Enterprise Explores

Today, Enterprise explores the state of the tech startup ecosystem and how the funding and investment narrative within this space has evolved over the years with:Peter Murray, Country Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) Malaysia and Emerging MarketsKamarul Muhamed, Founder & Group CEO at Aerodyne Group, a Malaysian based tech startup that’s ranked as the world's #1 drone service providerAnd Khailee Ng, Managing Partner at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.4 billion in assets under management.On the show today, Pete, Kamarul and Khailee will help us break down the importance of establishing partnerships for tech startups, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs within this space, and the future of Malaysia’s tech startup ecosystem. This interview is brought to you by Amazon Web Services (AWS)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Enterprise Explores the newly-formed Soonicorn Collective and discuss whether building startup unicorns is an outdated notion with Dr Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Senior Partner & Co-Founder of ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator, and Ramachandran Muniandy, CEO and Co-Founder at Asia Mobiliti. They are both Co-Chairs of the Soonicorn Collective.The Soonicorn Collective is a platform that is hoping to groom Malaysia's next unicorns and foster a strong startup ecosystem in the country via policy proposals and engagement with government leaders.Working with Proficeo Consultants and in partnership with Penjana Kapital, they announced the pioneer group of 18 founders within the platform. Some of the names from this batch include Nadira Yusof from Kiddocare, Giden Lim from BLOOMTHIS, and Hui Yik Seong from Direct Lending. All of whom have been on our 10am show - Open For Business.The Soonicorn Collective is a kind of pivot from the 100 Soonicorns program that was launched just over a year ago. The program focused on monthly discussions between founders on their own experiences and challenges regarding issues faced from the early stage to Series A stage and beyond. The participants also had the opportunity to engage with local and global venture capitalists.Over the course of this conversation, Doc Siva and Ram will help us get a better understanding on the intention behind the change in program, what this membership-driven platform will look and feel like, and the value it expects to bring not only to founders but also the wider startup ecosystem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the present time where a digital-first lifestyle pervades every aspect of our lives from communication and entertainment to learning and running businesses, it is important to understand how the digital landscape is shaping our behaviours, preferences, and approaches to available opportunities.In Malaysia’s rapidly developing digital market, the Meltwater’s 2024 Global Digital Report offers an insightful view of the evolving digital world, revealing the dynamics of Internet penetration, social media trends, and digital behaviours across the globe.In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we look into the highlights of the 2024 Global Digital Report by Meltwater regarding the challenges and opportunities presented in digital age, focusing on how enhanced connectivity, changing social media preferences, and how technological advancements impact societies and businesses. Together to help us further delve into the topic is David Hickey, the Executive Director for Asia Pacific at Meltwater.Photo Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the face of robust growth projections for Malaysia's construction industry, there's a pressing need to harness technology to revolutionise safety management and boost operational efficiency on sites.Building Information Modelling (BIM) stands out as a pivotal tool, offering a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of places, which significantly enhances planning, design, construction, and management of buildings and infrastructure.Meanwhile, integrating technological solutions can help to reduce incidences of occupational injuries and better compliance with safety regulations. Innovations such as wearables, drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time monitoring and risk assessment could play a crucial role in mitigating various hazards or at least, significantly reduce accidents and fatalities on construction sites.In this episode, we explore how technological advancements help to drive the shift towards smarter, safer, and more efficient construction practice with Vitaly Berezka, the Regional Head for Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa and Asia-Pacific at PlanRadar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Founders gotta be a little silly”Enterprise Explores what Taiwan-based VC firm AppWorks is looking for in Malaysia and Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem with Sophie Chiu, Principal leading the Southeast Asia Arm at AppWorks.We explore Sophie's role leading AppWorks' expansion efforts into Southeast Asia and the mandate given to her by HQ. We also reflect on her criteria for selecting portfolio companies, insights into the venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia, and how her background informs her approach to supporting and investing in startups.AppWorks has 532 active startups and 1,6622 founders in its alumni network. Its ecosystem has raised a total of US$5.8 billion