Open For Business

How does a former NASA scientist team up with a former Wall Street trader to build a deep tech company that manipulates atoms without a multi-million-dollar clean room? For NanoSkunkWorkX (nSWX), it’s about breaking the rules of nanotechnology.Co-founders Dr. Amani Salim and Iqbal Shamsul join us to share their incredible journey. They discuss their core technology that "stitches together" graphene to solve fundamental bottlenecks in compute, energy, and healthcare, and their ambitious strategy to achieve "technological sovereignty" for Malaysia through strategic global partnerships.We discuss:The journey from a NASA-funded research project to a deep tech startup.The NASA-meets-Wall Street origin story.The "Skunk Works" philosophy and their mission to build a world-class Malaysian innovator.Their unique low-cost platform for manipulating graphene.Their commercialization strategy, including a contract with a foreign military.Their ambitious vision for "technological sovereignty."This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can Malaysian entrepreneurs and policymakers learn from one of the world's most advanced digital economies? Two of our own, Michele Chai of Kintry and Sasibai Kimis of Earth Heir, recently returned from a UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eTradeforWomen Study Tour to China, getting an inside look at giants like Alibaba, JD Logistics, and Tencent.The two founders join us to share their eye-opening takeaways. After a quick take on Malaysia's Budget 2026, they dive into their experiences in China, discussing the incredible efficiency of its logistics, the rapid adoption of AI, and the powerful "enabling environment" that helps businesses solve problems at speed.We discuss:Key takeaways from Budget 2026 for SMEs and social enterprises.An inside look at the advanced logistics of giants like JD Logistics and Alibaba.China's rapid AI adoption and its real-world impact on jobs and society.The importance of China's "enabling environment" for business growth.The unique business philosophies that tie culture, family, and storytelling to commerce.For entrepreneurs and business leaders, this is a fascinating look at the future of digital commerce and the lessons Malaysia can learn from a global leader.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cipher is an AI engine built by Ambitionz, a bootstrapped gaming software company led by Pavel Bains, that helps creators and studios design, build, and monetise games faster than ever. Unlike general AI models, Cipher “thinks like a game developer” — understanding the nuances of gameplay, asset optimization, and monetization, while empowering creators to focus on what truly matters: creativity and storytelling.Rooted in a philosophy inspired by hip-hop’s collaborative “cypher” and the indie record label movement of the ’90s, Ambitionz champions independence, culture, and creativity for Asia’s next generation of game entrepreneurs.We speak with Pavel Bains, CEO of Ambitionz, about the pivot that led to Cipher, how AI is transforming the game development cycle from months to weeks, and why the future of gaming lies not in hyperrealism, but in empowering everyday creators to build worlds of their own.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Malaysia digests the announcements from Budget 2026, how are entrepreneurs and startup founders viewing the road ahead? Beyond the headline numbers, what are the real-world implications for costs, growth, and strategy in the coming year?Seasoned entrepreneur and investor Yeoh Chen Chow, of 1% Advisory & Coaching, joins us to provide a founder's perspective on the budget. He discusses the on-the-ground impact of rising costs, the critical need for continuous learning in a fast-changing world, and how businesses can strategically leverage key trends like AI to boost productivity.We discuss:Chen Chow’s first impressions of Budget 2026 and what it signals.The business realities of rising costs, including the 8% SST on rentals.The growing importance of AI and the need to educate educators.Why continuous learning is a non-negotiable for modern entrepreneurs.The entrepreneurial mindset needed for 2026: resourceful, resilient, and responsible.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can gig work be both flexible and fair? TROOPERS thinks so. With 400,000 verified users and RM50 million in worker earnings, the platform is redefining what it means to take on part-time and flexible jobs in Malaysia.Co-Founder and CEO Joshua Tan, and COO Craig Goonting explain how TROOPERS built trust with workers through zero commission fees, free training, and insurance coverage, while helping businesses reduce hiring time and gain access to on-demand talent. From small eateries to major banks and retailers, TROOPERS has become the go-to HR tech platform for flexible manpower.Looking ahead, TROOPERS is setting its sights on Southeast Asia, bringing its AI-powered matching and scalable workforce solutions to new markets. We explore how BetterPlace’s acquisition has accelerated this vision, and what the future of gig work in the region might look like.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a humble roadside stall to five thriving outlets in just three years, Mokky’s Pizza is rewriting the rules of Malaysia’s billion-ringgit pizza industry. Built on authenticity, consistency, and a sense of community, the brand has turned customers into advocates and grown into a serious contender against giants like Pizza Hut and Domino’s.Umar Abdul Aziz, Co-Founder of Mokky’s Pizza shares how he and his co-founders scaled so quickly, the gaps they are filling in the market, and why they’re raising RM3 million to fund further expansion, with ambitions of one day going public.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2013, Global TechSolutions (GTS) began as a local start-up offering customised equipment solutions for semiconductor manufacturers. Over the past decade, they have grown into a regional player with operations across Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the U.S.We speak with Kenneth Lee, CEO of GTS, about the company’s growth journey, the strategies that facilitated its regional expansion, and how it’s navigating today’s semiconductor landscape — from supply chain challenges to AI-driven opportunities.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s go on an adventure… and a journey, with Jacinta Lim, Co-Founder of Seek Sophie, the travel platform curating hidden-gem experiences across Asia that are meaningful, sustainable, and deeply personal.From jungle treks and dive trips to creative workshops and cultural encounters, Seek Sophie moves beyond cookie-cutter tours and tourist traps. By connecting travellers with independent guides and small local businesses, Jacinta and her team are proving that travel can be both transformative and responsible, supporting livelihoods, protecting nature, and creating stories that last long after the trip is over.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started 14 years ago as a temporary home baking project has grown into Xiao by Crustz, a 7-figure patisserie. For founder Xiao-Ly Koh, the journey has been a constant balancing act between her identity as a chef and the demands of being an entrepreneur.Chef and Founder Xiao-Ly Koh joins us to share her story. She discusses her mission to introduce modern French pastry to Malaysians, the strategic pivots she made along the way (from customised cakes to a rotating menu), and her journey from a home kitchen to a bustling 60-seater cafe with ambitions to hit RM10 million in revenue.We discuss:The 14-year journey from a home baker to a seven-figure business.The balancing act: navigating the tension between being a chef and an entrepreneur.The rotating menu strategy and the story behind her hero product, the "Kaya Toast."The evolution from a home business to a full-scale retail store.Her ambitious goal to reach RM10 million in revenue by expanding into new products.For F&B founders and aspiring chefs, this is a deep dive into the realities of building a sustainable artisanal brand in a competitive market.This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From fashion editor to gelato entrepreneur, Miranda Yeoh has built Paolo Paolo Gelato (PPG) into a premium artisanal brand that’s crossed the seven-figure mark, hit profitability within its first year, and attracted collaborations with global names like Nespresso. With three stores open and a fourth on the way, PPG is now navigating the tricky “in-between” stage — growing beyond a single outlet without losing its artisanal soul.In this conversation, Miranda shares how her background in media and marketing shaped the brand, why support systems matter as much as business plans, and what it takes to scale intentionally in Malaysia’s competitive F&B landscape.Miranda Yeoh will be speaking at ZafigoX 2025 Women's Festival on 11–12 October 2025 at Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.