Enterprise Explores

The talent recruitment landscape has significantly evolved over the years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated these changes. We are witnessing updates to policies and more flexible work hours and benefits to cater to the changing interests of the workforce. Here at BFM, our conversations with various service providers that closely collaborate with corporate HR teams often highlight a m...

Earlier this month, the government’s Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (SVDP) 2.0 kicked off. Starting from June 6th 2023 all the way to 31st May 2024, the aim is to encourage non-compliant taxpayers to report any incorrect or undisclosed taxes over the years, covering both direct and indirect taxes. This includes a 100% waiver on tax penalty and seems to be targeted at the informal sector, i...

In an era where online job listings have become the norm, an insidious undercurrent of job scams has been steadily infiltrating the job market. The impact of these scams is far-reaching, not only depriving desperate job-seekers of their hard-earned savings but also eroding trust in the recruitment process itself. Photo Credits: Shuttershock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Malaysian-based full-stack insurtech startup PolicyStreet announced a US$15.3 million (RM67 million) Series B fundraising round, led by Khazanah Nasional. DigitalNews Asia notes that other investors in the round include lead investors from the Series A round Altara Ventures, as well as Gobi Partners and Spiral Ventures. PolicyStreet intends to use the funds to strengthen its technology...

Overseas expansion has been instrumental for growth for Asia’s biggest consumer products companies, growing 3 times faster overseas than in their home market with 9 of the 50 firms generating more than half of their total revenue offshore and another 15 generating more than 25% of total revenue offshore. Today on BizBytes we take a deeper dive into a recent Bain & Company report that explores...

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 saw a slew of impressive announcements that will certainly delight Apple enthusiasts and tech-lovers alike. We catch up (again) with Matt Armitage from Kulturpop.com to have a run through some of the announcements to get his thoughts. Photo Credits: Shuttershock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of BizBytes, we explore the Malaysia Startup Ecosystem Roadmap, or more commonly known as SUPER. We take a look at its role, the potential support Malaysian startups can expect, and how it’s trying to address key concerns in Malaysia’s startup ecosystem, including issues such as the fragmented and potentially confusing nature of many of the initiatives and agencies launched to supp...

What does it take to discover the next Unicorn in Malaysia, or even to be the next Unicorn in Malaysia? We’re going to be going on a journey through the thriving startup ecosystem of Southeast Asia, and reflecting on its rapid expansion and the catalysts that have spurred growth. We probe into innovative business models and the success stories they've propelled, while also touching on the promisin...

On Friday, HKSTP - that’s the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation revealed a plan to empower Malaysian businesses and talents with global growth ambitions to unlock the huge HK-Greater Bay Area (GBA)-China market opportunity. They launched the “Innovation Mixer” – an outreach programme aimed at collaborating with enterprises and talents from all around the world to expand the innova...

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) unveiled plans to bolster Malaysian businesses and talents aiming to tap into the HK-Greater Bay Area (GBA)-China market. Two key initiatives include the "Innovation Mixer," a global collaboration program for enriching regional innovation and technology ecosystems, and the Market Discovery Programme, set to boost global tech ventures i...

There’s been a bit more buzz around AI this week following an open letter signed by a group of AI experts and other high-profile figures and released by the Center for AI Safety. The open letter had only one line - “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” Now contemplating and discussing the end...

In an age of rapid digital evolution, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are discovering the immense power of local Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Local SEO has become a pivotal tool for SMEs striving to compete with larger corporations, attracting local customers and carving out a niche in the market. But what exactly is local SEO, and how can SMEs harness its potential? We’ll be hearin...

Investors today are seeking value beyond straight monetary returns. With mounting evidence of climate change’s impact on the lives and livelihoods of people across the world and the growing demand for social equity, investors have gotten serious about backing corporations and funds with a demonstrated commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Responsible investing has been around in o...

Last week, Australia announced that it would be looking into new laws in an effort to regulate the BNPL sector as a consumer credit product, which comes amidst rising concerns of BNPL repayments. Closer to home, we’re seeing similar concerns around delayed or missed BNPL payments , so today on BizBYtes we’re going to explore what our regulators are looking to do to regular the industry and how thi...

Not all job openings are actual jobs. A significant number of managers shared that the openings are kept active but the jobs simply don't exist. What is the rationale of putting up a job opening with no intention to hire? We speak to Jack Kelly, Founder & CEO, WeCruitr to discuss more about the rationale and morale of companies doing so, and what job seekers do to avoid applying for ghost jobs...

The energy transition is gaining steam across the globe, but are end-consumers convinced of the benefits? Last year, investment in low-carbon technologies topped 1.1trillion US Dollars, with the war in Ukraine and resulting energy crisis acting as a catalyst to fast-track spending. Consulting firm EY notes that analysts say this rapid injection of capital may have shaved up to 10 years off the ene...

One key platform over the decade for businesses and storytellers to communicate and engage with potential customers and their audiences has been Twitter, however since Elon Musk bought Twitter, the social media platform has gotten plenty of attention for a range of… let’s say questionable decisions. From killing API integration of popular third party apps to changing how verified blue ticks work,...

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, one trend that has been consistently making headlines is Artificial Intelligence (AI). From Google's AI-powered email drafting to Microsoft's AI-enhanced applications, AI is not just a buzzword; it's a transformative force reshaping the way businesses operate. How will it shape the way in which small businesses operate in the future? And what are some...

The world of entrepreneurship and running a business can be a fast paced one, with fires to put out on a daily basis while trying to look for opportunities to grow the business. While it’s important to think about the here and now, it’s also vital to look ahead beyond the avenues for growth. One such area is business succession planning, not the happiest topic in the world, but it is (or should be...

Charles Santiago, National Water Services Commission Chairman told the Star that Malaysia must spread our water supply within states at a greater degree for the wellbeing of Malaysians. According to him, we see Penang and Kedah’s river level dropping, but there are surpluses from Perak’s dam. So how should the government and water companies do to curb water shortages? What can we do to make sure t...

Last week, the City University of Hong Kong, launched the first ever HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Startup Competition in Kuala Lumpur, bringing its large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme to the region for the first time. The Top 10 winners of this competition will each be awarded angel funding of up to HK$1 million ( around RM565,000). The Southeast Asian competition is a spi...

With the recent announcement of Coldplay's first-ever concert in Malaysia, anticipation has skyrocketed among music enthusiasts in the country. The British rock band is set to perform at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on November 22, and the ticket sales have been, in a word, chaotic. The high demand for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour highlights the significant challenges in the even...

The last decade was the peak for people with influential personalities - they have been telling consumers what to think and what to do, which is influencer marketing. But lately, a new trend called de-influencing is taking over social media platforms. What is de-influencing all about? We will be taking a closer look on what this trend is, and analyse research and findings to dissect whether consum...

If you are a startup founder and have taken up an accelerator programme, your journey can reach its height with a demo day. A Demo Day is a chance for you to pitch and grab the attention of potential investors. We speak to Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founder & CEO of 1337 Ventures to understand the importance of demo days, and get insights on what investors look for so you can prepare a winning pitch...

Have you ever wondered what it is like to run a business with your mom? There are mothers who run businesses while raising their children, and there are mothers who run businesses with their children. So we ask mother-son duo Julius Lim & Ruby Siah, Co-Founders of B&B Labs, about balancing family and professional relationships when running a business together. See omnystudio.com/listener f...