Open For Business
Episodes
Charting the Automotive Landscape in Terengganu
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the upcoming state elections happening tomorrow, Open For Business takes a slight detour to the East Coast, specifically Terengganu, to speak...
Driving Change: Unlocking the Future of Shared Mobility
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amid growing concerns about traffic congestion, inefficient use of private vehicles, and a rising demand for convenient and affordable transport optio...
How Halal Street UK is Selling Malaysian Food in the UK
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can take the Malaysian out of Malaysia, but you can’t take Malaysia out of the Malaysian. Home or abroad, you can be sure that it’s only a mat...
From dmingthing to Blankslate - Turning A YouTube Channel Into A Scalable Business
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Once upon a time, there was a final year university student who wasn’t too happy about the parking situation at his campus. So he took to YouTube, c...
Redefining Intelligence
06 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We hear from Keith Khor, the founder of Intelligent Consultancy, a firm dedicated to helping with financial literacy in Malaysia. Having navigated an ...
Would You Buy ‘Near To Expiry’ Food If Heavily Discounted?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If a box of cereal is expiring next month, would you buy it? What if I told you it was 40% off? Now would you buy it? If you answered yes, then you’...
Revolutionising Breakfast Habits
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Remember that old saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Well turns out, scientifically it is even more true than we thought. R...
Backed by Razorpay, Curlec Goes Beyond Recurring Payments
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Between the accelerated digitalization from the pandemic, the continued growth and evolution of e-commerce, and government pushes for cashless payment...
Cashku - Aiming to Make Financial Planning More Accessible and Affordable
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A month ago, EPF CEO Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said that as of May 2023 only 18% of total members met the basic savings by age, which will enable ...
Turning Stigma into Success
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca and Jared Chuah's Nateskin, born out of grooming challenges, established itself as a trusted provider of simple, sustainable, and inclusive so...
How A Saharan Ant Inspired Radiative Paint Is Helping Cool Down The Planet
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that Saharan ants inspired the development of an electricity-free cooling technology?Tapping on scientific research findings of their sup...
Are Tesla and Gentari Threats to Malaysian EV Charger Maker Powered by RISE?
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Electric Vehicle (EV) space has been heating up here in Malaysia. Last year we saw some 2,631 EVs sold in Malaysia through official distribution c...
Creating Permanent Memories
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2020, Creative Factory combines traditional drawing with digital technology, and introduced the first digital oil-painting service in Malay...
Will Tesla’s Entry Hamper or Boost Petronas-Backed Gentari’s EV Ecosystem Ambitions
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Electric Vehicle space in Malaysia got big news yesterday with Tesla formally announcing its strategic expansion into the Malaysian market, and th...
Healthcare, Not Sick-Care
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
DrPrevents is a provider of preventive healthcare services in the Klang Valley area. With 24-hour operating medical clinics and a dedicated team of do...
Is Big Data The Answer To Malaysia’s Property Oversupply Problem and Inefficient Town Planning?
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Although getting better in recent times, Malaysia still has a property oversupply problem, but could big data and AI be the solution? Or atleast help ...
Mowgli Venture
16 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mowgli Venture brings to life adventures straight out of a story book. They seek to provide once-in-a-lifetime trips through raw adventures while chal...
Feeding Malaysia: Supply Chains and Food Security
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being a major food exporter, Malaysia relies on imports for certain items like rice, dairy, wheat, barley, and selected fruits and vegetables....
RPG Commerce - The Startup Behind Montigo, Thousand Miles, Bottoms Lab, and Cosmic Cookware
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do consumer brands such as Thousand Miles, Bottoms Lab, Montigo, and Cosmic Cookware have in common? They were all built by the same Malaysian st...
Superdough - Helping You Feel Like Tom Cruise In Mission Impossible With Immersive Physical Experiences
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Media and entertainment is all about capturing and retaining your attention, and digital content and technology has been incredibly successful in capt...
Unearthing Tech Treasures
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tin Men Capital is on a mission to unlock the potential of B2B tech startups within Southeast Asia, focusing on markets where industries such as manuf...
Family Owned King Living’s Past, Present & Future
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founded by mother-son pairing Gwen and David, King Living had its humble start at Paddy’s Markets in Sydney over 40 years ago.Today, with its steel ...
Cidekick - Matching Much Needed Gig Workers with Businesses
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no running away from it, gig work is becoming a bigger part of the labour market, and gigwork isn’t just ride hailing or food delivery, it...
