Open For Business

Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved away from that, atleast for now. Supported by their fully-subscribed six-figure pre-Series A round and previous RM1.5 million seed round in 2021, Ouch launched its first in-house product - a digital takaful product called Pusara Pro , marking its entr...

Manoj Menon from Twimbit will be discussing the transformative power of open finance in Malaysia. We’ll discuss the necessity of a secure, standardised framework to foster innovation and ensure customer privacy. We’ll also take a look at how enhancing Malaysia's digital footprint through open banking caters to the modern customers' demand for seamless, personalised financial solutions. See omnystu...

What do Snoop Dogg, venture capital, and sneakers have in common? The answer – Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform Novelship. Last month, the Singapore-based online streetwear marketplace announced a US$9.5 million series B funding round, which comes a few months after Novelship’s partnership with American hip hop legend Snoop Dogg. Novelship first started out as a Carousell shop befor...

Ever wish that you could invest in unlisted tech companies such as Open AI, Stripe, and SpaceX before they hit public markets and peak valuations? Well for some, Singapore-based marketplace for alternative assets Alta could be the answer. Founded in 2016, the startup formerly known as Fundnel it’s trying to improve accessibility to an area of finance previously the domain of ultra-high-net worth i...

Globally, mental health concerns are becoming increasingly prevalent. Recent data from the United Nations has highlighted that nearly a billion individuals are grappling with some form of mental health condition. Even more concerning is that the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that that approximately 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are dealing with mental health issues, with suic...

Direct Lending started in 2016 as a digital lending marketplace platform, enabling borrowers to find, apply and receive financing that best suits them safely and affordably. There are currently over 30 financing providers on its platform, from co-operatives, Bursa Malaysia-listed companies, licensed moneylenders, and credit communities. In more recent times, Direct Lending launched its first point...

We speak with Julian Koh, co-founder of Commune Lifestyle, to discuss the intersection of design, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Julian, having grown up around furniture factories and furthered his education in industrial design, holds a deep understanding of the design industry. He’ll be sharing his philosophy and approach to creating sustainable and uniquely designed pieces, revealing how hi...

Versa is a fintech startup focused on digital distribution and curation of investment products that works with AHAM Capital. The aim - to provide its users with access to savings and investment products in a simplified and digital-first manner. That said, the wealthtech space is a tough area with slim margins and plenty of competition from robo advisors such as Stashaway, Wahed Invests, and KDI In...

In August this year, Malaysiakini launched Sokong, a digital platform to help nonprofits and non-governmental organisations raise funds as well as channel donations to those in need. The platform, developed with a grant from the Google News Initiative, is to connect the social welfare sector with the public to raise funds, to bridge the gap between passionate individuals and impactful causes. That...

In line with World Mental Health Awareness Week, we look into the realm of self-healing through art with MyWIPHealing. They are a budding social enterprise dedicated to mental health education and personal growth by fostering a community around Art Therapy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financing makes the business world go round, but unfortunately access to financing has been as wide as we might like for a variety of reasons, including the ways banks use data to assess the risks associated with a borrower . In response to this, a variety of fintech firms have come about to address this, and one of them is Malaysian home grown supply chain finance and peer-to-peer financing (P2P)...

We explore the digital communication frontier with CiMS Tech, the company behind Malaysia's first Omnichannel Cloud Messaging Platform. The platform connects Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with their customers across various messaging channels like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram, catalysing significant business growth with a potential to boost revenue by up to 40%. Beyon...

Before Generative AI and ChatGPT was the talk of the town, there was web3. Although the budding industry has taken a hit since the fall of FTX and other key players in the space, the industry is far from dead. IP tokenization platform Acxyn wants to use its IP valuation framework to help game developers and studios better monetise the intellectual property they create, whether it’s in-app items or...

In a world where sustainability and environmental consciousness are becoming increasingly more important to consumers, Origo Eco initially stepped into the market to solve one particular problem - plastic straws. In just 3 years, they’ve sold over 21 million of their RiceStraws and their customers include companies such as Coffee Bean, Park Royal Penang, Wonderboom, and 8 Ounce Coffee. Today they...

We’ll be taking a look into the realms of sustainability and innovation with insights from CarbonWorks and CarbonGPT. CarbonWorks is at the forefront of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) consulting, fostering a scientific approach to navigate through the intricate landscape of ESG practices, highlighting the evolving role of carbon within this domain. We’ll also be exploring the pioneeri...

Today it seems like no matter what business you’re building or running, you need some form of digital presence that goes beyond social media. Whether it’s a website or a mobile app, building and maintaining these can be quite a burden for founders and entrepreneurs that don’t have a more technical or tech background, or don’t have a CTO or technical co-founder. Digital agency Lizard Global saw thi...

What do you do once you’re done with your current smartphone? What about your TV or laptop? Since 2010, Statista data shows that the volume of e-waste generated globally has been steadily rising. By 2019, approximately 53.6 million metric tons was produced. This was an increase of 44.4 million metric tons in just five years. Of this, just 17% was documented to be collected and properly recycled. E...

The financial planning industry has grown considerably over the last few years. Between 2015 and 2022, the number of financial planning firms increased by 42 per cent, from 31 to 44 firms as at end-2022, while the number of licensed representatives grew by 145% over the same period to 1,455. Despite that growth, the industry needs to keep up with the times, as changing demographics along with the...

In the dynamic landscape of technology, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) are emerging as revolutionary forces, reshaping the way businesses operate and compete. These technologies are not just the domain of tech giants; they are increasingly becoming accessible to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to level the playing field with larger corpora...

Having recently announced a historical best of US$11 million in EBITDA for the first quarter of FY2024, we speak to Carro’s CFO Ernest Chew about profit and revenue targets ahead, how their different acquisitions and investments play into Carro’s growth strategy, the reason Carro is IPO-ready, but in no rush to list, and why they still want to fundraise. Carro was founded back in 2015 and has rais...

COBNB stands at the forefront of Malaysia's burgeoning short-term rental sector, offering a comprehensive suite of services that cater to property owners and travelers alike. From Kuala Lumpur's city centre to the scenic outskirts, COBNB's presence is felt as they manage properties, facilitate co-living experiences, and even provide renovation services. As Malaysia gradually opens its doors to the...

Ulalive wants to change the way businesses and individuals communicate and collaborate, addressing the evolving needs of modern remote teams. The platform calls itself a virtual meeting replacement that will give you the ability to skip your virtual meetings and instead get recorded video over email. While this can be especially useful for companies with regionally and globally distributed workfor...

Golfing startup Deemples wants to help people more easily find golf buddies and organise games at preferred locations and time slots. Founded in 2017, it has raised around RM2.5 million so far to power this goal. Its last funding round was back in 2020 when it raised around US$350,000 (RM1.5 million), but instead of growing abroad it focused on growing the Malaysian market and improving its moneti...

Nestled in Kuching, The Ranee of Sarawak is a beacon of Malaysia's rich heritage. Founded by Rosemarie Wong, who studied at Central St. Martins and Chelsea College of Art & Design, The Ranee uniquely merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. As we approach Malaysia Day celebrations, we spotlight this cultural jewel and its commitment to preserving local arts and heritage. Imag...

Enoku, formerly known as Enable OKU, is a social enterprise focused on bridging employment gaps between Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and employers. They advocate for a diverse work environment and offer services like business process outsourcing and manpower provision. Enoku supports PWDs through job preparedness, matching, and retainment, ensuring they find and thrive in suitable roles. Addit...