Enterprise Explores

Enterprise Explores the world of tokenisation and token crowdfunding. As the digital landscape evolves, so does the way that businesses can raise capital, but what exactly is tokenisation and token crowdfunding? And how does it differ from the equity crowdfunding or from Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) that got quite a lot of buzz a few years back?To break down these concepts and explore the value proposition they hold for the business community, we're joined by Nicholas Chong, Head of Token Crowdfunding with Malaysian crowdfunding platform pitchIN. Among other things, we'll break down the essence of tokenization, understand the intricacies of token crowdfunding, and distinguish it from ICOs and IEOs. We'll also delve into the process of token crowdfunding and asset tokenization, as well as how this financial evolution can change the game for how businesses raise funds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores the fiduciary duties of board members and the critical roles that they play with Tay Kay Luan, CEO of FIDE Forum. Among other things, we explore what the role of board members really entails and looks like, common misconceptions about the responsibilities and capabilities of board members, and what is fair or unfair to expect of them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we explore the rise of a new e-commerce juggernaut - social media giant Tik Tok - a platform once known primarily for its viral dance and lip-sync videos. They’re taking the fight to Amazon, Shopee, Temu, and others, through its e-commerce arm TikTok Shop.With this, TikTok is no longer just a social media platform; it's a burgeoning marketplace where interaction directly translates into transactions. And with this, they look to be redefining the online shopping experience, transforming the way creators and businesses connect with their audiences and drive sales.A great example here was the recent news that Khairul Aming, social media influencer and founder of the popular Sambal Nyet, hit RM1.2 million in sales in mere minutes when he launched his new product on the TikTok Shop platform around 2 weeks ago. As many as 80,000 packs of his latest product were snapped up by buyers within three minutes and 39 seconds.That said, he was TikTok Malaysia’s 2023 Creator Of The Year and has a huge following of his own, so how representative is this for other creators and businesses who are looking to leverage TikTok Shop to create awareness, drive sales, and grow?To find out, we speak with Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, Partnerships Lead with TikTok Shop Malaysia. Among other things, we’ll explore how TikTok is supporting creators in leveraging their platform, the strategies TikTok Shop has implemented for user experience and seller engagement, and how it's adapting to evolving market demands. We will also get into how TikTok Shop Malaysia is navigating the complexities of digital literacy and cross-border e-commerce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Malaysian startups Kiddocare, du-it, Senang Insurance, and Qwork have in common? Aside from being on BFM’s Open For Business, they all have Artem Ventures as an investor.After 1 year of funding startups in Malaysia, the venture capital firm has invested in 12 local companies, including the 4 mentioned earlier, and it looks like they’ve got more aggressive plans ahead with the stated aim of investing in another over 10 new companies by Q2 2024. Powering this is a RM45 million fund in partnership with pan-Asian life insurer FWD called TIM Ventures which was announced back in December 2022.On this edition of Enterprise Explores, we dive into the motivations, investment strategy, and ambitions of Artem Ventures, as well as insights gained from their journey so far, with Managing Partners Ng Sai Kit and Low Zhen Hui. We also get into what they look for in founders and startups, including red flags, how closely they work with their portfolio companies, and their plans ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Enterprise Explores the on-going shift towards a non-cash economy and how payment systems have evolved over the last few years with Arun Menon, Managing Director at Ipsos Malaysia, a market research firm.Back in January, Ipsos released their latest case study on Non-Cash Economy & Payment Evolutions which found that there has been a slight decrease in the usage of non-cash payment methods in 2023. However, a key point to take note of is that half of Malaysians still use non-cash payments, with e-wallets being used by a quarter of the population.Besides that, some other notable findings from the “Non-Cash Economy & Payment Evolution” study shows:A higher frequency of people who are using e-walletsMore youths are using online transferThe usage of e-wallet for food purchases have increased but experienced a drop for retail and online purchasesTnG Wallet retains the top spot as the most used e-wallet brand, with MAE as strong number 2There is a lot more to break down and digest from this study, which Arun help us explore and digest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech, Oil & Gas, and Human Resources & Legal, will be key in managing the supply and demand in the job market this year, and for employees and jobseekers, it looks like flexibility and ‘Work From Home’ continue to be key demands, while having a sense for career and salary progression is vital for retention. All this and more as Enterprise Explores the 2024 outlook for the jobs and salaries in Malaysia with Fahad Naeem, Country Director at Randstad Malaysia.Randstad recently released their 2024 Job Market Outlook & Salary Guide Report, and Enterprise Explores key insights from the report, including the importance of people management, why Emerging Technologies, Oil & Gas, and Human Resources & Legal are key must-watch sectors in the job market, the potential challenges when it comes to talent recruitment across these key growth industries, why there’s a move away from Generalists towards Specialists in the job market, and more.