Using Disney and Pokémon IP to Help Businesses Drive Sales and Improve Customer Retention
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Promo Partners is a company that specialises in redemption programs and licensed character promotions that has access to intellectual property from Di...
AI Pioneer Boosts Efficiency and Eco-impact in SEA
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Itxotic, a Malaysian visual AI startup. Currently in its market penetration stage, Itxotic has secured a significant contract with a key player in the...
Using Tech to Strike a Balance Between Tenants and Landlords
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a key issue that many tenants or potential renters face when they’re looking to rent a property - that’s the initial cash deposit that c...
CreateWills - Making Will Writing Easier, Cheaper and More Accessible
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
80% of Malaysians don’t have valid wills and there’s more than RM90 billion worth of unclaimed assets nationwide. That’s what the President of t...
Malaysians Wouldn’t Pay, So INTRIX Took Its Tech and Ventured Abroad
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Usually what you’d see a business do is build itself up in its home country before venturing overseas, but that’s not what the engineers at INTRIX...
From Pathologist to Technopreneur
25 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Prepare to dive into an intriguing quest of self-discovery — not of personality, but the secrets encoded in your DNA, the key to your past, present,...
Making Music Education Lively Again
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to the Institute for the Future of Education, music education has become instrumental in students’ wellbeing because of the pandemic. Musi...
From Waste to Grace
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The World Economic Forum reports that 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually. Current recycling efforts are ineffective due to cost...
Uni Enrol - Making It Easier For Students to Pay For University
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SPM results came out around 2 weeks ago and now over 400,000 students need to look ahead and make decisions that will set up the next phase of their l...
IMM Carehub - Helping Malaysians Age with Grace?
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is on its way to becoming a “super-aged society”, by 2056, which is defined by having over 20% of the population above the age of 65. The...
Subsidise Your Groceries at Kedai Runcits By Recycling
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Starting off as an app that wants to help homes with purchasing LPG cylinder cooking gas during the pandemic, Suthan Mookaiah soon rebranded the busin...
Has Technology Taken Over Conventional Stationery?
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The world is getting busier and technology is here to help us to “do more” - our work and personal letters are all now managed with digital tools....
Reinventing Optical Shopping
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having witnessed firsthand the hassles of traditional eyewear shopping, Daniel Lim decided to revolutionise the process. He founded AIRVIZIO, an artif...
How Buying Growth in SEA Boosts Indian Startup BetterPlace’s Global Ambitions
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In April, India-based Software-as-a-Service and workforce management platform BetterPlace acquired TROOPERS, a Malaysian firm that specializes in part...
Bizsu - Trying to Cool Down the Planet and Electricity Bills
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Under its MyStartup Hub (MSH) programme, the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) has been trying to recruit global i...
Washing Up the Laundrette Industry
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is doing laundry at a laundrette becoming a trend here in Malaysia? We hear from Nini Tan, Co-Founder of Dobi Queen, a laundrette that has been provid...
Kabel-ing Young Graduates to Employers
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kabel is a tech company that developed an app to connect young graduates with employers to help graduates find meaningful jobs. It can be said to be a...
Powering Change
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SF6 (Sulphur Hexafluoride) is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount...
CARE Concierge - Improving and Scaling Elderly Care With Tech
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elderly care is becoming an increasingly more pressing concern given Malaysia’s ageing population with The World Bank noting in 2020 that Malaysia w...
Digital Mental Wellness Services - A Thoughtfull Way to Address Mental Health?
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1 in 3 Malaysians face mental health issues, and that was based on the National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2015 – 5 years before the p...
Solar Panels - Good For Your Wallet And The Environment?
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past two decades, the price of solar energy has decreased substantially, leading to greater potential for its adoption. Which is great for a ...
Your Data Compass In Asia
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Uzabase, Japan's largest industry and corporate database, renowned for its precise client insights and innovative tool, SPEEDA. This all-in-one soluti...
Ready-To-Cook Meals: Just For The Affluent and Health Conscious?
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Freshable wants to change the way people approach their food. The Malaysian start-up delivers ready-to-cook meal kits to your doorstep, making it easi...
Engaging Customers The Smart Way
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
FusionQB is a leading data-driven company that provides business super-app solutions to help businesses to increase sales conversion and improved cust...
Bee-sy Saving the World from Plastics
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Sustainability Day, we explore the conversation around plastic waste. Our Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change ...
Connecting Teams Of Gamers
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Video games are often regarded as merely entertainment, yet in the last few years, the Malaysian gaming industry business has experienced rapid growth...
