Open For Business

The world is getting busier and technology is here to help us to “do more” - our work and personal letters are all now managed with digital tools. So is traditional pen and paper stationery still relevant in today’s world? We speak to Alvin and Jason Chen, two brothers and Executive Directors, of the CzipLee Group of Companies, to talk about the biggest challenges when running a stationery busines...

Having witnessed firsthand the hassles of traditional eyewear shopping, Daniel Lim decided to revolutionise the process. He founded AIRVIZIO, an artificial intelligence (AI) tech company, which thrived amidst the pandemic chaos by creating an AI temperature detection system and groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) technology. Leveraging this tech, Daniel then launched Spectaclex, Malaysia's first...

In April, India-based Software-as-a-Service and workforce management platform BetterPlace acquired TROOPERS, a Malaysian firm that specializes in part-time staffing and recruitment services, in a deal estimated to be worth between US$15 million and US$20 million, according to a source who spoke to Tech in Asia. This came a month after BetterPlace acquired Indonesia-based MyRobin for an undisclosed...

Under its MyStartup Hub (MSH) programme, the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) has been trying to recruit global innovators to establish business hubs in Malaysia. One of these companies is Singapore-based sustainable building solutions provider Bizsu. Founded in 2019, Bizsu wants to help businesses embrace sustainability in a way that’s practical while being ki...

Is doing laundry at a laundrette becoming a trend here in Malaysia? We hear from Nini Tan, Co-Founder of Dobi Queen, a laundrette that has been providing wash, dry and fold services since 2015. Over the next eight years, DobiQueen plans to expand to more than 70 stores in the Klang Valley. We'll be delving into DobiQueen's business model, profitability, and future expansion strategies. See omnystu...

Kabel is a tech company that developed an app to connect young graduates with employers to help graduates find meaningful jobs. It can be said to be a dating app-like model for jobs, because job seekers can swipe left and right on jobs they are interested in, and so can employers. Camelia Loh and Daniel Yap talk about how they co-founded the company, and how Kabel fits into the picture of youth em...

SF6 (Sulphur Hexafluoride) is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount of CO2. According to National Grid, it remains in the atmosphere for 3,200 years, and is a vital component in switchgear technology for distribution of electricity. We hear from Nicholas Ottersbach, Business Development Manager of Nuventura–a cleant...

Elderly care is becoming an increasingly more pressing concern given Malaysia’s ageing population with The World Bank noting in 2020 that Malaysia will be a “super-aged society”, by 2056, as defined by having over 20% of the population above the age of 65. For context, the number was around 7% in 2020. While there doesn’t seem to be a silver bullet to address this concern, it does smell of busines...

1 in 3 Malaysians face mental health issues, and that was based on the National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2015 – 5 years before the pandemic. Pair that with a March report from the World Health Organization that found that the Covid-19 pandemic triggered a 25% increase in depression and anxiety worldwide, and we can see why mental health and wellness is becoming a more pressing issu...

Over the past two decades, the price of solar energy has decreased substantially, leading to greater potential for its adoption. Which is great for a country like Malaysia, where we’ve got plenty of sun. However, according to a journal article in Clean Energy by Lin-Sea Lau and others, while global residential solar capacity is expected to grow from 58 GW in 2018 to 143 GW in 2024, many developing...

Uzabase, Japan's largest industry and corporate database, renowned for its precise client insights and innovative tool, SPEEDA. This all-in-one solution accelerates business growth by providing comprehensive access to reports on over 560 Asian industries, created by experienced in-house analysts. We're joined by Shafarudin Sariman, Head of Local Markets, who will discuss SPEEDA's Southeast Asian l...

Freshable wants to change the way people approach their food. The Malaysian start-up delivers ready-to-cook meal kits to your doorstep, making it easier to meal plan and, hopefully, lead healthier lives. With the promise of convenience and time saving, this could certainly appeal to the time-poor, but is that a big enough market for this start-up to build a sustainable business model? We’ll explor...