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Valentine’s Day! The 14th of February is a day dedicated to expressing love and affection towards partners, family members, and friends. Originating from ancient Roman traditions, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a global celebration of love, characterised by the exchange of gifts such as flowers, chocolates, and greeting cards.In today’s contemporary society, Valentine's Day serves not only as an opportunity for individuals to showcase their love and appreciation for one another but also as a significant event for businesses and marketers, who capitalise on this day through tailored marketing campaigns, special offers, and themed products.The same can be observed for other special days, such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, although maybe not on the same magnitude. Today, we speak with Ranganathan Somanathan, Co-Founder & Curator, RSquared Global Ventures; Kuah Jenhan, Creative Director, and Christyna Fong, Creative Director, both from The Chariot Agency, how they understand the consumers’ psyche and craft the right marketing and ads campaigns that resonate so well with the audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're celebrating World Radio Day 2024 with a special edition focused on the enduring impact of radio. This year's theme, "Radio: A Century Informing, Entertaining, and Educating," offers a moment to reflect on the transformative journey of radio, a medium that continues to adapt and thrive in the digital era.Our guest today is Chris Hibert, a seasoned professional whose career in radio has spanned several decades, witnessing firsthand the evolution of this dynamic medium. Chris's contributions to the industry reflect a deep commitment to the core values of radio: to inform, entertain, and educate.We'll be looking into the past, present, and future of radio, exploring the challenges it has faced, the milestones it has achieved, and the potential it holds as we move forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neurodiversity refers to the recognition and acceptance of neurological differences in individuals. These differences can include conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and other cognitive variations.In Malaysia, it is estimated that between 30% to 40% of the population falls under the category of neurodiverse, while the remaining majority is considered “neurotypical”, [according to Oasis Place, a transdisciplinary intervention centre].According to the World Bank (2021), approximately 35.4% of those registered with disabilities in Malaysia are categorised under learning disabilities.The conversation around neurodiversity in the workplace is gaining momentum, with increasing recognition of the value neurodivergent individuals bring to various sectors. Efforts are underway to create more inclusive employment opportunities that leverage the unique strengths and talents of people with neurodivergent conditions.PETRONAS, in collaboration with Ernst & Young, for example, has been actively working to develop a neurodiversity ecosystem in Malaysia by promoting neurodiversity and organisational readiness for hiring neurodivergent individuals.RHB is another organisation that has introduced its Empower Programme, an indication of a growing commitment among Malaysian corporations to support neurodiversity, focusing on tailored recruitment, training, and support systems to enhance workforce integration.This shift towards inclusivity not only aims to improve employment rate among neurodivergent individuals but also enriches the workplace with diverse perspectives and skills.Today, we speak with Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director (and) Group Chief Executive Officer, RHB Banking Group, together with Izham Izhairy Zaini, RHB #Empower participant and Izham’s mother Puan Suzannie Omar on the initiative RHB is taking in supporting and advocating neurodiversity in its organisation and in turn, contributing towards building a more inclusive workforce for the nation.***RHB welcomes all forms of support and interest from businesses of all sizes, including corporates and SMEs, non-profit organisations, governmental agencies and other organisations who would like to participate in its #Empower Programme. Participation can be in the form of being a partner employer or as a sponsor for potential programme participants in the upcoming intake.RHB is committed to making a difference and Making Progress Happen for Everyone. It appreciates the support from all organisations to provide employment opportunities or internships to neurodivergent young adults.Interested companies may email the RHB Community Engagement team at rhbfoundation@rhbgroup.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a month’s time, the domestic component of the Capital Gains Tax announced in Budget 2024 comes into effect. Enterprise Explores Malaysia's incoming Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and what it means for businesses with Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax at KPMG. We get into who the CGT will impact, how broad its reach and implications are, and exemptions to the CGT.We also explore what we’ve learnt from the recently published Capital Gains Tax Return Filing (CGTRF) Program by LHDN, the proactive steps that businesses need to undertake to mitigate the potential impacts, and what we know so far about the compliance and reporting requirements for the CGT.For some background, in Budget 2024, it was announced that a capital gains tax (CGT) would be introduced on the sale of shares in unlisted Malaysian companies and that this would be imposed on the disposal of unlisted shares in a company incorporated in Malaysia by companies, limited liability partnerships, cooperatives and trust bodies. Individuals have been excluded. This would also apply to disposal of shares in a controlled company incorporated outside Malaysia but owns real property in Malaysia, or shares in another controlled company. There are some noted exemptions, including gains on disposals in relation to restructuring within the same group, initial public offerings approved by Bursa Malaysia and venture capital companies (subject to conditions to be stipulated).This was however just the domestic component of the CGT, that will come into effect from March 1, there is also a foreign component impacting foreign assets that came into effect at the start of this year, imposed on all gains or profits on foreign capital assets — ranging from real property overseas to shares on foreign stock exchanges — at the prevailing tax rate. As highlighted by The Edge in their article earlier this year, the fund management industry brought up concerns regarding the CGT as it looked that, without any further clarification or exemptions, the gains brought back to Malaysia or from unlisted shares in the country will be taxed at prevailing income tax rates, which would impact the returns. Thankfully for the fund management industry, the government agreed to exempt the imposition of capital gains tax (CGT) as well as taxes on foreign-sourced income (FSI) on unit trusts, which was announced by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan in mid-January.Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax at KPMG helps us get a clearer understanding of everything businesses should know about the CGT, based on the information we have so far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.