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This M’sian bootcamp promises students a full-fledged tech job in 3 mths, or your money back

Despite having a stable job, Deric Yee saw an opportunity to build something transformative—an opportunity that was too powerful to ignore. 

While studying in the UK, Deric had immersed himself in the startup ecosystem, working closely with ambitious founders and witnessing the impact of innovative ideas. This experience showed him that technology wasn’t just a part of the future—it was the engine driving the present.

“The biggest nine companies in the S&P500 were tech giants, and nearly 80% of remote jobs were in the tech sector,” he pointed out. “This revealed a massive, untapped demand for tech talent.” 

Yet, the pool for job-ready candidates was lacking. Even degree graduates would seek Deric’s help as a self-taught coder, eager for guidance on acing coding interviews. 

“This realisation was confirmed when I began securing software projects worth over RM100,000. In the process of hiring developers, I was taken aback by the subpar standards prevalent among many candidates,” Deric shared. 

A pivotal moment came when he hired and trained an individual at a salary of RM4,500. Remarkably, he soon secured a remote position in Singapore with a salary of S$4,500. 

This highlighted another pressing issue to Deric: brain drain. It became clear to him that the best-case scenario was to build a startup that would not only make money but also reshape lives. 

“And the worst-case scenario was still a win, because I’d be equipped to secure a top remote tech job,” he shared. 

With that, Deric launched Sigma School with a dual promise: best case, you build a startup and make a significant impact (and profit). Worst case, you’re fully equipped to land a rewarding remote job.

Fixing a “broken” system

Sigma School essentially exists as a juxtaposition of the traditional educational system, seeking to address all the pain points found there to create industry-ready talents. 

Deric believes that one of the most glaring issues with conventional education is its outdated curriculum. By the time students graduate, the skills they’ve acquired are often no longer in demand. 

Sigma School tackles this problem by offering a curriculum focused on industry-relevant and sought-after skills such as AI, blockchain, and full-stack development.

Another issue, Deric believes, lies in the disconnect between academic learning and real-world application. Believing that traditional universities often emphasise theoretical knowledge, Sigma School prioritises hands-on, practical learning. 

This is achieved through real-world projects and case studies, so students can graduate with a portfolio that demonstrates their ability to deliver value to employers. 

Another problem is high costs. A typical degree programme takes three years to complete and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

“We believe this system is unsustainable,” Deric said. “Our three-month bootcamp offers an affordable, efficient alternative that guarantees results: if you don’t land a job within six months of graduating, we refund your tuition.”

In fact, Deric personally oversees career support initiatives, including resume building, mock interviews, and connecting graduates with their network of 30+ hiring partners across Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. 

Sigma School charges RM20K for its online bootcamp, though the founder shared that they usually give RM5,000 off on festive seasons.

To complement their programme, there’s TryJobier.com, Sigma School’s automated job search platform. There’s also Codeo.ai, a mobile app previously featured on Vulcan Post, that allows students to practise daily and master new skills on the go. 

Real value for money

As mentioned, conventional education systems can be expensive. What about other bootcamps? 

Well, Deric argues that Sigma School is one of the most value-for-money coding bootcamps in the world, complete with flexible payment options and a money back guarantee if students do not get a job after graduation. 

He reminded, “Our mission isn’t just to teach coding—it’s to ensure that every graduate lands a high-paying job within six months of completing the course.”

For students who struggle with the fast-paced environment, Sigma School provides robust support systems, including one-on-one mentorship and daily office hours. 

They even facilitate mentorship opportunities with talents at tech giants like Microsoft and Grab. 

“These mentorship programmes are designed not just to transfer technical knowledge but also to build confidence in our students by connecting them with experienced professionals who have walked similar paths,” Deric said. 

Sigma School’s success stories are truly inspiring, especially when it involves those who transitioned from entirely unrelated fields. For example, one student was a former NHS doctor that now thrives as a developer. One was a B40 gig worker turned full-stack developer. 

“At Sigma School , our job placement success rate speaks for itself—every single graduate who completed our programme and wanted to pivot into tech has landed a job, some even before graduation,” Deric said. 

Future-proofing students

One big challenge Sigma School faces, though, is the same one traditional schools do: the rapidly evolving tech landscape, especially with the rise of AI. 

“Many people now mistakenly believe that AI can write all the code, eliminating the need for human engineers,” Deric said. “This misconception creates a dual challenge: educating potential students on the enduring value of skilled software engineers and ensuring our curriculum stays ahead of industry demands.”

The founder believes that while AI accelerates certain tasks, the gap between engineers who leverage AI tools and those who don’t have never been wider. Thus, companies still desperately need talented developers to build, innovate, and solve complex problems. 

To address this, Sigma School is refining existing programmes and actively building AI agents and integrating AI training into their courses. 

“Even as AI transforms industries, one thing remains clear: this is the perfect time to enter tech. Companies still need builders, and we’re here to create them,” Deric emphasised. 

Regardless of any challenges, the founder remains steadfast and confident in his vision for Sigma School—to be a global leader in democratising tech education. 

“We want to break into new markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, and create pathways for individuals from all walks of life to access transformative skills,” he said. 

A key part of this vision involves collaborating with government agencies and NGOs to bring tech education to underserved communities, Deric elaborated.

Working with them could bring scholarships, subsidised programmes, or even free bootcamps. 

“Education shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be a right,” Deric said. “And at Sigma School, we’re committed to making that vision a reality, one student at a time.”

• Learn more about Sigma School here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Sigma School

At least S$36.2M has already been lost in Singapore this year due to investment scams

At least S$36.2 million has been lost to investment scams in Singapore since January 2025, with approximately 470 cases documented, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF). 

Most victims were typically targeted through social media, messaging platforms, and dating apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, and even Coffee Meets Bagel.

In a report from the Straits Times yesterday (February 11), the authorities have urged the public to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures to safeguard themselves from these scams. 

Here’s how these scammers lure their victims in and what you should take note of.  

Behind the scam, how victims are “trapped”

Scammers often begin by building rapport with victims before introducing “investment opportunities,” which may sometimes involve cryptocurrencies. 

Victims are then tricked into transferring money and cryptocurrencies to fraudulent trading platforms or the scammer’s personal wallets.

Some victims would initially receive small payouts, deceiving them to continue investing.

Fake websites or applications displaying exaggerated profits would also lure victims into investing larger sums, the police said.

In some cases, victims are targeted by investment advertisements on social media, claiming endorsements from political figures or celebrities. Clicking on these ads will lead them to messaging platforms, where they contact the scammers directly.

Other victims are redirected to fraudulent trading platforms and asked to provide personal details. They then receive calls or messages from scammers pretending to be staff members of investment companies or brokers.

Separately, scammers have also gained some victims by adding them to chat groups or channels. 

These groups often claim associations with famous individuals or reputable companies to make the investment appear legitimate. In some cases, “members” of the group may even claim to have profited from the investment, reinforcing the scam.

Key measures & safety tips

To protect scam victims, the Protection from Scams Bill was passed in Parliament on January 7, 2025. 

The bill grants the police the ability to issue restriction orders to banks, allowing them to block an individual’s banking transactions if they are suspected of channeling money to scammers. 

According to SPF, this measure will enable them to better protect targets of ongoing scams who refuse to believe they are being scammed.

Suspected victims will be restricted from using ATMs, credit services, and PayNow, as well as making in-person, over-the-counter, and money transfer transactions.

To protect yourself from these investment scams, it’s also important to remain cautious and take necessary precautions when making investment decisions. The police have advised the public to:

• Enable privacy settings that prevent unknown users from adding them to group chats;
• Verify the authenticity of the investment company and check for signs of a scam using official sources or websites; and
• Inform the authorities, as well as family and friends, if or when they encounter scams.

Members of the public can also reach out to the ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if they are in doubt.

• Read more articles we’ve written about Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: S$650 million was lost to scams in 2023. Will AI Deepfakes drive this higher in 2024?

Feature Image Credit: Shutterstock

This S’porean student learnt 3D printing on YouTube, now uses the skill to make & sell lamps

Have you ever picked up something that caught your eye, only to put it back down when you saw the price tag?

It’s a relatable experience for most shoppers—one that Jovi Lim knows all too well. With a passion for interior design and aesthetic home decorations, he often admired unique, designer lighting, but more often than not, these pieces were simply “out of reach” for the 20-year-old.

Determined to take matters into his own hands, he invested in a 3D printer and began experimenting with his own lamp designs at home. 

After dedicating countless hours to learning how to bring his designs to life, the Singapore Polytechnic student officially launched his lamp company, Sonogo Design, in September last year—all from his bedroom.

With Sonogo Design, Jovi aims to make “high quality and handcrafted lamps accessible” to Singaporeans.

Designer lamps at affordable prices

When I first visited the brand’s website, I couldn’t help but be impressed—all of their lamps were sold out. A notice on the site mentioned that their last drop had flown off the shelves in just one day.

Still, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the prices—they were steeper than I had anticipated.

However, Jovi believes that he prices his lamps at a “reasonable rate,” taking into account the craftsmanship, time, design, and effort that go into each piece.  

Each lamp could take up to five to nine hours to build, excluding the cleaning up and packaging by hand, which takes another 20 to 30 minutes.

“When compared to other designers, especially as a new entrant in this industry, I believe my lamps are fairly and competitively priced for the value they offer,” Jovi explained. He also pointed out that other designer lamps can often cost as much as S$2,000 each.

Every lamp has its story

When asked about the inspiration behind his lamps, Jovi explained, “I design them based on what I see in my life, and I play around with different shapes and patterns to create the shape of the lamp that reflects the overall idea.” 

His Luna lamp, for example, was inspired by the crescent moon—a design Jovi takes great pride in.

There’s a card with a QR code that comes with every lamp, and customers can scan it to find out more about their lamps. Each of them has their own unique story to tell—I want to let people know that I don’t just create random shapes and put a base for it to become a lamp.

Jovi Lim, founder of Sonogo Design

To bring these stories to life, Jovi starts by sketching his ideas, which he then turns into 3D models using design software before conducting several test prints to refine the final version. “I need to ensure that the lamp can actually be brought to life through 3D printing,” he added.

Self-taught skills

Since its launch, Sonogo Design has garnered significant attention, which Jovi attributes to the brand’s strong social media presence. 

In just four months, Jovi shared that he has managed to sell over 200 lamps, but his entrepreneurial journey was far from easy. 

As a marketing student, Jovi had “never once touched” 3D modelling software before starting Sonogo Design. But after watching YouTube videos on 3D printing, he became fascinated with the process and realised that he could “turn his ideas into reality.”

This led him to invest about S$1,400 into his first 3D printer, using the savings he had mainly accumulated from part-time jobs and internships.

With the 3D printer, he experimented with creating different objects, including miniature cities, toothbrush holders, and pegboard clips. Still, his love for home decorations eventually led him to focus on designing lamps. 

Juggling a 9-to-6 internship at that time, Jovi spent late nights teaching himself product design from scratch, creating prototype after prototype through trial and error. 

He learnt everything the same way he first discovered 3D printing—by watching YouTube tutorials.

Everything I learnt is sourced from YouTube videos. I wouldn’t say I’m the best at it compared to all the other engineers and professional workers out there, as I still can learn a lot more, but I would say being able to turn my sketches into reality and master the arts of 3D printing is a huge achievement for me. 

Jovi Lim, founder of Sonogo Design

A relaunch, then a retail store

According to Jovi, Sonogo Design’s growing social media presence has also attracted attention from “big companies, home decor creators, and 3D printing enthusiasts.”

In addition, showcasing his lamps at events like New Bahru’s Christmas Market has helped expand the brand’s reach to a broader audience.

To keep up with the increasing demand, Jovi has now expanded his setup to four 3D printers.

As Jovi will be enlisting for National Service soon, he is currently focused on raising funds with the goal of opening a physical store once he completes his service.

“For the long term, after finishing National Service, I plan to relaunch Sonogo and establish a dedicated studio space—this studio would not only serve as a workspace for my business but also as a place to connect with customers and showcase my lamps in a physical setting.”

• Learn more about Sonogo Design here.
• Read more articles we’ve written about Singaporean Startups here.

Also Read: Why this S’porean scrapped the old menu at his mum’s 19 Y/O cafe to serve just two items

Feature Image Credit: Sonogo Design

How this new “Magic Mike” club plans to whet the appetite of clubbers in Singapore

The nightlife scene is often described as a place of sin.

While that might be true on some accounts, it has also put a sense of shame, in our opinion, onto the industry. But what’s a little fun without a bit of (f)risk?

This was the mindset behind the opening of Lilibet, a club with KTV rooms, a bar, and an all-male dance troupe reminiscent of Magic Mike. But are they as risque and sleazy as we think?

Inspired by royalty

Lilibet is owned by Shirley Sim and Jessie Ho, who were introduced to each other through mutual friends in the business scene years ago. Shirley, who is the founder of Lilibet, started to develop the idea when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and approached Jessie to collaborate.

“Shirley had been to boys’ clubs with her friends before, and while it wasn’t something she personally enjoyed, she saw the potential for it to be a lucrative and exciting venture if done differently,” explained Jessie, who is currently the CEO of Lilibet.

Now, at this point, if you wonder why the club’s name sounds familiar, it’s because it was inspired by the late British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood nickname, which came about as she struggled to pronounce her own name as a child.

“There is this naughty and regal elegance to the name. It couldn’t be a more suitable name than this!” joked Jessie.

Opening a club is no small venture. The duo took two years to “pin down” the club’s concept and bring in dancers from Singapore and overseas, including the local male exotic dance troupe Queen of Hearts.

But that was just the easy part. Not only did they “fight” with four potential nightclubs for their current location at Rendezvous Hotel, but Jessie also claimed that they invested six figures into the business, which came from bootstrapping and contributions from a small group of private investors.

Nevertheless, Lilibet successfully launched on September 10, 2024, and I headed down to experience everything.

Getting royal treatment

While Magic Mike-style performances and stripteases have received mainstream recognition, thanks to the popularity of the 2012 film, it’s seen more as a cultural norm in the West. That’s not to eliminate the virality of similar establishments in Asia, though.

Notably, the Thai Hunks restaurant and the “Wild Wild” musical in Thailand and South Korea, respectively. Nevertheless, one might wonder if Jessie and Shirley were worried about how the club would be received in Singapore.

We were aware of the sensitivities, but we approached Lilibet with a clear vision of sophistication and respectability. By framing our performances as artful and tasteful, and creating an environment that prioritises guest and performer respect, we’ve been able to redefine perceptions and attract a diverse audience.

Customers feel safe at Lilibet. Ours have always been clean fun.

Jessie Ho, CEO of Lilibet

And boy, what fun I’ve had.

Upon entering the club, I was greeted with blue velvet walls, built-in sofas, and a small T-shaped stage. I was led to a sofa right in the middle of the stage (which turned out to be for VIPs), giving me the perfect view.

Before I knew it, it was showtime.

While I will keep it PG here, all I will say is that the dancers kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Every dance allowed each of them to showcase their charms and hidden talents (one even rapped!)

But what made a lasting impression was the fact that I was genuinely enjoying myself and felt safe throughout, even when the dancers got up close and personal.

I was definitely treated like a queen and left feeling like one.

The royal life comes with high stakes

Turns out I wasn’t the only one who had fun. According to Jessie, the club has earned positive reactions from patrons, gaining a “steady rise” in bookings in three months. “We have [also] achieved our mini goal set, which is ‘Handsome boys, handsome tips!'” she cheekily added.

Yet I also wondered: With the luxurious interior and concept, the cost to maintain it seemed high—how does Lilibet plan to sustain itself in the long term?

Not only do they have to consider rental, operations, employee salaries, and production costs, but they also need to ensure their prices remain competitive and stand out from multiple nightlife establishments in the area.