FusionQB is a leading data-driven company that provides business super-app solutions to help businesses to increase sales conversion and improved customer experience, with customer data analytics and predictive engine. Through their expertise, they have managed more than 300,000 customer data on their platform, establishing brand presence in various fields including real estate, healthcare, automo...

In conjunction with World Sustainability Day, we explore the conversation around plastic waste. Our Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the government is targeting zero use of plastic bags by 2025 at all premises. What can be done better to reduce plastic waste? Joshua and Joel Lim, the co-founders of BeeBag, want to reward people who use their...

Video games are often regarded as merely entertainment, yet in the last few years, the Malaysian gaming industry business has experienced rapid growth and recognition. According to SEA Gaming Industry Report 2021, the Malaysian Gaming Industry is valued at $786M, and it's the 3rd largest in SEA. Established in 2004, OffGamers was established by three brothers to connect Gamers, Game Developers and...

Umami Meats, a sustainable seafood pioneer, is tackling the impending seafood supply collapse with lab-cultivated seafood. Using stem cell cultivation, they produce sustainable protein, offering a solution to global food security concerns. Now expanding into Malaysia, they aim to tap into the potential of Malaysia to lead in the cultivated meats industry, a market projected to be worth over USD 25...

It’s no secret that Malaysia has a first and last mile connectivity issue. While we’ve seen billions spent on developing public transport hubs and integrating new and old train lines, anecdotally we see that there’s still a hurdle to reach these hubs. Enter Asia Mobiliti, a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider that’s trying to make urban mobility more intell...

AVANA is a social commerce platform that started in 2016 that helps business owners sell online. They have helped over 100,000 businesses optimise their brands and automate their business capabilities online. They have since expanded into Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan as of 2021. Yien Yee Soh is the co-founder and we last spoke in 2021 together with one of its merchants Dough Little. What are th...

HRD Corp's data from January to May 2021 revealed that organizations in Malaysia invested a total of RM13. 6 million into employee training, which covered external and internal trainer fees to be in skills related to IR 4.0 by 2030. But how effective has L&D training been? How can we make L&D fun again? eVulX is a digital simulation developer that focuses on creating digital game-like elem...

With the growing presence of online shopping platforms and e-wallets, people are leaning towards platforms such as Shopee and Lazada to obtain their everyday products. But this does not mean brick-and-mortar stores are becoming a dying breed. They do however, face stiffer competition. Enter Retailetics, an applied technology company that is leveraging the power of AI to modernise retail shopping....

As Malaysia aims for the digital economy to contribute 22.6% to its GDP by 2025, the nation focuses on creating new jobs, internet access for all, and comprehensive online learning environments. Dinesh Varadharajan, CPO – a low-code, no-code platform, discusses the importance of digital transformation and the need for an inclusive, democratised approach. We’ll be addressing the resistance to digit...

Tech talent seems to be a perpetual bottleneck for Malaysian startups, but can a local tech talent platform address this problem through free coding and training modules? Malaysian startup Krenovator develops and offers free coding and training modules, as well as job placements for individuals that go through their training. The platform currently has more than 5,000 tech talents from Malaysia an...

Sinisana Technologies began operations in 2019 to help brands out-compete their competitors by giving consumers a behind-the-scenes look at the story of the products they are purchasing. By combining multiple data streams throughout the supply chain, brands can back up their claims with real-world data to strengthen their brand equity and build long-term consumer loyalty. We spoke with the one of...

Death is taboo. Even saying the word die or death makes many of us uncomfortable. But death is unavoidable. Having gone through two biggest tragedies in the span of one year, Izumi Inoue created Bereev, a death preparation platform in 2018, in hopes to help ease the burden and paperwork that families need to go through after a family member's passing. We discuss how Bereev compares to conventional...

Data is the new oil. Data in itself does not carry any value; but if it is studied and analysed in the right hands, it opens doors to new ideas and modern innovations. The amazing value of data lies in its potential. Incorporated on 20th October 2021, by a group of young enthusiast professionals, Databolt aims to utilise the world of data to provide solutions to transform manual industrial process...