Survival of the fittest: Meta & Microsoft to lay off underperforming staff to “raise the bar”
It looks like 2025 is set to be another tough year for big tech. According to recent reports, Meta plans to cut its workforce by 5%, while Microsoft is preparing to lay off a small percentage of its employees. Both tech giants have expressed intentions to retrench their lowest performing employees. Though it’s unclear how […]
M’sia’s latest digital bank by YTL-Sea wants to stand out by having a ChatGPT-styled chatbot
If you’ve ever wondered if banking could be as easy as sending a text, then you might be interested in Ryt Bank and its ChatGPT-like chatbot—Ryt AI. A joint venture between YTL Digital Capital Sdn Bhd (YTL) and Sea Limited (Sea), Ryt Bank aims to redefine banking in Malaysia by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into […]
Is complementary medicine actually legit? We busted 7 myths about the field in M’sia.
[Written in partnership with RENN Asia Wellness, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] As a kid, I was familiar with natural and complementary medicines, particularly Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). If I pulled a muscle or had a persistent cramp, off to the TCM master’s house we would go. However, growing up […]
SaladStop! Group started out as a family biz, now it’s grown to 75 outlets in S’pore & beyond
When Adrien Desbaillets co-founded SaladStop! together with his father in 2009, the duo pretty much seized a pivotal opportunity in Singapore’s F&B landscape. Conversations around health and wellness were gaining traction at that time, but there was just one problem: Singaporeans simply did not have many choices. “Options for healthy meals were few and far […]
This serial F&B entrepreneur closed down all his other ventures to focus on this SS2 cafe
Sometimes, big things come in small packages, and that might be the case with Calibrate Small Space, a coffee shop nestled in a cosy half-lot location in SS2. Founded in early 2024, the man behind Calibrate is Tan Jia Yuan, a trained professional chef who graduated from William Angliss, Institute of TAFE in Melbourne. The […]
How this S’porean couple went from baking jelly cheesecakes at home to bringing in millions
Candie Tan, 50, had always been passionate about baking, but it wasn’t until 2007 that she started baking at home, experimenting with cheesecake recipes in her free time and posting them on her blog. She often tried out new recipes and infused her bakes with unique ingredients, which quickly caught the attention of her friends […]
PepsiCo’s equity-free accelerator offers up to US$120k in grants, here’s how M’sians can join
PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) programme is back for its third year in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, and it’s calling on sustainability-focused startups from Malaysia and beyond to join the journey. Claiming to be the only pilot-oriented accelerator in APAC’s food and beverage sector, GHAC is here to empower entrepreneurs to tackle pressing challenges like […]
How severe rain disrupted Singapore last weekend, from flight delays to cancelled events
Did the weather keep you home this weekend? Heavy rainfall from January 10 to 12 affected plans for many Singaporeans, disrupting personal activities and business operations across the city-state. Here’s a breakdown of what happened amid the downpour: More than 50 flights were delayed or rescheduled The severe weather has disrupted air travel, with over […]
Used by pro chefs like M’sia’s World Pastry Champions, Debic Cream Cheese is officially here
Professional chefs, bakers, and food service professionals in Malaysia now have a new, premium ingredient to add to their repertoire of staples: Debic Cream Cheese. Debic, a global leader in dairy solutions for professional chefs, has finally introduced its Debic Cream Cheese to the Malaysian market. Part of FrieslandCampina Professional, Debic understands the importance of […]
Not your typical tourism agency: This S’porean biz helps football fans catch live matches
Mirza Salim, founder and director of Matchday Affairs, is not your average 42-year-old Singaporean. From the young age of 10, he grew up ill for most of his life. He was diagnosed with brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—a rare condition where the blood vessels are tangled, creating irregular connections between the arteries and veins in the […]
KL Wellness City’s int’l hospital is set to launch in 2026, here’s what we know so far
Have you ever dreamt of a place where wellness isn’t just a buzzword but a way of life? Well, that seems to be exactly what KL Wellness City is striving for. According to its website, KL Wellness City seeks to be the first township in Southeast Asia to cultivate a lifestyle fully integrated with healthcare. […]
A gamble that paid off: Cloversoft’s founders on 10 yrs of growth & the future of the brand
Cloversoft Singapore
I was convinced this RM450 smartwatch from China wouldn’t work well, did it prove me wrong?
