Open For Business

With over 100,000 users across 1,000 companies, BrioHR is fast becoming a potential major HR tech player. But how does a Malaysian-based startup take on global giants like Deel and Employment Hero?

For Co-Founder and CEO Benjamin Croc, the answer lies in localisation, strong client relationships, and a relentless focus on usability and AI integration.

On Open For Business, Benjamin shares BrioHR’s journey from tackling onboarding pain points to building a full-stack HR platform, and how they plan to use their $6.5 million Series A funding to scale regionally, deepen their product, and double down on AI.

We discuss:

• How BrioHR localizes HR tech for Southeast Asian needs

• Using AI to improve claims, job descriptions, and engagement

• Business model, margins, and pathway to profitability

• Lessons from their fundraising journey and Series A process

• Growth targets, Series B goals, and long-term exit plans

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Most people don’t think of algae when it comes to climate action, but it might just be one of the most powerful tools we’ve got. We speak with Jean Tan, Co-Founder and Chief Ecosystem Officer of Atoz Carbon Cycle Platform. Her team is using microalgae to do more than just capture carbon – it’s helping crops grow better, improving soil, and even supporting the food chain – all through one integrated system.

Jean explains how this tiny organism is already making a big impact, the real benefits seen by farmers and businesses, and why she believes ESG shouldn’t be seen as a cost but as a smart investment in long-term value.

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Harith Ridzuan, also known as The Green Carpenter, transformed his family’s woodworking business into a sustainable manufacturing company that’s now working with everyone from local cafés to global brands. Now, he's taking a bold new step by launching a retail space for The Green Factory.

Today, on Open For Business, we explore what’s behind the move, how it's being funded, and his vision for it — along with the challenges of running a values-driven business and whether purpose still pays the bills.

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ChatGPT, AI tutors & the future of student advice, that’s the focus of today’s Open For Business.

As students shift from Google searches to ChatGPT prompts, how does that change the way they choose universities and plan their future? Founded in 2014 to tackle the chaos of online education forums, EduAdvisor has grown into a sizable education consulting platform, guiding over 5,000 student enrollments annually and reaching more than 4 million students through organic search, social media, and now AI tools.

In this episode, Co-Founder Loh Sue May and Director of Enrolment Lee Ching Wei talk about EduAdvisor’s journey, their AI-powered SPM tutor app EduBijak, and how they’re adapting to a rapidly changing digital discovery landscape.

We explore:

• How EduAdvisor built organic reach with smart content & student insights

• The rise of ChatGPT as an advice source and the dangers of misinformation

• Why EduBijak is free, ad-free, and a long-term brand builder

• Balancing trust, transparency, and impact in the content arms race

• What EduAdvisor’s model tells us about the future of student recruitment

Whether you're a parent, educator, or startup founder, this is a window into how tech is reshaping education advice in Malaysia and beyond.

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With over 2,500 centers onboard and over $64 million in annual gross transaction volume, AOne is quietly transforming the education sector with its all-in-one SaaS platform. But can it win against deeply entrenched behaviors in the industry?

In this episode, Dr. Darren Gouk, Founder & CEO of AOne, shares his journey from nutritional chemistry to edtech founder, the reason behind their 2019 private from marketplace to SaaS, and how they’re helping learning centres & academies digitise operations and scale.

We unpack:

• Why he built AOne and the early challenges of convincing learning centers to digitise

• Why they shifted focus from bookings to backend solutions for educators

• Their roadmap to deepen services, expand regionally, and raise funds

• How AOne balances product development with customer adoption

• How AOne is evolving from SaaS product to platform ecosystem for learning centres

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Justine Cakes & Kueh founder didn’t plan on starting a kueh business. She began with cakes, baking on the side while holding a corporate job. Today, Justine Lim is known for turning Malaysian desserts and dishes from pulut tai tai to nasi lemak and chicken rice cakes, into eye-catching creations that still feel familiar. In this episode, she shares how it all started, what pushed her to take it full-time, and how she’s learned to run a business that stays true to her roots, while still surprising people with every bite.

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ZUZU Hospitality is a tech-enabled revenue platform helping independent hotels digitise, optimise, and compete in a travel ecosystem dominated by big brands and OTAs. With over 2,500 hotels onboarded across Southeast Asia and India, and US$30 million raised to date, the startup is taking on a global challenge: making tech work for small players in a highly fragmented, competitive industry.

In this episode of Open For Business, co-founder and CEO Vikram Malhi, formerly Managing Director at Expedia Asia, shares how ZUZU helps hotels level up through a performance-based model that bundles tech, channel optimization, and OTA expertise. He reflects on building during a pandemic, near-term profitability, and his vision to help 10,000 hotels scale in the AI era.

We also dive into:

• The staggering size of the independent hotel market

• Why most small hotels struggle with OTA (online travel agent) optimization

• ZUZU’s automation-first approach to revenue and operations

• How AI powers guest comms, reviews, and pricing decisions

• Growth plans and what it’ll take to scale beyond 8 figures

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In this episode, we speak with Richard and Rachael Prentice, the husband-and-wife co-founders of Rise and Plunge, Malaysia’s first dedicated contrast therapy spa offering private, Scandinavian-inspired experiences combining infrared saunas and cold plunges. We explore their journey from corporate careers to entrepreneurship, the science behind contrast therapy, and how they’re working to make cold plunge and sauna therapy more accessible at home. Plus, we'll also dive into how they scaled from DIY ice baths to a seven-figure wellness business, and what’s next for this ambitious duo.

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What began as an internal tool has grown into a Malaysian-built challenger to Mailchimp. But in a crowded global market, how does Enginemailer really stand out?

According to Fleet Commander Jeffri Shahul Hamid, it starts with unlimited subscribers, a pay-as-you-use model, and tools for both marketing and transactional emails. That’s how his team quietly built a platform now powering half a billion emails a month across 140+ countries.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 22-year journey from digital and tech agency to SaaS scale-up

• How Enginemailer gained global traction through AppSumo

• Why building product before promotion paid off

• The engine behind their ultra-low churn and organic growth

• How AI powers their automation, spam filtering, and more

• What it takes to scale profitably on hyperscalers like Azure

Whether you’re building a SaaS, scaling an SME, or tired of paying more as your subscriber list grows — this is a masterclass in product-led growth. Made in Malaysia.

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Yeoh Chen Chow is one of the most recognizable names in Malaysia’s startup scene. From co-founding Fave to scaling Groupon and KFit, he’s now launched 1% Advisory & Coaching, a minute-by-minute, fractional advisory firm helping business leaders make better decisions, faster.

In this episode of Open For Business, we dive into Chen Chow’s entrepreneurial journey, from small-town beginnings to startup exits, and why he’s now focused on empowering others. He reflects on the tough lessons from co-founder dynamics, managing acquisitions and exits, and why living simply helps him focus on impact.

We also explore:

• The origins and model behind 1% Advisory & Coaching

• What most founders get wrong about leadership and scale

• Lessons from the Groupon Taiwan turnaround

• How to build trust in high-stakes co-founder relationships

• Why coaching, like business, is all about fit and clarity

• His vision to become a "Business GP" for the startup world

Whether you’re a founder, exec, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with hard-earned lessons and practical insights for anyone looking to build, and sustain, their ventures or careers.

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