian DiasporaStarting out as a humble blogshop selling second-hand cl...

Luxury, Nature, Sustainability: The Samadhi Retreats DNA

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Samadhi - the moment when the mind achieves stillness and total meditative consciousness. True to its name, Samadhi Retreats is a sanctuary for sereni...

BananaBro: A RM70 Million Business With Overseas Franchising Aspirations

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

BananaBro is a chain of banana leaf restaurants founded in 2018 by Tony Lim, who isn’t a stranger to the F&B space. He previously started Boat N...

Inside Scoop’s 11 Year Journey, Financial Mindset, And The Farm Fresh Quantum Leap

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Open for Business, you will learn about Inside Scoop’s inception 11 years ago and the journey this venture has taken, what Farm F...

Renewable Futures: Unpacking NEFIN’s Vision

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Open For Business, we spoke with NEFIN, a renewable energy investor, developer, and asset manager. Established almost a decade ago, the compa...

Charging Up and Driving The Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Forward

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On Open For Business today, we are talking to a company that’s involved in an industry that’s very much talked about in recent years – the elect...

The Growth of Applecrumby

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Heading into 2024, it’s important for parents to know where they can get care products for their babies in a timely, convenient manner with reasonab...

Hiredly’s Journey to Meet Evolving Demands of Workplaces

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Post-pandemic, Malaysia has experienced a gradual decline in unemployment, however the paradigm shift in work dynamics during the pandemic continues, ...

Are Co-Living Spaces The Way Forward?

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Co-living spaces are often characterised by communal living arrangements and a strong sense of community and have become increasingly popular, particu...

Navigating AI's Future: Data Quality and Impact

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s discussion, we examine the impact of data quality on large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, pivotal in industries for trend predictio...

Intellect - Asia’s Best Funded Mental Health Startup

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this edition of Open for Business, Theodoric Chew, Co-Founder and CEO of Singapore based digital mental healthcare company Intellect speaks to BFM ...

How Nuffnang Founder Timothy Tiah Was “Duped” Into The Co-Working Industry and Built A Profitable Business

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this edition of Open for Business, Colony’s Co-Founder and CEO Timothy Tiah takes us through lessons learnt, challenges faced, and journey ahead ...

Funding Societies: Profitability in 2024, Impact of Digital Banks, and Potential Exit Strategies

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia’s SME contribution to the country’s GDP was around 38% in 2018. However, access to finance looks ...

Cocojack: From Training Farmers to Playing Farmer-to-Land Matchmaker

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia’s agricultural sector faces several issues: an ageing farming population, outdated agricultural practices and land availability amongst oth...

VFlowTech - Enabling Decarbonisation With Better Battery Tech

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lithium ions make the world go round. From the laptops we work on and the smartphones in our hands, to the now accelerating world of electric vehicles...

Unwrapping the Secrets of Food Biz

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We hear from Alvin Andrew, founder of FUBIZO. We'll delve into how FUBIZO addresses the diverse needs of the food and beverage industry through innova...

The Downfall of FTX - A Blessing For Crypto Custodian CoKeeps?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the FTX collapse in late 2022, the crypto landscape isn’t as sexy and appealing as it used to be, now playing second fiddle to G...

A Remedi To Paper Medical Records

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Paper-based record-keeping at medical facilities is not only antiquated, it also compromises the quality and continuity of care. Remedi aims to remedy...

The Rise of Robotic Process Automation in Malaysia

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hew Wee Choong of Cyclone Robotics joins us to delve into the expanding world of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Malaysia. We'll discuss the surge...

Dewakan: From University Experiment To 2 Starred Michelin Restaurant

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In November, local upscale restaurant Dewakan picked up a second Michelin Star at the second edition of the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang, ma...

HappyPreggie - Tapping The Rising Healthcare Demands Of New Parents

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are an estimated 500,000 newborns in Malaysia every year generating RM3.3 billion in maternity-related spending. Aiming for a slice of that mark...

Is Fast Growing Qwork The Answer To Your Business’ Manpower Needs?