Unlike typical clubs, there’s also no dance floor, meaning that you can only choose between a sofa or individual seats. While there are no entrance fees, patrons are required to meet a minimum spend and tip. Currently, the minimum tip starts at S$299 per table, while the minimum spend begins at S$399.

While that’s not necessarily the most expensive, not everyone is willing to fork out that much money for a “hot” night, and this change in consumer behaviour has also taken a toll on the Singaporean nightlife scene.

Jessie explained that the prices were set to ensure that Lilibet can continue to offer the experiences it’s known for and that it has onboarded sponsors and brands to defray a portion of the operational costs.

“We wish to break away from the norm of the current Singapore nightlife scene where it is just about the booze, dance floor, and music spinning,” reiterated Jessie.

Their reign has just begun

Since opening less than half a year ago, Lilibet has grown its dance troupe to a septet and has not only caught the eyes of many on social media but also had potential investors knocking on their doors.

While they have yet to secure a deal successfully, Jessie shared that the funds would be used to scale their operations and elevate guest experiences. This includes upgrading their facilities and productions and boosting their marketing efforts.

“Additionally, we would explore new entertainment concepts and bolster our training programmes for both dancers and hosts [to] ensure that Lilibet continues to delight patrons,” she added.

While Jessie clarified that she’s focused on maintaining Lilibet’s profitability, the owners are always exploring growth opportunities and are open to potentially opening another outlet in the future.

“While we don’t have a fixed timeline, our focus is on sustainable growth that aligns with our brand’s vision.”

As someone who is in it to have a good time but is afraid of the sleaze and trouble at clubs, I can say with my whole heart that Lilibet has whetted my appetite for clubbing.

• Learn more about Lilibet here.
• Read more stories we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: How this S’porean DJ trio is revitalising the local club scene with wacky themed parties

Feature Image Credit: Lilibet

A first in 40 yrs, Sheng Siong has partnered with a delivery company to reach more S’poreans

Sheng Siong, Singapore’s third largest supermarket chain, is now available on food delivery app Deliveroo.

According to an announcement on February 10, the two businesses have partnered up so that customers can order from 21 Sheng Siong stores across the island via the app. There are plans underway to expand this to 31 stores islandwide, Deliveroo said.

With this partnership, customers can buy more than 5,000 products from Sheng Siong round the clock. This includes fresh produce, pantry staples, and household essentials. According to the announcement, orders can be delivered within 30 minutes.

Lin Zikai, director of customer and operations at Sheng Siong, said that this is the first time the supermarket chain has partnered with a delivery company.

The supermarket was founded in 1985 by the Lim brothers (Lim Hock Eng, Lim Hock Chee, and Lim Hock Leng). The brothers were helping out at their father’s pig farm in Punggol. Facing an oversupply, Lim Hock Chee and his wife rented a stall at one of the now-defunct supermarket chain stores in Ang Mo Kio to sell chilled pork.

One thing led to the other, and that stall has now grown into one of Singapore’s top retailers.

Deliveroo Singapore general manager Jason Parke shared that ready-to-eat meals still remain central to the platform’s business. 

However, the collaboration with Sheng Siong broadens its offerings, allowing Deliverro to better serve its customers, a growing segment of consumers expressing interest in using delivery platforms for grocery and non-food items. 

This aligns with the direction that Deliveroo has taken since 2020, having launched grocery delivery with brands including Marks & Spencer, Little Farms, Hao Mart, and now, Sheng Siong. 

This win-win collaboration between Sheng Siong and Deliveroo is a step that will help both parties stay competitive and relevant, while offering Singaporeans an easier way to shop. 

From February 15 to 28, customers who purchase Sheng Siong’s groceries via Deliveroo can get S$6 off with a S$40 minimum spend. 

• Learn more about Sheng Siong here.
• Learn more about Deliveroo here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Sheng Siong / Deliveroo

How this mum-and-daughter duo is tapping into the Pop Mart craze with their new Cheras cafe

These days, competition in Malaysia’s cafe scene can be quite fierce. And Cheras is no exception.

But such hurdles mean nothing when it’s your goal to own a cafe anyways, as is the case for Sam and her mum.

Described by her as accessible and reasonably priced, the duo’s W2 Concept Cafe serves a combination of Japanese, Western, and local dishes.

That, however, is not just what makes their cafe stand out.

It’s the army of figurines staring you down as you eat.

Full circle

Born and raised in Cheras, Sam and her mum spent a lot of time cafe hopping together ever since she was a teen. This was when the idea of opening a cafe first popped into her head.

It would take a few years before that dream would be made a reality. Following her graduation, W2’s co-founder would go on to work in the UK for two years. 

Starting off as a bartender, she would later become a Private Assistant for a local restaurant owner. There, she would help translate, deal with legal processes and suppliers, and involve herself in day-to-day operations.

Eventually, she soon found herself taking on a managerial role after helping her former boss open a new branch in the heart of Edinburgh.

All that to say, her short tenure in the UK gave her a wealth of experience despite her young age.

Certainly enough to give her the confidence to open up a cafe with her mum when she returned.

The initial capital for the business was around RM400,000, Sam shared, adding that it was wholly funded by her and her family. It was a combination of her UK-made personal savings as well as her four brothers’ and parents’ personal investments. 

Sam noted that the British Pound to MYR exchange rate came as quite the advantage in this regard.

Described as a full-time commitment, Sam personally deals with all operations at W2, solving issues as they come. Her mother, Lee Ai Ling, is in charge of decoration, marketing, and outlook.

“I actually feel like it’s a 360 from our special time together going to cafes and now having this joint venture to owning a cafe with both of our personal elements combined,” she expressed.

An unexpected twist

Taken in full, the cafe’s name actually has a very straightforward meaning.

“W2” stands for Sam’s Chinese name, Wen Wei. As for the “Concept” part of it, that’s even simpler.

“Essentially, the cafe itself is my concept and whatever I’d like it to be!”

And right now, that concept is her mum’s obsession with Pop Mart figurines.

The story behind the two’s collection (that’s now worth about four figures, we’re told) takes us back to the UK when a Pop Mart store had just opened in London’s Chinatown.

“I first bought one blind box which was from the Skullpanda series,” she explained.

For those not in the know, a blind box is a product that is sold with the content inside intentionally obscured. With Pop Mart, customers can get one out of a series of characters with each box, but which they’ll get is entirely up to luck.

One would lead to another, and before she knew it, she was hooked.

“I usually don’t get the ones I want the most, but that’s what makes it all the more addicting!” she added.

And after she introduced the brand to her mother, the rest was history.

The Pop Mart concept has extended far beyond just being decorations for the cafe. A monthly lucky draw event has also been incorporated into the cafe’s operations.

For the month of January, these were three sets of bags, each containing blind boxes. 

“In the future, as the cafe is limited on space, we might potentially sell some of the older figurines to bring in newer ones to display,” she commented. 

This won’t be any time soon, though, as W2 still has some room to house a few more plastic residents.

Lining their cafe shelves with their collection does come with its concerns, of course. Theft and damage being the two main ones.

But these issues are something that the mother-daughter duo have already mentally prepared for.

“Our main goal is to allow customers to have a great time taking pictures and enjoying our collection,” she noted. “We went into this with the mindset that perhaps in the future they might be damaged or misplaced.”

Luckily for W2, nothing of the sort has happened so far (knock on wood) as all their customers are usually very respectful.

What is an issue, though, is the HR side of things.

“The turnover rate is extremely high in F&B and I’ve had some employees disappear immediately after getting paid their wages,” she said.

Recounting a time during a busy weekend where a staff member disappeared and another had to call in sick, Sam has hired two part-timers since.

“I believe that investing the extra money for a bit more hands will help to avoid customers having a less-than-great experience.”

Never a dull moment

Though they may have lost potential returning customers that day, the co-founder notes that the reception for W2 has generally been positive. Traffic tends to be high during lunch and tea, gradually getting calmer towards the evening.

The focus at the moment is back-to-back seasonal menus, with Valentine’s, Ramadan, and Hari Raya lined up for the near future.

Uniquely, plans for expansion for W2 includes the construction of a retail store within the cafe.

“This would include new, secondhand clothing as well as all of my mother’s personal crafts,” said Sam.

From dreamcatchers to keychains, these projects of her mum can be seen sprinkled throughout the cafe. So, for those interested, do stay tuned.

A little under half a year old at this point in time, W2 Concept Cafe is still very new. With its ever-changing menu, only time will tell what Sam and her team has in store next.

• Learn more about W2 Concept Cafe here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: W2 Concept Cafe

Why Colony is closing down its Star Boulevard coworking space that cost almost RM5mil to build

Plush couches, crystalline chandeliers, and gilded décor furnish Colony’s Star Boulevard outlet.

An events-centric coworking space, the space first opened at the tail end of 2019, built to the tune of almost RM5 million. I myself have visited a number of times over the years, whether that be for launch events or panel discussions.

Sadly, this luxurious coworking and event space will be closing in March 2025.

What happened?

Things were looking great for the space at first.

Colony, Malaysia’s hospitality-inspired coworking and event space destination, was booking various high-profile events at their location. They were set to make a return on investment in record time.

But then, as we all know, the unthinkable pandemic happened.  

At first, Colony founder Timothy Tiah had been a bit naïve, thinking it would just pass. But one month turned into two, and then soon enough, a year went by and things were still looking dire. Being so events-focused, it was difficult to book anything for the Star Boulevard location.

“At some point the hole was so big that it was inconceivable for us to continue it,” he mused.

If it were not for the pandemic, Timothy believes that Colony @ Star Boulevard’s fate may have been different.

After all, Colony’s Mont Kiara location is doing exceedingly well, and just like the Star Boulevard outlet, this is an events-focused coworking space.

“I think we’re going to make our money back within eight months or something like that,” Timothy shared about Colony @ The MET.

It’s an example of what Star Boulevard could’ve been. Their current office occupancy is close to 80%, which is impressive considering their rates.

The concept hadn’t been wrong—it might’ve just been the wrong place and the wrong time.

Cutting in good times too

The decision to close an outlet, Timothy said to Vulcan Post, is not an easy one.

“Mentally, you have to admit that you failed as an entrepreneur. Number two, you have to write off your books, have a paper loss of X amount of capex and renovation money,” he pointed out.

But to Colony, it’s actually a good thing because the loss can offset any tax. “Because we’re growing the company, we always try to be as tax efficient as we can and reinvest every dollar back into the business.”

Still, it’s a tough call to make. In his earlier days an entrepreneur, Timtohy used to always want to hold onto underperforming business units.

“Okay mah, the company can afford it, just hold on to it,” he said. “But more and more, it started to get more painful.”

One of two things tend to happen. Number one, the loss-making unit becomes even more loss making and the hole becomes bigger. Or number two, the profit-making units will start declining. And that’s when the whole business goes into a crisis.

“We’re already been here for five, six years. If we’re still not making a good return and there’s no way to get our investment back, we should just cut it off,” Timothy said.

And now’s a good time to do just that, especially because last year had been good for Colony as a whole, Timothy claimed.  

“I always believe in cutting not just in bad times, but in good times too.”

The sunk cost fallacy

But when do you know it’s time to bite the bullet? When is it right for you to give up on an outlet and cut your losses?

It’s always going to be difficult, Timothy empathised.

“Think about it as, you want to do it when you can do it rather than have to do it,” he said. “Cut when you don’t need to cut but when it is appropriate to cut.”

This mindset is what kept Timothy motivated to make hard decisions like closing Colony @ Star Boulevard.

Some people argue otherwise. Tim has met senior entrepreneurs who might say three years are not enough, and that some business owners are too impatient to wait for the profits.  

There’s no verifiably right or wrong way to do business, but the Colony founder believes in taking the emotions out of the decision, and simply following the numbers.

Not done “colonising”

Faced with a loss-aversion fallacy, Timothy believes that many entrepreneurs feel like, ‘Oh, we have to keep going to make the money back.’

But something that the Colony founder has learnt as an entrepreneur is that you don’t have to make the money back the same way you lost it.

With that in mind, Colony will be focusing on new openings, including new locations for their more affordable working brand, Jerry. The team will also focus on Dough by Meg, which they acquired last year.

Although Colony @ Star Boulevard’s journey will come to an end next month, the road ahead looks extensive yet for Timothy and his company.  

• Learn more about Colony here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Colony

How this S’wakian went from borrowing money for a food truck to growing an F&B empire

For most 16 year olds, running a business probably isn’t the first thing on their minds. But for Avertino Phua, that was the start of his journey as an entrepreneur.

What started as selling items to his peers would snowball into a desire to build something with his own two hands.

And with the creation of a burger joint called Noms, he’s achieved just that.

From a starting capital of a borrowed RM30,000, Avertino told Vulcan Post, the company has seen consistent growth since its inception a little under a decade ago.

In an interview with us, the entrepreneur was more than happy to share just how he did it.

The road less traveled

Born and raised in Kuching, the 30-year-old CEO holds a Diploma in Business Administration.

But before even finishing his studies, he was already rearing to go.

“I was already brimming with excitement to start a business,” he shared. “One day, my brother and a close friend were having a discussion about emerging trends and potential opportunities.”

That was when the idea of a food truck first came up.

Popular in KL yet almost unknown in Kuching, it was just the innovation that he was looking for. 

When they first opened in 2015 selling burgers and sandwiches, Avertino shared that they were admittedly uncertain about the reception. When it came to taste though? That was something they were absolutely assured of.

“One of our biggest challenges was our limited budget,” he highlighted. They needed a truck that stood out but couldn’t afford something fancy.

And so, they had to resort to borrowing money from one partner’s mother. 

“This humbling experience taught us resourcefulness and resilience.”

When Noms first opened for business, they were met with open arms by their local community. Their worries about how they would be received were quickly washed away by the wave of support and positivity.

However, they would soon run into trouble with the authorities. The industry still being in its infancy, there was nothing in the books about the legality of a food truck.

“We teamed up with other food truck owners to advocate for the creation of a food truck licence,” he explained.

“Together, we formed a food truck association to discuss solutions, support one another, and engage with the authorities.”

In time, they would pull through, eventually giving way for the industry to flourish.

By the end of the first year, the company had made RM80,000 in revenue.

On the up

Expanding the business was a nerve-wracking leap of faith for Avertino. 

As he would come to learn, demand is just one part of it. The location needed to be accessible, the building’s management needed to be reliable, amenities like parking needed to be present, and foot traffic needed to be good.

It is a balancing act of foreseeing potential issues and trusting your own gut. 

But though frightening, it could very well be the turning point a company needs.

And so, Noms opened its first physical store in 2017. Named Noms Chapter Two, the revenue for that year was RM200,000, double that of 2016.

They would go on to make their first million in 2019, later earning a halal certificate and shifting to producing their own bread in 2021.

In 2022, the company would expand to Sibu, their first expansion outside of Kuching. In 2023, Noms broke the RM10 million revenue barrier, carrying that momentum into 2024 with another RM11 million in revenue.

People first

Such consistent growth requires equally consistent quality. “Ensuring our food quality and taste always meet or exceed expectations is a top priority,” Avertino explained. “This helps us build trust and loyalty with our customers.”

It is this customer-centric approach that he attributes as a key to Nom’s continued success. Adapting the menu to suit customer taste is one such example that he gave. 

Another point is customer engagement. “We keep our social media fun, interactive, and aligned with current trends,” he noted. This extends to offline, where a strong relationship with local consumers can help with growth as well.

A business, of course, cannot be run by one person. Avertino also places great importance on investing in his own team.

Though skills are important, what Noms’ CEO is really looking for is passion. A willingness to grow outweighs experience in his eyes. In his own words, if he thinks someone is the right fit for the company, he’ll do everything that he can to keep them.

