Star-studded startup speakers unite in Ipoh for this unmissable entrepreneur summit
We know that startup events can seem super KL-centric and exclusionary—that’s why the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit is one we’re excited to share, especially with our friends in the north.
Organised by the Entrepreneurs and Startups in Malaysia (EnSIM), the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall (PCAH) is set to host the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit 2025 on May 3.
Held at Dewan Tang Ying See in Ipoh, this event will feature a star-studded cast of speakers, leaders, and decision makers.
They’ll be leading keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking sessions, and workshops to boot, perfect for entrepreneurs who want to glean expert insights and practical tips.
Learn from the experts
If you’re not convinced of the value this event can provide you, though, let’s have the event’s entrepreneurial star power speak for itself.
First, there’s Henry Ting, the founder and CEO of TTRacing, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree and EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominee.
Looking past the founder’s accolades, TTRacing has grown into a leading gaming chair brand, with a presence across Southeast Asia and beyond. Henry brings with him insights on building and scaling a global consumer brand from Malaysia.
Francis Lui, founder & CEO of NexLaw AI, will also be present. A pioneer in legal technology, Francis leads NexLaw AI, which is a platform that offers legal research, trial preparation, and contract review—all through the power of artificial intelligence.
With decades of experience in tech and a passion for innovation, Francis has expert knowledge on how AI has transformed traditional industries, and how you can tap into that.
Mike Chu, the bootstrapping founder of PTT Outdoor, has grown his camping store in Ipoh into a nationwide brand championing affordable, high-quality outdoor gear.
This experience makes him a notable voice when it comes to shedding light on the realities of building a resilient business from outside the Klang Valley. He knows firsthand the power of community-driven growth—and now, he’s giving knowledge back to the community.
Multi-hyphenate Marcus Teoh, who is an entrepreneur, author, and startup mentor, has penned many a bestselling book that offers practical business wisdom. He has a wealth of experience in guiding startups and young founders to success.
Dealing with manpower and talent concerns? Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, President/CEO of UTAR, will share perspectives on talent development and the role of universities in fostering the next generation of business leaders.
Last but definitely not least is Malaysia’s very own Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang. The Minister, who is from Perak himself, will deliver a keynote on Malaysia’s innovation roadmap and the government’s vision for empowering entrepreneurs in Perak and beyond.
Not just for the Perakians
You might be wondering, though—why Perak?
Well, the organisers believe that Perak is emerging as a hub for young entrepreneurs, as marked by its many government incentives, strategic location, and thriving business ecosystem.
And the organisers, EnSIM, run a Facebook group that’s over 200,000 members strong—we’re inclined to believe that they know what they’re talking about.
Even our Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli said last November that Perak has good potential to be a contributor to the national economy compared to other states.
While this event will share insights on how to start and scale a business that’s not in the Klang Valley, that doesn’t mean it’ll only benefit Perakians.
Anyone who wants to tap into an opportunity to learn, connect, and take their entrepreneurial journey to the next level will still find treasure troves of value from this event.
The event has already sold out of its Early Bird tickets. Standard tickets are now going for RM120 per ticket, so if you’re looking, be sure to lock down your attendance now.
- Learn more about the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home
Featured Image Credit: Chang Lih Kang via Akademi Sains Malaysia / Henry Ting / Mike Chu
How this M’sian went from delivering dairy to co-owning a multi-million ringgit milk biz
[Written in partnership with The Farm Shop, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
Probably the single most frustrating part about trying to eat healthy is that it’s not just about having food, it’s about having the right food.
But here’s the thing.
“Sugar-free” often just means that it’s got a substitute in it that may be way worse than just sugar itself.
Finally found something “organic” or not too heavily processed? Well, just your luck, it’s not only more expensive, you can only get it from this one specific grocery chain or online store.
This is the frustrating experience Malaysians (that I can personally attest to) face in trying to watch what you eat.
