With so many fast-growing beverage brands crowding the market, is there really room for one focusing on juices and smoothies? The former CEO of Foodpanda Malaysia and Brunei certainly thinks so, having raised USD 1 million in seed funding from 500 Global and BEENEXT to fuel his new venture, Being Juice. In this episode of Open for Business, we explore how this Malaysian startup is tapping into the booming “to-go” market by blending nutrition with convenience. Founder and CEO Sayantan Das shares ...
Jan 22, 2025•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Collektr in 2025: 10X revenue, raise Series A funding, push regionally, hire right. In this episode of Open for Business, we explore how Malaysian startup Collektr is tapping into the booming collectibles market, blending nostalgia with investment potential. From trading cards and comics to sneakers and beyond, Collektr wants to transform how enthusiasts trade, value, and showcase collectibles. With over 40,000 users and $1.3 million raised in Pre-Series A funding, Founder and CEO Adlin Yusman s...
Jan 21, 2025•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover the journey of Double C, a wellness brand focused on handmade remedies and aromatherapy, with a holistic approach to enhancing physical and emotional well-being. From crafting unique therapeutic products to overcoming entrepreneurial challenges and fostering a community through education, this conversation with certified aromatherapist and Founder of Double C, Christine Looi, discusses the art of balancing passion, creativity, and sustainability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
Jan 20, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can home renovation become both more affordable and more environmentally friendly? In this episode of Open For Business, we spotlight a Malaysian startup that’s transforming surplus and overstocked building materials into savings for homeowners while cutting down on construction waste. Founded in 2017, HOMA is now an 8-figure revenue business that runs an online marketplace that reintroduces “new but unsold” supplies back into the renovation ecosystem, helping customers save money and reduci...
Jan 19, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we explore the story of a café that’s redefining the art of artisanal baking. Set in a warm, inviting atmosphere and with carefully crafted baked goods, Dou Dou Bake combines sustainability, mindfulness, and impeccable design to create a unique sensory experience. Keith Koay, the Founder of Dou Dou Bake, shares his journey, from the inspiration behind this iconic café to the challenges of scaling an artisanal business, and uncover what makes it stand out in both taste and experience. See ...
Jan 16, 2025•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast From supplying kopitiams to launching grab-and-go kiosks, this 81-year-old Penang coffee roastery is determined to modernise its Nanyang heritage and scale nationwide, and maybe take on ZUS. In this episode, we explore how a fourth-generation CEO balances family legacy with modern strategy—preserving artisanal roasting methods while introducing newer product lines like instant coffee and Nitro-infused local brews. We delve into the rationale behind concept stores, the challenges of bridging trad...
Jan 15, 2025•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A pregnancy craving launched an online sourdough bakery that now wants to be the homemade alternative to Subway and O’Briens. In this episode, we explore how this husband-wife duo shifted from online to B2B and B2C retail—testing cloud kitchens, kiosk models, and central production to carve a niche in Malaysia’s competitive F&B space. DIve into how they balance product quality, branding, and expansion plans as they strive to become a go-to local sandwich chain. Here are some AI-generated hig...
Jan 14, 2025•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on Open For Business, we speak to Edwin Wang, Co-Founder and CEO of Signature Market, a brand that’s making nutritious meals and healthy snacking more accessible to Malaysians. From its humble beginnings to becoming a household name both online and in stores, Signature Market’s journey is one of resilience and growth. We uncover the story behind its success, explore the challenges faced, and discover the exciting plans that lie ahead for the brand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why and how did a B2C storage company pivot into a B2B e-commerce fulfillment platform, now supporting over 38 local and international brands and managing fulfillment for more than 100 online stores across platforms like Shopee, Lazada, TikTokShop, and Shopify? In this episode of Open For Business, we uncover the story of FlyBear, a Malaysian e-commerce fulfillment company, with Co-Founder and Managing Director, David Buri. FlyBear’s mission is clear: to help businesses focus on growth while it ...
Jan 12, 2025•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the show, we’re joined by Wan Emir Astar and Falah Hamidi, Co-Founders at ReMeal, a platform aiming to help cafes and restaurants sell their surplus food at discounted prices. ReMeal's journey began in 2023, with the launch of their app on the App Store and Google Play Store by mid-2024 and today, they have expanded to 16 active stores and over 40 vendors in the onboarding process with some notable ones including Celsius Coffee and Gula Cakery. We speak with two out of the four co-found...
