Open For Business

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 acq...

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 exp...

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 e...

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...

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 wester...

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-friend...

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...

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’v...

“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 fo...

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...

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 out...

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 i...

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...

“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 main...

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.

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 ambitiou...

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 tra...

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 solut...

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 dr...

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. Tod...

From producing just 10 jars a day to 650 SKUs daily, what began as a home kitchen experiment to create natural, toxin-free bone broth for their picky-eating son has evolved into a thriving seven-figure business. In this episode of Open for Business, we delve into The Daily Broth’s journey from side hustle to full-fledged enterprise. We speak with Rahayu Parmatasari and Tengku Arif Asad, co-founder...

From simplifying rental processes to introducing zero-deposit models and insurance protections, Wong Whei Meng, Founder and CEO of Speedhome, has focused on solving the pain points of landlords and tenants alike. With innovations like tenant screenings and integrated insurance protections, Speedhome is positioning itself as a comprehensive property management platform. Breaking its loss-making str...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jay Jayabalathilagam, the Founder and CEO of Volt Motorsports, a pioneering company at the forefront of changing the hybrid vehicle market. Dr. Jay shares his journey from the inception of Volt Motorsports to the development of their groundbreaking Extended Hybrid Battery eWarranty system, "HiiVolt." As Malaysia's first provider of a fully digital hybrid batte...

Vanzo Asia started in 2018 with a focus on car air fresheners and has since grown into a homegrown brand that made RM5.1 million in profit on RM40.86 million revenue in FY2023. Co-Founder and MD Allan Wong discusses Vanzo origins, its product range expansion, and how their upcoming ACE Market IPO will help strengthen its retail presence and branding efforts, marking a new chapter in its growth sto...

Fast fashion might be trendy, but who says tradition can’t be trendy? In this episode, we speak with Jeffery Goh, the founder and designer of Inisaya, the brand that is reimagining the traditional Malaysian batik into modern-wear. With their commitment to local craftsmanship and sustainability, Inisaya celebrates individuality and cultural pride through their fusion of heritage and contemporary ae...