Fine, I’ll admit it. I like to judge books by their covers. When I was first pitched Kospet, a smartwatch brand from China, I was immediately hesitant. The rugged look might be for some, but not me. But sporting an affordable price point of RM450, I thought it was worth checking out. And so, the […]
Oversea Group debuts palace-themed seafood spot in Damansara, teases upcoming F&B hub in KL
Walking into the new Oversea Palace Seafood restaurant in Menara Lien Hoe, it felt like we were truly transported into a Chinese palace, complete with ornate murals and a “courtyard.” The location is now officially open, making it Oversea Group’s seventh outlet in the Klang Valley. The restaurant also has outlets in Ipoh and Genting […]
I tried booking flights directly from airlines, but here’s why Skyscanner won me over
[This is a sponsored article with Skyscanner.] I recently came across a Skyscanner survey on the top travel trends for 2025, and suddenly, it hit me—I hadn’t made any travel plans for the year yet. The survey contained a list of best-value destinations for 2025, and one particular location immediately stood out to me: Hobart, Tasmania. […]
“Don’t build to exit”: Reformer Pilates pioneer The Flow Studio on scaling & bagging funds
It’s not every day a non-tech business closes institutional funding, much less a yoga studio. Yet, that’s something homegrown yoga and Pilates brand The Flow Studio has done, having raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Bintang Capital Partners just recently. And there’s a compelling reason why. Behind the flow The woman who started The […]
Oriental Kopi will IPO on January 23, to raise RM183.96 million at 44 sen/share
If the snaking lines outside of various Oriental Kopi outlets are of any indication, the F&B chain has been consistently in high demand. And that should be good news for investors, as Oriental Kopi’s listing on Bursa’s ACE Market has been scheduled for January 23. It has set its initial public offering (IPO) price at […]
This chef has been revamping Sandakan’s F&B scene to help keep young people in the aging town
Food is more than just physical nourishment. Beyond being a necessity, it’s a tangible form of culture and history. This is something that Linn Yong believes in passionately. Born in KL, she grew up in JB and commuted to and from Singapore daily from 9 to 20 years old. During her studies, Linn worked in […]
To popularise vegetarian food, these bros expanded their restaurant from JB to Bangsar
In August 2024, a new two-storey restaurant popped up in the affluent address of Bangsar. This is Roots, a restaurant that refuses to let its vegetarian menu limit its offerings. The brand actually hails from Johor, founded by brothers Ian, Sean, and Chee Seng—each of whom boast a different background and skillset. A trio of […]
Using fresh investor funding, Singapore’s Tipsy Collective settles delayed staff salaries
Over 100 employees from Singaporean hospitality group Tipsy Collective, who were affected by delays in their October salary payments, were fully compensated by December 2024 following fresh investor funding from four of the company’s shareholders. According to The Straits Times, the shareholders injected an undisclosed sum to stabilise the business, enabling the company to settle […]
How this M’sian grew Sugarbomb from a home-based biz into a global perfume brand
When I received a SugarBomb perfume and diffuser, I didn’t expect to like either products. By virtue of the brand’s name, it sounded like the scents would be saccharine—a quality that I dislike in my fragrances. However, much to my surprise, I actually found the scents to be very pleasing. For anyone that’s curious, it […]
Remember playgrounds in restaurants? This Bukit Jalil cafe wants to bring that concept back.
As a kid, the ultimate treat to me wasn’t just a Happy Meal—it was heading to McDonald’s, with its tiny yet thrilling playground. I can still remember the joy of climbing through colourful tunnels, sliding down the spiral slide, and racing across the padded floors with other kids. Those were moments of pure, unfiltered fun, […]
After 14 yrs running a franchise in KL, she opened her own restaurant serving Korean omakase
For many gourmands, there’s nothing quite as fascinating as omakase. The term itself is Japanese, meaning “I leave the details up to you,” showcasing a patron’s trust in the chef’s discretion in serving up a course to their liking. Now, we’ve come across our fair share of interesting omakase in Malaysia. We’ve even heard of […]
At 18, this M’sian began selling used items online. 7 yrs in, he runs a thrift shop in SS15.
As someone who loves thrift shopping, I’ve noticed a trend lately: Thrift businesses are no longer just about pre-loved or vintage clothes. They’re elevating the experience by combining it with something equally enjoyable—food. It’s like getting the best of both worlds; a treasure hunt for unique finds paired with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee […]
This M’sian family of architects started a fig biz from home, now they run a two-acre farm
Local fig brand Mutiara Figs started with a simple fascination with the fruit. An architect by trade, Mohd Hilmi bin Yusoff harboured a great passion for landscaping and would often plant and tend to his own trees. In particular, he loved fresh figs, a fruit he discovered and enjoyed while in Saudi Arabia. Recounting this […]
Singapore’s digital giant Sea Ltd. beats Bitcoin, goes head to head with Nvidia
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. The following article is not financial advice and the author did not hold a stake in any of the assets mentioned at the time of writing. 2024 was a year of crypto and artificial intelligence (AI) in tech, which is reflected in […]
This M’sian couple started serving coffee in pop-ups in their 20s, now has a cafe in PJ
For Sam, 29, and Bernie, 28, life was a whirlwind of work. Sam spent his days as a barista in various cafes, while Bernie was an event planner. “We barely had time to see each other,” they shared. “Our working hours were eating into our time together.” It was this desire to spend more quality […]
This online Japanese fusion biz grew into a brick-and-mortar Bangsar cafe in just one year
Vinod, Janesh, and Makia might come from different walks of life, but their shared passion for food brought them together to create Timeless Treats, a restaurant that seamlessly blends their diverse culinary backgrounds into one memorable dining experience. Vinod and Janesh, both graduates of the KDU School of Culinary Arts, had honed their craft through […]
This S’porean started a bakeshop while working in PwC, now it’s grown to 3 outlets in a year
Looking at Kwaasong Bakehouse, a cosy bakery café in Boat Quay, you might not guess that its CEO is also the Southeast Asia Head of Quranium, a new quantum-resistant blockchain. Before that, he had been spent 12 years in PwC Singapore, auditing banks at first before transiting to the fintech sector. Beyond that, he’s […]
Karaoke, but for musicians? Why this M’sian started a booking app for recording studios.
“Do you play any instruments?” This was the question asked to me during my recent attendance at PLUGIN, a conference by Cradle. It came from the team at High Castle, one of the startups that were showcased there. “Yes, but not well,” I admitted. But it turns out amateur musicians might just be the audience […]
