Open For Business

In August, Involve Asia was named alongside 5 other Malaysian tech companies like drone-player Aerodyne, B2B wholesale platform Lapasar, and insurtech firm PolicyStreet, as Forbes Asia 100 to Watch.

Founded in 2014, the platform helps brands form marketing partnerships with global content creators, developers, and affiliates, which has become big business with more companies looking to performance-based marketing to optimise their marketing budgets. Since inception, over $2.6 billion in sales have been generated on their platform (in term of Gross Merchandise Value), with current annual sales generated coming in at $1 billion. Some of their partners and advertisers include Lazada, Grab, Marriott, and Nike, among others.

This year, Involve raised over $10 million dollars in a round led by Bintang Capital Partners and follow-on investment from returning investors like 500 Global. On this episode of Open For Business, you will hear from President and Co-founder René Menezes on how they plan to optimise that funding to grow, the initial problem they were trying to solve back in 2014 and how that has evolved over the last 9 years, and about their IPO plans.

In August, Involve Asia was named alongside 5 other Malaysian tech companies like drone-player Aerodyne, B2B wholesale platform Lapasar, and insurtech firm PolicyStreet, as Forbes Asia 100 to Watch.

Founded in 2014, the platform helps brands form marketing partnerships with global content creators, developers, and affiliates, which has become big business with more companies looking to performance-based marketing to optimise their marketing budgets. Since inception, over $2.6 billion in sales have been generated on their platform (in term of Gross Merchandise Value), with current annual sales generated coming in at $1 billion. Some of their partners and advertisers include Lazada, Grab, Marriott, and Nike, among others.

This year, Involve raised over $10 million dollars in a round led by Bintang Capital Partners and follow-on investment from returning investors like 500 Global. On this episode of Open For Business, you will hear from President and Co-founder René Menezes on how they plan to optimise that funding to grow, the initial problem they were trying to solve back in 2014 and how that has evolved over the last 9 years, and about their IPO plans.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Malaysia's gig economy growing to an estimated 30% of the workforce, various job platforms have emerged to meet the demand. Singapore-based FastCo is one such platform. After launching FastGig in 2022 and securing $7.5 million in Series A funding, the company aims to expand in Malaysia and beyond.

Today you will learn about the story behind their management-led-buy-out in 2021, the rationale for entering the flexi-work platform business, and how they’ve deployed their Series A $7.5 million as they look to grow in Malaysia and the region, with Julian Tan, the CEO and Founder of FastCo.

With Malaysia's gig economy growing to an estimated 30% of the workforce, various job platforms have emerged to meet the demand. Singapore-based FastCo is one such platform. After launching FastGig in 2022 and securing $7.5 million in Series A funding, the company aims to expand in Malaysia and beyond.

Today you will learn about the story behind their management-led-buy-out in 2021, the rationale for entering the flexi-work platform business, and how they’ve deployed their Series A $7.5 million as they look to grow in Malaysia and the region, with Julian Tan, the CEO and Founder of FastCo.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved away from that, atleast for now.

Supported by their fully-subscribed six-figure pre-Series A round and previous RM1.5 million seed round in 2021, Ouch launched its first in-house product - a digital takaful product called Pusara Pro, marking its entry into the takaful market as the first digital takaful operator in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Regulatory Sandbox.

On this episode of Open for Business, you will hear about what inspired this venture, how they’re going to compete with the sizable incumbents in the insurance space, and why they’ve decided to make their own in-house insurance products with CEO Shazy Noorazman.

Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved away from that, atleast for now.

Supported by their fully-subscribed six-figure pre-Series A round and previous RM1.5 million seed round in 2021, Ouch launched its first in-house product - a digital takaful product called Pusara Pro, marking its entry into the takaful market as the first digital takaful operator in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Regulatory Sandbox.

On this episode of Open for Business, you will hear about what inspired this venture, how they’re going to compete with the sizable incumbents in the insurance space, and why they’ve decided to make their own in-house insurance products with CEO Shazy Noorazman.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manoj Menon from Twimbit will be discussing the transformative power of open finance in Malaysia. We’ll discuss the necessity of a secure, standardised framework to foster innovation and ensure customer privacy. We’ll also take a look at how enhancing Malaysia's digital footprint through open banking caters to the modern customers' demand for seamless, personalised financial solutions.

Manoj Menon from Twimbit will be discussing the transformative power of open finance in Malaysia. We’ll discuss the necessity of a secure, standardised framework to foster innovation and ensure customer privacy. We’ll also take a look at how enhancing Malaysia's digital footprint through open banking caters to the modern customers' demand for seamless, personalised financial solutions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do Snoop Dogg, venture capital, and sneakers have in common? The answer – Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform Novelship.

Last month, the Singapore-based online streetwear marketplace announced a US$9.5 million series B funding round, which comes a few months after Novelship’s partnership with American hip hop legend Snoop Dogg.

Novelship first started out as a Carousell shop before becoming an online marketplace for buyers and sellers to trade authentic sneakers, limited-edition apparels, as well as exclusive physical and digital collectibles. Today the company is moving beyond just being a marketplace and building its own fashion and streetwear brand.

Having raised a total of $21.6 million, on this episode of Open for Business, you will hear about Novelship’s move from Carousell store to Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform, the value Snoop Dogg provides to their ambitions, and whether they have what it takes to become a leading fashion icon in Asia, with Richard Xia, Co-Founder and CEO of Novelship

What do Snoop Dogg, venture capital, and sneakers have in common? The answer – Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform Novelship.

Last month, the Singapore-based online streetwear marketplace announced a US$9.5 million series B funding round, which comes a few months after Novelship’s partnership with American hip hop legend Snoop Dogg.

Novelship first started out as a Carousell shop before becoming an online marketplace for buyers and sellers to trade authentic sneakers, limited-edition apparels, as well as exclusive physical and digital collectibles. Today the company is moving beyond just being a marketplace and building its own fashion and streetwear brand.

Having raised a total of $21.6 million, on this episode of Open for Business, you will hear about Novelship’s move from Carousell store to Asia's fastest-growing sneaker trading platform, the value Snoop Dogg provides to their ambitions, and whether they have what it takes to become a leading fashion icon in Asia, with Richard Xia, Co-Founder and CEO of Novelship

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.