Reeling in a Sustainable Future with Lab-Cultivated Seafood
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Umami Meats, a sustainable seafood pioneer, is tackling the impending seafood supply collapse with lab-cultivated seafood. Using stem cell cultivation...
Can Asia Mobiliti’s AI and Tech Fix Gaps in Public Transport?
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that Malaysia has a first and last mile connectivity issue. While we’ve seen billions spent on developing public transport hubs and...
The Latest On Social Commerce
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
AVANA is a social commerce platform that started in 2016 that helps business owners sell online. They have helped over 100,000 businesses optimise the...
Level Up Your L&D Training Programmes
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
HRD Corp's data from January to May 2021 revealed that organizations in Malaysia invested a total of RM13. 6 million into employee training, which cov...
Your AI Shopping Assistant
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the growing presence of online shopping platforms and e-wallets, people are leaning towards platforms such as Shopee and Lazada to obtain their e...
Sparking a Digital Transformation Wave
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Malaysia aims for the digital economy to contribute 22.6% to its GDP by 2025, the nation focuses on creating new jobs, internet access for all, and...
Krenovator- Helping Plug the Tech Talent Gap
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tech talent seems to be a perpetual bottleneck for Malaysian startups, but can a local tech talent platform address this problem through free coding a...
Here, There & Everywhere With Blockchain
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sinisana Technologies began operations in 2019 to help brands out-compete their competitors by giving consumers a behind-the-scenes look at the story ...
Death Planning Has Become Digital
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Death is taboo. Even saying the word die or death makes many of us uncomfortable. But death is unavoidable. Having gone through two biggest tragedies ...
Making A Business Smarter
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Data is the new oil. Data in itself does not carry any value; but if it is studied and analysed in the right hands, it opens doors to new ideas and mo...
Thai-ing Flavours Together: Asia's F&B Event of the Year
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2023, taking place from 23-27 May, will be a vital platform for Malaysian food brands and the global F&B industry's recovery po...
TixCarte - Connecting Attractions and Experiences with Resellers and Marketplaces
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Travel is back. Global tourism bounced back in 2022, and that was without China’s reopening, and Malaysian startup TixCarte is set to ride on this g...
Shaping Our Future by Remembering Our Past
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is known for a lot of things, more so for our enticing food and our colourful festivals. Such are the perks of having a diverse group of peop...
Hand Pouring 800 Candles A Day & Making Customers Stay
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Candles are not so much a source of light anymore. Rather, scented candles have become a form of aromatherapy. To get a “scents” of the scented ca...
Putting The Soul Into Your Brand
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of brand strategy design, Brand Soul Consultancy stands out by specialising in crafting exceptional brand development, strategy, and arch...
Can B2B 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Fix Quick Financing Needs for SMEs?
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Money may make the world go round, but credit keeps it moving smoothly in the business world. Traditionally credit terms have been the staple in busin...
Automated Green Fingers
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The future of our industries lies in automation and AI. More and more companies are embracing this new change and the Malaysian Agriculture field is n...
New Steroids For Plants
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the rising food insecurity in Malaysia, more and more Malaysians are adopting gardening to grow their own produce and for some, agriculture has e...
AI Powerhouse: Unravelling ChatGPT's Cyber Secrets
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So far in 2023, ChatGPT, a text-based AI bot, is making headlines for its versatility, from generating recipes to fixing coding bugs. However, the pot...
Homegrown F&B Startup Pop Meals Wants To Take Malaysian Food Global
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of the big restaurant brands, odds are brands like KFC, McDonald's, and Domino's come to mind, but can homegrown startup Pop Meals chan...
Malaysian Diamonds
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking news! Diamonds aren’t just a girl's best friend. Because frankly, everyone likes them.Opening its doors in 2015, ZCOVA has established itse...
Being Digitally Mobile
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to a recent World Bank Report, Malaysia has yet to realise the full potential of digital technologies to boost small media enterprise (SME) ...
Can Digital Sports Events Create a Better Workplace?
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Employee health and wellness programs are becoming increasingly important to C-Suites, HR managers, and insurance companies, with reports showing that...
Enabling Cameras To See, Understand, and Act
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Computer vision is a field of AI that enables computers to meaningfully interpret images and videos, essentially enabling computers to see, understand...
Refill, Reuse, Recycle & Repurpose
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zero Waste Earth Store (ZWES) was founded by Dr Janira Kumari and Jaclynnd Wong Yin Thing in 2019. ZWES is a social enterprise with a circular platfor...
