Open For Business

Can a business built around Nasi Lemak become a global brand like Nando's? That's Nale’s ambitious mission, but their biggest challenge is convincing Malaysians to pay a premium for a beloved roadside classic.

Founder and CEO Andreas Domingo joins us to share his journey of building a brand that has generated over RM36 million in revenue since 2019. He discusses his unique premium positioning, a new dual-brand strategy for mass-market expansion, and his plans to venture into the FMCG space.

We discuss:

• The mission to elevate Nasi Lemak into a globally recognised dish.

• The strategy behind their premium positioning and mall-based locations.

• The financial journey to over RM10 million in annual revenue.

• Their new dual-brand strategy with "Nale" (premium) and "Naku" (mass-market).

• Their plans to expand into FMCG and eventually go global.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As palm oil plantations expand, the conflict between humans and wildlife escalates, often with tragic results. Sarawak-based AIoT startup Satok Bridge Digital was founded to tackle this critical issue, offering a technology-driven alternative to violence.

CEO Tham Tat Wai joins us to share their story of building a sustainable, mission-driven tech company. He explains their flagship product ‘Gajah Safe’, an AI-powered early warning system for elephants, and discusses how their core expertise in Vision AI is being applied to solve a range of other rural and industrial problems.

We discuss:

• Their mission to resolve human-wildlife conflict with humane technology.

• How their ‘Gajah Safe’ early warning system for elephants works.

• Their core expertise in Vision AI and their various innovative "pet projects."

• The "Data Bridge," their unique IoT device with swappable modules for rural areas.

• Their sustainable, self-reliant approach to funding and business growth.

  For entrepreneurs in deep tech and conservation, this is a fascinating look at a mission-driven company with a passion for solving real-world problems.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started as a shared skincare struggle between two young Malaysians has grown into Dododots, a pimple patch brand that’s caught the attention of TikTok and beyond. In just four years, the brand has sold over a million packs globally. To explore further into their inception story, the challenges the business has faced in a unique market and the ambitions ahead, we speak with Ethan Wong and Esther Erin, Co-founders at Dododots.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 11 years, Strangers at 47 has been a beloved neighbourhood cafe, famous for its savory crepes. But behind the cozy vibes is a story of resilience, adaptation, and the relentless hustle of surviving in the tough F&B industry.

Co-founders Lim Sing Yi and Sean Ooi join us to share their journey from "fearless" young graduates to seasoned F&B veterans. They discuss the financial realities of running a cafe with thin margins, their strategy to boost profitability by expanding into catering and e-commerce, and their ambitious plans to launch a new flagship store.

We discuss:

• The 11-year journey of building a beloved neighbourhood cafe.

• The financial realities of running an F&B business on 6-8% net margins.

• Their strategy to boost profitability by expanding into catering and e-commerce.

• The biggest ongoing challenge in F&B: hiring and retaining talent.

• Their future plans, including the launch of a new flagship store.

For aspiring and current F&B entrepreneurs, this is an honest and insightful look at what it truly takes to build a sustainable and beloved brand from the ground up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus Khoo, founder and CEO of Pure Mylk, shares how they’re helping F&B brands bring clean-label products to life, what it takes to innovate in a crowded market, and why Malaysia could be a food-tech launchpad for the region. He also talks about the operational challenges faced by the business and their ambitions ahead. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warehouse automation has long been seen as a multi-million dollar game reserved for giants. Backed by Pentamaster, Malaysian deep tech startup Pingspace is attempting to change that, making advanced robotics accessible to all businesses through a Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) model for its automated cube-based storage systems that function like "giant vending machines."

Founder and CEO Chuah Di Ken joins us to share his journey of building a hardware-heavy startup. He discusses their HaaS model, how their technology makes warehouses 4x more space-efficient, and their ambitious plan to grow from RM10 million to RM40 million in revenue next year.

We discuss:

• The "Matrix Storage System" and how it makes warehouses more efficient.

• The Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) model that makes automation affordable.

• The strategic and familial (father-son) relationship with Pentamaster, which is both an investor but also Pingspace’s manufacturer.

• The founder's journey from food science to deep tech robotics.

• Their growth plan for scaling in Malaysia and expanding overseas.

  For business owners in logistics and manufacturing, and anyone interested in the future of automation, this is a look at a Malaysian company building the warehouse of the future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a magic producer pivot to the wellness industry and build a business generating nearly half a million ringgit in monthly revenue in just over a year? For David Lai, founder of Warrior Plunge, the secrets of the stage are the same secrets to selling high-ticket products.

David joins us to share his entrepreneurial journey, from producing shows for magic's biggest stars to selling premium cold plunges and saunas. He discusses his unique marketing philosophy, the strategy that grew sales exponentially, and how he leveraged "indirect showrooms" at gyms and pickleball courts to build his brand.

We discuss:

• The transition from magic producer to wellness entrepreneur.

• The strategy that grew sales to nearly RM500k a month in under 18 months.

• The art of selling high-ticket price products.

• How to use "indirect showrooms" to drive high-ticket sales.

• The importance of after-sales service and building customer trust.

• His plan is to pivot from products to a physical wellness hub.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-owners Sam Fakhoury and Moustafa Elbaadwihi took over a struggling barbershop and transformed it into Kingsmen Barbershop, a premium grooming brand fit for kings. At their Bukit Damansara location, Kingsmen is redefining what it means to step into a barbershop, with an experience designed to relax, refresh, and recharge the modern gentleman.

In this episode, Directors Sam (CEO) and Moustafa (CFO) share how they combined their backgrounds in engineering and finance with a passion for craftsmanship to build a thriving business. They discuss their decision to stay hands-on, with Sam being both CEO and barber, and how that shapes everything from customer relationships to team culture.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your daily coffee was served not by a person, but by a vending machine? Malaysian startup Otter Barista is deploying its "cafe in a box" vending machines across the Klang Valley, aiming to solve the demand for affordable, consistent, and convenient coffee, especially in high-traffic locations like hospitals.

Founder and CEO Eeyong Ho joins us to share her journey of building a seven-figure robotic coffee business. She discusses their strategy for overcoming the stigma of vending machine coffee through quality beans and superior service, how they use IoT to manage a growing fleet of machines, and their ambitious plans to scale to over 300 locations.

We discuss:

• The "cafe in a box" model for reducing rental and manpower costs.

• Their strategy for winning in high-demand locations like hospitals.

• How they use IoT and proactive maintenance to ensure quality and hygiene.

• The importance of branding to "humanise" an automated service.

• Their growth plan to scale from 70 to 300 machines via strategic partnerships.

  For founders in the F&B and retail tech space, this is a dive into building an automated, hardware-based business from the ground up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bilingual education demand is surging and MapleBear is tapping into Malaysia’s multicultural market with its globally respected Canadian curriculum.

With Malaysia’s growing parental focus on cognitive development and future employability, and government plans for a bilingual preschool curriculum by 2026, MapleBear’s entry is perfectly timed. This episode with Rafael Mangini, Marketing Director of MapleBear Canadian School, explores their global approach to early childhood education, how it nurtures holistic, future-ready learners, and what their expansion means for Malaysia’s education landscape.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.