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Homegrown job solutions platform Qwork recently announced an investment from Artem Ventures that will power its growth into more industries that are p...

SweatSpa’s Move Into Franchising, Marketing Strategies, And Long Term Plans

26 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sweatspa is a wellness spa whose journey started 9 years ago. Now, Sweatspa has 5 outlets with its most recent outlet in Bukit Jalil opening just a fe...

Pilgrim’s Focus on Brand Building, Path to $70 Million in Revenue, And IPO Ambitions

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pilgrim is an Indian-based, all natural, vegan, direct-to-consumer (D2C) skincare startup brand that has caught the attention of some prominent invest...

WeTix - Revolutionising Entertainment Ticketing in Malaysia

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're joined by Lim Kar Aik, Group CEO of Revenue Monster Group, to discuss the journey of WeTix, Malaysia's leading ticket aggregator. We explore the...

The Business of Early Childhood Education

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In line with World Children’s Day, we’re taking a focus at a key part of a child’s life - education, more specifically the business of children’...

Une Olive’s 7-Figure Malaysian Business, Ecommerce Focus, And Innature Aspirations

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The beauty and personal care industry in Malaysia is big business - garnering a revenue of around $2.68 billion in 2022 based on Statista data. With s...

Patrick Wong On 20 Years In The Wet Wipes Business, Managing Margins, and Aspirations Ahead

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While we often pay attention to the hot and sexy tech startups of the world or the big established name brands and their shelves of products that we u...

Empowering Entrepreneurs: The E3 Hubs Story

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we’re in conversation with Professor Andrew Wong, CEO of E3 Hubs Sdn. Bhd, a man with over a quarter of a century in entrepreneurship, and an...

Surviving And Enjoying 30 Years In The Restaurant Business

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The F&B business is tough, whether here in Malaysia or abroad. There’s always a constant churn of old restaurants closing down and new ones taki...

Mojomore - Turning Metal Scrap Into A 7-Figure Online Furniture Business

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Online shopping is such a convenience. You can buy food and groceries on Grab, buy diapers on Lazada, and shop for clothes from your favourite fashion...

Carrots&Cake - Protecting Kids From Silicon Valley’s Persuasive Design and Dopamine Highs

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

No matter how good a learning app is, it will struggle to compete against Roblox and YouTube Kids.In today's digital era, children have increasingly e...

Parenting Platform Nuren Group’s 10 Year Journey, SuperApp, and NASDAQ IPO Plans

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show, we speak with a founder that has been trying to guide and support mothers and parents since 2013 through her parenting platform - N...

Soaring Heights: Asia's First Vertical Drone Race

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia is not just joining the global drone racing scene—it's taking it vertical. YY Choy and Johnson Yap are at the forefront of this innovative ...

Nebula: Taking Cloud Gaming to the Next Level

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nebula is a cloud gaming platform founded locally in Malaysia and they’re like Netflix for gaming. With Nebula, gamers can start playing all the lat...

Tackling Food Waste Through Tech and Consulting

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LightBlue Consulting is a UN-awarded organisation specialised in food waste prevention in over 20 countries. With key partnerships across hotels, rest...

From Aliments to HUBBO POS

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

HUBBO POS is pivoting to aid local eateries in implementing data-informed digital processes and expanding sales avenues, leveraging Grab's robust regi...

$7.5 Billion Unicorn Razorpay’s Acquisition Spree, SEA Expansion, and Road to IPO

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, India-based fintech unicorn Razorpay deepened its presence in the Malaysian market by becoming the first new member of PayNet since 2019, t...

Redefining Everyday Adventures

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

YouApp, developed by entrepreneur Douglas Gan, is a straightforward solution for anyone seeking out unique local experiences. Targeting the untapped M...

Involve Asia’s 150% Annualized Growth From Cradle to Pre-IPO Profitability

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In August, Involve Asia was named alongside 5 other Malaysian tech companies like drone-player Aerodyne, B2B wholesale platform Lapasar, and insurtech...

