Open For Business

On this special edition of Open For Business in honour of Malaysia Day, we hear from Donald Tan, co-owner of the Singgahsana brand in Sarawak; he discusses his perspective on how the hospitality industry has been impacted by COVID-19 and the tough decisions he and his wife have had to make throughout the pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you know you need an online presence, and you need it now. But how do you establish the kind of store or page or website that keeps people coming back for more? And the money coming in? We speak to MIke Chu, founder of booming online outdoor-gear setup PTT Outdoor about what works and wont when moving your business online, and the blueprint for establishing an effective online presence. See omn...

Starting a business isn’t easy, but coworking spaces have made it easier for low-entry entrepreneurs to have a foot in the door. HIPSALONS takes that concept a step further by providing hairdressers with a decked-out salon to call their own with maximum flexibility. We speak to Vince Ho, founder of HIPSALONS, about the idea of providing a space for stylists to thrive in, challenges of the co...

With a business that started as a pet project, manufacturing good quality, well- fitted t-shirts for companies. As the market responded positively to their products, t hey focused on producing retail-worthy apparel for the masses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thoughtfull is a health-tech company that, via its ThoughtfullChat service, provides users with daily bite-sized coaching with certified mental health professionals. We speak to CEO Joan Low about how ThoughtfullChat holds up against traditional in-person therapy, why corporates are especially keen on the product, and how to grow a business that’s fast enough to meet spiking demand. See omny...

While the gig economy may be a lucrative concept for some, its biggest obstacle is in the way clients are connected to service providers. Sean Teoh’s MOPress has tried to bridge that gap, and now his platform is employing Artificial Intelligence to help form stronger connections. We speak to Sean about empowering freelance content creators during the MCO, working with KOLs and brand marketin...

When the pandemic hit and the nation fell under the MCO, the number one challenge business owners faced was Cash Flow issues. We speak with Ben Zainal, co-founder of security and safety specialists Heron Solutions about how they overcame their recurring cash flow issues, to grow and thrive amidst uncertainty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy can be an unpredictable beast, and your business success should never be dependent on the volatility of the market; so how do you ensure success no matter how the market performs? Jeevan Sahadevan provides 9 strategies for fast business success in any economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financing has never been more of an issue for companies as COVID-19 wrecked the global economy; Darrel Ang, co-founder of Capbay, explains how the supply chain finance company has been handling the pandemic, the importance of peer to peer financing,  and how their SME referral programme works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real Outplay was founded in 2018 by a husband and wife team, Kit and Jo with the idea of having products for athletes, endurance junkies and sports enthusiasts. They started off with One and All products from Thailand, a line of personal care products including top to toe chlorine removal wash, coral friendly sunblock, activewear laundry detergent and other things. But how does a company that reli...

Times are tough for the wedding industry. But with the right approach and creative solutions, platforms like NikahSatu plan to help couples with their wedding plans while still staying safe and abiding by mandatory SOPs. We speak to Co-Founder, Rushdi Razif, about NikahSatu’s new frontliner-focused campaign, how it’s coping with the sudden slump in wedding orders, and how it plans to p...

The need for omnichannel retail and marketing has never been higher than it has been during the pandemic. As lockdowns were imposed, stores and large supermarkets were looking for innovative ways to drive sales while also abiding by safety standards. We speak to Danny Khow, founder of Bridzia, about growing his omnichannel solutions provider during the MCO, finding new ways to serve clients, as we...

These last 6 months have changed the way many entrepreneurs run their business. We speak to Founder of FastOrder.my Zane Goh about how he helped desperate merchants establish a digital presence in 48 hours, plus how a few simple tweaks can make for smooth-runnings in your business even during times of crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20,000 Malaysians reside in Hong Kong and this Merdeka, none of them will be coming home. Entrepreneur and pillar of the Malaysian community in Hong Kong, Gina Wong talks to us about plans to make Merdeka Day memorable in the city-state this year, how the Hong Kong version of #KitaJagaKita is changing lives, and how Malaysians over there are growing stronger together during these challenging times...

In the wake of COVID-19, digital disruption is accelerating throughout Southeast Asia, and businesses that are unable to adapt quickly to new digitising processes risk being left behind. In fact, industry players leveraging on technology have been able to stabilise their enterprises as they digitise day-to-day operations allowing them to fuel efficiency, oversee processes more conveniently, and ma...

For more than a decade now, ScannerVision has been helping organisations around the world work better with their documents. And as the needs of their customers changed, ScannerVision too evolved to help organisations add digital intelligence to their business documents. We speak to Head of Business Development, Bryan Young about forced digital adoption and how to keep up with the evolving needs of...

Traffic congestion and the underuse of public transport can be a burden on city infrastructure.  Here in KL, the mission to solve traffic woes has been ongoing for decades. But with the right data and analytics, smart solutions can be deployed to not only ease traffic, but provide road and railway users with optimum connectivity and ease of access. We speak to Premesh Chandran, Ramachandran M...

The thought of digitalising your business may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Head of Digital Enterprise Services at U Mobile, Joey Phang gives us some insights into a new offering called U Mobile Biz, and how it will help you inject your business into a digital ecosystem that enables connectivity, digital payments and so much more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Part of the effect of the pandemic is that a lot of group activities are either off-limits or not advisable; crowded nightlife, shared microphones at karaoke centres, and even escape rooms, for example. So how does an escape room company survive the MCO? Kelly Low, co-founder of Breakout Malaysia, tells us about the creative ways Breakout survived the MCO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

It’s bad enough that cinemas were closed and major movie releases were being postponed indefinitely, but how does a cozy cinema social space survive in the age of physical distancing? We catch up with Jovy Low, founder of Amenic, to talk about keeping the business afloat while doors were shut, keeping things social but also safe, and the launch of his new podcast, SeeSeeTalkTalk. See omnystu...

While 2020 has been a tough year for startups all over the world, it has also served as a steep learning curve for businesses as well as a crash course in futureproofing and resiliency. We speak to Dash Dakshinamoorthy from Startup Malaysia about helping businesses navigate these uncertain times. We also touch on Dash’s newest venture, Momentum, and explore its potential in the startup space...

Do you know how chocolate is made? Your favorite bar of sweetness is the result of a long and winding production chain, and unfortunately, more often than not the cacao farmers are shortchanged in the process. We speak to Wilfred Ng, founder of Benns Ethicoa, about harvesting cacao beans ethically, keeping farmers in the loop, as well as educating the public about where their favorite hot cocoa co...

In the age of Zoom classrooms, virtual graduations, and economic recession, the bridge from student to working professional seems more unstable than ever. Zhi Ee Chan, founder of Monsta, talks about their standing as the “University of Experience” and the goal they have of preparing students for the working world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As SMEs scramble to digitalise their businesses, figuring out the logistics of e-fulfilment has become a huge priority. For iStore iSend, their early involvement in bridging the e-commerce gap over a decade ago was a boon for the present day. Tommy Yong, co-founder and chief commercial officer, discusses that and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2019, Vircle helps parents raise financially smart and physically healthier kids through its unique parental controlled cashless solution that nurtures good eating and purchase behaviors – leading to healthier, brighter and more responsible kids. Vircle uses technology to help children lead better lives by starting them young on life skills such as proper nutrition and financial l...