Open For Business

With less than 5% of startups likely to be successful, building one is no easy feat, especially when the odds are stacked against new founders. Just this year, the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) was launched, where one of the many goals is to catalyse 5,000 startups within the next 5 years. Such lofty ambitions require both private and public sectors to band together in nurturing founders to bring their ideas and businesses to the next stage. This is a vision shared by business expert and Super Scaling founder, Alvin Poh, who currently coaches and mentors close to 50 founders of six to seven-figure ventures from Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

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There are plenty of staple brands on the supermarket shelves that we just assume are Malaysian, but aren’t; Milo isn’t ours, Maggi isn’t ours, even Ayam Brand. However, yoghurt brand Sunglo is born and bred Malaysian, and Rahmesh Gomez, managing director of Malaysian Yoghurt Company, discusses his family’s legacy, their unique market positioning, and their plans to expand and grow.

Image Credit: @sunglo.malaysia | Facebook

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Being Asia’s first employee ecosystem that promotes better health, wealth and wellness, CXA strives to provide the best possible healthcare at an affordable price through early detection and disease prevention. Rosaline Chow, the Founder and CEO discusses with us why she started CXA, how the pandemic affected sales and her hopes for the company.

Image Credit: www.hnworth.com

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On this episode of Failing Forward, CEO of BiiB Sheyong Tan talks to us about how to grow your customer base and engage users on a digital platform, as well as why entrepreneurs need to stay the course when it comes to their business values and principles, despite negative reviews, social media backlash and potential customer loss.

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Kiran Jethwa, Founder & CEO of Fumase, an Asset Management & Asset Development company based out of California with a focus on Renewable Energy, Water & Waste sectors; and geographic focus on South Asia & South East Asia. He discusses why South Asia & South East Asia, the importance of both positive environmental and social impact, and his hopes for Fumase.

Image Credit: MEE KO DONG | Shutterstock

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There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on drastic changes in consumer trends and purchasing habits. With people placing more importance on cost-saving and are constantly on the lookout for better deals, ZCITY, an instant rebate and cashback app, aims to redefine, transform, and simplify a user's e-payment gateway experience by providing deals, rewards, and promotions for every use.

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Health has come into sharp focus over the course of the pandemic, with many of us taking a much more vested interest in not just reactive but preventative courses of action. Dr Maryam Aziz, founder and CEO of Jardin Pharma, Malaysia’s first halal eco-pharmaceutical company, discusses moving from the cosmeceutical space to the pharmaceutical space, and their big plans for the future.

Image Credit: PopTika | Shutterstock

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It’s an occupational hazard. As a doctor, you’re constantly inundated by calls from friends and family for medical advice. But not everyone has access to a doctor when they need it. And Google is not the way to go. This is why Dr. Raymond Choy and his friends created DOC2US - so you too are just a phone call or chat away from expert medical advice, evidence-based information, referrals, as well as e-prescriptions. We discuss the startup’s growth, the pandemic’s impact on their services, and how they plan to further enhance the patient’s journey.

Image Credit: PopTika | Shutterstock

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Chai Kah Fei is the brains behind Baan 26 and Diet Monsta. With the goal to have calorie-controlled meals for the fitness fanatics, Kah Fei joins us to talk about the inspiration behind starting it and the steps taken to ensure its healthiness.

Image Credit: DIETMONSTA | YouTube

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Just as the pandemic was beginning to gain traction in China, and before it spread anywhere else, we spoke with the owner of the KLoé hotel Ng Ping Ho. Now, 18 months on as we hopefully see things slowly return to normal, we thought we’d drop back in to see just how things worked out for the hotel, and how they managed to survive.

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