“It’s not just about paying them fairly (though that’s crucial)—we also practise empathy,” he added. “Whether it’s offering advice, flexibility, or even financial assistance when possible, we believe that taking care of our team builds trust and loyalty.”

Being transparent, emphasising equality, and properly dividing work are all part and parcel of the process.

Lightning striking twice

Passionate as he is, it comes as no surprise then that Avertino would find himself starting up a new brand once Noms found its footing.

Peanuts Anchovies offers his and his brother’s take on a classic Malaysian staple, nasi lemak. 

Much like how he and his team started Noms, the business began with a simple stall selling just their signature dish. But as both locals and foreigners started flocking in, it became apparent that a new opportunity had presented itself.

Now with six outlets across the state, Peanuts Anchovies’ menu has expanded to include other Malaysian favourites. 

“Looking back, what gave us the confidence to take the leap was the support we received from our customers,” he explained.

“Starting small allowed us to test the waters and see what worked.”

Naturally, Noms’ founder does not intend to stop there. Regional and international expansions, operating optimisations, product diversification, and collaborations are all in the pipeline for the Noms Group and its brands.

Leading by example, perhaps the saying “choose a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life” is true after all.

• Learn more about Noms here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Noms

S’porean consumers lost almost S$2 million in prepayments in 2024, 4x higher than 2023

Have you ever prepaid for something, only to have the company suddenly go AWOL and stop replying to your messages?

This might sound a bit specific, but the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) saw prepayment losses of a whopping S$1,930,000 in 2024—more than four times the amount (S$476,000) reported in 2023. 

These came from a total of 14,236 complaints received by CASE in 2024, a 2% increase from the 13,991 complaints received in 2023. 

According to CASE, the losses were largely due to sudden business closures and companies becoming unresponsive after consumers had made payment. 

With that sharp increase, it’s more likely now than ever that you could’ve also been affected by this situation. 

Closures of big companies have led to spike in numbers

The industries that accounted for the top five highest complaints in 2024 were motorcars, electrical & electronics, beauty, renovation contractors, and entertainment. 

About a third of the prepayment losses were attributed to the renovation sector, where renovation contractors suddenly became uncontactable during the renovation process. 

While the number of complaints from the renovation contractor industry technically decreased, the sector accounted for approximately S$728,000 in prepayment losses–the highest amount of prepayment losses in 2024. 

This left some consumers with incomplete homes, who then had to rush to find another contractor to complete their renovation works. 

Meanwhile, the entertainment sector saw a 281% spike in complaints, largely due to the botched Singapore Sky Lantern Festival in February 2024. There were also numerous complaints about ticket scalping. 

F&B complaints went up 24%, largely due to the cancellation of the licence of Sakura Buffet Pte Ltd over food safety concerns. 

As for the telecommunications sector, complaints increased 34%, with consumers complaining about poor connectivity, delayed installation of broadband services, and high charges in consumers’ bills. 

Thankfully, approximately 80% of cases in which CASE was authorised by consumers to negotiate with businesses were resolved. This is a 4% improvement from 2023 and is CASE’s highest resolution rate in the past five years. 

The bridal industry saw about S$284,000 in prepayment losses, largely due to the sudden closure of Love Nest and its related entities in April 2024. 

Complaints in the motorcar industry held steady at 1,306 complaints but remained as the industry that saw the most complaints in 2024. 35% were related to car sharing and car leasing. 

Movers saw prepayment losses of about S$134,000, due in part to large deliveries being undelivered or loss of goods during moving. 

Vulcan Post has reported on one moving company, Moovaz, that had left some customers waiting for their goods for four months. 

More ecommerce complaints 

In 2024, CASE received 4,641 ecommerce complaints, a 25% increase from 3,711 complaints in 2023. 

This is the highest number of ecommerce complaints since CASE first started tracking ecommerce complaints in 2020. 

13% of these were from the entertainment industry, and 9% from the F&B industry. 

On the bright side, CASE has worked with the two biggest ecommerce platforms in Singapore, Shopee and Lazada, to put in place an effective dispute resolution framework. 

Doing better for the consumers of Singapore

Of the 962 complaints received against renovation contractors, approximately 97% were against non-CaseTrust accredited contractors. 

All complaints related to accredited contractors were successfully resolved, highlighting the importance of the safeguards brought about by the CaseTrust accreditation. 

As such, consumers are advised to engage CaseTrust accredited companies whenever the purchase involves large prepayments, as these companies buy insurance to protect their interest. 

According to the press release, CASE will be announcing enhancements to CaseTrust to offer consumers more choices and greater assurance. 

Melvin Yong, President of CASE, said: “It has been many years since our consumer protection laws were last reviewed. The 2024 statistics show that more needs to be done to better protect consumers shopping online, and also more safeguards are needed for consumers in sectors that collect large prepayments.”

“CASE will engage the government on the need to update our laws, work with our stakeholders to improve consumer education, and take steps to tackle industry-specific concerns.” 

Hopefully, with these renewed efforts, Singaporean consumers will be better informed and protected with prepayments. 

• Learn more about the Consumers Association of Singapore here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Singapore here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Vu Long Tran via Google

DBS to give a one-time bonus of S$1,000 to staff after achieving record earnings for 2024

DBS Group announced today (February 10) that it will pay a special one-time bonus of S$1,000 to all staff except senior managers as the bank reported record earnings for 2024.

A total of S$32 million has been set aside for this initiative. 

The bank reported an 11% increase in net profit in 2024 to S$11.4 billion and a 10% rise in its fourth-quarter net profit, which rose from S$2.39 billion (2023) to S$2.62 billion.

DBS also expects its group net interest income in 2025 to marginally beat last year—its previous projection was for net interest income to remain around 2024 levels.

27% increase in dividend payouts

Reflecting the bank’s performance, DBS has declared a final dividend of 60 cents per share for Q4 2024, up six cents from the previous payout of 54 cents.

For the full year, the bank will pay out S$6.31 billion in dividends, marking a 27% increase compared to the previous year.

Additionally, it plans to introduce a new “capital return” dividend of 15 Singapore cents per share for each quarter in 2025 to manage the bank’s excess capital. 

The bank also expects to continue returning similar amounts of capital over the next two years, either through this initiative or other methods.

Well-positioned to deliver healthy returns

Singaporean banks were forecast to post stronger profits for Q4 2024. However, analysts have said that local banks’ earnings could take a hit this year, with global economic growth threatened by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and other policies. 

Despite these concerns, outgoing DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta remains confident in the bank’s future.

“While macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties persist, the franchise and digital transformations carried out over the past decade position us well to continue delivering healthy returns,” he said in a statement.

DBS was the first of the local banks to announce its earnings, marking the start of the earnings season for Singapore’s banks. UOB is scheduled to report its results on February 19, followed by OCBC on February 26.

• Read more articles we’ve written about Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: DBS linked to $650 million ETH holding, which is the 40th largest in the world

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

7 pop-up markets in KL & Selangor to satisfy your festive shopping needs for Raya 2025

The month of January has come and gone in what feels like an instant.

And as the locals should know, that only means that the next big celebration is coming into view. For some, that’s going to be Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

But celebrating or not, what all will certainly be able to enjoy are the plethora of pop-up bazaars during this period.

With so many, however, it’ll be very easy for some markets to slip through the cracks. Harder still to know where to begin.

Here are seven we found that might just be what you’re looking for.

1. Elite Asia Ramadan Bazaar

Having worked with big names like Giant, MyTOWN, Pavilion, and Suria KLCC to organise events, Elite Asia Marketing has been in the event planning game for quite a while now.

On top of auto shows, they’ve done multiple different bazaars in the past. One example is Fujiwara Matsuri, a market themed on Japanese culture.

For the coming Raya celebration, they will be taking their expertise to The Curve in Mutiara Damansara.

• Date: February 28 – March 30
• Time: 10AM – 10PM
• Venue: The Curve

2. Pasar Seloka Raya

Pasar Seloka ended 2024 14 events strong. From picnics to sunset watching, the team has even done events abroad, bringing local creatives with them to “showcase the best of Malaysia.”

This year, they have four events in the pipeline under the “Seloka Raya” name, and this one is set to be the longest.

• Date: February 24 – March 25
• Time: 12PM – 10PM
• Venue: The Five, Damansara Heights

3. StarVendors KL Mega Raya Fest 2025

Moving away from its usual KLCC location, this year’s KL Mega Raya Fest by StarVendors will be held at the KL Base Exhibition Centre. Most notably, the indoor area of the market will be operating non–stop throughout the entire duration of the event. 

Visitors can expect to find over a hundred booths, with vendors selling food, Muslimah fashion, home decor, and even cosmetics.

Artists and celebrities will also be present, performing throughout the event. The full list of those taking the stage will be released at a later date.

• Date: March 20 – March 24
• Time: 3PM – 6AM (outdoor), all-day (indoor)
• Venue: KL Base Exhibition Centre

4. Absolut Bazaar x Festival Gaya Raya 2025

Another returning annual bazaar, Absolut Bazaar’s pop-up will feature approximately 300 stalls with early visitors standing a chance to win prizes.

The event will run continuously for 66 hours across the three days slated for the event.

Performances from over 100 artists, celebrities, and influencers will also be featured according to the organiser.

• Date: March 21 – March 23
• Time: TBA
• Venue: Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre

5. Ramadhan Bazaar by JW Events & Space

JW Events & Space is no stranger to hosting events. In fact, they will be hosting another pop-up market just a week before this one. 

Located at the mall’s ground floor, this market will be held right in front of Starbucks and Nando’s.

• Date: March 7 – March 30
• Time: 10AM – 10PM
• Venue: Citta Mall, Ara Damansara

6. Lollipop Market Pre-Raya Bazaar

Lollipop Market’s last event was a Snoopy-themed Christmas bazaar back in December. Their Pre-Raya Bazaar later this month will be held at The Gallery, a location that certainly seems like a favourite of theirs. If their past events are anything to go by, visitors can expect a well organised event for Raya too.

• Date: February 17 – February 23
• Time: 10AM – 10PM
• Venue: Level G2, The Gallery, Publika Shopping Gallery

7. Bazaar Ramadan AEON BiG Tun Hussein Onn

AEON BiG will be a familiar name to those who have done their groceries there before. This bazaar, organised by Truly Asia, will be hosted right at the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn branch’s main entrance.

This location was also host to the company’s last two events, so they no doubt know their way around the place.

• Date: March 1 – March 31
• Time: TBA
• Venue: AEON BiG Tun Hussein Onn

Where the heart is

As it is still early days, some organisers have yet to reveal everything about their events. Should any pique your interest, note their names and social media for further updates.

Of course, shopping malls and exhibition centres won’t be the only places that host pop-up markets. Residential areas usually have their own, held in parking lots and the like.

But where you ultimately end up this Hari Raya doesn’t matter. So long as you can spend it in good company, that’s as good as it gets.

• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Lollipop Market / Pasar Seloka

MICHELIN-Selected omakase spot Eat and Cook will close their Bukit Jalil restaurant in May

Four years after their establishment, Malaysian omakase spot Eat and Cook has announced their “Final Chapter.” 

At least, it’s the final chapter in their current Bukit Jalil restaurant. 

“With a heavy heart yet great anticipation, we announce that this season marks the beginning of our Final Chapter in this beloved location,” they posted to social media on February 3, 2025. 

However, they clarified that this isn’t a goodbye. Rather, it’s the end of one chapter and the start of a new, exciting story in a brand-new home. 

In conjunction with this closure notice, they have launched a Final Chapter menu curated by Chef Lee Zhexi. 

“We promise to make this Final Chapter extraordinary. Join us one last time in this space to toast to the past and look ahead to a future full of promise,” they wrote in their post. 

They ate and cooked 

Founded by hotel chefs Zhexi (also known as Chef Lee) and Yongzhi during the COVID pandemic, Eat and Cook subverts typical omakase norms by honing in on local flavours. 

The two chefs were later joined by Steve and Harry, who are directors of the business.

“The name of our restaurant sums up what we’re about. You enter with an appetite to eat and our chefs will decide what to cook for you—right in front of you,” Steve and Zhexi told Vulcan Post in a 2021 interview.

With that concept, the restaurant went on to be recognised by the likes of MICHELIN, having been one of the MICHELIN Selected restaurants from 2023 to 2025. 

They were also #79 in Asia’s 100 Best Restaurant 2023, and was deemed a Top 20 Restaurant in Malaysia by Tatler’s Dining Malaysia 2022. 

With these impressive accolades under their belt, we can’t help but wonder why they’ve decided to end their current chapter here. 

Back in 2021, they told Vulcan Post that they hope to expand their F&B group so all of the staff have the opportunity to lead, to experience, explore their creativity, and also become one of the shareholders, Steve and Zhexi expressed.

Their company, The Feast Dining Group, have indeed been able to do just that. The team successfully launched BarKar KL, which is also a MICHELIN Selected restaurant as of 2025. BarKar KL is described as “a cooking concept of rough wood fire open flame dining.”

Perhaps the closure of Eat and Cook as we know it currently is a step further in their quest of establishing a notable F&B group. 

The next chapter 

Thus far, the restaurant has yet to reveal any additional details about what’s to come for the team. Vulcan Post has also reached out for comment. 

Their Final Chapter menu will be available from February 13 to May 31, 2025. There’s a lunch menu (RM350++) as well as a dinner menu (RM580++). 

[Editor’s note: The above image has been updated to reflect the correct final menu.] 

Closing out their closure notice, the team expressed their gratitude towards their team, trusted suppliers, as well as patrons. 

“Closing this chapter at Eat and Cook is bittersweet, but it’s not an end—it’s the start of a new horizon,” they wrote. 

“With every plate served, we’ve shared a part of our soul, and as we move to a new home, we carry these memories and emotions with us, ready to create something even more extraordinary.”

• Learn more about Eat and Cook here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Eat and Cook

For singles ready to mingle: 5 events in Klang Valley this Valentine’s for you to get matched

So, you’ve been swiping away on the apps, but haven’t been able to make the connections you want. 

It might be time to put your phone down and try connecting with someone IRL. 

In time for Valentine’s, here are some experiences in Klang Valley for singles looking to mingle. Who knows, you might just find that spark you’ve been looking for. 

1. Dateworks’ It’s A Date: Singles in the Mall

Founded by Joanne Ng, Dateworks has been active since 2017. Self-described as an elite dating agency, the platform provides custom matchmaking services, as well as hosts events such as its upcoming “It’s A Date: Singles in the Mall.” 

The event promises “delicious food,” because how can you find love on an empty belly? 

To break the ice, there will be activities that are powered by notable businesses such as Parkson, Village Grocer, Game On, and Mokky’s Pizza. There’ll also be speed dating rotations for participants to meet other singles in a no-pressure, fun environment. 

If you’re worried about leaving empty-handed, the event also promises some prizes. 

Where to sign up: Here

Date and time: 15 February, 2025 | 11AM – 4PM

Location: Subang Parade

Price: RM150

2. Dateworks’ Heart Alight: Crafting Love & Connections

Dateworks has another event on the 16th. Compared to its Saturday event, this one is all about deep and meaningful conversations, making it an event suitable for singles as well as couples.

It also works for friends and family, so if you’re looking to strengthen some existing bonds, this is an event for you. 

The event will involve a Deep Dialogue Workshop where there’ll be thought-provoking prompts for enriching conversations. There’s also a DIY Rose Dome Workshop where participants can craft a little keepsake to bring home. 

True love starts with yourself, so there’s also some exclusive vouchers from Lax. Retreat and Beard Bear Barbershop for that touch of self-care.