in funding to reach a total valuation of US$32.4 billion.Founded in 2009, AppWorks provides 2 main services that cater to startups in 2 different stages. There’s AppWorks Accelerator which helps seed-stage startups go from 0 to 1, AppWorks Funds which provides financing to help growth-stage startups scale faster, and also AppWorks School which provides education to talents and prepares them for a career in the startup world.Sophie is leading AppWorks' expansion efforts into Southeast Asia, connecting with and investing in promising founders across the region. Prior to AppWorks, Sophie had 10 years of public equity experience and was part of the portfolio management team at Neuberger Berman, focusing on emerging market opportunities. Before that she served as a research analyst at Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, and London-based Autonomous Research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHEIN's business model is deeply integrated into the fast-evolving landscape of ultra-fast fashion, leveraging a blend of technology, agile manufacturing, and keen market insights to cater to a global audience. However, as SHEIN continues to expand its footprint, questions about sustainability, moral and ethical practices, and the future direction of the company have come to the forefront of discussions among consumers, industry watchers, and potential investors alike.Today, Enterprise explores SHEIN's commitment to sustainability, the challenges and opportunities it faces in light of its rapid growth, and the strategic decisions shaping its journey towards a potential initial public offering (IPO) with Annabella Ng , Senior Director of Global Public Affairs at SHEIN.Photo Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2011, the Government of Malaysia, in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia, took a significant step by mandating that all public listed companies (PLCs) strive for a minimum of 30% women representation on their corporate boards. Initially aimed at the top 100 PLCs, this policy was later extended to encompass a broader spectrum of companies, to create a more balanced and dynamic leadership landscape.As women ascend to leadership roles, their voices become influential drivers of change. The push for increased female representation in leadership roles is not merely a response to social pressures but reflective of a progressive step towards fostering innovation, decision-making quality and overall corporate performance.Delving into the multifaceted impact of female representation in leadership roles and exploring the tangible benefits and potential drawbacks of a set target is Christine Sterk, Chief Business Officer, at Pulsifi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the back end of 2023, Ookla analysed the Speedtest data to gain insights into the current performance of networks that we use on a daily basis. In the analysis, they compared changes in 5G performance to the previous year (2022), identified the top 10 countries with the best performance networks, and discussed customer satisfaction in the usage of 5G.The countries that were involved in the analysis were based on the performance of their fixed networks and also included the connectivity gap across the world.In this episode, Enterprise explores the disparity between 5G performance and the consumer perception in adopting 5G usage. Helping us with that is Affandy Johan, Industry Analyst for the Asia Pacific Region at Ookla.Photo Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores how Grab’s GX Bank and AEON Bank are tackling digital banking in Malaysia with their respective CEOs, Lai Pei Si of GXBank, and Raja Teh Maimunah of AEON Bank.In this episode, we get into what is guiding the development and approaches taken with their respective digital banks, the intricacies of what it takes to build a bank from scratch and how it differs from traditional banking models, strategies they are taking to acquire and retain customers, and the products they have in mind for the future.We will also look into the strategic advantages provided by their parent companies, shareholders, and consortium partners.GX Bank Berhad is a subsidiary of GXS Bank (a joint-venture between Grab Holdings and Singtel) and consortium partners such as Kuok Group, while AEON Bank operates under joint ownership by AEON Financial Service, Ltd. (AFS) and AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad – both of which are subsidiaries of Japan's largest retail group – AEON Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, empowering women entrepreneurs has emerged as a critical avenue for fostering economic growth, innovation, and social change.Across the globe, women entrepreneurs are breaking barriers, creating jobs, and contributing significantly to their economies, yet they continue to face challenges such as limited access to capital, gender biases in the business world, and a lack of support networks and mentorship opportunities.Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day and the achievements of women worldwide, we speak with Anusuya Krishnan, EXCO Member of the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM) and founder of Migi Te, and Bikesh Lakhmichand, the Founder of 1337 Ventures on the initiatives that are in place to help improve access to funding, providing mentorship, and fostering a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem to level the playing field for women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.