Open For Business

Today on Open For Business, we speak with Keith Loh, CEO of Rollti, a local startup that runs a grab-and-go concept restaurant that offers a fresh take on Malaysia's beloved Roti Canai.Rollti prides itself on its innovative approach, featuring an automated roti canai pressing system, together with a customisable drinks station.Their journey began with the success of their first outlet at Starling Mall, Damansara, serving over 30,000 wraps to date. Last February, Rollti celebrated the grand opening of their flagship outlet at Nu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.On the show today, Keith gave us a sense on the concept of starting up a contemporary culinary store, the current products and services available at Rolti, the challenges faced in the F&B industry, and their foreseeable expansion plans moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2006, Easybook.com started off as a platform that sold bus tickets in Malaysia and Singapore but has since grown operations regionally. Last year it made RM300 million in revenue and RM10 million in net profit, with aims to hit RM500 million in revenue and RM30 million in profit this year.The company has raised a total fund of USD$8.5 million over 3 rounds. The first was a $500,000 round, followed by a USD$3 million round. Then in 2021, the company raised US$ 5 million Series C round from Malaysia boutique investment firm, Emissary Capital and utilised the new funds to invest in the business but also to get through the pandemic.Easybook is focused on maintaining its first mover advantage in this space with continued expansion into Indonesia and Vietnam, and is also preparing itself for an IPO - with the company scouting for listing locations that will provide it the best valuation.In this episode of Open For Business, dive into Easybook's origins as a pet project back in 2006 and the 18 year journey that William has been on, how the business has changed as the internet economy grew, its competitive advantage in this space, the underlying business itself, and IPO thoughts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's rapidly evolving job market, traditional methods of securing part-time work, such as word-of-mouth referrals or classified ads, are becoming increasingly outdated. Many individuals, particularly younger generations, face challenges in finding part-time opportunities that match their schedules, skills, and preferences.Through Get Hyred, employers can easily recruit individuals for various divisions within their companies, all within proximity. Additionally, the platform enables users to earn skill badges by completing part-time jobs or engaging in training sessions, fostering financial and professional independence.Today on the show, we speak with Muthalib to look into how Get Hyred has modernized talent development in Malaysia, highlighting the uniqueness of their business model and sharing their plans for 2024 and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAcademy is the education arm of marketing-tech consultancy OpenMinds, and is trying to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world skills through microlearning principles.The platform allows individuals to take 5-minute lessons in the hopes of upskilling learners on the go and covers a wide range of topics including digital marketing, website optimisation, content creation, and more.Similar to MasterClass or Skillshare, the lessons are delivered by industry experts, with OpenAcademy leaning on local experts, aiming to make it more relevant and engaging.Today we explore why a mar-tech company started an online education platform, why Celine decided to lead the initiative, how they're incentivising local subject matter experts to become creators on their platform, the current state of the business, and how Open Academy wants to influence the future of education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, we take a look at some of the innovative strides in sustainable waste management with Mah Jun Kit, Founder and CEO of BioLoop, a pioneering startup transforming Malaysia’s palm oil waste landscape.BioLoop utilises Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) to convert organic waste into valuable protein for aquaculture and animal feeds, significantly reducing ecological damage and greenhouse gas emissions. With over 8000 metric tons of waste processed, BioLoop not only enhances Malaysia’s environmental sustainability but also boosts its economy by creating new jobs and producing organic fertilisers.Along the course of the conversation, Jun Kit will be helping us digest the global potential of BSFL technology and its economic and environmental impact, how Bioloop is unique in this market and what’s in the pipeline for this BSFL solutions enterprise to help Malaysia position itself as a leader in sustainable agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2007, Web Bytes is a software development company that specialises in software solutions for the retail and food and beverage (F&B) industries, and is 38% owned by GD Express Carrier Bhd (GDeX). The company began as a small project attempting to reinvent retail software and yet today, it is a RM30 million business with customers such as F&B brands such as ZUS Coffee and Gigi Coffee, as well as retailers such as The Body Shop. With over 5,000 retail merchants across Southeast Asia and billions of dollars worth of retail transactions per year, today we dive into how Web Bytes has evolved over the last 17 years, the value they bring to the retail & F&B space, how they are positioning themselves to leverage AI and Machine Learning in the retail tech space, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Fashion retail is not a Silicon Valley story”.Jenn’s Wanderlust + Co journey began back in 2010 in her apartment in Melbourne, powered by a WordPress website, self-made graphic designs, and about RM10,000 in startup money. Today her Wanderlust + Co products are present in nearly 30 countries, making over 70% of its revenue from foreign markets, and has been worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez.On this episode of Open For Business, we dive into the 14 year journey that Jenn Low has been on, from how she started the business to when it stopped being a side hustle and how she grew it into a 7-figure business.Among other things, we also get into how influencer marketing played into the success of the business, how Instagram and later TikTok changed the game, why she didn’t raise any external funding, the brand’s push into physical retail, her ambitions ahead, and key lessons learnt along the way as an entrepreneur.