Open For Business

In this episode of Open For Business, we venture into the advanced field of technology, focusing on engineering, manufacturing and product development with Projet Technology — a company founded out of a passion for tackling the complex challenges within its industry.From reducing lead times and managing resource constraints to facilitating high mix low volume orders, Projet Technology is on a path to transform manufacturing for multiple industries including E&E/Semiconductor, Medical, and Aerospace.We speak to Allen Tan, Founder & Managing Director, and Co-Founder Lua Yew Jin, of Projet Technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Dhawal Shah, Regional Managing Director and Co-founder of 2Stallions, a boutique digital marketing agency with headquarters in Singapore and teams across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India.Started with his schoolmate-turned-university friend Razy back in 2012, 2Stallions has spent over the last decade providing small businesses with digital marketing services to help them compete with the big guns without a big marketing budget. Among other things, the firm provides client-centric digital marketing solutions — from SEO, SEM, and Performance Marketing to Social Media Marketing and Website Development.Along the course of this conversation, Dhawal gives us a sense of how his love for coding shaped his career and eventually led to starting up 2Stallions, what makes their business model unique in a competitive market as well as what’s in store for the company since the revamp back in April.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore IWG Malaysia's ambitious expansion as they gear up to launch four new workspaces in the country. Two of these new centres will be situated in the Klang Valley, while the other two will find their home in Johor Bahru, catering to the growing community of hybrid workers. These new locations, representing Regus and HQ, will enhance IWG Malaysia's portfolio, providing a diverse range of workspace solutions to support businesses in their hybrid work arrangements. The launch, set between April and September, will further strengthen IWG's global presence, adding to its network of over 4,000 locations in 120 countries. Tune in as we uncover how these workspaces align with Malaysia's push for more employee-friendly models, offering insights into how IWG's expansion will shape the future of flexible work environments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“And I took that personally”. That was how the eccentric founder of Tokpork, Phon Yung Hou, felt when he was making RM300 a day in sales which paled in comparison to the others around him at Restoran Yum Me Place. There may have been a tease or two from the business owners around him that Tokpork was more hobby than business.Phon wasn’t always in the business of selling Nasi Lemak, but with the support from his former boss Leon Foong, the former Uber Malaysia boss and then SOCAR Malaysia CEO, he eventually got into the nasi lemak business, after testing a few other food ideas. With Leon helping Phon with the stall deposit, Phon used his last pay-check from SOCAR as working capital and set up shop at a kopitiam in the Bukit Damansara, which he still operates from today. Things were tough at the start, but as he says in this conversion, “it’s about the game” and he wanted to continue to play it. In the early days Phon was only making RM300 a day in sales, but this all changed following a KL Foodie video which ignited his business. The morning after the video was released, Phon was sold out before lunch, even after preparing extra food.In this episode, you will hear about the origins of this business in more detail and why he gave up his career to go into the ever challenging food business. We’ll also explore his larger ambitions, why he wants to go into entertainment (and what he means by that), and the long term ambitions to build Tokpork and eventually sell it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecting SMEs to investors, Capsphere claims that it sets itself apart from other similar players because each loan is asset-backed, or secured by an asset. Founded in 2016, the company targets businesses that have been in operations for over 1 year, with assets that can be used to secure the loan such as industrial equipment or even contracts.Last financial year the firm generated RM355,000 in revenue on the back around RM6 million in new loans disbursed over 88 loan/notes. Looking ahead, the P2P financing platform aims to double revenue in FY2024 and again in FY2025, taking it to RM1.4 million, where it currently projects it will get to profitability.In this episode of Open For Business, we dive into this venture’s origins and whether this model has enough of a differentiation in the P2P financing space to thrive. We’ll also dive into some of those targets and how they’re going to achieve them, as well as other ambitions ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transitioning from corporate careers in the United States of America to building a transformative business here in Malaysia, Carmen Khor and Jeremy Andrus exemplify resilience and unwavering commitment through their journey as the founders of Libra Wellness.They have created a beauty and wellness brand that champions mental well-being while curating sustainable and high-quality products with the guide of 3 simple principles, “to remember, to celebrate, and to care for”.In this episode, we speak with Jeremy Andrus, Founder & CEO, and Carmen Khor, Co-Founder & Brand Director, of Libra Wellness, on their inspiring journey transitioning from PR careers in America to launching the ethical beauty brand in Malaysia. They share how they navigated challenges by holding fast to their principles of remembering their "why," celebrating wins, and prioritising self-care to maintain passion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KL Tech City is a venture studio that predominantly focuses on providing early stage capital for emerging technologies like Blockchain, Fintech, EV, Cleantech, and Digital trading platforms.Apart from just providing startups with capital, they also offer supporting services including networking, strategic partnerships, and mentorship, and claim that since they invest proprietary capital, they are able to retain a dynamic and flexible approach to portfolio management.KL Tech City says it wants to enable and power KL as an interconnected regional hub for Asia, bringing in new disruptive technologies, global talent, and investments into Malaysia.Today we speak with Suraj and Asad about what this entails and why they are focused on KL, their investment strategy, and targets for 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2016, the e-commerce scene was just beginning to harness the full potential of online and mobile commerce, and social media marketing. Online shopping was popular but still competing with brick-and-mortar preferences in many markets, unlike the widespread adoption that we see right now.PTT Outdoor boldly ventured where few dared. Embracing the World Wide Web as its sole marketplace, PTT Outdoor set out with a backpack full of ambition and a trail map drawn in digital ink. Today, this adventurous spirit has carved a niche for the company as a pioneer in the e-commerce landscape, selling outdoor gear to a community of enthusiasts who were just a click away from gearing up for their next big adventure.On the Open For Business show today, we speak with Mike Chu and Jason Khoo, Co-Founders of PTT Outdoor, an outdoor camping and hiking equipment company about establishing and sustaining a successful e-commerce business. The duo will share insights on what works and what doesn’t when moving your business online, including the importance of adapting to new platforms like TikTok live and targeting specific audiences. They will also be highlighting their journey of maintaining a purely online business, and making strategic decisions in a constantly evolving digital landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like many founders, entrepreneurship wasn’t in the plans for Selina – she always wanted to become a doctor, and the dream was to become an Intensive Care Unit specialist. Unfortunately that dream came to an end around 8 years ago after she experienced a slipped disc, but reportedly didn't have the support she needed to recover.She told the Vulcan Post that when she asked to be assigned lighter duties for three months as she healed, she was told she did not have a future in the anaesthesiology and ICU departments anymore, and that she should just leave and find something else to do. And this eventually led to Disruptive Doctors, a platform for doctors to connect with other like-minded doctors within the community, find mentors within their sector, upskill themselves through their academy, and find jobs.We speak to Dr. Selina Chew to dive further into her entrepreneurial story, the shift from doctor to startup founder, the business potential here, and her ambitions ahead for this platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, we speak with Manickavasagam Palaniandy, Founder of Lean Partner–they’re a boutique consulting firm that specialises in Agile Operation Transformational Management, providing consultations in operational excellence, as well as training & certifications.Lean Partner was founded back in 2013 and they have executed more than 2800 projects delivering more than US$ 100 million of total value with a client portfolio of over 200 organisations.This includes the likes of Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and government-linked corporations across multiple countries in both the ASEAN and European regions that achieve a minimum of 10x ROI.In today’s discussion, Manicka shares his 24 years of experience in the industry, emphasising on Lean Partner's commitment to driving growth and digitalisation in various industries, and how their unique approach to consultancy sets them apart in a competitive field.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.