Why an Ex-Foodpanda Chief Bets Big On Juice, Raises USD$1M

With so many fast-growing beverage brands crowding the market, is there really room for one focusing on juices and smoothies? The former CEO of Foodpanda Malaysia and Brunei certainly thinks so, having raised USD 1 million in seed funding from 500 Global and BEENEXT to fuel his new venture, Being Juice.

In this episode of Open for Business, we explore how this Malaysian startup is tapping into the booming “to-go” market by blending nutrition with convenience. Founder and CEO Sayantan Das shares how Being Juice aims to reshape consumer snacking, positioning fruit-based drinks as healthier, between-meal options.

With 8 outlets launched since April 2023—including one in the Philippines—and a fresh USD 1 million seed round, the company highlights the pivotal roles of technology, data, and lean operations in driving rapid expansion.

Drawing on lessons from his previous leadership role at Foodpanda, Sayantan discusses the challenges of building an authentic, service-driven experience, maintaining cost-efficiency, and ensuring speedy turnaround times. He also outlines ambitions for cross-border growth, aiming to build a new wave of beverage culture across Southeast Asia.

Listen in to learn more about:

- The rationale for positioning juices and smoothies as “healthy snacking”

- Balancing rapid expansion with operational sustainability

- Improving margins through lean store formats and data insights

- Lessons from a major food-tech venture and how they apply here

- Approaches to scaling across Malaysia and the Philippines

- Building a service-first culture for top-notch customer experiences

- Using product R&D to keep offerings fresh, natural, and sugar-free

- How a million-dollar seed round powers future growth and potential cross-border partnerships

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