Enterprise Explores

On the 15th of September, Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said that Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to unlock an estimated worth of around US$110 billion in productive capacity, and that it has the potential to significantly contribute towards accelerated achievement of the objectives and aspirations of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the New Industrial Master Plan 2023.Today on Enterprise Biz Bytes, we will focus on the benefits of generative AI in automating complex tasks, and what implications it will have on Malaysian businesses. We will also explore how Malaysian SMEs can leverage on the growth of Generative AI, and what implications it brings to the business ecosystem as we head into 2024.Joining us is Sanjay Deshmukh, Senior Regional Vice President of ASEAN and India at Snowflake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the end of the zero interest-rate policy (ZIRP), what does the venture capital landscape look like ahead? In line with next Wednesday’s Malaysia Venture Forum 2023, on this episode of Enterprise Biz Bytes we explore the goal and purpose of the event, as well as the current opportunities and challenges in the VC landscape here in Malaysia.Helping us with this is Ng Sai Kit, the Chairman of Malaysia Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (MVCA).The Malaysia Venture Forum, themed "Reflect, Assess, and Charge Forward" is a premier gathering of industry leaders in Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE) and entrepreneurship. This dynamic event encourages introspection on the Malaysian VC & PE landscape, celebrating successes while openly addressing areas for improvement.Get your tickets here and use promo code ‘bfmguest’ at checkout to get a complimentary ticket. Please note that there is a limited number of complimentary tickets available.Join the event for collaborative discussions, strategic reflections, and a collective charge forward into the future of innovative and impactful investing.Featuring:Main Stage: Featuring visionary keynotes, panel discussions and presentations from Securities Commission Malaysia, Khazanah Nasional, MAVCAP, Sime Darby, Gobi Partners, Ekuinas, Openspace Ventures, Sunway Group, PwC, BCG X, UNDP and more. View the full speaker lineup here.Networking Breaks: Idea exchange amongst professionals, entrepreneurs, regulators and investors over food & drinks.After-Party: Unwind, share experiences and solidify connections in a vibrant over music & drinks, ensuring the networking momentum continues beyond the forum.Check out the full 1-day agenda & speaker lineup on MVCA’s official website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s Capital Gains Tax: Wider Scope For Foreign Assets, Impact on Corporate Restructuring, Tax Rate Determination, and More.On the back of the Dewan Rakyat approving the Finance Bill, on this episode of Enterprise BizBytes we break down and clarify the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) component with Thenesh Kannaa, Executive Director at Tratax, a firm of independent tax advisers registered with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) as a non-audit firm.The Capital Gains Tax is applicable to both domestic and foreign assets of businesses, but has more broad implications on foreign assets. Thenesh shares insights into the tax regime, its implementation timeline, implications for corporate restructuring, possible tax planning strategies, and also how Malaysia's Capital Gains Tax compares to those in other countries.01:39 Understanding the Finance Bill03:18 Impact of the Bill on Businesses04:52 Explaining the Capital Gains Tax07:15 Implications of the Capital Gains Tax09:34 Comparing Domestic and Foreign CGT16:28 Understanding the Calculation of CGT28:41 Impact of CGT on Corporate Restructuring30:05 Comparing Malaysia's CGT with Other Countries32:25 Advice for Businesses Regarding CGT33:53 Other Tax Changes in 202435:05 Conclusion and Wrap-upSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything you need to know about what's going on with OpenAI; AI agents to be the pathway towards 3 days workdays; Google to delete inactive Gmail accounts; QR codes used in phishing attacks; Analog photography makes a comeback; You're able to now know where will you be on the other side of the earth; And X to reintroduce headlines on the platform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neurodiversity is a concept that challenges traditional views of neurological differences by recognizing and celebrating the diversity of the human brain. Coined in the late 1990s by Australian sociologist Judy Singer and popularised by the autism community, neurodiversity advocates for the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with neurological variations such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions.To understand this topic further and how organisations can truly embrace neurodiversity, we speak with Low Choy Huat, the Malaysia People Advisory Services Leader at Ernst & Young Consulting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday November 24th marks exactly a year since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. With that in mind, on this episode of Enterprise Biz Bytes we ask — has Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani Government done enough for the business community after a year of being in charge?We'll break down what the business community thinks of this government after 1 year, how much the business ecosystem has progressed from a year ago, if at all, and what all these announced billion ringgit investments really mean for local businesses on the ground.