Open For Business

While our favourite apps know what we want to watch next, our banking apps often remain transactional and impersonal. Singapore-based Fintech Moneythor is on a mission to change that, providing an AI-powered engine to transform the customer experience into what they call "deep banking." CEO Martin Frick joins us to share their journey of building a profitable, eight-figure revenue business that se...

Riaz Mehta, Founder & CEO of Ritestream, an International Emmy-nominated producer turned Web3 entrepreneur shares how his journey from creating global TV hits like The Contender Asia to joining the CryptoKnights collective inspired him to build Ritestream, a decentralised platform where creators can fund, distribute, and monetise content using blockchain, NFTs, and smart contracts. We dive int...

Launched in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Malaysian footwear brand Machino is on a mission to prove you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style. Now a seven-figure business with ambitions to hit eight figures this year, what's the story behind these two sisters and their shoe brand? Co-founders Esther and Amy Tai join us to share their journey of building a D2C brand from scratch. They discuss...

From Musang King durian to Vietnamese coffee, XO-ice have blended the best of Asia with the craftsmanship of Italy, creating gelato that’s lower in calories, lower in sugar, and higher in protein, and yes, you can eat it straight from the freezer. Jennifer Lee and Donatien Monod, the co-founders of XO-ice, join us to talk about turning an indulgence into something you can enjoy with a little less...

What began as a PhD project inspired by Tun Dr. Mahathir has grown into a profitable biotech firm with over RM13 million in annual revenue. By successfully cultivating the once "uncultivatable" Tiger Milk Mushroom, Ligno Biotech has turned a Malaysian national treasure into a patented and commercial success story. Co-founders Ng Szu Ting and Dr. Tan Chon Seng join us to share their journey from re...

What started as a chance meeting between two flight attendants has grown into an 11-year journey of producing circus shows in Malaysia. This is the story of the Swiss Dream Circus, a bootstrapped, passion-driven venture in the high-stakes world of live entertainment. Co-founders Marco Baumgartner and Ismail Stork join us to pull back the curtain on the "circus behind the circus". They discuss thei...

Tempeh and gourmet — not a pairing you’d expect. Yet Ethan Wong, Founder of Truly Gourmet, has turned a humble Malaysian staple into a thriving premium food brand. From perfecting a seven-day fermentation process to creating products that feel indulgent yet accessible, Ethan shares how he’s redefining what "gourmet” can mean in a diverse, price-sensitive market. In this conversation, we uncover th...

After a grueling three-year journey involving 57 investor conversations, digital health startup Naluri has closed its $14 million Series B round. Now covering over 1 million lives across Southeast Asia, what does this hard-won capital mean for their future, and what lessons did their founder learn along the way? CEO and Co-founder Azran Osman-Rani joins us to share the story of Naluri's path to sc...

Last-mile delivery is the invisible backbone of city life. But it’s also a major source of congestion, noise, and carbon emissions. Yoann Gueguen and Onno Pfeiffer, co-founders of Diolko, a Klang Valley-based startup and Southeast Asia’s first urban logistics-on-rail solution join us to discuss the origins of their idea, the challenges of integrating rail transport into last-mile logistics, and ho...

How does an American expat become the founder of Malaysia's only B Corp-certified batik brand? For Amy Blair, what started as a project to help one woman has grown into Batik Boutique, a multi-million ringgit social enterprise on a mission to take Malaysian heritage to the world. Founder and CEO Amy Blair joins us to share her 12-year journey. She discusses how she navigated criticism as a foreign...

In an age of retrenchment tsunamis and career uncertainty, many midlife professionals are asking: what's next? For our guest, the answer isn't just finding another job, it's about embracing an entrepreneurial mindset to build your 'Act 2.' Dash Dhakshinamoorthy, Co-founder of Act 2, joins us to discuss his mission to help both individuals repurpose their careers and organizations find their next g...

Needle, an AI-powered marketing platform from Singapore, starts by helping founders generate ideas and determine business and marketing priorities and then provides personalised recommendations for effective tactics. We speak with Kiyan Foroughi, CEO and Co-Founder at Needle about the rationale behind their inception and their fundraising journey, how they developed their platform that’s backed by...