And it was this realisation that emboldened Hasniza Binti Ali to continue her career with The Farm Shop. Little did she know, however, that she’d end up a fellow co-founder.
From behind a desk to behind a wheel
The Farm Shop is a women-founded, local business that sells and produces fresh and minimally processed foods. They deliver to grocery stores, retailers and homes, with one of their services being a milk subscription plan.
And it was here as a delivery driver that Hasniza would first find her start with the company.
At the time, Hasniza had just lost her job as a personal assistant following the closure of her previous workplace.
It was by complete chance that her mother had heard about a job opening through the grapevine, to which Hasniza applied without knowing the details.
This was for the business that would eventually become The Farm Shop, back then still just a side hustle run by her future business partner, Sushma Sivasriamphai.
The shift from office work to going door-to-door was a jarring one for her to say the least. Job aside, Hasniza wasn’t even a milk-drinker in the first place.
As a single mother with three mouths to feed, however, she thought of it as a matter of simply what she had to do. Quite the stark contrast to the person today who sees her current role as Home Delivery and Regulatory Director to be a “sacred responsibility.”
“Over time, I found purpose in what I was doing,” she added.
“Delivering fresh, high-quality nutrition wasn’t just a job; it was a way to make a real impact on people’s lives.”
The story of how she became one of The Farm Shop’s co-founders, then, came in 2019 through sweat equity.
That year, Sushma was incapacitated for months by something called “Guillain-Barré Syndrome,” a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system.
With her suddenly out of commission, it fell on Hasniza to step up and keep the business running.
“When she recovered, Alhamdulilah, she made me a shareholder!”
Fun fact: In business, sweat equity refers to equity in a business venture earned by an employee through labour. The term takes on a different meaning in the world of real estate, where it instead refers to the value added to a property through physical labour and effort as opposed to investments.
A greener pasture
Hasniza and Sushma would meet The Farm Shop’s other two co-founders, Karen Kow, and Dr Tan I-Lene, over the course of running their business.
At the start, the two were simply just customers, with Hasniza being in charge of delivering milk to their shops.
“Eventually, it just made sense to join forces, pool our resources, and create something bigger,” she explained.
“That’s how The Farm Shop, as it is today, was born.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there, however. The early days of the business were met with financial constraints, supply chain issues, and staffing challenges.
They were, as Hasniza puts it, a tiny operation with just a single fridge in a shared office.
“I remember when the four of us were squeezed into a single room big enough that if we kept our elbows tucked in, we could fit,” she explained.
“We laughingly refer to it as our butt-to-butt time!”
It definitely took Sushma’s catchphrase of “dua badan, satu kepala,” a little too literally, but that was just how it had to be.
Through secondhand furniture held together by thoughts and prayers, that first year of their business would be dedicated to ironing out the kinks in their production process.
“As we grew, we moved into a larger space, expanded our offerings, and hired a team to assist with deliveries,” the co-founder shared.
“But that core experience—understanding the needs of our customers firsthand—stayed with me.”
Next in store
As a testament to how far they’ve come, Hasniza claimed that they were able to achieve “3x year-over-year growth,” raking in RM4.58 million in revenue in 2024. That comes along with a funding of RM6.3 million, courtesy of their recently closed Series A fundraising round.
Quite ambitiously, The Farm Shop’s target for this year will be a revenue of RM14.4 million, with a further RM56 million in revenue targeted for 2026.
They’ll also soon be launching their equity crowdfunding campaign with Leet Capital, welcoming those who see eye-to-eye with their vision to join them on their health crusade.
“I truly believe we are part of Malaysia’s journey towards a healthier rakyat, and I feel privileged to contribute to that goal,” said Hasniza.
Though the title “duchess of dairy” may be a self-proclaimed one, she certainly has the conviction of a duchess to match.
- Learn more about The Farm Shop here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025
Featured Image Credit: The Farm Shop