Where to sign up: Here

Date and time: 16 February, 2025 | 2PM – 5PM

Location: THE LINC, KL

Price: 1 pax – RM135, 2 pax – RM250 

3. Take The Leap’s Lonely Hearts Singles’ Fest 

Formerly known as Date Well Project, Take The Leap is another Malaysian platform designed to foster meaningful connections through a variety of activities. 

Their Lonely Hearts Singles’ Fest is welcoming 50 ladies and 50 gents on February 15. 

Keep in mind that this is one of their non-halal events, though, where alcoholic drinks will also be served. 

Specifically, tickets include two alcoholic drinks, food, activities and resources, as well as facilitation and support for all of Take The Leap’s matching activities.

The event is designed for singles aged 21 to 39, so if you fall in that age range, you’re in luck. 

Where to sign up: Here

Date and time: February 15, 2025 | 3PM to 7PM

Location: Curious Kitchen PJ | 12 Persiaran Tropicana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 47410, Malaysia

Price: RM125/pax (RM10 discount each for groups of three or more = RM115/pax)

4. MST Golf Arena’s Golf Speed Dating 

Love might not always be a hole in one, but you can try for it at MST Golf Arena’s unique Golf Speed Dating event. Perfect for golf enthusiasts, this event on February 13 is open to those aged 21 to 35.

This speed dating event will involve a nine-hole game, one glass of wine/mocktail, and of course, a chance to meet a soulmate. 

Interestingly, matched couples will have an opportunity to enter the couple scramble golf (worth RM200+ per pax excluding SST) for free. 

The couple scramble golf is an event happening on the evening of Valentine’s Day itself, where participants will enjoy an 18-hole scramble tournament, ONOFF goodies, and glass of wine/mocktail. 

Awards will be given out for the best-dressed couple. ONOFF Golf Bags will be given to the winning team, along with a romantic Valentine’s dinner. 

Where to register: +60126995575

Location: MST Golf Arena, The Gardens Mall

Date & Time: February 13 2025 | 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Price: RM70+ per pax (excluding SST)

5. W Kuala Lumpur’s Swipe Right

Perhaps a fancier event in this lineup is W Kuala Lumpur’s Swipe Right event. 

The 5-star hotel is known to be bold and swanky, typically catering to the younger crowd.

Set to be held in its Living Room, this event is created so participants can make meaningful connections from 7PM to 11PM on Valentine’s Day itself. 

The event is technically free, but that also means there aren’t exactly any frills to go around, so be prepared to possibly spend on food and drinks at the Living Room.

Where to register: N/A

Location: Living Room, W Kuala Lumpur | 121, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Date and time:  February 14, 2025 | 7PM to 11PM

Price: Free

-//- 

Even if you don’t find the right match on Valentine’s, at least you can give yourself the gift of trying something new. And that something new might just be one of the five events highlighted here. 

So, step out, embrace the possibilities, and who knows—you might just find love, friendship, or just enjoy a fun night out. 

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Take The Leap

5 M’sian-designed baju raya collections you’ll want in your Raya 2025 wardrobe

Let’s be honest—we’ve all been guilty of scrambling at the last minute to find our Raya outfits. But this year, let’s do things differently. With Raya 2025 just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start planning your festive wardrobe.

Whether you want to stand out solo or coordinate with your family or partner, here are five stunning Malaysian-designed baju raya collections that will have you looking your best while embracing tradition with a modern twist.

1. Saoi

If you’re looking for baju raya that blends classic tradition with delicate artistry, Saoi’s Ode to Time collection is a must-have for Raya 2025. 

Saoi is the brainchild of fashion entrepreneur Wan Nur Syaira, who first founded WNS Studio, which later rebranded to Saoi in 2023.

Inspired by the fleeting yet beautiful bloom of rosemary flowers, the Rosemary set embodies grace with its custom floral embroidery, meticulously crafted to celebrate nature’s elegance.  

This Kurung Kedah-inspired ensemble features:  

• Custom embroidery details that add a refined touch    
• A teardrop neckline with a pearl button, a nod to vintage sophistication  
• A matching striped skirt with a partial elastic waistband for comfort and structure  

Crafted in three signature hues—Pomegranate, Cielo, and Ceramic—and made from breathable linen, this set embraces both comfort and timeless beauty this Raya. 

Not only that, the Tosca in Mediterranean Sea set embodies both boldness and tranquility, drawing inspiration from the ever-changing ocean. This 100% linen ensemble features a custom print reminiscent of the Mediterranean’s serene waves, making it a striking yet timeless piece.

The Tosca set highlights:

• A cinched waist with pleat details, enhancing the feminine silhouette
• Fabric-covered buttons that add a seamless, polished finish
• A matching skirt with a partial elastic waistband for versatility and comfort

Whether worn as a full set or styled separately with your favourite trousers, Tosca transitions seamlessly from Raya celebrations to everyday wear.

From florals to waves, Saoi’s Ode to Time collection brings a sense of nostalgia wrapped in contemporary charm.  

Where to buy: Saoi’s website

Customer profile: Women

Price range: Starts from RM329

2. Tom Abang Saufi

Tom Abang Saufi is your go-to destination if you’re into patterns and prints. Renowned for its masterful use of traditional motif prints, the eponymous label provides a luxurious array of kaftans and two-piece sets splashed in vivid hues. 

Tradition meets modern elegance in Tom Abang Saufi’s latest Baju Raya 2025 collection, offering matching styles for couples who want to celebrate in coordinated looks. 

Known for bold prints and timeless silhouettes, the collection merges heritage-inspired motifs with contemporary cuts, ideal for those seeking a refined statement outfit this festive season.  

For women, Tom Abang Saufi offers a variety of kebaya sets, kurung sets, and kaftans, each designed with traditional-inspired prints and modern tailoring. Men can find matching pieces in both short and long-sleeved designs, ensuring a stylish and coordinated Raya look.

A fresh take on the classic kebaya, the Dara pleated kebaya set is designed with pleated fabric that stretches beautifully ensuring both comfort and elegance.  

• Snap button front closure for a seamless look  
• Vertically pleated skirt with an elastic waistband for a flattering fit  
• Unlined, keeping it lightweight and breathable  

The Dara long-sleeved batik shirt is a timeless batik-inspired piece designed for modern elegance, and pairs effortlessly with the Dara Pleated Kebaya for a matching couple look.  

• Collared, button-down style with a traditional motif  
• Long cuffed sleeves for a polished finish  
• Regular fit, perfect for both casual and formal Raya gatherings  

For those who love flowy, relaxed outfits, the Tasla Kaftan is an exquisite option. Featuring wide, full-length sleeves and a traditional print, it’s effortlessly chic and adjustable with a belt to define the waist.  

The Tasla design is also available in a short-sleeve batik shirt, ensuring a harmonised couple’s look with minimal effort.  

Additionally, the renowned Sarawakian designer has revealed a series of oversized sunglasses and vegan leather tote bags, ensuring that you’re impeccably styled for the festivities. 

Where to buy: Tom Abang Saufi’s website

Customer profile: Women and men

Price range: Starts from RM185

3. Umma

Radiate grace this Raya with Umma’s Sulam Raya collection, a line that blends sophistication with cultural heritage, ensuring each piece stands the test of time. 

This year, Umma’s designs celebrate the art of embroidery (sulam) with intricate detailing that reflects the beauty of Malay craftsmanship.  

Their signature hijabs in this collection are inspired by Wau, the traditional Malaysian kite, symbolising grace and flight. Just like a Wau soaring through the sky, these hijabs capture the elegance and beauty of tradition with every fold.  

This baju raya look from Sulam Raya 2025 exudes effortless charm with:  

• A delicate white blouse with intricate embroidery along the sleeves and hem, adding a touch of femininity. The loose, flowy fit ensures comfort, while the scalloped lace trims enhance the overall elegance.  
• A batik-inspired sarong skirt featuring a rich blend of floral motifs, evoking the timeless beauty of traditional textiles. The wrap-style silhouette allows for ease of movement, making it ideal for festive gatherings.  

Whether you’re looking for timeless embroidery, batik elegance, or effortlessly draped hijabs, this collection deserves a spot in your Raya wardrobe.  

Where to buy: Umma’s Instagram

Customer profile: Women 

Price range: N/A

4. POKOKS

For Raya 2025, POKOKS introduces The Akar Kita Collection, a heartfelt tribute to family and the roots that ground us. This collection harmoniously blends tradition with contemporary design, offering over 70 variants in theme colours for the entire family. 

Crafted from premium materials such as cotton, linen, and rayon spandex, each garment ensures a soft, breathable feel, perfect for a joyous, down-to-earth Raya celebration.

Key features:

• Each Baju Melayu is adorned with uniquely cut and patterned natural stone buttons.
• With more than 70 variants, the collection offers unique theme colours like sage green, coronet blue, and latte, allowing families to celebrate in a harmonious style.
• To complete the ensemble, matching samping are available for men, adding a touch of traditional elegance to the modern designs.

Beyond clothing, POKOKS extends the festive experience with their own designed Ang Pao Raya, adding a personal and stylish touch to gift-giving traditions. These come free in a pack of six when you make a purchase over RM199.

The Akar Kita Collection by POKOKS is an example of the beauty of family unity and cultural heritage, offering classic and meaningful fits for Raya 2025. 

Where to buy: POKOKS’ website

Customer profile: Women and men

Price range: Starts from RM99

5. Bayu Somerset

Bayu Somerset is back with a bang for Raya 2025, unveiling their much-anticipated Somer Syok Raya Collection—a lineup that celebrates tradition with a modern, expressive twist. 

This year’s collection features six stunning themes, including the Floral Collection, Bayu Somerset x Bunga dan Bintang Collab Collection, Whimsical Collection, Moroccan Collection, Coral Collection, and Batik Collection. 

While the first four have already been released, the rest are set to drop soon—keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.  

Bayu Somerset’s designs are a true ode to heritage, infused with contemporary aesthetics. The Kurung Kedah, known for its relaxed silhouette, is reimagined with bold patterns and vibrant prints—ensuring you stand out while staying effortlessly comfortable. 

For those who prefer something softer and more graceful, the Maxi Kebaya is a good pick, offering a flowy, breathable fit that moves with you.  

Whether you’re drawn to lush florals, playful whimsy, or intricate Moroccan influences, Bayu Somerset’s Somer Syok Raya Collection has something for every Raya mood. Expect rich hues, delicate details, and a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary elegance, making this collection a must-have for a fresh, stylish fit this festive season.

Where to buy: Bayu Somerset’s website

Customer profile: Women 

Price range: Starts from RM79

-//-

Whether you prefer delicate embroidery, bold prints, contemporary kaftans, or coordinated family ensembles, these brands offer something for everyone. So, which one are you eyeing for Raya 2025?

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Saoi / Tom Abang Saufi / POKOKS

He quit the corporate life to start a S’pore snack brand selling ancient superfoods

For Wouter Duyck, entrepreneurship was a way to turn his life into an adventure. 

“After three years in corporate, I felt the urge to go out on my own and start something that I could be really proud of, something that aligned with my values and would make me wake up every morning full of energy,” he told Vulcan Post. 

Originally from Belgium, Wouter had been working at Bain & Co, a management consulting firm. 

Outside of work, the Belgian has always been interested in promoting a healthy lifestyle, with his hobbies being ultrarunning, open water marathon swimming, and anything endurance-related. 

But he noticed there was a real lack of healthy options in local supermarkets, especially when it came to snacking. 

“When we found a superfood I had never heard of before, the water lily seeds that pops like popcorn and only grows in the Himalayan foothills, grown and cultivated by one of the poorest communities in India, I knew we had something worth exploring,” he shared. 

With that ZENKO Superfoods was born. 

Rooted in ancient traditions

The team’s R&D process is all about looking at ancient traditions. 

“We start from what has been used and trialed for thousands of years, then we think about how we can incorporate it into today’s food habits,” Wouter explained. 

The product he’s most proud of has also been the most difficult to create, Wouter pointed out. 

He said, “The development of our ancient grain granola started in January 2023 and took more than a year to release because instead of our previous products where we were dealing with only one main ingredient and a natural flavouring component, now we had to deal with a whole mix of ancient grains and nuts and seeds.”

The team would use the help of friends to blind taste test the product over and over again. 

“There’s so many superfoods that have been forgotten that can be transformed into delicious and healthy products, you just need a bit of imagination to get started,” Wouter said. 

One ingredient is sorghum, which the team discovered during their travels through India. The ingredient was talked about with very high admiration by the locals, who would pop the sorghum into tiny popcorns and enjoy them with spices. 

Seeing the potential, ZENKO launched it as a snack but used chocolate and honey instead of spices. 

It’s only later that we found out that sorghum has actually been called the grain of the future and that it is part of the millet family which has been getting a lot of attention and support, even from the United Nations,” Wouter shared.

Adapting along the way 

However, the sorghum product didn’t sell well in supermarkets. Marketed as “Ancient Grain Clusters,” it was positioned as a snack next to brands like Lays and Doritos. 

“FairPrice Finest, one of our trusted retail partners, pulled it off the shelves after one year and we thought of discontinuing the product,” Wouter recalled.

But his team told him to rethink that decision. After all, the product was selling really well online.

Finding the discrepancy in offline and online sales odd, Wouter began to investigate. 

“What turned out is that our online buyers didn’t buy the products as a snack, they used it as a cereal or as topping on their yoghurt,” he said. 

Trying the product themselves, they realised how much better it tasted with yoghurt and milk. That’s how their granola product got started. They plan to launch a cereal version soon, too.

Taste is key 

Hearing the term “superfoods,” you might be inclined to think they taste bad, or at least, uninteresting. However, Wouter wants to show that superfoods can actually taste amazing. 

This is especially important as many have never heard of ZENKO’s ingredients such as water lily pops, sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet. As such, the brand often hosts events where people can sample the products. 

“We have a saying in the company that goes: ‘When they try, they buy’,” he said. “We’re very confident in the taste of our products.” 

Taste, Wouter believes, is key. “Anyone can make a product with minimal and natural ingredients, but to make them taste good is a whole other thing. We really have to rely on the taste of the natural main ingredient.”

Similarly, he believes that the main ingredient needs to be the one that carries all the health benefits, as he doesn’t believe in additives that improve the health profile of a product. 

“Most products today are made with tons of artificial ingredients, I’m not sure what the impact of those artificial ingredients will have on our body in the long term and I’m not quite sure if even those brands know,” he pointed out. 

While there are more healthy snacks nowadays, Wouter thinks that most snacks in the market are still unhealthy. He pointed out that many are similar, with just different packaging and branding. He argues that many brands may use a contract manufacturer that sells the same product to many brands. 

For ZENKO, though, the team has full visibility over the entire supply chain, sourcing the raw materials themselves and making them in their own factory. 

“Our snacks celebrate the history, people, and place the products originate from. By educating people with the story behind our products we try to connect them with the source,” he said. 

“We call this conscious snacking, where you care more than just the instant gratification but consider all implications on your own body and the traditions behind the product.” 

Supporting farmers and our world

Currently, all the water lily seeds ZENKO uses are still popped in a manual way. Going forward, though, the team hopes to help the local population by making small modular popping machines that will allow them to create more output with less manual labor. 

“Currently, we have one big machine that is mainly used for further research purposes, the next phase is to make it smaller and more affordable so it can be shared with the local farmers,” he said. 

From there, they plan to automate the popping of ancient grains too. Especially with automation comes the worry that they could over-harvest or exploit the superfood resources. 

However, Wouter believes that by promoting the local superfoods and purchasing their produce, farmers have a reason to continue growing the superfoods instead of replacing them for cash-crops like corn or sugar cane. 

“Even worse, at the rate the staples are growing (corn, wheat, rice), they will use all of the land and there will be no superfoods left,” he pointed out. 

