Open For Business

COBNB stands at the forefront of Malaysia's burgeoning short-term rental sector, offering a comprehensive suite of services that cater to property owners and travelers alike. From Kuala Lumpur's city centre to the scenic outskirts, COBNB's presence is felt as they manage properties, facilitate co-living experiences, and even provide renovation services.As Malaysia gradually opens its doors to the global home-sharing phenomenon, COBNB is strategically positioned to harness the potential of this sector, which is projected to reach a staggering US$1.010 billion in 2023. Their services not only offer property owners an avenue for income generation but also promise travelers authentic, immersive, and personalised holiday experiences. We speak with Bernard Lim, as we explore the intricacies of the short-term rental industry, COBNB's growth trajectory, and the future of home-sharing in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ulalive wants to change the way businesses and individuals communicate and collaborate, addressing the evolving needs of modern remote teams. The platform calls itself a virtual meeting replacement that will give you the ability to skip your virtual meetings and instead get recorded video over email. While this can be especially useful for companies with regionally and globally distributed workforces with varying time zones to manage, is there value for other types of businesses and employers?We find out from Ulalive co-founders Afham Fareez and Elizaveta Leytgold. We will also explore the origins of this platform, how they’ve tested and adapted the product since starting, and what will drive their growth ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golfing startup Deemples wants to help people more easily find golf buddies and organise games at preferred locations and time slots. Founded in 2017, it has raised around RM2.5 million so far to power this goal.Its last funding round was back in 2020 when it raised around US$350,000 (RM1.5 million), but instead of growing abroad it focused on growing the Malaysian market and improving its monetization and business model.Today, Deemples has around 60,000 users and is expected to hit between RM7.5-8 million in Gross Merchandise Value (GMW) this year.With profitability on the cards this year and confidence in their business model, Deemples is looking to raise around US$2 million to accelerate its growth in Malaysia and abroad, with new products, services, and business models, including ecommerce, memberships and more. We speak to Deemples CEO and Co-Founder David Wong about all this, but to also get a better picture of the journey over the last 7 years and a look ahead to Deemples future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nestled in Kuching, The Ranee of Sarawak is a beacon of Malaysia's rich heritage. Founded by Rosemarie Wong, who studied at Central St.Martins and Chelsea College of Art & Design, The Ranee uniquely merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. As we approach Malaysia Day celebrations, we spotlight this cultural jewel and its commitment to preserving local arts and heritage.Image credits: theraneeofsarawak.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enoku, formerly known as Enable OKU, is a social enterprise focused on bridging employment gaps between Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and employers. They advocate for a diverse work environment and offer services like business process outsourcing and manpower provision. Enoku supports PWDs through job preparedness, matching, and retainment, ensuring they find and thrive in suitable roles. Additionally, they assist employers in creating inclusive strategies, providing training on disability awareness, and ensuring the success of PWDs in their roles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEDANIA Innovator started out as IDOTTV back in 2004. Back then the focus was to develop media content which was in line with the Founders experience, but instead they ventured into telcotech, allowing mobile subscribers to request and transfer credits to other prepaid subscribers.Since then, the company changed its name to SEDANIA Innovator in 2013 and has expanded into fintech, healthtech, and greentech through its subsidiaries Sedania Technologies, Sedania As Salam Capital, and Offspring Inc, with healthcare representing 78% of revenue last year, followed by fintech at around 15%.Today on Open for Business, we speak to Datuk Azrin Mohd Noor, Founder and Managing Director of Sedania Innovator about SEDANIA Innovator’s journey, its current focuses, and key priorities ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2015, Flexi Storage was established to provide hassle-free and flexible self-storage service for homes and businesses here in Malaysia. Founded by Desmond How and Alex Lee, this startup hoped to provide a solution for folks who were caught between freeing up much needed space in their homes and getting rid of items that they weren’t ready to part with. 8 years later, the company has provided secure and flexible storage for personal and business use to more than 1,600 customers, now offers over 1,000 self-storage units, spanning over 85,000 square feet (sq ft) of gross floor area (GFA), and most notably is now know as StorHub Self Storage Malaysia following a majority-stake acquisition by Singapore’s largest self-storage operator, StorHub Group.To walk us through the 8 year journey, what this acquisition means for them, and what lies ahead with StorHub in the picture, we speak to StorHub Self Storage Malaysia’s CEO - Desmond How, and COO Alex Lee, the co-founders of the company formerly known as Flexi Storage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wownana Bakehouse is a unique bakery that specialises in vegan pastries, offering a range of products that are 100% dairy-free and egg-free.Situated in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, they pride themselves on creating delectable treats that cater to various dietary needs, their signature offering is the Signature Banana Loaf, which has garnered attention and has been featured on platforms like Tatler Dining.The bakehouse is known for its innovative approach, blending traditional baking with modern dietary preferences. Today on the show, we speak to the founder Fiozznah about the rise of vegan bakeries, and the sustainability of such a niche market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an era of dual-income households, the demand for reliable childcare solutions is at an all-time high. Enter KiddoCare, launched in 2018, a pioneering platform connecting parents with trained babysitters, anytime, anywhere.Founder Nadira Yusof, a working mother of six, understands the challenges parents face. Her vision created KiddoCare, bridging the gap between quality childcare and flexible job opportunities for women.Explore KiddoCare's journey, from self-funding to strategic fundraising, and its plans for offering value-added services, including aged care. Discover why modern parents prefer KiddoCare over traditional helpers, with its focus on child development and flexibility.Nadira shares their financial success, with eight-figure revenue this year and expectations of exponential growth. KiddoCare prepares for a Series A funding round, aiming for USD$5-8 million.As they expand into elderly and pet care, KiddoCare aims to be the ultimate family support platform, redefining childcare and family assistance in the modern age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Digital Investment Managers, or roboadvisors as they’re more commonly known as, have been touted as a way to improve accessibility to investment products by going digital and lowering associated costs, such as removing sales fees and lowering annual management fees. While names such as Stashaway and Wahed Invests may be more well known in this space, there are many other players here. One of them is Raiz Malaysia, a joint venture between Raiz Invest Australia Limited and Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB).Raiz is differentiating itself by helping users invest their spare change, similar to US roboadvisor Acorns. Essentially they round up purchases from linked debit and credit cards, and invest that amount into the portfolio, however if this isn’t your cup of tea, users can still invest normally with regular or one-time deposits.We speak with Raiz Malaysia CEO Aidi Izham about their strategy to compete with other digital and traditional asset management firms, how much of an advantage it is having PNB in their corner, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.