Open For Business

What started as a passion project in 2022 has since grown into By The Billions (BTB), a platform that blends automotive storytelling, 4x4 expeditions, and lifestyle festivals that bring together adventurers, car enthusiasts, and brands. Ned Nazlan, Founder of By The Billions, reflects on evolving a community into a business, the challenges of scaling, and why Malaysia’s appetite for outdoor adventure is only just beginning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many service-based SMEs in the health and wellness space, managing operations is a chaotic mix of spreadsheets, WhatsApp messages, and manual payment tracking. Singapore-based startup Vibefam is on a mission to fix this with its AI-powered "growth operating system."Co-founder and CEO Serene Lim joins us to share their journey of building a platform that automates operations, boosts revenue, and has achieved an incredible 98% customer retention rate. She discusses their pivot from a community-focused app to a powerful business tool, their use of AI for churn prediction, and their strategy for a $1 million seed round to fuel expansion across Southeast Asia.We discuss:The "growth operating system" for service-based SMEs.How they achieved a 98% monthly customer retention rate.The pivot from a community app to a valuable business operations tool.How they use AI to predict customer churn and optimize class slots.Their plan to raise a $1M seed round to expand across Southeast Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 serves top-tier banks across the globe. He discusses his mandate as the professional CEO brought in to scale the company, their high-margin B2B SaaS model, and their playbook for the next phase of growth.We discuss:The concept of "deep banking": personalised, proactive, and beyond banking.The journey of a highly profitable, founder-led fintech.The playbook for scaling a B2B SaaS company, including geographic expansion.The leadership transition from a founder to a professional CEO.Their high-margin, recurring revenue business model.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 into the early challenges of launching a Web3 startup, from fundraising to building an MVP, and explore how Ritestream’s flagship reality show, CryptoKnights, became the “Shark Tank of Web3.” Riaz also tells us his vision for the future of entertainment at the intersection of Web3, AI, and creator-driven content.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 their "comfort-first" R&D process, their modern omnichannel strategy powered by TikTok Shop, and how their signature "Hana flower" design has become a valuable piece of intellectual property.We discuss:The journey of building a 7-figure D2C footwear brand.Their "comfort-first" R&D process using unique foam insoles.How they leverage their "Hana flower" IP for branding and major collaborations.Their omnichannel strategy, including the surprising power of TikTok Shop.Their plans for new product categories and international expansion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 guilt and a lot more flavour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 researchers to entrepreneurs. They detail how they developed their patented technology, the decade-long process of market education, and their ambitious goal to grow into a RM60 million global business.We discuss:The long journey of commercialising a PhD research project.How they developed a patented cultivation technology for a "national treasure."Their three-pronged business model combining B2B, OEM, and a house brand.How continuous R&D serves as their key competitive advantage.Their strategy for global expansion and the road to RM60 million in revenue.For entrepreneurs in deep tech and biotech, this explores the long, challenging journey from lab to market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 their mission to create high-quality family entertainment, the immense logistical and financial challenges of producing a million-ringgit annual show, and their vision to establish the circus as a beloved Malaysian institution.We discuss:The journey from flight attendants to circus co-founders.The "circus behind the circus": the real costs and operational hurdles.Why a live circus experience remains relevant in a digital age.Their business model and the challenge of balancing passion and profit.Their long-term vision for Swiss Dream Circus in Malaysia.For entrepreneurs in the events and entertainment space, this is a look at the challenging but rewarding world of turning a passion into a business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the strategies, decisions, and turning points that shaped Truly Gourmet’s growth, from securing capital and scaling production, to balancing quality with market demand. Ethan also reflects on how he’s navigated challenges in the F&B scene, and the mindset that has kept the brand resilient and profitable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 scale. He discusses their integrated health model that combines mental and physical well-being, the strategic partnership with lead investor TELUS that is reshaping their expansion plans, and their roadmap to profitability within a year.We discuss:The 3-year, 57-pitch journey to close a $14M Series B.How they scaled to cover over 1 million employees across Southeast Asia.Their integrated model connecting mental and physical health.AI’s potential to improve efficiency and productivity.Their new expansion strategy fueled by a strategic partnership with TELUS.For founders navigating the fundraising 'death valley,' and for leaders in the HealthTech space, this is a dive into the complexities of fundraising, strategic partnerships, and scaling in Southeast Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.