Open For Business

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, compound knowledge, and speed up complex work holistically. Why did the company feel this was a blind spot in the current wave of AI adoption, how did it lead them to build illumi, and what have they learned so far from helping early teams to rethink how they collaborate in an AI-driven workplace? We dive deeper into all that and more in this conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 expanded from a single cafe to 43 outlets and over 100 distribution points, recently breaking past 8-figure annual revenues.CEO Nelson Liew joins us to share the story behind this growth. He discusses their unique mix of owned vs. franchised outlets, how they manage costs through strong supplier partnerships, and their ambitious vision to become Malaysia's largest integrated F&B platform.We discuss:The "accidental" start: from a lifestyle cafe to a scalable business.How they pivoted from retail to owning the IP and central kitchen.The strategy behind their owned-to-franchise model.Their "pandemic-proof" growth: doubling store count during the MCO.Future plans: international expansion to Indonesia and FMCG products.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian drone company Aonic, with top-line revenue near RM300 million, is executing a major strategic push: its own “Made In Malaysia” proprietary hardware, the Mist Tec 50 drone. This shift is driven by a core insight: after-sales costs for imported drones were too expensive for local farmers.Founder and CEO Cheong Jin Xi (JX) joins us to unpack this evolution. He details why Aonic’s competitive edge lies in its comprehensive ecosystem, including physical service centers, proprietary software, and a financing arm, and how this model is set to drive the company’s expansion into robotics and new global markets.We discuss:The strategic expansion from distribution to IP development.The core competitive edge: why their proprietary solution makes drones better fit for local needs, cheaper and more accessible. How the integrated ecosystem (hardware, software, financing, service centers, and training) creates value.The advantage of being "Made in Malaysia" for exports to Western markets.The unique risk management of Aonic Flex, which aligns collections with harvest cycles.The future roadmap: plans for expansion into robotics and ground/underwater drones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 creative design and bespoke awards that aim to tell a brand's story. Now, as the "Legacy Curator" of Medalized, she's taking it one step further: experimenting with content creation.We discuss:The family legacy in the "boring" awards industry.Her journey from accounting to starting Medalized. The pivot from "big plastic trophies" to bespoke, custom designs.Her strategy for competing with low-cost manufacturing from China.The future vision: creating "meaning behind the awards" by expanding to contentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re looking at a brand that has quietly transformed kitchens across the world. Thermomix, the smart kitchen appliance by Vorwerk, has sold over 10 million units globally, and recently celebrated a major milestone with the launch of its first experiential flagship store in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.At the same time, the company unveiled its latest innovation, the Thermomix TM7, a step forward in the brand’s mission to revolutionise home cooking. Revealing more about Thermomix’s Southeast Asian expansion, its unique business model, and what innovation looks like in the modern kitchen is Christine Wong, General Manager of Vorwerk Singapore and Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 agency, the firm now focuses on capacity building; running workshops and accelerators for entrepreneurs, but also corporates.Founder and CEO Azuar Zainuddin joins us to share his unique hybrid business model. We discuss:The evolution from a creative agency to a 7-figure social enterprise.Their hybrid model: using corporate training to "pay the bills" for social impact.Why they prioritise partnerships over a large team to scale their reach.How they are redesigning programmes to address the "privilege gap."Measuring success beyond "vanity metrics" by focusing on revenue and job creation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can animals help humans heal? Rajagopal Yagambram, Founder of Planet Zoo Malaysia, believes they can. After nearly two decades in agrotourism, he’s built a one-of-a-kind animal behaviour centre where petting a rabbit isn’t just fun… it’s therapy. He shares how Planet Zoo blends business, education, and empathy to turn animal encounters into wellness experiences for all ages.From starting the business and animal care to creating sustainable revenue and partnerships, Rajagopal opens up about what it really takes to run a modern petting zoo — one that aims to make Malaysians not only happier, but more connected to nature and kindness itself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Punita Nook Naidu, Co-Founder of H2O DataTech, shares how the Malaysian climate-tech company is turning complex climate and water data into actionable