It’s reported that out of roughly 6,000 different plants we once consumed as humans, only nine remain main staples today. Four of them account for 60% of worldwide calorie intake—rice, wheat, corn and potato. 

Overreliance on so few products creates an imbalance in nature as well as our diets.

This is why ZENKO is doing its best to bring the spotlight back to these forgotten superfoods, one snack at a time. 

• Learn more about ZENKO Superfoods here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image: ZENKO Superfoods

Here’s the story of Oriental Kopi, the public-listed chain that made RM43mil profits last yr

The talk of the town has been Oriental Kopi and their recent IPO.

But in case you’ve been living under a rock and wondering who that even is, here’s the tea–or rather, kopi.

Behind the cup 

Oriental Kopi got its start in 2020, founded by Dato’ Chan Jian Chern, Chan Yen Min, and Koay Song Leng. 

According to its IPO prospectus, the first Oriental Kopi cafe was opened in a rented shop lot in Johor Jaya, Johor. Subsequently, in May 2021, the cafe chain expanded to a shopping mall where they opened the second Oriental Kopi cafe in The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey in Johor.

In December 2020, the business began selling packaged foods, such as coffee, tea, spreads, pastries, instant noodles, and more. 

In November 2021, the first Oriental Kopi cafe outside of Johor was opened in a rented shop lot in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Selangor. Some months later in April 2022, they established a new Oriental Kopi cafe in Pavilion Bukit Jalil Mall in Kuala Lumpur. 

Oriental Kopi also signed a JV with the Chua family of Paradise Group Singapore to set up Oriental Kopi outlets there. Paradise Group has more than 10 restaurant brands which includes Paradise Dynasty, Le Shrimp Ramen, Para Thai, and more. 

A whopping RM43 million in profits

From there on, the business continued growing.

Today, there are 20 outlets of Oriental Kopi. In 2024, their revenue rose to RM277,280,000 and the profit after tax was RM43,132,000.

This includes profits from its packaged goods, which the business highlights as a strength in the prospectus.

Aside from that, Oriental Kopi also highlighted a number of other strengths, including:

• The business is modular and scalable, thus facilitating prompt and simplified procedures to
  expand the number of their cafes.
• The business has direct and indirect distribution channels to optimise their market access.
• The cafes are strategically located which enhances their brand visibility and drives
  business growth.
• There’s a dedicated food recipe creation team that develops new and improved menus for the chain.
• The business owns and operate all their cafes in Malaysia, enabling them to have control over the quality of products and services.
• They have experienced directors and a key senior management team to sustain and
  continue developing the business.

But who exactly comprises that team?

From mobile phones salesperson to managing director

Dato’ Chan Jian Chern, also known as Dato’ Calvin, is the business’ promoter, specified shareholder, substantial shareholder, and managing director. 

Now aged 42, he had completed his secondary education in 1999, the same year he began his career with Digiworld Enterprise as a salesperson of mobile phones and accessories. 

He’s always had an entrepreneurial spirit, though. In 2003, he set up a sole proprietorship, known as Tenggara Telecentre Trading. Later on in 2014, he set up Tenggara Telecentre Sdn Bhd to carry on the business of Tenggara Telecentre Trading under a private limited company. 

In 2009, he also started a different company, Mars Mobile Distribution Sdn Bhd, which is a wholesaler and retailer of handphones, computers, and telecommunication equipment. He also started Leagoo (M) Sdn Bhd in 2014 which also sold handphones, computers, and telecommunication equipment. 

But in 2018, he was no longer involved in the management of the mobile phone and accessories businesses via Tenggara Telecentre Sdn Bhd, Mars Mobile Distribution Sdn Bhd, and Leagoo (M) Sdn Bhd.

That year, he co-founded Golden Whale International with Chan Yen Min, which is in the business of a bubble tea retail chain under the “Black Whale” brand. 

During his tenure, he led the team and executed the business strategies and marketing plans of the company. He was also able to acquire knowledge and management experience, as well as build business networks within the F&B industry. 

In 2021, he was less active in the Black Whale beverage business to focus on Oriental Kopi Group’s business. 

During the initial stages of the Group’s business, he was responsible for the Group’s overall management including operations, cafes expansion, branding and marketing. Currently, he is primarily responsible for the formulation of the business strategies, including corporate plans, branding and marketing strategies, contributing to the growth of their Group. 

Dato’ Chan Jian Chern was also previously involved in several businesses such as Cunfry, where he was a shareholder from 2021 to 2023. 

He was also a director from 2022 to 2024, and a founding shareholder since 2022 till to-date, of the Beutea beverage chain operator group of companies. 

Since the establishment of the first Oriental Kopi cafe in Johor Jaya, Johor in 2020, he has led the group’s business to further expand to 20 cafes (including Singapore). 

Joined by a couple of engineers

At 33 years old, Chan Yen Min is Oriental Kopi’s promoter, specified shareholder, substantial shareholder, and executive director. 

Her background is actually in chemical engineering, having obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Taylor’s University in 2015. She went on to work in notable companies, including Yokogawa Electric and Petron Malaysia. 

In 2018, she co-founded Golden Whale International to operate the “Black Whale” brand with Dato’ Chan Jian Chern. During her tenure, she was responsible for procurement, retail outlet management, human resource and administration. 

Chan Yen Min was also involved in both Cunfry and Beatea, the latter which she is still a shareholder of. 

In 2023, Chan Yen Min ceased her involvement in Golden Whale International and Cunfry to focus on Oriental Kopi’s business.

She is the sister of Dato’ Chan Jian Chern, and the spouse of Koay Song Leng, who is the executive director of Oriental Kopi. 

Koay, 34, also has an engineering background, having gotten his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from Taylor’s University in 2015.

He started his career with Foster Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Singapore), a company that provides thermal insulation materials, then joined Grundfos (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a water pump manufacturer.

In 2019, though, he left and joined Golden Whale International. Here, he was responsible for warehousing and logistics, outlets expansion and general outlet maintenance. 

As Oriental Kopi’s Executive Director, he is responsible for overseeing retail outlet management (including kitchen operations), warehousing, and logistics management.

Like his wife, he was a director and shareholder in Cunfry until 2023. He was also a shareholder of Beautea since 2022 till to-date. 

Koay’s sibling, Koay Chor Leng, is also involved in the business as a Retail Operation Manager. Meanwhile, the Chan’s cousin, Chan Wei Jet, is the Group’s Business Development and FMCG Manager.

Steeping the kopi 

While an IPO is an “exit strategy” for some, this looks to be just the beginning for Oriental Kopi. 

According to their IPO prospectus, the total gross proceeds from their public issue will amount to RM183,964,440 based on the IPO price. The team expects the proceeds to be used in the following manner:

• Set up of new head office, central kitchen and warehouse (RM53,685,000, 29.18%) 
• Expansion of cafes in various states within Malaysia (RM36,400,000, 19.79%) 
• Expansion of their brands of packaged foods segment (RM5,000,000, 2.72%)
• Marketing activities in foreign countries (RM5,500,000, 2.99%) 
• Working capital (RM75,779,000, 41.19%)
• Estimated listing expenses (RM7,600,000, 4.13%)

Looking ahead, the team aims to continue with their existing business activities, leveraging their strengths to address potential opportunities by expanding their cafe chain operations and distribution and retail of packaged foods. 

These expansion plans will happen both locally as well as in foreign countries. 

In the prospectus, the group highlighted that they have three potential business models for the expansion of their cafes for their F&B services and in-store sales of their packaged foods in foreign countries by way of joint-venture owner-operator, master franchisee, or franchisees.

From Malaysia to the world

If you’ve ever visited an Oriental Kopi outlet, especially during lunch or dinner rush, you’ve likely noticed that the restaurant is almost always packed, or even has a queue out front. 

There’s no doubt that Oriental Kopi has rapidly grown to become a go-to place for reliable local fare in a nice environment. Personally, I’m excited—and proud—to see the company scale up and bring this to other countries, too. 

But there’s no such thing as “too big to fail.” Oriental Kopi has been enjoying its flowers, and it’ll need the right strategy and execution in place to continue to do so.

With that in mind, we hope to keep an eye on the business and see where they go from here. 

• Learn more about Oriental Kopi here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Oriental Kopi

This M’sian left corporate life to start his own venture selling açaí bowls in KL, here’s why

When eating out, there is nothing more challenging than trying to find healthy food options.

If it tastes good, there’s a good chance that’s only because it’s long past being anywhere remotely healthy.

And that’s nothing to say about the temptations of a sweet treat.

Enter Vishal, who is looking to break new ground with Le Açaí Crush.

Native to South America, açaí is a fruit harvested from a certain kind of palm tree.

It is especially popular as a delicacy when frozen and mashed.

This popularity however is limited to other countries, and Malaysia lacks something similar, according to the founder. 

While you may find açaí on the menu at certain establishments, you would have been hard-pressed to come across a spot specialising in it—before Le Açaí Crush, that is.

Through Vishal’s own spin on açaí bowls, Le Açaí Crush aims to present Malaysians with a healthier solution to any sweet cravings you might have.

Beyond just making a living

Born and raised right here on Malaysian soil, Vishal found his start in PR and marketing. 

Later a social media executive, he would then become a producer for events and conferences before leaving that life behind to start Le Açaí Crush as its managing director.

The founder notes that his experiences up to that point had prepared him for his new undertaking.

That, and a lot of research.

But a new startup is nothing without passion. And for Vishal, that passion has always been açaí.

“Starting this venture was a way to share my love for açaí with others and introduce more people to its magic,” he explained.

“There’s something deeply fulfilling about turning a personal passion into a business that resonates with others.”

There was, however, a problem. 

“It’s Ah-Sigh-Ee,” states the company’s Instagram bio, indicating that their target market still requires education on what their offering is. 

True to form, the fruit isn’t exactly the most well-known thing in Malaysia.

Uncharted territory

Le Açaí Crush can be best described as a niche of a niche.

Though the fruit that they use is sourced from Brazil, how they prepare it slightly differs from the usual blended affair.

Served as a sorbet, customers can choose from a variety of toppings and flavours to cater to their own tastes.

This new take on açaí bowls has seemingly worked for Vishal, noting that the company has found its footing since its inception in August, 2023.

“The response has been truly heartwarming,” he said. “We’ve been steadily growing since we started, and while every business has its challenges, we’re grateful for the support we’ve received from our community.”

Le Açaí Crush has its sights on quite the broad spectrum of individuals. From the health-conscious to food enthusiasts, the idea seems to be as universal as possible.

To accomplish this, social media plays a pivotal role in the company’s operations.

“We’ve focused on building a strong social media presence, collaborating with local influencers, and hosting events that create buzz around the brand,” shared Vishal.

Group orders also form a part of Le Açaí Crush’s business model. 

He notes that this approach can be more consistent and has the potential to be more lucrative on a good day.

A marathon, not a sprint

Having fallen in love with entrepreneurship, Vishal has no intentions of returning to corporate life.

That said, he is willing to go the extra mile if it means keeping things moving for the company.

“I do occasionally take on odd jobs, and there’s a chance I might return to work temporarily until the business becomes more stable,” he explained.

“The hope, of course, is that I won’t have to.”

The immediate goal for Le Açaí Crush is to increase sales and open more outlets.

From there, the founder seeks to franchise the brand and get a stronger hold of Malaysia’s açaí market.

“We’re also open to partnering with or being acquired by major brands that align with our values,” he added.

This would aid in scaling up the business as well as bring in a fresh pair of eyes.

The health benefits of fruit is a messy topic of debate due to its inherent sugar content.

Though natural as opposed to added, some will argue that all sugar is bad and to keep intake in moderation. Others will say that fruit specifically is fine and not to think too much about it.

Açaí faces similar skepticism, and ultimately, what you believe is up to you.

One thing’s for certain, though.

It is healthier than commercially-available ice cream, and you’ll likely feel a lot less guilty reaching for it too when a sweet craving hits.

• Learn more about Le Açaí Crush here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Le Açaí Crush

This S’porean padel startup has bagged 7-figure funds, set to open clubs in M’sia & S’pore

These days, pickleball has been all the rage. Almost every other person I know has tried the sport. 

Perhaps arguably underlooked, though, is padel. 

But maybe that’s about to change through the rise of Pop Padel, an upcoming premium padel club that just secured a seven-figure investment from Apricot Capital, a Singapore-based private investment firm. 

Pop quiz: Who’s Pop Padel?

Based in Singapore, Pop Padel aims to be present in Singapore and Malaysia, with the vision of establishing both countries’ first premium padel facilities.

The objective is to offer world-class, tournament-standard courts and a vibrant hub for padel enthusiasts of all skill levels to connect, play, and grow. 

Originating from Mexico, padel (also known as padel tennis) is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court. The court is slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court, and the racquets are made of a composite material without strings, but with perforations (i.e. holes). 

The seven-figure investment comes after Pop Padel won a government tender to build Singapore’s first purpose-built fully sheltered social padel club that will host four world-class courts in Redhill. 

According to a press release, this was a highly coveted tender. There had been eight bidders, and Pop Padel had bid S$19,000, the second-highest amount. Price aside, the tender was also evaluated based on quality aspects. 

What’s popping?

So, what exactly will Pop Padel’s Redhill club offer?

Working with Spanish padel court manufacturer MejorSet, the club will feature panoramic courts equipped with the manufacturer’s latest Mondo turf. They’re also working with NOX, a notable padel brand, to set up a pro shop.

According to Pop Padel’s website, they will also organise various social events and tournaments, as well as a booking app with a rating system. 

Beyond the courts’ mats, the club will include an F&B area and a recovery zone with cold plunges for padelists to relax and unwind. 

The same will be replicated for the brand’s first Malaysian outlet, which will feature six fully sheltered competition-grade courts in Bamboo Hills. 

The fresh funds from Apricot Capital will be key in establishing these state-of-the-art facilities in both Singapore and Malaysia, advancing Pop Padel’s vision of fostering a vibrant padel community across Southeast Asia.

“Securing this buy-in from Apricot Capital is a huge step forward for us at Pop Padel,” said founder Davy Sanh. 

Davy has been recognized by the global industry in 2024 as one of the top 50 most influential figures in the emerging world of padel. 

“With Apricot’s support and shared belief in our goal of growing padel across countries, Pop Padel is poised to reinvigorate the sports scene and elevate padel as a sport of choice amongst the population living in Southeast Asia in time to come.”

Apricot Capital is the family office of Teo Kee Bock and his family. Teo was formerly founder and chairman of SGX listed company, Super Group Ltd. They’re also the family behind Oatbedient. 

The ball’s in their court

Through the support of Apricot Capital, the team hopes to accelerate the adoption of padel in Southeast Asia.

Its multi-country debut is set to happen in March 2025, when both the Redhill and Bamboo Hills clubs will open. 

Only time will tell, but perhaps the pickleball hype has helped set the stage locally for padel to take centre stage—or rather, court. And Pop Padel might just be the one to make good on that golden opportunity. 

• Learn more about Pop Padel here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about funding here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Pop Padel

RHB just launched Malaysia’s 1st “debit card-linked BNPL solution.” What does that even mean?

RHB PayLater, Malaysia’s first Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution directly linked to debit cards, has officially launched. 

Now, we don’t know about you, but our first reaction to that was… what does that even mean? And why do we need it?

Doesn’t a “buy now, pay later” debit card just sound like a credit card with different steps? 

Well, here’s what we now know about this new innovative solution. 

Instalments made easy

Essentially, this offering provides customers with seamless access to interest-free instalment plans of three or six months. 

The “seamlessness” means that to use the BNPL features, you just need to checkout using your RHB Debit Cards, no need for a separate app or account creation.

That means RHB Debit Card holders can split payment of their purchases of up to RM1,499 down into easy instalments at selected merchants. 