FastCo’s Management-led Buyout, Series A $7.5 Million Funding, And Push into Malaysia

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With Malaysia's gig economy growing to an estimated 30% of the workforce, various job platforms have emerged to meet the demand. Singapore-based FastC...

Ouch! - Tackling The Pain Points of the Takaful Industry

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved a...

Fostering Financial Evolution

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Manoj Menon from Twimbit will be discussing the transformative power of open finance in Malaysia. We’ll discuss the necessity of a secure, standardi...

Novelship’s Snoop Dogg Partnership, $9.5 million Series B Deployment, and Fashion Brand Plans

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do Snoop Dogg, venture capital, and sneakers have in common? The answer – Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform Novelship.Last month,...

Alta - Allowing Pre-IPO Investments Into Companies Like Grab, SpaceX, And More

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wish that you could invest in unlisted tech companies such as Open AI, Stripe, and SpaceX before they hit public markets and peak valuations? Wel...

SAPOTing Mental Health Digitally

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Globally, mental health concerns are becoming increasingly prevalent. Recent data from the United Nations has highlighted that nearly a billion indivi...

Marketplace Direct Lending’s Move Into Embedded Financing

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Direct Lending started in 2016 as a digital lending marketplace platform, enabling borrowers to find, apply and receive financing that best suits them...

Crafting Sustainability: A Dialogue With A Designer

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Julian Koh, co-founder of Commune Lifestyle, to discuss the intersection of design, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Julian, having gr...

Wealthtech Versa Asia’s Origins and Public Mutual Sized Ambitions

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Versa is a fintech startup focused on digital distribution and curation of investment products that works with AHAM Capital. The aim - to provide its ...

Sokong by Malaysiakini - When Social Media Meets Crowdfunding For Causes

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In August this year, Malaysiakini launched Sokong, a digital platform to help nonprofits and non-governmental organisations raise funds as well as cha...

Artistic Healing: A Journey of Self-Discovery

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In line with World Mental Health Awareness Week, we look into the realm of self-healing through art with MyWIPHealing. They are a budding social enter...

CapBay’s Journey From Financing RM6,000 to RM2.5 Billion

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Financing makes the business world go round, but unfortunately access to financing has been as wide as we might like for a variety of reasons, includi...

Digitally Bridging Businesses and Customers

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We explore the digital communication frontier with CiMS Tech, the company behind Malaysia's first Omnichannel Cloud Messaging Platform. The platform c...

Acxyn - Helping Gaming Studios Better Monetise Intellectual Property

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before Generative AI and ChatGPT was the talk of the town, there was web3. Although the budding industry has taken a hit since the fall of FTX and oth...

Origo Eco: Turning Farm Waste Into Straws, Shipping Pallets, and More

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a world where sustainability and environmental consciousness are becoming increasingly more important to consumers, Origo Eco initially stepped int...

Sustainability Meets Innovation: Pioneering a Greener Corporate Future

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’ll be taking a look into the realms of sustainability and innovation with insights from CarbonWorks and CarbonGPT. CarbonWorks is at the forefron...

Lizard Global - An Alternative For a CTO or Technical Co-Founder?

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today it seems like no matter what business you’re building or running, you need some form of digital presence that goes beyond social media. Whethe...

Saving The ERTH While Building a Profitable Business

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do once you’re done with your current smartphone? What about your TV or laptop?Since 2010, Statista data shows that the volume of e-wast...

Building Whitman, Staying Relevant, and Listing Plans

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The financial planning industry has grown considerably over the last few years. Between 2015 and 2022, the number of financial planning firms increase...

VR, AR, XR & SMEs?

24 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the dynamic landscape of technology, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) are emerging as revolutionary forces, ...

Unicorn Carro Is IPO-Ready, Improving Profitability, and Still Fundraising

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Having recently announced a historical best of US$11 million in EBITDA for the first quarter of FY2024, we speak to Carro’s CFO Ernest Chew about pr...

Pioneering Malaysia's Short-Term Rental Revolution

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

COBNB stands at the forefront of Malaysia's burgeoning short-term rental sector, offering a comprehensive suite of services that cater to property ow...

