Open For Business

In this episode, we explore the future of retail with Shaji Rajappan, COO and Co-founder of Retailetics — the startup behind ezyCart, an AI-powered self-checkout solution aiming to transform the supermarket experience. Born in 2018 from a vision to solve inefficiencies in traditional retail, Retailetics combines machine learning and computer vision to bring smart, seamless shopping to brick-and-mortar stores. Shaji shares the journey behind building a retail tech startup in Southeast Asia, the challenges of scaling hardware and software in tandem, and how Retailetics is shaping the next wave of consumer experiences through automation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2006, Infobip quietly powers some of the world’s biggest brands, including Meta, Uber, and Microsoft, across more than 70 offices worldwide. CEO and Co-Founder Silvio Kutić joins us to unpack how Infobip bootstrapped its way to a billion euros in revenue before ever raising external capital, becoming Croatia’s first unicorn after a $200 million equity round in 2020.We explore the company's early struggles, its pivot to a full-stack cloud communications platform, and the cultural foundations that enabled Infobip’s disciplined, international growth. Silvio also shares insights into Infobip’s strategic acquisitions, its competitive advantages in an evolving CPaaS market, and the role AI will play in future customer engagement.Plus, we dive into how North America and Asia-Pacific fit into their global ambitions, their views on profitability, and whether an IPO could be on the horizon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2024, Razer Fintech rebranded to Fiuu, marking a bold new chapter for one of Malaysia’s largest B2B payment platforms. But why walk away from a globally recognized brand like Razer?In this episode of Open For Business, Eng Sheng Guan, CEO and Co-Founder of Fiuu, shares the company’s 20-year journey, from pioneering e-commerce shopping carts in the early 2000s to processing over RM44 billion in transactions annually across eight markets today.We explore the strategic rationale behind the rebrand, Fiuu’s growth from NetBuilder to MOLPay to Razer Fintech, and how the company is positioning itself against global giants like Stripe and Adyen.He also unpacks Fiuu’s unique advantages, including custom infrastructure, high transaction success rates, and a cloud-driven scaling strategy, while shedding light on their future expansion plans into Indonesia, Singapore, and beyond.With sights set on breaking into 9-figure USD revenue and navigating emerging trends like AI and seamless payments, Fiuu’s story offers insights into the evolving payments landscape in Southeast Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a flavourful dive into the world of Korean fried chicken with Terry Goh, CEO of KyoChon Malaysia. From its South Korean roots in 1991 to its Malaysian debut in 2014, KyoChon has become a household name in Malaysia’s F&B scene, now boasting 36 outlets nationwide. Terry shares the story behind the brand’s expansion into Malaysia, the strategies that fueled its rapid growth, and how KyoChon continues to stand out in an increasingly crowded and competitive market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From humble beginnings selling pancakes and hustling through odd jobs, to building one of Malaysia’s most recognisable names in sport climbing, Camp5 is a brand that has helped shape the climbing ecosystem here and across Southeast Asia.As they celebrate 20 years in the business, we speak with Patrick Andrey and Jeremy Peet, Co-Founders of Camp5, about the early struggles, finding product-market fit in an unfamiliar landscape, and how climbing has gone from niche hobby to Olympic sport.We also dive into the launch of the Asian Climbing Summit, the future of climbing in Asia, and why building a tight-knit community is still at the heart of everything they do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With inconsistent revenues and a price-to-sales ratio nearing 57 (based on 2023 revenue), Get It Fresh is chasing RM2.6M to scale its dairy delivery model and build a fresh food marketplace. Can the vision match reality?In this episode of Open For Business, we dive into the story of Get It Fresh, an e-commerce dairy startup and budding food marketplace raising funds via equity crowdfunding at a valuation of RM10.4 million.Founder Yahya Carlos Lont and Co-Founder Abdul Awwal Mahmood share their five-year journey building a glass-bottled milk delivery business, the logistics-intensive model behind it, and how this fits into their broader ambition of becoming a “Get It Fresh”-approved food platform and marketplace.We explore the economics behind their 8-figure valuation, the cold chain logistics challenges, their cautious go-to-market strategy, and the ambitious revenue projections fueling investor hopes.They also unpack their tech development plans, platform strategy for third-party suppliers, and long-term exit paths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Adel bin Muhamed Ishak, Co-Founder of Little Fat Duck — Malaysia’s first HALAL Italian and French fast food chain. From starting in a second-hand truck to expanding into catering, events, and manufacturing, Adel shares how he navigated early challenges, adapted Western dishes for local tastes, and built a resilient F&B brand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a market ruled by swipes, one 20-year-old matchmaking agency is keeping dating alive IRL.In this episode of Open For Business, Violet Lim—Co-Founder and CEO of Lunch Actually, and now Group CEO of the newly formed Lunch Actually Paktor Group, shares how her team is navigating the swipe-saturated dating landscape with an 8-figure concierge-style business.We unpack Violet’s journey from lunch dating pioneer to regional category leader, and how the group is tackling online dating fatigue with curated matches, coaching, and long-term relationship outcomes, not quick dopamine hits.We explore:Why Lunch Actually targets busy professionals over casual swipersHow coaching, tech, and human matchmaking come togetherThe economics behind an 8-figure love businessTheir M&A-fueled expansion across AsiaWhat a potential IPO or strategic exit could look likeIf you’re curious how a high-touch service is scaling in a tech-first world—or how to build a love business that lasts—this episode is for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pickleball is booming, but is it a bubble? In this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Au Kai Zen and Antony Au, Co-Founders of Pickle Park, about why they believe they’ve found the winning formula both on and off the court.Backed by the team behind Kenny Hills, Pickle Park is a lifestyle-driven pickleball concept that goes beyond court rentals, blending sport, social connection, and hospitality to deliver a premium experience.We unpack:Why Pickle Park fuses F&B, design, and sport to build a lifestyle brandHow they monetise underutilised real estate and unlock revenue beyond bookingsKey revenue streams from events, partnerships, F&B, and future merchandise2025 expansion plans, and why they prioritise location and loyalty over speedHow their in-house app and tiered rewards program could drive retentionWhether you're curious about the economics behind pickleball or the strategy behind building an experiential consumer brand, this episode delivers sharp insights—and a few spicy serves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drowning remains one of Malaysia’s silent epidemics, yet few talk about who’s truly responsible for water safety, or how it can be turned into a viable business.In this episode of Open For Business, we explore how Red Rescue is addressing this urgent concern not just by placing lifeguards poolside, but by building a full-fledged academy, running training programmes, and offering safety solutions to clients like international schools, sports centres, and major waterparks.We dive into the business of lifesaving with Manigandaa Keertan, Founder & CEO of Red Rescue — exploring the demand for certified water safety professionals, and how Red Rescue is tackling lifeguard shortages with a purpose-first, solution-oriented mindset.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.