Featured merchants who accept RHB PayLater currently include: Machines, Al-Ikshan Sports, Gamers Hideout, TMT Thundermatch, Bubble Gum Wax, Switch, and many more. 

The icing on the cake? No income requirements or guarantor needed.

Instead, RHB is using an “innovative approach” to eligibility assessment, leveraging customer behaviour analysis to pre-qualify over 500,000 existing RHB CASA (Current Account Savings Account) customers for RHB PayLater. 

According to RHB, this “unique methodology” evaluates account activities such as deposits, transactions, and savings behaviour to offer seamless access without requiring additional applications. 

Based on customers’ savings behaviour and account activities, RHB PayLater provides a revolving limit based, offering personalised instalment plans to suit individual cash flow needs. 

By actively using their RHB accounts, customers can unlock higher eligibility and enjoy exclusive rewards, making financial flexibility more accessible and rewarding.

Although the product is “interest-free,” if the customer pays less than the monthly instalment repayment by the repayment due date, the unpaid outstanding balance after the repayment due date will be subject to finance charges.

The charges are 1.25% per month (effective rate of 15% per annum) on the outstanding amount, calculated on daily rest.

It is an alternative to credit cards

The question remains, isn’t this a credit card with different steps?

Well, the press release does actually describe the solution as a “practical alternative to traditional credit cards.”

“Designed as a modern alternative to credit cards, RHB PayLater empowers individuals including those without access to traditional credit cards to achieve financial flexibility and mindful spending habits,” the release elaborated. 

By providing practical tools and user-friendly solutions, RHB stated that this product simplifies financial management, enabling customers to better manage their cash flow while enjoying greater convenience.

Dato’ Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director/Group Chief Executive Officer of RHB Banking Group said, “By introducing this seamless and accessible solution, we empower customers to make smarter financial decisions while enjoying greater convenience and flexibility.”

But how exactly does such a product really empower smarter financial decisions? 

Smarter, or just more accessible?

Having been covering the BNPL market in Malaysia, we can’t help but notice that the hype around BNPL seems to have calmed down a little. 

But that doesn’t actually mean that the industry isn’t active. It just means that BNPL has already been widely accepted in Malaysia as a payment option. 

While there’s no doubt that BNPL products such as RHB PayLater help with financial inclusion, do they actually foster financial literacy?

In a conversation with financial bloggers back in 2022, Vulcan Post learnt that using BNPL has its pros and cons—when used wisely, it can be a handy financial tool for users to manage their money. 

“The biggest benefit and downside of BNPL is its accessibility,” one financial blogger, No Money Lah by Yi Xuan, said. “It allows people that do not have access to loans/credits to resolve urgent financial matters, yet if misused, it can cause a deep financial spiral.”

However, Suraya Zainudin of Ringgit Oh Ringgit had shared: ““BNPL brings debt culture to the most financially vulnerable in society. Being the lesser evil than loan sharks is not an achievement.” 

So, it comes down to education. Users need to know what they’re signing up for and how they should utilise it. There are some tips that the financial bloggers shared from 2022 that are still relevant today, such as only considering BNPL when you can already afford the purchase. 

With that, we hope to see RHB Bank educate users on using BNPL and how RHB PayLater works.  

• Learn more about RHB PayLater here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about BNPL here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: [From left to right] Abdul Sani bin Abdul Murad, Group Chief Marketing Officer; Dato’ Mohd Rashid Mohamad, Group Managing Director/Group Chief Executive Officer; Jeffrey Ng Eow Oo, Managing Director, Group Community Banking; and Sien Vee Loc, Head, Consumer Finance of RHB Banking Group, at the launch of RHB PayLater.

Grab & GoTo are allegedly eyeing a 2025 merger, but GoTo denies reports

Grab and GoTo are in advanced discussions for a possible merger, hoping to overcome years of losses in Southeast Asia. 

According to Bloomberg, the two firms, valued at over US$25 billion, aim to finalise an agreement by 2025. 

However, in a filing on February 4, GoTo has denied any ongoing merger talks, adding that it was not engaged in discussions with any party.

The company, which ​​was formed in a May 2021 merger between ride-hailing firm Gojek and ecommerce platform Tokopedia, also noted separately that it “does not have any material corporate action plans for the next 12 months other than the implementation of share buybacks.”

On-and-off discussions for years

Earlier in 2024, similar reports surfaced about potential merger talks between the two firms, but GoTo also refuted those claims at the time.

The companies have reportedly engaged in on-and-off discussions for years but faced disagreements and potential antitrust challenges due to their dominance in key markets like Indonesia and Singapore.

If the merger proceeds this time, it could help lower costs and ease competitive pressure in the region.

Slower growth

While both firms have made significant progress towards profitability following their stock-market debuts, their growth has slowed significantly in recent years.

With customers cutting back on spending due to high inflation and interest rates, Grab and GoTo have seen lower demand for their services. 

In response, both firms have pursued smaller strategic deals to strengthen their financial positions. Grab bought a supermarket chain in Malaysia (Jan 2022) and a reservation app in Singapore (July 2024), while GoTo sold control of its struggling ecommerce business to ByteDance’s TikTok for US$1.5 billion last year.

• Read more articles we’ve written about Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: Building “boring” solutions is key for tech startups, says Grab’s CTO. Here’s why.

Feature Image Credit: Shalstock/Shutterstock

M’sian startup iMotorbike’s CEO on the fundraising advice that helped them bag US$10 million

When Vulcan Post last covered iMotorbike, we reported on the successful completion of their Series A funding.

Achieving a grand total of US$10 million, the company is set to use these funds for regional expansion.

This time around, co-founder and CEO Gil Carmo has kindly shared with us his insights on successful fundraising as well as plans for iMotorbike’s future.

A Grand Prix in suit and tie

Venture capital (VC) funding is a fast-paced affair, and not all businesses are suited for it, at least according to Gil.

In the case of iMotorbike, this approach works because of the market potential the company has, being part online.

It does of course also come with a pair of nifty benefits—speed and resources.

“VC funding provides us with the means to scale quickly and compete effectively in any market,” he noted.

“When you are addressing a sizable Total Addressable Market (TAM) like ours, where the potential for growth is immense, having access to the right resources and expertise makes all the difference.”

That being said, they weren’t just about to accept any investor under the sun.

Here’s some advice Gil had to give to other entrepreneurs hoping to bag funds this year.

1. Take your time and do your due diligence

The co-founder shared that they specifically looked for individuals that shared their long-term vision and goals.

“This involved several rounds of discussions and due diligence to ensure alignment, which is critical in building strong, collaborative relationships with our investors,” he explained.

2. Find investors who can offer more than just funds

Another criteria was that the investors had to bring some sort of value to the table beyond just funding. Those with useful networks, expertise, or experience in scaling up a business were made top priority.

“Having an investor who understands the dynamics of our industry and can offer insights or connections is crucial for us to navigate challenges and seize opportunities effectively.”

3. A good pitch is no substitute for a good track record

But they needed a lot more than just a good pitch when they found just the people that they were looking for.

He believes their success in securing international investor confidence was rooted in several key factors.

The first was a strong market fit. There was a gap in the pre-owned motorcycle industry, and iMotorbike seized it with a scalable solution.

Second was performance. The company showed consistent and measurable growth in things like revenue and operational efficiency.

The third was transparency. The company was clear to investors about their business plans and outlined achievable milestones. Care was also taken to ensure that everyone’s goals were still aligned.

Lastly, experience. The founding team and management’s successful track record showed that they weren’t just all talk and that they could actually deliver on their promises.

All-in-all, it was a 12-month ordeal for iMotorbike.

Though iMotorbike’s CEO could not disclose any specific challenges, he was able to say how he and his team overcame them.

“Having clarity about what we’re working toward and staying committed to that vision helps us navigate through any obstacles,” he shared.

That, and a whole lot of tenacity.

Into high gear

As mentioned prior, the whole purpose of iMotorbike’s fundraising was to aid in expansion.

Regionally, the company is looking to open new showrooms in Johor and Penang. And outwards, iMotorbike is looking to increase their presence in Vietnam where the CEO notes that the market size of their motorcycle industry is six to seven times that of Malaysia’s.

This, however, only covers pre-existing markets that the company already has their toes in. iMotorbike has also earmarked a part of their new funds for a Taiwan expansion.

“One of the key reasons Taiwan stands out is its developed infrastructure and the entrenched preference for motorcycles as a primary mode of transportation,” said Gil.

“Around 80% of households in Taiwan own a motorcycle, making it a no-brainer for our expansion strategy.”

An expansion here would also serve as iMotorbike’s gateway into the East Asian market. And the better they can establish themselves, the better their chances at tapping into neighbouring regions with similar markets.

Home field advantage

For the foreseeable future, the plan is for iMotorbike to continue operations with Malaysia as their headquarters. Importance to their strategy aside, there is an emotional attachment to the country seeing as it is the company’s starting point.

He also notes, though, that international investors have seemingly become more optimistic about Malaysian startups like his own.

“Malaysia’s growing tech ecosystem is gaining recognition globally, supported by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a stable regulatory environment, and government initiatives focused on digitalisation and innovation,” he explained.

“Additionally, international investors value the expanding talent pool in Malaysia, which is producing tech-savvy professionals capable of driving innovation and operational excellence.”

Capitalising on this shift, however, will not be an easy task for new startups. 

“Fundraising is never easy—whether it is your first time or not,” he said.

“It requires relentless effort, resilience, and the ability to keep going despite hearing a lot of ‘no’s.’ Things will likely take far more time than you initially estimated, so patience is key.”

He further emphasised the importance of looking for opportunities early as sometimes, it comes down to luck. The more you put yourself out there, the better the odds of catching someone’s eye. And as an added benefit, the more experience you’ll get which’ll allow you to better refine your pitch.

It is also crucial to be realistic, he noted. “Understand that you might end up securing only a fraction of the valuation you hoped for or raising half the amount you initially aimed for.”

Lastly, understand your investors’ expectations. “Different regions have different benchmarks for what constitutes a compelling pitch,” he explained.

“Do your research, and tailor your presentation to align with the priorities of investors in the target market.”

With such a strong start to the year, one can only imagine how far iMotorbike will go. Here’s hoping that their story has inspired some to start their engines as well.

• Learn more about iMotorbike here.
• Read more articles we’ve written about funding here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: iMotorbike

This S’porean biz’s salad bowls sell out daily. Their secret sauce? Autonomous kiosks.

On the rare occasion when I am willing to diet, I opt for salad bowls, specifically the ones that allow me to customise my meal. 

However, there were instances where I wondered: Am I genuinely getting a balanced meal that suits my needs? Moreover, some of these places are often inaccessible as they are usually located at more upscale locations such as the CBD. 

This is where local startups come in to fill up the gap, including Hit Refresh, who plans to “revolutionise healthy eating in Singapore” through its autonomous kiosks.

A seamless experience

Hit Refresh’s solution is freshpod—an autonomous kiosk that dispenses “fresh and nutritious” ingredients. Customers can customise their own food bowls by choosing from over 20 ingredients and seven dressings or select from a range of chef-curated bowls. 

When Vulcan Post headed down to try some of freshpod’s offerings, we did not expect it to be this easy. The kiosk had a simple interface, making ordering more straightforward and less stressful. 

We ordered two bowls, and it only took us five and a half minutes from ordering on the kiosk to collecting them from the pods via a designated QR code.

On top of that, we were given a breakdown of the macros and calories in our order receipts, so we thought it was a good touch, especially for those who want to track their dietary intake and personalise their meals based on their requirements.

Keeping things fresh

Given that food and produce in vending machines tend to lose their freshness over time, we were curious about how freshpod stores ingredients in its kiosks.  

When we sat down with Joe Ryan, CEO and co-founder of Hit Refresh and freshpod, he shared that the startup worked alongside the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and food scientists and professors from the National University of Singapore to ensure their kiosks can keep food safe and fresh.  

“It’s fully refrigerated, between one and five degrees [Celsius] at all times, which prevents bacteria from multiplying. We replenish daily and use air filtration systems to keep the food fresh,” he explained.  

In addition, the kiosk’s ingredients are packed in individual “pods,” which prevents cross-contamination to account for customers’ allergies. freshpod also uses its in-house predictive analytics system to track and manage food inventory, allowing easy replenishment to meet real-time demand. 

“It takes us about 12 minutes to replenish the entire kiosk of 20 ingredients. So let’s say there is a huge demand for cucumbers, [and during] lunch we see that it’s dropping low, we can easily deploy a pod—we can just install it, and then by dinner time, it’s replenished. So it’s easy for us to do,” added Joe. 

Consistency was the goal

It took Hit Refresh three years of R&D and over 200 machine trials to launch the first freshpod kiosk in August 2024.  

The first hurdle that stood in the way of launching their autonomous solution was refining their dispensing technology. Different ingredients have varying densities, viscosities, stiction, and sizes, so the company needed to ensure that each component is dispensed consistently. 

“What we wanted to achieve was consistency with our bowls; we wanted to provide macros for the bowls for every single user. People want to know how much protein they are getting today? How many carbohydrates are they getting? How much fat is in their bowl?” explained Joe. 

Another challenge was developing a flexible, “one-stop-shop” software for their inventory management system. It leverages algorithms to assist in stocking ingredients to track the performance of the kiosks and prevent unnecessary food wastage. 

Joe highlighted that depending on the location, different kiosks have varying quantities of specific ingredients, as different communities have specific demands that diversify from one another. “We don’t have to just cookie cut, put the same menu everywhere.”   

Growing their fleet

Since launching their first kiosk, freshpod has garnered loyalty from the local office crowd and set up two kiosks at Singapore Science Park and Grab Headquarters at one-north. 

According to Joe, their kiosks sell out daily, with 35% of their customers ordering repeat bowls weekly. 

The company has also found popularity in an unlikely audience: the elderly. According to Steph Keong, freshpod’s Chief Operating Officer, a 70-year-old staff member working at the Ascent building at Singapore Science Park orders two bowls thrice or four times a week—one for himself, one for his wife.  

She added that this surprised the team because when it comes to health food, it’s expected that the typical customer will be a health-conscious worker who goes to the gym. However, there’s a growing consciousness for health food, even among the elderly. 

Joe highlighted that one-third of their customers are over the age of 40, and there is an awareness of health issues, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, that are perpetuated by poor diets amongst the Singapore population. 

“The demand is there. We are just trying to match up with supply,” he emphasised. 

“We have collected data continuously since our launch and are proud [to share] that 36% of customers since the launch at Grab came back more than two times a week, and 8 of 10 would recommend freshpod,” added Steph.

Looking forward, freshpod is working to grow its fleet of autonomous kiosks at universities, schools and high-density condominiums. The company is also working with CapitaLand to launch its kiosks in their buildings and others over the next two years. 

According to Joe, the company has 60 locations “already locked in” and is exploring another 40 locations to achieve mass production for Singapore. freshpod is also garnering interest from overseas, specifically Australia, Japan, and South Korea. 

As for Hit Refresh, they are looking to develop additional products such as hot food, fruit juice, and many more down the road. “[It’s a] long journey. I don’t think it ever ends,” he joked.

• Learn more about Hit Refresh here.
• Learn more about freshpod here.
• Read more stories we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: SaladStop! Group started out as a family biz, now it’s grown to 75 outlets in S’pore & beyond

Featured Image Credit: freshpod

Noticing a gap for Western food in their KL neighbourhood, this couple opened a brekkie spot

Some say that variety is the spice of life. For a certain couple in Taman Keramat and their customers, that should apply to breakfast as well.

Located at postcode 54200, 54200 Breakfast is the dream project of Mohammad Alif and Rafidah.

