Open For Business

As ASEAN’s digital demand surges, so does the need for telecom infrastructure to keep us connected. On Open For Business, we speak with Suresh Sidhu, CEO & Founder of EdgePoint Infrastructure, about how the company has built over 15,600 towers across Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and its plans to surpass 20,000 towers in the coming years.

A telecom industry veteran, Suresh previously led EDOTCO Group and has over 20 years of experience, dating back to the rollout of 3G in Malaysia. Now, backed by DigitalBridge, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and the IFC, he shares his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, the business model behind telecom towers, and how EdgePoint differentiates itself in an asset-heavy industry.

We also dive into the impact of 5G, M&A, and AI-driven connectivity on future growth, the challenges of scaling telecom infrastructure, and whether an IPO or private sale is the likely exit strategy for EdgePoint’s investors.

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In this episode, we speak with Royston G. King, the founder of Master Scaling, a company focused on helping businesses rapidly grow through digital marketing and strategic scaling techniques. He’s an investor, a multiple best-selling author, and has been recognized on platforms like Forbes for his contributions to business and entrepreneurship. We'll be discussing his journey into entrepreneurship, how Master Scaling helps businesses achieve exponential growth, the challenges he’s faced along the way, and what’s next for him in the world of digital business.

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Is pet influencer marketing really a thing? In this episode of Open For Business, we chat with June Kweh, Founder of Hey Pawfriends!, a platform that connects pet brands with pet influencers (yes, that’s a thing!). The idea came about after brands started approaching her to promote pet products on her dog’s Instagram account with Hey Pawfriends! launched in mid-2024. Leveraging her background in e-commerce and digital marketing, with stints at Group M, Lazada, and Shopee, June was driven by the need to address the fragmentation and lack of structure for pet creators.

Hey Pawfriends! operates on three key pillars: a self-serve platform for SMEs to discover pet influencers, agency services for larger brands needing managed campaigns, and an emerging e-commerce initiative that empowers pet creators to launch their own product collaborations. In our conversation, June gets into how her platform aims to tackle the unique challenges of the pet creator economy, as well as her own challenges building the product, educating potential clients about the value proposition, and generating revenue on a lean, bootstrapped budget. The conversation also dives into strategic growth priorities for 2025, including expansion plans and the potential to raise external funding.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Tan Ding Jie, Co-Founder at Prefer, a Singapore-based coffee startup that’s transforming the industry with their innovative “bean-free” coffee. Founded in 2022, Prefer manufactures sustainable and affordable ground coffee compatible with standard espresso machines, catering to businesses such as cafes, coffee chains, distributors, and flavor houses. In February 2024, Prefer secured US$2 million in seed funding, led by Forge Ventures and joined by global investors like 500 Global and Philippine coffee startup Pickup Coffee. With that in mind, DJ shares the story behind Prefer’s creation, the challenges of scaling a coffee startup, and the ambitious goals they have for the future of sustainable coffee.

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Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) arm of Capital A, aims to redefine aviation maintenance in Southeast Asia. In this episode of Open For Business, CEO Mahesh Kumar details ADE’s evolution from AirAsia’s in-house engineering team to a full-fledged third-party MRO provider. With a state-of-the-art 14-line hangar at KLIA and expansion into markets including Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines—with plans to enter Thailand and the US—ADE is setting ambitious growth targets. 

Mahesh explains how ADE’s comprehensive services, from line and base maintenance to workshops and digital solutions like AEROTRADE and ELEVADE, are engineered for cost efficiency and rapid turnaround. He also highlights the company’s strategy for boosting third-party revenue through organic growth and strategic M&A, alongside investments in workforce development via training partnerships.
 

Whether you’re in aviation or interested in disruptive business models, this conversation offers insights into navigating a capital-intensive industry and driving sustainable growth in a competitive global landscape.

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How can brands better connect with digital creators (at scale) to elevate their storytelling? Enter Cult Creative, a Malaysian creator-first platform that connects brands with a dynamic network of content creators. Founded in 2020 by Shermaine Wong, Cult Creative began as a simple matchmaking tool and has evolved into an ecosystem that streamlines brand collaborations and empowers creators with campaign management and analytics.