Ulalive - From Live-Streaming Ecommerce Solution To Virtual Meeting Replacement

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ulalive wants to change the way businesses and individuals communicate and collaborate, addressing the evolving needs of modern remote teams. The plat...

Deemples - When Agoda Meets Tinder For Golfers

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Golfing startup Deemples wants to help people more easily find golf buddies and organise games at preferred locations and time slots. Founded in 2017,...

Sarawak's Heritage Gem: The Ranee

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nestled in Kuching, The Ranee of Sarawak is a beacon of Malaysia's rich heritage. Founded by Rosemarie Wong, who studied at Central St.Martins and Che...

Pioneering Inclusive Employment for All

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Enoku, formerly known as Enable OKU, is a social enterprise focused on bridging employment gaps between Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and employers...

SEDANIA Innovator’s RM1 Billion Aspiration

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SEDANIA Innovator started out as IDOTTV back in 2004. Back then the focus was to develop media content which was in line with the Founders experience,...

What’s Next For Homegrown Flexi Storage After Majority-Stake Acquisition?

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Founded in 2015, Flexi Storage was established to provide hassle-free and flexible self-storage service for homes and businesses here in Malaysia. Fou...

Banana Bliss: Wownana's Vegan Bakery Evolution

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wownana Bakehouse is a unique bakery that specialises in vegan pastries, offering a range of products that are 100% dairy-free and egg-free.Situated i...

Building a Family Support Ecosystem: The KiddoCare Vision

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In an era of dual-income households, the demand for reliable childcare solutions is at an all-time high. Enter KiddoCare, launched in 2018, a pioneeri...

PNB-Backed Raiz Malaysia’s RM50 Million AUM, PNB Synergies, and Expanding Beyond ASNB Funds

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Digital Investment Managers, or roboadvisors as they’re more commonly known as, have been touted as a way to improve accessibility to investment pro...

Zero Waste Shop-On-Wheels In Your Neighbourhood

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Malaysia’s land for waste disposal is limited and the existing landfills are rapidly reaching their capacity, it is imperative that every individ...

RecruitFirst - When Tinder Meets HRTech

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RecruitFirst is a HRTech company that aims to play corporate Tinder by matching companies with jobseekers to fulfil a company’s talent needs. Backed...

SpaceIn - Using Tiny Satellites To Connect Businesses in Rural Areas

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SpaceIn wants to spearhead the space exploration activity in Malaysia. Previously, a company owned by a group of Postgraduate Students in the USM Spac...

From Searching to Furnishing, Nextsix Wants To Be Home For All Property Needs

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Buying or renting property can be a tedious process, from finding something within your budget and physically locating the property, to finding the ri...

Reviving House Calls: Malaysia's Digital Health Revolution with DOC2HOME

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DOC2HOME is a Malaysian digital health platform offering personalized home-based healthcare, reviving the tradition of 'house calls'. As a subsidiary ...

Luno’s 10 Year Journey, Role in Crypto, and IPO Appetite

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the last few years we’ve seen Bitcoin go to the moon, and then come back down to Earth. That said, it is still up over 340% over the last 5 years...

Empowering Tomorrow's Farmers: Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Food Security

20 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chin Jia Zhuang, De Lettuce B.E.A.R.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The $12 Billion Unicorn That’s Simplifying Access to Global Talent

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Between hybrid work arrangements, talent acquisition and employee turnover, managing talent in business is getting increasingly more challenging and c...

Qashier - Building a SuperApp For Merchants and SMEs

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The proliferation of payment options has been great for consumer choice, but has made accepting payments more complex for SMEs. Qashier is a Fintech s...

How Hong Kong’s WeLab Will Break into Southeast Asia’s Digital Banking Scene

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Digital Banking is something that’s being keenly watched in the Southeast Asia region. We’ve seen 4 digibanks start up in Singapore, and here in M...

Clearing the Air: Sterra's Journey to Fresh Innovations

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After an exhaustive day, battling humidity and pollutants, the last thing you want is to come home to stifling air. We speak with Chris Lim and Strife...