The business offers Western food, a rarity amongst their local-dish-selling peers in the area.

Both born in 1987, the couple had drastically different careers before choosing to pursue F&B.

Alif had worked 18 years in the retail industry, handling sports apparel to luxury goods.

Rafidah, on the other hand, started off as a flight attendant. She went on to open an online business as a side hustle after becoming a full-time housewife.

But with family histories rooted in the industry, food had and always will be their passion.

Daring to dream

The inspiration for 54200 Breakfast first came about when they realised that their area lacked any Western food options for breakfast. 

You could easily get nasi lemak and roti canai, but something like an English breakfast was nowhere to be found. 

It was a golden opportunity, but the timing of it couldn’t have been any worse.

“If I’m not mistaken, it was right before the lockdown,” Alif explained.

Their hearts were set on a physical store, which would have been a death sentence for a budding business when there was a virus going around.

So, the idea had to be shelved.

As luck would have it, though, that gap in the market for Western food still remained years on.

The decision wasn’t immediate as it was still a risk. Though they assumed that those looking for more simple food options existed, there were no guarantees.

But they weren’t just about to let their dream go a second time.

So, at the tail end of September, 2024, the two founders would drop everything that they were doing and go all in.

Fried-up with confidence

Step in, and you’ll find that the two have their fingers in every pie.

From purchasing ingredients to preparing the food, the pair are involved in just about everything at 54200 Breakfast.

Starting small, their initial target audience was, quite reasonably, their fellow neighbours in the area. 

Three months on, though, and now they have people coming in from Ampang, Melawati, Wangsa Maju, and Cheras. Some even come all the way from Johor to have a taste of what they have to offer.

And that is something that they take immense pride in.

Most of the food on 54200 Breakfast’s menu is made completely from scratch. There are exceptions, but their chicken patties, pulled beef, and even English muffins are all “homemade” according to Alif.

This, in his opinion, gives their food a special flavour that can’t be found anywhere else.

“We believe that the quality of our food is on par with more fancy or larger restaurants,” said Alif.

“Quality in this context is in terms of taste.”

For first-time customers, he suggests giving their Chicken & Egg Muffin (RM9.00) a shot. For meat lovers, he recommends their Pull Beef Brioche (RM12.00).

Custom orders can also be made with the full breakdown of ingredients being listed on their menu.

At the moment, 54200 Breakfast is unavailable on any online food delivery platforms.

Nevertheless, orders can be made through WhatsApp with deliveries through either Grab or Lalamove.

Down-to-earth

The fact that Western food is less popular than local dishes here in Malaysia is not lost on Alif and Rafidah.

But according to them, competing was never the intention.

“The idea in the first place was to give our customers more options,” Alif claimed. “We believe in the idea that quality food can retain customers.”

Expansion is on the cards for 54200 Breakfast. But the now 38-year-old founders are keen on taking things one step at a time. 

Currently, they are set on making their restaurant more popular before putting any of their other plans into motion.

To that end, they are looking to add more items to their menu. Rafidah particularly has a few ideas in the tank for customers old and new to try out.

Once better established, the next step for them would be to extend business hours into lunch. 

In the near future, the dream is to open another branch.

Though the two are facing an uphill battle, they are confident that their food will be able to win the hearts of locals and tourists alike. 

• Learn more about 54200 Breakfast here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: 54200 Breakfast

Aquaria KLCC’s operator will IPO on Bursa Malaysia this year, here’s what they’re planning

If you’ve ever taken the bridge from KLCC to Pavillion, then you’ve no doubt heard about Aquaria KLCC before.

A hotspot for school trips and tourists alike, it is a name forever ingrained in the hearts of Malaysians with nostalgia.

Recently, its owner, the Aquawalk Group, revealed its intentions to list on the ACE Market. If all goes to plan, this will be the first time an oceanarium operator has gone public within the region.

Dictionary time: ACE Market, formerly known as MESDAQ, is a sponsor-driven market designed for companies with growth prospects. Read more about it here.

The nitty-gritty

As reported by The Edge, the initial public offering (IPO) will see an issuance of 368.6 million new shares. This will be divided into the following:

• 271.76 million shares in private placements to selected investors
• 92.15 million shares in public offerings via balloting
• 4.69 million shares for specific directors and employees of the group

An additional 368.6 million existing shares will also be on offer through private placement to selected investors.

Starting from 2025, Aquawalk also shared its intentions to pay shareholders dividends of 30% of its annual profit minimum. This comes after tax, of course.

For extra context, the group recorded a net profit of RM25.54 million in 2022, increasing to RM33.83 million the following year. This was nearly matched by August 2024, where the group made RM33.05 million before the year had even ended.

Also of note is that M&A Securities Sdn Bhd will act as the group’s principal adviser, sponsor, underwriter, and placement agent for the process.

Biding time

The decision to list the Aquawalk Group has been in the works for quite a while now. By no means was it a hasty one.

An interview between group CEO Dato’ Simon Foong and The Edge back in 2018 revealed that plans have been in motion since at least then.

At the time, Aquaria Phuket in Thailand, the group’s second aquarium, was still under construction. While the Aquawalk Group was capable of seeking a listing with just Aquaria, Foong wanted to have more than one aquarium before going public.

Though they initially planned their IPO for 2020, plans were shelved until June 2024 where it was revealed that this year would be their new target.

Diving towards the future

At this time, the Aquawalk Group has yet to reveal their targeted proceeds. What is known is how they intend to use them, as per their prospectus.

Funds will be allocated to repaying borrowings, working capital, optimising IT systems, as well as upgrading and developing new attractions. 

Locally, construction plans include a new oceanarium in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, according to The Edge’s 2025 report.

The group is also seeking to increase their presence in Indonesia where they possess a 40% stake in Jakarta Aquarium & Safari. To that end, the building of another oceanarium has also been proposed for Java.

Though CEO Dato’ Simon Foong will be amongst those selling his shares, he will nevertheless remain the group’s largest shareholder following the IPO. His shareholdings in other companies brings his indirect interest to 50.3%.

Though an IPO comes with its fair share of risks, it is difficult to imagine Aquawalk and its brands falling on hard times.

Here’s hoping that the extra capital will bring with it joy to wherever the group decides to open their doors.

• Learn more about the Aquawalk Group here.
• Read more articles we’ve written about Funding here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Aquaria KLCC, Aquaria Phuket

This couple waited 4 mths for S’pore firm Moovaz to deliver their belongings, what happened?

[Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected after Vulcan Post conducted another insolvency search on the Ministry of Law website, which showed that Vasudeven remains undischarged bankrupt. We have also received a tip-off on Moovaz, to which our source requested anonymity due to concerns of harassment.]

[Update: This article has been updated to include ITI’s statement on their partnership with Moovaz.]

They say that our belongings hold special memories, and when they’re lost due to the possible negligence of others, it can be devastating and infuriating.

Unfortunately, this was what disgruntled customers of Singapore-based relocation firm Moovaz have been experiencing since 2024.

The firm is currently undergoing police investigations, and on January 27, 2025, the Singapore Police Force confirmed the ongoing probe in response to Vulcan Post’s media inquiry.

The Police confirm that a report was lodged, and investigations are ongoing, as information related to Police investigations are confidential in nature. We will not be commenting on the matter.

The Singapore Police Force’s response via e-mail on January 27, 2025

To better understand what some customers were going through, we’ve reached out to a few customers, many of whom have declined to comment or cannot provide proof. One couple, however, decided to speak up—and here’s what they had to say to us.

Disclaimer: The interviewees we spoke to have requested to be identified with aliases, due to privacy concerns.

Four months for their belongings to arrive

Migrating to another country is no small feat, making it essential for “Andy” and his partner, “Lily” (not their real names), to find the right mover for their move to New Zealand.

“My girlfriend discovered Moovaz on Google. We contacted a few companies, and their rates appeared reasonable, so we chose theirs. While their rates weren’t the lowest among all the companies we compared, they were in the low-middle range, between the lowest and the middle,” explained Andy.

The couple first contacted Moovaz on September 6, 2024, and Lily shared that the firm was prompt and responsive during the initial stages. They added that they were promised their belongings would arrive within eight to twelve weeks, meaning they were supposed to receive their stuff by the beginning of December at the latest.

However, on October 8, 2024, the couple received an email from Moovaz stating that their shipment had not left Singapore and that the “pre-preparation” for their shipment may take longer due to New Zealand’s requirements.

Nevertheless, the couple decided to wait patiently and reminded themselves that the process would take 12 weeks, per the company’s advice. However, after receiving the initial email, they shared that they heard nothing further from Moovaz, even after the 12-week period had passed. 

Eventually, a Kiwi mover company contacted the couple, informing them they could expect their shipment to arrive on Christmas Eve last year. Despite being told this, they still hadn’t received their parcel by then.

It was not until January 7, 2025, that the couple received another email from the New Zealand mover company informing them that they would have no choice but to pay additional charges for the customs levies, destination charges and MPI examination fees, as Moovaz had “closed shop.”

According to Andy and Lily, these charges amounted to S$1,000. In an email exchange, the Kiwi mover firm was supposed to receive these funds from Moovaz and had contacted the firm multiple times, only to find that their call lines “had been disconnected.”

Note: According to an article by CNA, Moovaz’s founder, Vishnu Vasudeven stated that the company remains operational and is “in the midst of arranging funds to pay the vendors.”

After paying the additional fees, the couple finally received their belongings on January 16, 2025.

When the couple inquired about the four-month delay, Moovaz claimed they could not find a suitable importer to receive their goods. The couple also requested reimbursement for the additional fees, but they have yet to receive a refund at the time of reporting.

Vulcan Post has reached out to Moovaz for comment but did not receive a response.

Multiple changes in business direction

Unfortunately, Andy and Lily were not the only ones who had a problematic move overseas. A news article by CNA revealed that 22 complaints were filed against Moovaz to The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) from last year to January 22, 2025, with losses amounting to S$80,000.

This might not surprise some, given that Moovaz has been no stranger to controversy and change since its inception in 2017.

First founded by Vishnu Vasudeven, Junxian Lee, and Jerry Chua, the startup initially provided moving services and was launched based on the founders’ relocation experiences and desire to create “a more efficient way to get people from one place to another.”

Vasudeven went “on a hiatus” from the company four months after its launch, after which the other two co-founders pivoted the business model to become a relocation platform, outsourcing to vendors and operating multiple service channels for expatriates.

This entailed a one-stop digital platform that allows users to get estimated moving prices and Moovaz Mini, a self-inventory shipment system that lets users get instant shipment prices and have full visibility and control over their items.

Moovaz also made two acquisitions in 2020: Singapore Press Holdings’s expat publication, The Finder, in June, and local ride-hailing firm GetVan in September as part of the company’s aim to “strengthen community-building amongst customers” and bolster its tech and operations.

Not long after Vasudevan re-joined the business in August 2022, Lee and Chua exited the business, with Chua stating the following on his LinkedIn page:

Speaking to Vulcan Post in 2023, Vasudeven shared that he took over the business with two business partners, shedding most of its platform team and bringing back its focus to offering relocation services—essentially, scaling down from operating in various segments in the relocation-supply chain in a bid to “set Moovaz on track to achieve growth.”

Founder’s legal troubles

However, since our interview with Moovaz in 2023, the company found itself in hot water with the law a few months later. According to an article by Tech In Asia, Moovaz had a lawsuit with its biggest vendor for unpaid services amounting to more than S$50,000.

An ex-employee also sued Vasudeven for harassment and wrongful dismissal after the co-founder made inappropriate comments via texts, even sending 56 messages accusing the recipient of lying, criminal misconduct, and making unsolicited remarks about her religion.

It is also worth noting that Vasudeven was declared bankrupt in 2019, and when Vulcan Post conducted an insolvency search with the Ministry of Law on February 5, 2025, we found that Vasudeven remains an undischarged bankrupt.

Vulcan Post has also purchased Moovaz’s business profile from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and found that he is not included in the list of shareholders and directors.

A Tech In Asia article stated that filings confirm that Vasudeven is not the official director—instead, he is a major shareholder of Moovaz.

Vulcan Post has reached out to Vasudeven for comment but has yet to receive a response.

-//-

But it seems that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

We received a tip-off that alleged that Moovaz has been selling fake insurance policies after ending their partnership with American transit insurance company Inter Trans Insurance Services (ITI) in 2024. The tip-off also claimed that the company lifted the certificates “word for word” from the previous insurer.

On February 7, 2025, ITI responded to our media enquiry, confirming that their partnership with Moovaz has ended as of last year.

The date we cancelled their office was 12 July 2024. We gave them until the end of August to make all payments for insurance they purchased on behalf of their customers but they refused.

ITI’s response via e-mail on February 7, 2025

Vulcan Post has also reached out to Moovaz once more for clarification and verification of the claims, and has yet to receive a response.

• Read more articles we have written on Singaporean businesses here.
• Read more Singapore news articles here.

Also Read: From visa to home search: S’pore startup Moovaz helps settle your global relocation needs

Featured Image Credit: Moovaz

MOM data: Education pays in Singapore as median salary for degree holders hits S$8,650

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Data sourced from the Ministry of Manpower.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the Labour Force in Singapore 2024 report a few days ago, providing a summary of the labour market trends over the past year.

Among many findings, it contains interesting data on the incomes of the most educated Singaporeans, which shows that pursuing a university degree is still a worthwhile investment.

S$3,000+ above the rest

The figure that is typically reported is the national median, which in 2024 was S$5,500. It is, however, the least relatable and informative since it pools all Singapore residents together—from the elderly standing in for family members at a hawker stall to multimillionaires.

Meanwhile, educational background provides a better context because it allows you to see yourself among people who pursued a similar path.

Last year, degree holders maintained their leadership over the rest (or, rather, the broad median for the entire society they too are a part of) at over S$3,100, with the median employment income reportedly hitting S$8,656 (gross, including employer’s CPF).

This means that half of them make more than that.

Interestingly the distance between the best educated and the national median has been quite stable over the past decade, hovering around S$3,000 on most years. This means that it has relatively shrunk in proportion.

However, at the same time, the share of degree holders in the workforce has increased quite significantly.

In other words, even though the nominal ca. S$3,000 advantage may be relatively smaller today than it was a decade ago, far more Singaporeans are able to enjoy it.

From just one-third in 2014, their share has increased to over 40% and, at this pace, should reach half of all workers within the next five years or so (aided, in part, by older, less educated generations retiring).

S$9,000 in 2026, S$10,000 by 2030

Given last year’s jump of over S$460, it’s possible that the round S$9,000 could be broken as early as this year and certainly no later than 2026. This would put degree holders on track to a median of S$10,000 within the next five years.

This is despite the global decrease in the importance of academic qualifications, which has also been registered in Singapore in the past few years.

It seems that even if your employer doesn’t care about your degree, you still are primed for a better job and higher salary than those who did not complete advanced education.

Perhaps it’s not down to specific skills obtained at school (with the exception of practical degrees in fields like engineering, science or medicine, perhaps) but the intellectual capacity that is exhibited by most of those who pursue a degree.

Whatever the reasons, the numbers suggest it is still far better to complete it than not.

Also Read: Singapore’s highest-growth jobs in 2025: MOE lists 146 roles, 57 pay from S$6,000 to S$15,000

Featured Image Credit: Google Street View

VP Eats Out: InterContinental KL’s Ramadan buffet 2025 proves traditional doesn’t mean boring

Is it just me, or does time appear to be moving pretty fast?

So fast that it seemed like Chinese New Year hadn’t even arrived when InterContinental Kuala Lumpur invited us to its Santai-Santai Iftar and Raya Dinner Buffet at Serena Brasserie. 

But this isn’t an illusion or a case of having a bad memory. When most businesses were busy preparing for the hustle and bustle of CNY, I was trying the hotel’s upcoming Ramadan specials. 