In Malaysia's crowded grab-and-go coffee scene, a new player has exploded onto the market, opening 50 outlets in under two years. Backed by $2.5 million in funding, Koppiku is betting it can win by targeting the often "underserved middle segment" of the market. Founder and CEO Rajiv Bhanot joins us to share the story behind their rapid growth. He discusses his journey from medical doctor to F&...

Plant-based living was once seen as a niche trend in Malaysia, a passing fad, or something at odds with our love for sambal and satay. But with VegFest now in its seventh edition, it’s clear that something deeper is taking root. Gulshan Kaur Rai and Mandeep Singh Sidhu share how Malaysia VegFest grew from a small idea into a thriving movement. We dive into the cultural pushback, the business oppor...

US-based Aircraft Propeller Service (APS), a leading independent propeller MRO company, has opened its first-ever Asian facility right here in Selangor. But in a competitive region, why did they choose Malaysia as the hub for their Asia-Pacific ambitions? Fergus Lopez, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at APS, joins us to detail the strategic rationale behind their investment. He discusses their...

What does a five-star hotel opening say about the direction of a city, or the confidence of a global brand? We speak with Till Martin, General Manager of the soon-to-launch Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown. With over three decades at Hyatt and a career spent opening hotels across Asia and the Middle East, Till shares why KL Midtown was chosen, how Hyatt views Malaysia as a growth market, a...

Confetto, a digital marketing agency from Singapore specialising in social media and content creation for brands targeting Gen Zs, has quickly become one of the region’s rising stars. Founded by fashion designer Silvia Teh and her husband, the company began as a tech platform helping SMEs automate brand visuals, but a bold pivot turned it into a full-fledged creative agency. Now in its third year,...

What started with just RM1,000 and a stroke of luck during the pandemic has grown into a RM500,000-a-year fitness business. But for Movement Dynamics, the journey is about more than just personal training; it's about building a brand that people aspire to be a part of through content, events, and corporate wellness. Founder Kevin Khaandor joins us to share his five-year journey of evolving his bus...

Just six months in, Singapore-based Inductiv is developing an enterprise-grade GenAI platform designed for startups and businesses in complex industries like finance and healthcare. Championing this is Saurav Dhungana, a data scientist with deep experience in U.S. healthcare, telecom, and fintech. This episode dives into how Inductiv is approaching AI agent development for enterprises of all sizes...

Can a business built around Nasi Lemak become a global brand like Nando's? That's Nale’s ambitious mission, but their biggest challenge is convincing Malaysians to pay a premium for a beloved roadside classic. Founder and CEO Andreas Domingo joins us to share his journey of building a brand that has generated over RM36 million in revenue since 2019. He discusses his unique premium positioning, a n...

As palm oil plantations expand, the conflict between humans and wildlife escalates, often with tragic results. Sarawak-based AIoT startup Satok Bridge Digital was founded to tackle this critical issue, offering a technology-driven alternative to violence. CEO Tham Tat Wai joins us to share their story of building a sustainable, mission-driven tech company. He explains their flagship product ‘Gajah...

What started as a shared skincare struggle between two young Malaysians has grown into Dododots, a pimple patch brand that’s caught the attention of TikTok and beyond. In just four years, the brand has sold over a million packs globally. To explore further into their inception story, the challenges the business has faced in a unique market and the ambitions ahead, we speak with Ethan Wong and Esth...

For 11 years, Strangers at 47 has been a beloved neighbourhood cafe, famous for its savory crepes. But behind the cozy vibes is a story of resilience, adaptation, and the relentless hustle of surviving in the tough F&B industry. Co-founders Lim Sing Yi and Sean Ooi join us to share their journey from "fearless" young graduates to seasoned F&B veterans. They discuss the financial realities...

Marcus Khoo, founder and CEO of Pure Mylk, shares how they’re helping F&B brands bring clean-label products to life, what it takes to innovate in a crowded market, and why Malaysia could be a food-tech launchpad for the region. He also talks about the operational challenges faced by the business and their ambitions ahead.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warehouse automation has long been seen as a multi-million dollar game reserved for giants. Backed by Pentamaster, Malaysian deep tech startup Pingspace is attempting to change that, making advanced robotics accessible to all businesses through a Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) model for its automated cube-based storage systems that function like "giant vending machines." Founder and CEO Chuah Di Ken...