Jan 09, 2025•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast How does a Malaysian-based SaaS company challenge global giants like Adobe and Canva? Meet Pixlr Group, an AI-powered creative tools provider with over 10 million active users, transforming how individuals and businesses create content and communicate. In this episode of Open for Business, Warren Leow, CEO of Pixlr Group, takes us through the company’s journey from its origins in Sweden to its acquisition by Imagine Group in Malaysia. Learn how Pixlr evolved from a basic photo editing tool to a ...
Jan 08, 2025•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you teach kids financial literacy while ensuring their spending is safe? Enter Vircle, a Malaysian fintech that blends cashless payments with a child-safe, parent-friendly financial platform. Vircle was born out of a need to address challenges in managing children’s spending in an increasingly digital and cashless world while improving financial literacy and safety. Inspired by personal experiences, Founder Gokula Krishnan Subramaniam set out to create a solution that empowers parents to ...
Jan 07, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show today, we’re joined by Kenn Leandre, Founder & CEO at Kakuchopurei, a multi-platformed business based in KL aiming to tick all the boxes when it comes to video games, pop culture and esports media. After his previous role as the first editor of IGN Asia in 2012, Kenn started Kakuchopurei in 2017with ex-Gamespot Asia editors to make gaming more accessible to everyone - content and events wise. Today, the company has hit over 4 million monthly views on YouTube with over 400 thousan...
Jan 06, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Founded in 2018, Singapore-based Portcast leverages AI and machine learning to optimize global supply chains through real-time transportation visibility and predictive analytics. By processing over 5 million data points daily from 370 carriers, 800 ports, and sources like geolocation and ERP systems, Portcast wants to deliver actionable insights that drive efficiency and transparency. Led by Nidhi Gupta, Portcast recently raised $6.5 million in Series A funding to accelerate its mission of trans...
Jan 05, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast From bean to cup, cafes are more than just spaces to enjoy coffee — they are stories waiting to be told. Today, we sit down with the co-founders of Flint Cafe & Roastery, Azri Jamaludin and Daniel Fleischer, on how they are carving a niche in Malaysia’s vibrant and highly competitive cafe culture. Launched with a passion for coffee, Flint integrates a coffee bar, roastery, and artisanal western and local cuisine within a modern courtyard gallery. In this conversation, we discuss the origins ...
Dec 19, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast From baking at home with limited resources to navigating factory spaces and certifications, what started as a personal mission to address her own health challenges has turned into a full-time business for Ramya Ragupathi, Founder and Director of Oh My Goodness! Specialising in foods free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, Ramya has built a brand that caters to consumers seeking allergen-friendly, accessible, and delicious alternatives. Oh My Goodness! is now entering the Malaysian market wit...
Dec 18, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Katrine Cheong, Founder and Director of Little Precious Postnatal Care, wants to redefine postpartum recovery in Malaysia by offering a hotel-like experience combined with expert-driven care, featuring customised confinement meals, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, professional staff, and even mental health support. Since its establishment, Little Precious has prioritised both comfort and professionalism, and wants to set itself apart from conventional confinement centers. Despite la...
Dec 17, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Food isn’t just about feeding people — it’s about connection, community, and stories. We sit down with Chan Yilyn and William Cheah, the co-founders of Santapan, a social enterprise born from a passion for simple, heartfelt cooking and a mission to uplift communities. From their journey of turning a dream into reality to the challenges of balancing purpose with profitability, we explore how they’ve crafted a brand that resonates with people. Learn how they keep quality and heart at the centre of...
Dec 16, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast “Just keep swimming”, in this episode of Open For Business, we explore how SEA Games medalist Ryan Kee turned his passion for swimming into a thriving business. Sailfish Swim Academy was established in 2016 by SEA Games medalist Ryan Kee to tackle multiple challenges: reducing drowning incidents among children, creating career pathways for ex-athletes and fresh graduates, and discovering talent for Selangor through Persatuan Renang Amatur Selangor (PRAS). Operating across seven locations in the ...
Dec 15, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, Raymond Miranda, founder of Myhejo Method, shares how his personalised tool helps people turn fear into growth through storytelling, coaching, and community. Based in Berlin, Raymond rebranded his Malaysian startup, Laborastory, to Myhejo, after developing a framework from his script writing exercise, Fear and its Opposite. In our discussion, we’ll get into his entrepreneurial journey, thoughts on the future of scriptwriting, and the intersection of storytelling, psychology, ...