intelligence for governments, businesses, and regulators.Through its platform Airnomik, H2O DataTech helps organisations assess site-specific environmental risks, from floods and droughts to water quality. She discusses how her team combines AI, engineering, and policy expertise to close the gap between scientific data and real-world decision-making, the challenges of scaling a climate-tech business, and what it takes to make environmental analytics both practical and profitable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace Oh, Founder of Sol Menopause, Asia’s medically reviewed menopause app, shares how her platform is changing the way women manage midlife health at home, at work, and beyond. Designed to be both evidence-based and community-driven, Sol aims to break the stigma around menopause by providing women with trustworthy guidance, holistic support, and a space to understand and advocate for their wellbeing. We discuss what led Grace to create Sol, how she’s aiming to tackle one of healthcare’s most underserved conversations, and what it means to build a business that’s both purpose-driven and data-informed.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 cleaning company, now entering the fray with his new app, Okay Tasks?Tim Goi joins us to discuss:* The strategic pivot from a B2B service to a B2C tech platform.* How Okay Tasks plans to succeed where platforms like Kaodim failed.* Their 20% transaction fee model and 250k ECF raise.* Why finding cleaners (supply) is a bigger challenge than finding customers.* Their strategy for building trust (insurance and partner agencies).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 act between work, family, identity, and the pursuit of something deeper, connection and purpose.Earlier this year, a small idea built on friendship, shared passion, and a mission to help women Connect, Recharge, and Grow turned into one of Malaysia’s most talked-about wellness events. And now, it’s back, bigger, bolder, and more intentional than ever.The Women’s Wellness Festival 2.0 returns this November at Parc Subang, featuring over 30 workshops, talks, and experiences spanning emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Behind it are three remarkable founders, Diane Chia of Millennia Village, Raja Jesrina Arshad of PurelyB, and Sarah Lian of Supparetreat, who’ve combined their expertise in longevity, ancestral healing, and holistic empowerment to create a truly women-led movement.We explore the business behind wellness, how they’ve built a collaborative ecosystem that turns purpose into profit, and what it really takes to make wellbeing sustainable, not just for a day, but for a lifetime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 this is no ordinary startup, it's built on a 96-year family legacy in the B2B tea supply business.Founder Koh Peng Chye joins us to share his story. He explains why he expanded from his family's established B2B trade to a B2C brand, driven by a frustration with inconsistent brewing, and details his ambitious plan to scale by automating the perfect "leaf to cup" experience before expanding.We discuss:The mission to establish a global brand for Teh Tarik.The strategic expansion from a 96-year-old B2B tea supplier to a B2C brand.Their "leaf to cup"  quality control advantage over funded competitors.The scaling strategy: developing bespoke machinery to automate the brewing process.Their "living lab"  outlet and plans for FMCG and future fundraising.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 "reinvention". How does a 70-year-old legacy brand adapt to the modern market while staying true to its roots?Executive Director Amanda Koo joins us to share her unique story. A computer scientist who first built her own successful digital jewelry brand in Singapore, Amanda discusses her journey into the family business, the lessons she learned from her father, and her mandate to build deeper, emotion-based customer relationships alongside digital expansion.We discuss:The 70-year history of Wah Chan, from a Pahang goldsmith to a 9-figure business.Amanda's journey from computer science to founding her own digital jewelry brand.The challenges of navigating generational leadership in a family business.Her mandate to "reinvent" the brand by focusing on emotion and digital growth.Why the 55-outlet, 9-figure company has no plans for a stock exchange listing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Ting, Founder of Side Gig Accelerator, realised her savings and EPF weren’t going to be enough for the life she wanted for her family. She took a leap from dispensing prescriptions to designing sales funnels, and eventually launched the Side Gig Accelerator, a programme that helps everyday people who want to earn extra money learn a new, marketable skill through online channels. Her students today range from 25-year-olds to retirees in their 70s, with the intention to show how online income isn’t just for the tech-savvy but it’s for anyone willing to take that first step.In this conversation, we discuss how she built a seven-figure coaching and consulting business from scratch and what she’s learned about breaking limiting beliefs along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a