Open For Business

Co-owners Sam Fakhoury and Moustafa Elbaadwihi took over a struggling barbershop and transformed it into Kingsmen Barbershop, a premium grooming brand fit for kings. At their Bukit Damansara location, Kingsmen is redefining what it means to step into a barbershop, with an experience designed to relax, refresh, and recharge the modern gentleman.In this episode, Directors Sam (CEO) and Moustafa (CFO) share how they combined their backgrounds in engineering and finance with a passion for craftsmanship to build a thriving business. They discuss their decision to stay hands-on, with Sam being both CEO and barber, and how that shapes everything from customer relationships to team culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your daily coffee was served not by a person, but by a vending machine? Malaysian startup Otter Barista is deploying its "cafe in a box" vending machines across the Klang Valley, aiming to solve the demand for affordable, consistent, and convenient coffee, especially in high-traffic locations like hospitals.Founder and CEO Eeyong Ho joins us to share her journey of building a seven-figure robotic coffee business. She discusses their strategy for overcoming the stigma of vending machine coffee through quality beans and superior service, how they use IoT to manage a growing fleet of machines, and their ambitious plans to scale to over 300 locations.We discuss:The "cafe in a box" model for reducing rental and manpower costs.Their strategy for winning in high-demand locations like hospitals.How they use IoT and proactive maintenance to ensure quality and hygiene.The importance of branding to "humanise" an automated service.Their growth plan to scale from 70 to 300 machines via strategic partnerships.For founders in the F&B and retail tech space, this is a dive into building an automated, hardware-based business from the ground up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bilingual education demand is surging and MapleBear is tapping into Malaysia’s multicultural market with its globally respected Canadian curriculum.With Malaysia’s growing parental focus on cognitive development and future employability, and government plans for a bilingual preschool curriculum by 2026, MapleBear’s entry is perfectly timed. This episode with Rafael Mangini, Marketing Director of MapleBear Canadian School, explores their global approach to early childhood education, how it nurtures holistic, future-ready learners, and what their expansion means for Malaysia’s education landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Processing over $2 billion in annual transactions, Aleta Planet has carved out a powerful niche in the crowded fintech space. Their secret? A laser focus on solving the complexities of cross-border payments with China, particularly in the challenging perishable food and fruit sector.Founder and Group Chairman Ryan Gwee joins us to share his journey of building a profitable payments powerhouse. He discusses their "China-centric" strategy, their client-driven approach to product development, and their next big bet: the M Plus super app targeting the Muslim market in Southeast Asia.We discuss:Their "China-centric" strategy for differentiating in a crowded market.How they became a leader in perishable food payments and financing.Their client-driven approach to product development and organic growth.The story behind their new venture: the M Plus super app for SEA.Their journey of building an in-house tech stack over four years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As enterprises rush to adopt AI, many are inadvertently creating "AI chaos", a complex mess of disconnected tools, data silos, and major governance blind spots. Startup Shieldbase AI aims to solve this with a new kind of platform: a unifying operating system for enterprise AI.CEO and Co-Founder Diego Rojas joins us to explain his mission to provide a single layer for AI governance, security, and orchestration. He discusses their B2B model focused on regulated sectors, how their platform allows companies to set clear policies for AI usage, and their strategy for building a defensible deep tech business.We discuss:The problem of "AI chaos" and why it's a risk for enterprises.How their "AI operating system" provides centralised governance and control.Their "paid pilot" strategy for winning enterprise clients.The importance of the "human factor" and upskilling in the AI era.Their growth plans for the Japan and Asia Pacific markets.For C-suite executives, IT leaders, and CISOs navigating the complexities of AI adoption, this is an essential look at the future of enterprise-grade AI governance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore-based SynVista Energy is investing US$50 million to build a large-scale energy storage manufacturing facility. But what makes Malaysia the right hub for their regional ambitions, and what does this mean for the future of clean energy in Southeast Asia?Executive Director Peter Phang joins us to break down the strategy behind this major investment. He explains their core product, AI-powered Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that act like "giant power banks", and how they are crucial for stabilising the grid as more renewables come online.We discuss:The strategy behind their $50M investment in a Malaysian manufacturing hub.How their AI-powered BESS helps manage energy costs and grid stability.Why Malaysia was chosen over regional competitors for this facility.Their plan to build a "center of excellence" and develop local talent.The key growth drivers for the energy storage market in ASEAN.For leaders in the energy and manufacturing sectors, and investors in CleanTech, this is a dive into the business of energy storage and a case study in building a high-tech hub in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having surpassed $1 billion in assets under management and serving nearly 450,000 customers globally, Wahed is a key player in the Islamic wealth tech space. But as the company scales, how does its leadership team avoid common missteps while staying true to its core mission?Group CEO Mohsin Siddiqui discusses his role as the operator tasked with taking the company to the next level, their strategy of making "fewer, deeper strategic bets," and their expansion into new products like fractional real estate and active ETFs.We discuss:The playbook for scaling from a $10M to a $100M revenue target.How they maintain an "unbelievably low" customer acquisition cost.Their expansion into new asset classes like fractional real estate.Navigating the crucial founder-to-CEO leadership transition.Their experience working with the Malaysian SC in a regulatory sandbox.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellness used to be a yoga mat and a green smoothie. These days, it's a billion-dollar industry, a tourism strategy, and, in the case of one Singaporean festival, a full-blown fitness concert.Today, we’re talking about GLOW Festival, the wellness and movement event that’s grown from a niche fitness gathering to Southeast Asia’s biggest stage for sweat, beats, and short-haul getaways. It’s also catching the eye of Malaysians looking to stretch more than just their hamstrings.At the helm is Martin Capstick, a man who’s shaped pro golf tours, K-pop mega concerts, and art exhibitions, and now, mass wellness experiences. He shares how to turn something as fuzzy as "wellness" into a sharp, scalable brand, and why a fitness festival might just be good business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a personal family crisis involving his goddaughter's mental health struggles, this founder set out on a new mission. His startup, Zoala, built an AI-powered mental health platform to provide a crucial early warning system for schools and workplaces, backed by $1.5 million in funding.Founder and CEO Jeff Lee joins us to share his journey and explain how Zoala aims to supplement, not replace, professional care. He discusses their B2B model, how the platform uses AI to help users process challenges while alerting professionals when needed, and their plans to expand into key markets like Malaysia.We discuss:The powerful personal story that sparked the company's mission.How their AI acts as an "early warning system" in schools and workplaces.Their B2B model and why they chose it over a direct-to-consumer approach.The importance of co-founders with complementary skills (ops, AI ethics).Their plan to raise $1M to expand into Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traditional hiring is broken, rewarding polished resumes over actual skills. Singapore-based startup LeapIn aims to fix this by replacing CVs with an "AI recruiter" that assesses skills and potential, not just keywords.Founder and CEO Sara Zhu joins us to share her journey of building a profitable, seven-figure HR Tech company. She explains how their AI-powered platform uses video interviews to analyse a candidate's language, emotion, and behavior with over 95% prediction accuracy, and how they train custom models on a company's own top performers to ensure success.We discuss:How their AI recruiter analyses behavior to predict soft skills.Their "skills-first" approach to replacing the traditional CV.How they train custom AI models using a company's internal data.Their B2B model that has led to profitability and 100% client retention.Their Series A fundraising plans for regional expansion into Malaysia and beyond.For HR leaders, talent acquisition managers, and founders looking to build better teams, this is a dive into the future of hiring and AI-powered talent management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.