Dec 12, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast From 1 store to 86, Nini Tan of DobiQueen shares how she turned a family business pivot into a multimillion-ringgit laundry chain. We dive into DobiQueen’s mission to redefine convenience, empowering busy professionals and families to “buy back time.” Co-Founder and Executive Director Nini Tan reflects on navigating an asset-heavy business model, the lessons learned scaling from 1 to nearly 90 outlets, and her ambitious plans for regional expansion and future growth. Here are some key highlights...
Dec 11, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast From personal branding to professional empowerment, Ranukka Singham, Founder and Managing Director, Image Revamp, has built a niche in helping individuals and organisations refine their presence and elevate their influence. Starting as a side hustle in 2017, ImageRevamp has grown into a professional branding consultancy and training provider, with frameworks and customized programs that cater to individual and corporate clients. Breaking new ground in 2023, ImageRevamp surpassed seven figures in...
Dec 10, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast We speak with Arieni Ritzal, founder of Gula Cakery, a homegrown bakery that has grown from humble beginnings into a beloved name with multiple outlets across the Klang Valley. Arieni shares her journey from baking with her grandmother’s recipe book to honing her craft in Paris and eventually building a thriving business despite the odds. We’ll explore the challenges of running a bakery, how Gula Cakery continues to stand out with over 55 varieties of freshly baked goods daily, and the importanc...
Dec 09, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast “F&B isn’t easy,” but Edwin Chan YOLOed into it with just RM5,000, a KitchenAid, and his parents’ kitchen. Ten years ago, Chef and Founder of Elevete Patisserie, Edwin Chan, left his full-time kitchen job to pursue his passion as a home baker. What started as a small homebaking venture has since evolved into a multimillion-ringgit business, focusing on supplying cafes and businesses while maintaining a Direct-To-Consumer presence exclusively online (unless you know Edwin personally!). Known ...
Dec 08, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we speak with Lawrence Liou, Managing Director of Aenon Solutions, a Penang-based company offering solutions in automation, barcoding and RFID technology. Founded in 2020, the company has gained significant attention from both local and international MNCs, with its flagship products receiving strong demand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 05, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Swipey, co-founded by Kalyana Mohan and Rouvin Thiruchelvam in 2021, started with a clear mission: to simplify financial management for businesses. What began with virtual corporate cards has grown into a financial operating system designed for businesses. Today, Swipey serves over 2,000 businesses, processes over RM120 million annually, and is on track to hit $1 million ARR in 2024, with ambitious plans to grow to $5 million ARR in 2025. In this episode of Open for Business, Kalyana and Rouvin ...
Dec 04, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast From pastry kitchens and whisks to classrooms and business plans, Chef Niklesh Sharma, Founder and Managing Director of the Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts (APCA), has been an entrepreneur in the culinary education space since 2010. Starting with a campus in Malaysia, APCA has expanded to three campuses in India, as well as locations in the Philippines and Indonesia. Focusing on hands-on training, APCA aims to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals. In this episode of O...
Dec 03, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast We speak to Johnson Goh, Co-Founder and CEO of MindHive, a Malaysian startup transforming how businesses drive employee engagement and productivity. With innovative tools that decode workplace behaviour, MindHive helps leaders build more motivated and high-performing teams. A finalist in the Alliance Bank 2024 BizSmart Challenge, MindHive is on a mission to empower organisations with smarter solutions to enhance workforce efficiency. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 02, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast How is CADS helping organisations unlock the power of data and AI? Since its founding in 2015, the Center of Applied Data Science (CADS) has been on a mission to close the gap between data literacy and the evolving needs of modern businesses. Through its AI-driven platform, CADS.ai, the company enables organizations to align workforce skills with future demands, optimizing talent management and driving impactful business outcomes. In this episode of Open For Business, Sharala Axryd, Founder and ...
Dec 01, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donuts are more than just a sweet treat. They are a universal comfort food that brings joy to people of all ages. But in a world where consumers are increasingly seeking unique flavours, premium quality, and memorable experiences, the humble donut is evolving into a canvas for creativity. Donut Plan, an artisanal doughnut shop, seems to have captured the hearts,and taste buds, of its audience. Today, we speak with Lau Jia Sen, the Founder of Donut Plan, to uncover the story behind the business, ...
Nov 28, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