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should founders know before, during, and after selling their business?In this episode of Enterprise Biz Bytes, we deep dive into considerations founders should make before, during, and after selling their businesses with Raymond Chou, an entrepreneur that has sold 2 of his businesses in the past. He is Co-founder of Infront Consulting Group and Business Growth Specialist with Owners Circle Asia, and is the Past President of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO).We delve into optimum times for selling, how the valuation of the deal is determined, the negotiation process itself, legal preparations, and the emotional toll involved in the process. Raymond shares valuable insights from his own experiences of selling multiple businesses and also discusses the importance of knowing your buyer, considering the potential acquirers' alignments with the selling company's vision, goals, and values, and why founders should document everything during negotiations.00:20 Recent Market Movements and Acquisitions00:52 Recent Tech Acquisitions02:52 Interview begins with Raymond Chou03:25 Deciding When to Sell a Business05:10 Reasons for Selling a Profitable Business11:00 Emotional Aspects of Selling a Business12:35 Navigating the M&A Process16:00 Understanding Business Valuation in M&A19:20 The Importance of Not Being Desperate During Negotiations19:57 The Role of Potential Growth in Business Valuation 22:10 Assessing Potential Acquirers: Red Flags and Compatibility29:00 The Importance of Legal Preparations in Business Sales32:45 Protecting Employees During Business Sales37:30 The Psychological Shift from Founder to Employee Post AcquisitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah Pearson, Founder of Pear Anderson, and Nigel Wong, the President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), help us explore and dissect the current state and future hopes for the Malaysian travel and tourism industry.Among other things, we explored:- How Malaysian can better compete with regional peers, like Thailand and Singapore.- Tapping into niches (like bird watching) to bring in higher value tourists.- The potential and importance of tapping into sustainability (particularly to attract European tourists).- The gaps and ways we can improve our tourism messaging and promotion.- The importance of good infrastructure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a shocking turn of events that rocked the tech world, last Friday, the 17th of November, the board of directors of OpenAI fired then CEO, and Open AI Founder, Sam Altman.This reportedly followed a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with them, hindering the board’s ability to exercise its responsibilities. Which is the official reason they said that they no longer had confidence in Sam Altman’s ability to continue leading OpenAI.Adding to the drama, it seems that Sam Altman and his team have found a new home over at Microsoft, which owns 49% of Open AI, but has no direct influence over its board of directors.Following up on The Morning Run’s coverage of this with Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities, which you can find here, here on Enterprise Biz Bytes, we explore the typical dynamics at play between founders and board, what good communication between them should look like, and what founders should know about the role and powers of boards. We also get into the value of a board seat during fund raising talks.Helping us with this was Kevin Brockland, Founder & Managing Partner at Indelible VenturesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, about 29% of graduates had starting salaries below RM1,999 a month and around 40% of degree and diploma holders were underemployed, this according to research conducted by the Rapid Youth Success Entrepreneurship (RYSE) projectGiven the tougher and more uncertain job market, could the development of entrepreneurial skills and traits in children and younger people be the answer to higher salaries and better employment? Even if they don’t end up starting their own businesses?In conjunction with World Children’s Day, today we focus on why we should nurture and develop entrepreneurial skills and traits in children with Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founder of 1337 Ventures, and Manmeet Kaur, Super Curriculum Coordinator at HELP International School.Image Credit: LinkedIn | Bikesh Lakhmichand & Manmeet KaurSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.