Pelangi Publishing Group - Is It All Rainbows & Sunshine?
16 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The red and white, rainbow-shaped logo behind different school workbooks is the core memory of many Malaysian students. Pelangi Publishing Group was e...
Cozy, Community, Coworking
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coworking spaces are community centres, collaboration hubs, and social spaces. A coworking space is a setting created for workers from various busines...
Unlocking Space: Transforming Storage Solutions for Modern Living
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kenneth Worsdale, CEO of Extra Space Asia, shares his expertise on the benefits of self-storage for today's generation. Discover how people can maximi...
Is Zetl the Answer to Startup and SME Financing?
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The world of business runs on credit.Whether it’s freelance photographer or a big manufacturer, odds are cash doesn’t land in the bank immediately...
Biogenes Technologies: Changing Biotech With Synthetic Antibodies
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Biogenes Technologies is trying to change the biotech landscape by creating and commercialising synthetic antibodies for mass use in all kinds of test...
Cooking Up A Storm
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Established in 2021, CookX Asia is an all-in-one social cooking app created for food enthusiasts and foodpreneurs that want a community for learning a...
Hard Rock Desaru Hotel Bouncing Back
09 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hard Rock Hotel opened its second property at Johor’s Desaru coast in 2019, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. We speak to Murray Aitken, General Manager...
Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Swimming is fun. Even more so with your family members, be it a picnic by the beach or an evening by the pool. On the other hand, it’s not as easy f...
Revolutionising Protein, One Scoop at a Time
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a shift in the mindset of a lot of people towards taking better care of their health, especially when it comes t...
Lapasar - On Track To Become Malaysia’s Biggest Wholesaler?
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Small grocery stores and restaurants have to fight for supplies with bigger chains and players, which is often a losing battle.Enter Lapasar - a B2B w...
Connecting People The Psycho Way
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global Psytech consists of professionals that specialise in offering cutting-edge and scalable profiling and analytic solutions for a range of sectors...
Unwrapping the Gift Box Industry
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A Little Thing provides gift curation with a variety of gift boxes to choose from, but they have integrated AI into their operations. But how are they...
Those That Feed Us Need Us
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2020, Kapitani is an early-stage firm that promotes itself as an agri-fintech company that focuses on empowering smallholder farmers throug...
Closed For Business - Will NUDE Zero Waste Reopen?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While a zero waste business may be sustainable for the earth, is it enough to sustain the bottomline?This is a question that has come up following NUD...
A Smarter Way to Shop
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
ShopBack, founded in 2014, enables users to earn cashback each time they perform online shopping transactions through its website or app. The cashback...
Amazing Local Brand Finds in Every Visit
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bila Bila Mart, a modern concept of kedai runcit, opened their first outlet in a Mont Kiara mall on March 16, 2020, 2 days before the first MCO was an...
From Online to Retail with Mates
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did they manage to get involved with grocery outlets within a year? And why is their manufacturer based in Korea? Co-founders Vicole Lim and Yeann...
Spiritual Content This Ramadhan
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A technology startup founded in 2009, Bitsmedia is known for developing and publishing the world's most popular Muslim lifestyle app – MuslimPro. Bi...
How To Build Your Own Theme Park
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most mums buy toys. Some mums take their kids to Disneyland. But this mum? She built a theme park in the city for her children. And not just any theme...
Does eCommerce Work for Motorbikes?
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
iMotorbike is Southeast Asia’s pioneering eCommerce platform for buying and selling pre-loved motorcycles. They market themselves as a fast, secure,...
Amplify When Others Are Silent
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The appropriate shoes can say a lot. Make a good first impression, increase your self-assurance, safeguard your feet, get you through muddy conditions...
Designing A Makeover Business
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having a comfortable and visually appealing house is what most people are looking for. But everyone knows hiring an interior designer is costly. How a...
Sustainable Living Movement
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What started as allergic reactions resulted in Tan Yet Mee starting Ecominim, and there are more people than you think that have allergic reactions to...
The Zen Of Design
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Comfort should be prioritised when designing the perfect home. It should be tailored to you and your family’s needs – it should inspire, relax, an...
Durioo+: Netflix Meets Disney for Muslim Kids
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you take Netflix, throw in some Disney, sprinkle in some YouTube Kids, and curate it Muslim children - well you get Durioo+ - a Mala...
Nursing Does Not Diminish The Beauty Of A Woman
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2013, Eaugene Eau and Fion Tan, a husband-and-wife duo, had an idea to help modern women feel confident by creating Shapee modern shapewear. In Sep...