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While technological advancements and immersive multiplayer experiences make gaming a popular leisure activity, excessive screen time poses risks to children's mental health, including addiction, diminished focus, and social skill deficiencies.To address these concerns, Bomb Battle, a team-building escape room game company introduces Bomb Battle Elite, Malaysia's newest family entertainment attraction. Spanning over 6000 square feet, it offers four innovative games with 10 missions and 50 modes across three difficulty levels, suitable for young kids and adolescents.With that, joining us in the studio today is Datin Sheehan Tee, Founder of Bomb Battle, to discuss the inspiration behind their interactive escape room style game, their unique position in the market, and their foreseeable future plans moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian startup Finalyst wants to help financial planners, insurance agents, and unit trust consultants improve sales conversions and better manage their relationships with clients through their financial planning platform.With a focus on simplicity, Finalyst says that the platform supports industry players by providing personalised financial plans. That said, this isn’t the first or only product in the market to try and address this. So what makes them stand out from other solutions already in the market or will shield them from better funded players who come in later?We explore this and much more in this episode of Open For Business. We also get into Finalyst’ origins, the team behind it, how they built Finalyst, and ambitions ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, we’re diving into the realm of Extended Reality (XR) with Theyventhiran Nadarajah, CEO, & Jayagaren Paramasivam, CTO, Teczo Sdn Bhd . They are a technology company that provides cutting-edge Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications, mobile applications, metaverse development, digital twin solutions, advanced visualisation techniques, and analytics tools. Founded back in 2021, Teczo has swiftly emerged as a pivotal player in the digital transformation landscape. With industries across the ecosystem rapidly gravitating towards digitalisation, Teczo has positioned itself as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to harness the power of technology. Some of their services include XR apps, IoT solutions, data management and software training. These services are provided for businesses in diverse sectors such as Banking and Finance, Insurance, Healthcare, Legal, Logistics, and Education.Along the course of our conversation, Thevyen & Jaya helped us break down the story behind Teczo, the development process of their innovative solution known as ConstructXR and what the company has in store moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shopmatic is a global e-commerce platform that empowers merchants to build and grow their businesses online. The company was acquired by global embedded finance firm MatchMove in 2022 in a deal worth $200 million US Dollars, enabling MatchMove to provide its Banking-as-a-Service capabilities to Shopmatic’s ecosystem of over a million e-commerce SME customers.2 years after the deal, we speak to Nicole about her switch in role from Chief of People at MatchMove to Shopmatic’s COO, why MatchMove made the acquisition and the post-acquisition integration process, and Shopmatic’s future.Photo Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Open For Business, we dive into an increasingly crucial topic within the bustling construction sector of Malaysia— safety on the job site. In an industry that is as dynamic as it is hazardous, innovative solutions are not just welcome; they're necessary.We are joined by Frank Tan, the Co-Founder of Nuri IoT, a company at the forefront of this safety revolution with their groundbreaking smart helmet. This piece of technology is not just a hard hat, it's a sophisticated blend of Internet of Things technology, aimed at drastically reducing common yet avoidable accidents.Photo Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2022, this Malaysian startup wants to help brands connect with their audience by transforming everyday vehicles into mobile billboards, while empowering car owners to earn while they drive, effectively turning KM into RM. Having made RM800,000 in revenue in 2023, Carching is targeting RM3 million this year, while looking to raise a seed funding round of RM 2 million to power that growth, but also build out the team, and develop new products. Today we explore Carching’s origins and what brought Jeshua into entrepreneurship, how he’s navigating a space that has seen the demise of other players, as well as potential competition from other media players and Grab. We also get into possible exit scenarios, goals for the next 5 years,, and his vision for the future of this startup.Additionally, Jeshua doesn’t have a co-founder. We explore why and what he’s potentially looking for in one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s fast-paced world, the dark shadow of fake certifications looms large, threatening not just the credibility of individuals but also