subscription model for outpatient care, like "Netflix for healthcare", be sustainable? FEV3R is betting it can. For a fixed monthly fee, the health tech company offers unlimited virtual consultations, medication delivery, and 24/7 doctor access.Co-Founder and CEO Adlan Hercus joins us to share the story behind his "round two" startup. He discusses the lessons from his first failed venture, the unique unit economics of their model, and how they manage costs by sourcing drugs directly and using AI to improve efficiency, all while aiming to disrupt the traditional panel clinic system.We discuss:Their "Netflix for healthcare" subscription model for outpatient care.How they can offer unlimited consultations and still be sustainable.Why this is the founder's second round venture after a first attempt 20 years ago.Their virtual-first system using in-house, 24/7 doctors.Their growth strategy, including regional white-label partnerships.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is this Silicon Valley VC bullish on Southeast Asian tech companies, despite faltering IPOs, blowups, and a scarcity of exits?Launched in 2024, Raisewell Ventures has raised over $35 million to invest in AI, climate, and manufacturing tech, with a longer term aim to cross-pollinate between Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia.With 14 deals already completed, Founder and Managing Partner Jeep Kline joins us to share her unique strategy. She explains why she's bullish on this region, why deep tech requires 12-15 year "patient capital", and much more.We discuss:Why SEA tech needs to cross-pollinate with Silicon Valley.Why deep tech and "hard tech" require 12-15 year "patient capital".The 3 pillars (academia, capital, government) needed to build a tech economy.A new approach to solving Southeast Asia's chronic exit problem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 unicorn.Founder and CEO Moses Lo joins us to share his 10-year journey, detailing their "simplicity, speed, and service" competitive edge, their expansion into a financing business, and the lessons learned from navigating Southeast Asia's fragmented markets.We discuss:The early pivots from Bitcoin remittance to a payments powerhouse.Their "simplicity, speed, and service" strategy for winning in fragmented markets.The expansion into financing, underwriting loans against payment flows.Their strategic expansion from Southeast Asia into Latin America.For founders and leaders in the tech space, this is a deep dive into navigating pivots, scaling in Southeast Asia, and tackling new markets.Note: The US$70 billion annual payment processing figure cited in this episode was reported by Bloomberg, as republished by The Edge Malaysia on 24 October 2025 here. It looks to be the main source of this figure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started as a way for game publishers to escape the ‘app tax’ has evolved into a global monetisation and distribution platform. Fresh from acquiring its European counterpart Recharge, Coda now processes nearly $2 billion in commerce annually.CEO Shane Happach, the company's first non-founder CEO, joins us to discuss this new chapter. He shares his mantra of "profitable global growth," the strategy behind the Recharge acquisition, and how Coda is expanding beyond gaming to help any digital business abstract the complexity of global payments and distribution.We discuss:The evolution from a payments provider to a full-stack monetisation platform.The strategy behind the acquisition of Recharge and their European expansion.Their ‘profitable global growth’ mantra and future M&A outlook.How regulatory tailwinds are opening up app ecosystems for third-party payments.Their plans for geographic expansion into markets like Brazil and Japan.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The packaged food and beverage space is overflowing with brands claiming to be “natural”, “premium” or “healthy”, but few survive beyond the packaging. Alvin Andrew, the self-proclaimed King of Processed Foods, reveals why most founders shouldn’t even be in the game, the truth about what makes a product scalable, and how to build something that actually sells at home and abroad.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data centres are no longer just information warehouses; they are high-density hubs, or ‘airports for internet traffic’, and the demand for power is exploding from 6 kilowatts a rack to over 150.Wong Weng Yew, a 20-year industry veteran and the founder of Open DC, joins us to share his journey. He explains his pivot from a traditional ISP to building a RM70 million (projected) data centre business, his unique focus on telco-neutral hubs, and how his new facilities are being built to handle the intense power demands of AI workloads.We discuss:His 20-year journey from an ISP to a data centre operator.Open DC's unique role as an ‘airport for internet traffic’.How AI is demanding a massive increase in "rack density" (power per rack).Why enterprises are now outsourcing their high-power AI infrastructure.The growth strategy that put them on track for RM70M in revenue by 2026.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.