After securing RM500,000 from The Hive Southeast Asia and receiving grant support from Cradle Fund, Cult Creative is continuing its expansion drive, aiming to 3X revenue in 2025. In this episode, Shermaine shares insights on the platform’s evolution and teases the upcoming launch of new features, including the Creator Academy and enhanced Creator Platform, along with strategies for driving sustained growth in a competitive market.

Shermaine won the Founder to Watch award at Cradle Fund’s PLUGIN 2024 conference in December.

Here are some AI-generated key highlights from the conversation:

Creator Economy Transformation: Cult Creative connects brands with nano and micro-influencers to power marketing campaigns and drive high-quality creator-generated content.

Streamlined Platform: The newly launched creator platform simplifies administrative tasks by handling agreements, invoicing, and ensuring 30-day payment cycles for creators.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with agencies expand access to larger brands, allowing agencies to focus on client management while Cult Creative taps into broader markets.

Market Trends & Growth: Leveraging trends like TikTok’s dominance and the rise of UGC, the platform offers a unique value proposition with its Creator Academy, empowering creators to scale their skills and careers.

Financial Performance & Future Plans: After achieving 4.2x revenue growth in 2024 (RM1.52M) and paying out nearly RM700K to creators, Cult Creative is targeting 3x growth in 2025 (RM5M) through initiatives like a new brand and agency dashboard, regional expansion into Singapore and Hong Kong, and integrating AI for enhanced productivity and efficiency.

Financial Performance & Future Plans: After achieving 4.2x revenue growth in 2024 (RM1.52M) and paying out nearly RM700K to creators, Cult Creative is targeting 3x growth in 2025 (RM5M) through initiatives like a new brand and agency dashboard, regional expansion into Singapore and Hong Kong, and integrating AI for enhanced productivity and efficiency.

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Autism Cafe Project is more than just a business. It’s a place where young adults on the autism spectrum gain real work experience, build confidence, and find purpose.

Founded by Mohd Adli Yahya, this social enterprise was born out of a father’s love and a mission to create meaningful opportunities for those often overlooked in the workforce. But turning this vision into reality wasn’t easy, with challenges in funding, public awareness, and shifting mindsets about inclusivity.

In this episode, we explore how Autism Cafe Project is empowering families, breaking misconceptions about hiring people with autism, and why businesses should step up to create more inclusive workplaces.

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Established in 1957, Xin Seng Fatt Industries has been brewing soy sauce for over three generations, supplying restaurants and food businesses with traditionally fermented soy sauce. In 2019, under the third generation leadership, the company entered the consumer retail space with Mu Artisan Soy Sauce, a premium, handcrafted soy sauce brand.

In this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Shirley Chia, third-generation Director of Xin Seng Fatt Industries and Founder of Mu Artisan Soy Sauce, as she shares her journey of launching the consumer brand and integrating it into the company’s long-term strategy. We explore the challenges of scaling artisanal production, the delicate balance between B2B and B2C operations, and innovative approaches to brand building in today’s competitive market. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an industry enthusiast, discover how blending heritage with modern business strategies can create lasting success.

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In this episode, we speak with Catherine Goh, CEO at Santan, a brand under AirAsia's non-airline subsidiary, RedBeat Ventures. As of December 2019, Santan marked their first foray into the retail food business, serving meals from countries in ASEAN, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. We’ll discuss how this all came about, the challenges she had to overcome to bring Malaysia’s famous nasi lemak to the skies and her ambitions ahead for the business in 2025 and beyond.

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From failures & setbacks to success & profit, on this episode of Open for Business, we speak with Bryant Gan, Founder and CEO of Niagawan Plus—a Malaysian cloud-based accounting software company dedicated to simplifying financial management for small businesses. On the back of winning the All-Star Award at Cradle Fund’s PLUGIN 2024 conference, Bryant shares his entrepreneurial journey with us, from developing an MVP for a friend to seizing a critical market gap in finance management.

Founded in 2016, Niagawan Plus now serves over 30,000 paying customers through innovative product design and savvy digital marketing. Bryant explains how the company stands out in a crowded SaaS space, emphasising the importance of effective customer acquisition and retention. He also discusses the potential growth boost from Malaysia’s upcoming LHDN e-Invoicing mandate. The conversation delves into the challenges of scaling a SaaS business, lessons learned from past ventures, and strategic plans for future expansion.

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