Here are some of the highlights that showed me Ramadan buffets still have something new to offer.

We’re not “Rama-done” gushing about these

Inspired by the malay phrase “santai-santai” (which means a relaxed state or leisurely activity), this year’s Ramadan collection encourages guests to unwind and reconnect with loved ones.

Or as Matthew Everson, the General Manager of InterContinental KL puts it, this iftar dinner buffet is a chance for guests to reflect on the blessings of this sacred season. All while savouring the joy of shared meals and meaningful traditions, of course.

This year, Serena Brasserie’s Executive Chef Rudy Junaidie curated four main specials that honour nostalgic dishes while giving them an elevated twist. 

We started off by trying the least spice-coated main—Baked Honey-glazed Chicken. Inspired by American-Asian cuisine, the chicken is marinated overnight with orange juice, turmeric, and honey. 

It’s not overly citrusy or sugary, landing on the right balance of savoury and sweet. My friend who tagged along to the preview called this one of the best honey-glazed chickens she’s ever had.

Next on the agenda was the Xinjiang Whole Lamb with Bukhari Biryani Rice. 

Having worked in Macao for three years, Chef Rudy took inspiration from the local Xinjiang community’s cooking. For the uninitiated, Xinjiang cuisine is characterised by the use of spice seasonings like cumin and Szechuan peppercorn.

As such, you’ll find this Australian lamb dish features a strong cumin taste with milder hints of Szechuan peppercorn and garlic. Paired with the fragrant Bukhari biryani rice, tomato cucumber salad, and mint raita, you’ll get a symphony of flavours.

One of my favourite picks of the night would have to be the Rendang Minang Smoked Barbecue Beef Ribs. 

Using Australian beef ribs, this dish combines Western and Eastern cuisine. The team at Serena Brasserie first boils the ribs for a few hours before marinating them with Minang rendang spices. Once done, the ribs are smoked until they’re fall-off-the-bone tender. 

Both rendang and barbecue sauces are served to intensify whichever taste you prefer. Even without them though, the ribs are delectable as is.

But if you ask me what’s the one dish you can’t miss, I’d say it’s the Gulai Assam Rong-style Claypot Roasted Duck. Full disclaimer, I’m not the biggest fan of gulai assam and hardly reach for it, but this dish changed my mind.

Chef Rudy explained to us that Gulai Assam Rong is a traditional Pahang dish commonly found in areas like Jerantut. Much of the flavour comes from the dish’s paste, which is made from rubber seeds and buah perah.

The paste is then fermented for a couple of days before it’s turned into a gravy and cooked with other ingredients, such as turmeric leaves and torch ginger flower. These give the dish a fragrant aroma and helps to balance the sourness of the broth.

It’s a rather rare dish because buah perah can only be found in deeper parts of the tropical jungle. Hence, we highly recommend giving this a try, else you might not easily find the opportunity again.

As sweet as a date pudding

Truth be told, I didn’t attend the buffet with high expectations, because how different can one Ramadan buffet be to another? I’ve been to a few over the years and they slowly became too predictable and boring.

So InterContinental KL’s spread this year was a welcome surprise to me. Instead of turning classical dishes into something that don’t resemble their original forms, the team focused on adding refinements that don’t take away from the traditional dishes’ essence.

Complementing the main courses is a scrumptious selection of traditional Malay specialties. This includes classics like lemang, kuah kacang, Rendang Tok, and Chef Hafiz’s Sup Tulang (or bone broth).

If these don’t satiate your appetite, Serena Brasserie offers non-Hari Raya dishes as well. We recommend Sambal Tumis Sotong, Daging Masak Hitam, and Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Belacan.  

To end the night, there’s a wide array of kuih-muih and desserts that await, so much so that I didn’t know where to begin. Two stars you have to taste yourself are the Jackfruit Creme Brulee and Sticky Banana and Dates Pudding. My friend and I still crave them to this day.

InterContinental KL’s Santai-Santai Iftar Dinner Buffet and Santai-Santai Raya Dinner Buffet will be served starting from March 4 and April 10 respectively, from 6:30PM to 10:30PM.

Reservations can be made here. For further enquiries, you can also contact the hotel via email at fb.lead@ickualalumpur.com.my or via WhatsApp at +601 6202 4623.

• Learn more about InterContinental Kuala Lumpur here.
• Read other articles on Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

5 insights from Ninja Van’s cross-border whitepaper to boost M’sian SMEs’ regional expansion

If you’re a business trying to expand across borders—be that into a different city, state, country, or even continent—one thing that you cannot ignore is logistics. 

That’s why logistics company Ninja Van’s white paper is not to be overlooked. With coverage in six countries across the Southeast Asian region, here are some insights from their white paper that can help hack your business’ growth. 

1. Direct-to-consumer is the best way for you to test the waters 

In its whitepaper, Ninja Van breaks down three different supply chain models that businesses can employ when moving goods from Malaysia to neighbouring countries. 

This includes:

• Source + Production + Local Fulfillment: This is the riskiest and most expensive approach. What if your goods don’t sell well in that chosen destination country? What if the quality of goods don’t meet your expectations? What if the production cost exceeds your budget? All these uncertainties make this approach a high-stakes gamble.
• Bulk Shipping + Local Fulfillment: While it enables faster delivery times and can even facilitate parcel returns, there’s the risk of understocking or overstocking your fulfillment warehouse. This means paying for extra space. 

The best option is to go direct-to-consumer. Through this method, you’ll be able to manage inventory only in one country and ship your goods only when shoppers in that destination country place an order.

While it may take longer, a good logistics company can ensure your goods get delivered on time and in full.

2. Commercial service as a delivery option is your most competitive bet 

On the topic of shipping, there are a few routes you can take. There’s express service, which is quick but costly. This is typically the best option for high-value or perishable goods. 

There’s the budget-friendly option of using the postal service, but this usually takes a longer time and might not have the most accurate tracking. 

Commercial service, a service designed for ecommerce businesses with a competitive lead time, strikes the ideal balance between speed and cost savings. As such, it’s often the go-to choice for businesses, and for good reason. 

Not only does it offer competitive pricing, but it also provides reliable delivery speeds that cater to various business needs.

3. Southeast Asians love supporting neighbouring countries for these reasons

“The suggestion for you to expand into neighbouring countries wasn’t made lightly,” Ninja Van shared. “We’ve backed our suggestion with internal data coupled with external research.”

The company actually partnered up with market research firm Milieu Insight and surveyed 1,200 shoppers across six countries in November 2024.

With that, they are able to better understand these customers outside of Malaysia and prepare to sell to them.

Aside from Indonesians, shoppers across the rest of Southeast Asia generally have favourable opinions of their neighbours’ brands, suggesting a strong likelihood of purchasing from the region.

This is proof that there is a regional market out there for the taking. 

During their survey, Ninja Van found that many respondents cited “unique products that can’t be found in my own country” as a reason why they want to buy from other Southeast Asian brands.

39% of them also shared that “quality craftsmanship” is a reason why they buy from other countries. 

4. Fashion & accessories is the most popular category for cross-border shoppers in SEA 

Interestingly, the most popular category of goods in the region is by far Fashion & Accessories.

The next popular category is, not surprisingly, Food & Beverage. We Southeast Asians certainly enjoy our food. Following that is Health & Beauty products.  

So if your business happens to be in these categories, you’re in luck. Even if it isn’t though, you should look into how you can still tap into the more niche markets in each country. 

5. SEA shoppers like buying from marketplaces

According to the whitepaper, 82% of Southeast Asians shop from neighbouring countries via platforms like TikTok Shop, Lazada, and Shopee.

That’s a pretty big number, which is why brands must really learn how to navigate these platforms. If you still haven’t looked into social commerce and leveraging livestreams on these platforms, there’s no better time than now. 

51% of shoppers said they buy from social media platforms, while 39% purchase directly from official brand websites.

Understand the market to earn their trust 

Southeast Asian countries may be geographically close, but that doesn’t mean that shoppers are all just a monolith. 

Each country is unique, and so are its shoppers. With that in mind, even as you expand into a neighbouring country, you need to really do your research and tailor your approach to their behaviours.

As Ninja Van shared, “It’s not just about brand discovery; it’s about earning their trust. In the age of scams and fraud, how do you convince your shoppers that you’re trustworthy?”

To answer that question, Ninja Van tapped digital media solutions company CPXi Asia and brand and PR agency Antics@play, into their expertise to uncover how these strategies can be done effectively.

To understand the landscape, they shared the following tips:  

1. Invest in social media ads as they are the top method for brand discovery, especially on Facebook and Instagram.

2. Focus on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and use Google Ads to capture search traffic from consumers actively looking for products like yours.

3. List products on the top ecommerce platforms in Malaysia and retail websites to maximise reach.

4. Run TV ads and create your own website as additional brand discovery channels to reach a broader audience.

5. Align promotions with the above promotional periods, considering your nature of business.

They also pinpointed specific actionables based on each country’s habits, so if you’re thinking of going regional, be sure to refer to their handy whitepaper. 

It’s great to see Ninja Van disseminate the data and expertise that they have, as well as recruit the right people to share more actionable insights. 

At the end of the day, it’s all about being prepared. So before you bite the bullet and spread yourself too thin, be sure to do your proper research and analysis before bringing your business abroad. 

• Learn more about Ninja Van here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

To tackle poor posture, this S’porean healthcare biz is creating its own AI-enabled app

Being fired was how Emile Dumont ended up starting Bodynetic, a healthtech startup offering end-to-end solutions for chronic pain, posture issues, and improving users’ overall lifestyle. 

An exercise and sports science practitioner, Emile had been working at a stretching studio. After his role was terminated, he began wondering, “Why are so many people selling posture correction? Yet, why are there no results from this?” 

This thought led him to eventually start his own business, The Posture Lab. As a start, Emile invested some S$10K into the business, kicking off his services in a very small studio. 

“The first year proved that there was something in the business as I was able to 14x the revenue on the first year all by myself,” he claimed to Vulcan Post. 

However, the pandemic soon hit, and things took a tumble. Emile had to close the studio, unable to run any services. 

“My strategy to keep ourselves afloat was really to begin innovating and thinking out of the box,” he explained. 

With that, The Posture Lab began exploring ways to develop online content for their posture programmes while focusing on education. 

During this period, the team also often received questions from clients asking if they were doing their exercises correctly. The team was constantly exchanging videos to help them with these corrections. 

“It was then that we realised there was a need for a solution,” Emile said. 

As they dug deeper, the founder realised how they could also deploy such solutions in a corporate and B2B2C perspective, which drove them to create an app.

“While it was tough as we had to burn more money in that period, we are beginning to see the rewards of it,” Emile said.

With that, the current model of Bodynetic was created. 

Using technology to deliver healthy habits 

Built with the purpose of impacting people to prevent posture, chronic pain issues, and health issues where it can be controlled, Bodynetic comprises three pillars. They are: 

• Physical: This involves certifications and group classes mainly where the team works with locations to monetise spaces. 
• Digital: This involves pre-recorded audios and videos for the purpose of integration into spaces like hotels, lounges, studios, gyms, and more. 
• App: Now in its beta stage, Bodynetic’s AI app uses computer vision and movement tracking to allow users to do exercise in any location and anytime. 

The startup also offers massage therapy, posture analysis, physiotherapy, and personal training solutions. 

It took about an entire year for the team to fully transition into its current hybrid model, as it wasn’t easy creating a new system, finding clients for it, and acquiring those first buy-ins from said clients. 

Instead of focusing on individual consumers, Bodynetic is eyeing a bigger fish—businesses. 

Working together with hotels, resorts, and corporates, Bodynetic’s digital solutions can be integrated into spaces such as the gym, lounge, library, and/or guest rooms. This allows guests and the public to utilise the audio or visual on the TV, or in spaces created for immersive experiences. 

Its current hotel partners include Else Kuala Lumpur and Meliá Kuala Lumpur. 

“Our app, once launched, will be mounted on kiosks to allow for guests or individuals to experience and do exercise through these kiosks,” Emile elaborated. 

“[It will work] without the need for a trainer to oversee the training, allowing them to be autonomous in exercise choices while being corrected via the feedback from the app itself. [It will also use] AI movement detection through computer vision and machine learning.”

Making an impact 

Beyond reshaping public health, Bodynetic has another lofty ambition—to impact 1,000,000 individuals directly through their inclusive solutions. 

“We have spent the last three years training visually impaired athletes in Singapore and we have a goal to use our app to expand our reach,” Emile said. 

En route to this goal, they’ve also tested the app with people with autism, and have gradually increased the app’s accessibility to the elderly and other individuals with disabilities. 

“We also do certifications in fitness and wellness and in the midst of looking for organisations to work with youth at risk organisations that we can train and certify them,” he said. 

In line with their goal to become a notable social enterprise, Bodynetic is currently a member of raiSE (Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise) in Singapore, where they are held accountable and required to submit measurable outcomes for their work. 

Nimble and agile 

Once they launch their app, Emile and his team will be focusing on delving deeper into the hospitality and the tourism sector, partnering with corporates to bring wellness for staff benefits and increase the footprint of more digital wellness solutions across the industries. 

From there, the startup has goals to expand into Vietnam and the Philippines, followed by Indonesia. 

In the long term, they even envision expanding into the whole APAC region, and possibly Mexico as gateway into the US. 

“Our roadmap is to first be commercially viable in our commercial side of the business to be able to sustain the growing pressures of all businesses,” Emile said. 

“Thereafter, when the gears of that are moving smoothly, we begin working with organisations or NGOs or partnering with other social enterprises and social service organisations to bring our services to them.” 

• Learn more about Bodynetic here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about startups here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Bodynetic

Highest in 20 years: Why over 3,000 F&B outlets in Singapore closed down in 2024

In a city known for its vibrant food scene, a troubling trend is emerging—over 3,000 food and beverage (F&B) outlets in Singapore have closed their doors in 2024 alone. 

This marks the highest wave of closures since 2005, according to CNA.

A key factor behind this downturn is the rising operating costs, which are straining sales and impacting overall business performance. 

F&B industry causalities

The financial pressure has been felt across various segments of the F&B industry, including cafes, fine dining establishments, and long-established brands in Singapore.

One such casualty is the popular bakery-cafe Tigerlily Patisserie. In an Instagram post last year, the business announced its permanent closure, with its final day of operations being April 30, 2024.

According to Tigerlily Patisserie’s co-founder, Chef Maxine Ngooi, the two main reasons for its closure were “the exponentially increasing costs of operations,” and that the bakery-cafe’s “rental lease (expiry) was coming up.”

Michelin-starred establishments have not been spared either, with several high-profile restaurants closing their doors in 2024. These include Sommer, Chef Kang’s, Braci, Beni, La Dame de Pic, and Sushi Kimura.

Not all bad news

According to CNA, analysts attribute the slowdown in Singapore’s F&B industry to the strong Singapore dollar, which has encouraged more Singaporeans to spend overseas. 

Additionally, weaker tourism demand from China is further adding pressure on the country’s hospitality sector.

However, these closures haven’t dampened the spirits of F&B entrepreneurs—3,793 new establishments opened in Singapore last year, outpacing the closures. This includes Joji’s Sandwich Parlour—a sister café of the viral American-themed retro diner Joji’s Diner.

Since last year, Singapore has also seen an influx of international F&B businesses establishing a presence in the city-state, such as Canadian coffeehouse Tim Hortons. American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has also announced plans to open its first outlet in the city-state in late 2025, marking the brand’s first foray into Asia.

• Read more articles we’ve written about Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: This S’porean became the new owner of a 37 Y/O bak kwa biz—except she doesn’t eat pork

Feature Image Credit: Adobe Stock