Open For Business

Clear plastic cling wrap might be the cheap and convenient way to keep leftovers, but it contributes to plastic pollution to the environment, especially when it is not recyclable. With this in mind, Saffron & Serai is trying to change the cling wrap game with batik beeswax wraps. Iman Preece, founder of Saffron and Serai, discusses how she used YouTube to learn the production process, her dedication to marrying sustainability & design, and her inspirations coming from a long line of entrepreneurship. Image Credit : http://saffronandserai.com/ WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As conventional agriculture becomes no longer sustainable, all eyes have turned to look for sustainable farming practices, and one of which is vertical indoor farming. Jay Desan, the co-founder of BoomGrow, discusses her aims to change the access of nutritious and sustainably produced food that we put on our plates using the latest agritech.Image Credit: BoomGrow Instagram PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Batik isn’t the first thing you’d associate with words like “casual”, “contemporary” fashion, but that’s exactly what fashion designer Jeffery Goh intended to change when he first started Inisaya. Plus, by adopting the made-to-order business model, Jeffery is able to cut down on fabric wastage; turning excess materials into masks, scarves, and other complementary items. Jeffery talks about making batik fashionable for a younger crowd, challenges of navigating the Malaysian market, and long-term aspirations for Inisaya as a modern batik label.Image Credit: https://jefferygoh.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founders of local shoe brand Machino, Esther and Amy Tai, discuss promoting Malaysia’s diverse culture in their branding and marketing, using batik and songket materials in their products to promote our unique heritage and culture, and how their shoes truly fit the Malaysian market.Image Credit : Machino Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yelaoshr is an education provider which provides one-to-one lessons to help students and children aged 3 to 12 who face obstacles when it comes to reading, speaking and writing in multiple languages as multilingual Malaysians. Chairman David Yap shares their struggles and successes over the years since their inception in the early 2000s. Image Credit : Yelaoshr Facebook PageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with Table & Apron’s 8th year anniversary, its founder Marcus Low joins the conversation. He is here to share its journey on how it handled the challenges faced during the pandemic and its core business development since its last interview in 2017. Image Credit : Table and Apron WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 has completely changed consumer behaviour in regards to coworking spaces. In the last two years, coworking brand Colony launched Castra, a rooftop glamping spot, and The Rooms, a dramatically designed event space, to cater to shifting consumer needs. Timothy Tiah, executive director, expounds on the origins of both spaces, opening a glamping spot a month before the pandemic hit, and starting smaller, more affordable coworking facilities in suburban areas within the Klang Valley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the pillars of Malaysian culture is the humble kopitiam. Somehow, despite the fancy cafes and restaurants that pop up with increasing regularity, there’s just nothing as welcoming and homey as the dark coffee swirling in the white and green porcelain. One artist and entrepreneur who fell in love with just that kopitiam je ne sais quoi is Jack Yin, who discusses how he expresses his passion for kopitiams and other Malaysian cultural oddities through his art, and how his business has seen its fair share of ups and downs throughout the pandemic.Image Credit: Jacktus.my InsatagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sipjoy is a cafe-focused mobile app platform that connects local independent cafés to coffee drinkers and café goers with one-flat-price coffee pass that allows cross-café coffee redemption. They have recently won 2nd place in the ASB101k Start-Up track. Vincent Sin founder and CEO of the SipJoy App together with Evelyn Saw joins us today to unravel their coffee journey.  Image Credit : Rawpixel.com | ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renovation, interior design, and remodelling are crucial stages when moving into a new home. One challenge during this time is visualising, in 3D, what different furniture and fittings might look like in a new space. Sean Lai, co-founder of SofaX, plans to close that gap by allowing users to decorate their homes virtually, before spending any money. By partnering with CrownLivin, SofaX intends to change the way new homeowners approach designing their personal space.  Image Credit : Studio Romantic, ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.