the very foundations of our educational and professional institutions, as well as industrial certifications.To combat and address this, Malaysian startup Certiify Solutions is on a mission to safeguard the sanctity of certifications through the power of blockchain technology.We dive into how Certiify uses blockchain to power its solution and the depth of the problem that Norlisa wants to address, as well as explore the company's origin story and journey, where they are in their product-market fit journey and go to market strategy, and what comes next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Fadz Subari about how childhood memories led him to establish a homegrown aromacare brand celebrated for its artisanal scents, crafted from Malaysian herbs and plants. We will also look into their initiatives to expand globally while championing Malaysian ingredients and sustainable practices, hear about their innovative AI-driven approach to creating personalised scents, and discuss their upcoming plans for the “Scents For Every Soul” app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After leaving a lucrative career selling insurance policies, Peter took a leap into the world of new media in late 2018 and started Mr. Money TV. The mission: to demystify the complex world of finance for the average Malaysian through accessible and engaging content. However this move was not without its risks.From the early days of balancing multiple jobs to keep the venture alive to their 177,000 subscribers on the main YouTube, on this edition of Open For Business we explore the inception and growth of Mr. Money TV along with Peter's ambitions for the future, and appetite to build a new media network.On top of this, we will also dive into how he's managing the ever evolving new media landscape while trying to create a sustainable business model.Mr. Money TV is a financial literacy media brand owned by Finlit Media Tech Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Isaac Kon, the CEO and Founder, as well as Wong Weng Khing, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Co-founder of Heytech Sdn Bhd. They are a Malaysian-based talent and casting business founded in 2022, who came up with a casting/hiring platform known as Heycast.me.Built in the early days of 2023, Heycast was designed to digitally connect talents with brands and agencies in the entertainment industry. The brand’s focus is to eliminate excessive commission cuts by skipping third-party avenues to ensure fairness and transparency in job compensation.Over the course of the conversation, Isaac and Khing will help us get a better understanding on how Heycast was formed and built, the role of this platform in hiring acting talents, as well as the ongoing challenges within the casting industry that Heytech is planning to resolve with their platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded back in November 2023, VIDANEX is the first spin-off company of IMU (also formerly known as International Medical University), with a mission to help digitalise the healthcare space and integrate AI with medical imaging solutions.From pancreatic to breast cancer and more, this homegrown university spinoff says that its AI-driven insights will empower clinicians to make informed decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and ushering in a new era of precision in medicine and patient-centric care.On top of that, their solution is supposed to help digitalise healthcare by enabling clinicians to transition seamlessly from traditional to modern processes, optimizing efficiency and improving patient care.All of that sounds inevitably great, but what does it actually mean, look, and feel like in the real world? Well, that is something we will get into, along with the exploration of Dr. Elaine and Daniel's backgrounds, including how they came together to do this. We also discuss the genesis of their venture and its commercialisation journey, where they are currently on their engagements with the government, and the future aspirations that drive Vidanex.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Open For Business, we speak with Keith Lester Tang, the Founder of Streetpaw, a Malaysian based company that sells pet meals, bone broths and merchandise to earn a sustainable income in their journey to support stray animals.Over the course of the conversation, Keith will help us get a better picture on Streetpaw’s unique business model, the challenges they had to pull through from the pandemic, foreseeable expansion plans into other SEA markets, and what the future has in store for Streetpaw in 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-Zalora CEO, Michele Ferrario did not want to become an entrepreneur but had a need that nobody could provide for here in the region. Despite 124 pre-launch rejections from early-stage investors, he went about trying to build it himself and Stashaway was then born.Commonly known as robo-advisors, digital wealth managers or digital investment managers as they are known here in Malaysia, were an exciting development in the financial industry with pioneers such as Wealthfront and Betterment leading the charge 15-16 years ago, pushing the idea of making investing cheaper, easier, and more accessible. That said, the industry has struggled to find a profitable footing, with some players in the US having to adjust or pivot their models in order to make it work.In this episode of Open For Business, we dive into how Stashaway is navigating this challenge, whether their business model actually works, and if so, what is going to get them in the black. Before that, we take a look back in 2016 and find out why the now-former CEO of Zalora switched industries and jumped into the world of wealth management, how Michele and his co-founders built Stashaway, and the key lessons he has learned from the 8 year journey with the company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.