Why this Penang fusion cafe is a must-visit “pit stop” for car and motorcycle enthusiasts
To stand out, it seems like new cafes nowadays must have a unique theme to offer to customers. Just recently, Vulcan Post has featured an aquascape-themed cafe, a school-themed cafe, and office-themed cafe, amongst many others. Up north in the buzzing food scene of Penang, this is true as well. A relatively new addition is […]
13 out of 593 M’sian startups made it to Alliance Bank BizSmart Challenge finals, here’s who
Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has revealed the top 13 finalists for its 2024 BizSmart® Challenge Accelerator Edition. This year, these finalists emerged from a competitive selection process involving 593 applicants across Malaysia. This marks a key milestone in Alliance Bank’s initiative to spotlight and empower Malaysia’s next generation of industry leaders. A decade of supporting […]
After being laid off from Meta, this S’porean invested 6 figures to start an adult diaper biz
At just 35, Nivedita Venkateish, founder and CEO of Aire, had the “ideal resume.” She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an undergraduate degree from Singapore Management University (SMU), and has worked for more than a decade in several consumer brand and tech MNCs, including Diageo and Kraft Heinz. Nivedita, also known as Niv, […]
TGV launches bed cinemas with Coway’s smart mattresses, tickets start at RM120
A new cinema experience just dropped and it might be one of the comfiest ones yet. It’s called INDULGE Coway BEREX, and it’s exclusively offered at TGV Cinemas. Malaysian cinema chain TGV Cinemas has partnered up with Coway BEREX to unveil their “bed cinema” that comes equipped with smart mattresses. The two businesses signed an […]
ASUS M’sia launches new ExpertBooks with business-savvy AI tools, here’s what they can do
ASUS Malaysia has announced new ExpertBook laptop models, the P1 and P5, earlier this week. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, especially for business or work purposes, here’s everything you need to know. Expertbook P1: For budget-conscious professionals With starting prices of RM3,799, the ExpertBook P1403 and P1503 laptop models is targeted […]
From climate tech to healthcare, MRANTI’s I-Nation 2024 is bringing global expertise to KL
[Written in partnership with MRANTI, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] This December, Kuala Lumpur is gearing up to host the third instalment of the I-Nation Global Summit 2024, a three-day event hosted by MRANTI that promises to be more than just a conference. This event is bringing together the brightest minds […]
Meet Malaysia’s 2 new MICHELIN-Starred restaurants & 12 Bib Gourmand eateries
Malaysian foodies rejoice, because the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2025 has called this an “amazing year” for us, what with the newly unveiled 143 addressees. Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, shared, “As we reveal the third edition of the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2025, we are truly impressed […]
34 years, 6 brands, 98 outlets: Swee Heng Bakery’s second gen leader on growing the F&B biz
In 1989, a bakery by the name of Swee Heng Bakery was launched in Jurong Estate by founders Mr Ng Chai Huat and his wife Madam Ong Chu Eng. It was a humble store, where the team would churn out pastries for the neighbourhood by hand. “The outlet wasn’t big but we have almost everything […]
Why this S’porean activewear brand closed its outlets despite hitting S$1.9M annual revenues
Sylvia Lim’s love for yoga began in her teenage years, but quality yoga apparel always felt out of reach—they were just too expensive. “The only brand I was aware of for yoga apparel back then was Lululemon, which was very pricey,” she recalled. This gap in the market inspired Sylvia to create Vivre Activewear in […]
This duo opened an affordable pasta spot in SS15 & have big dreams of retail expansion
Nead Pasta started with a friendship that dates back over six years. Marcus, 21, and Mervyn, 31, met when the former was a teenager. Their shared passion for food was a quality that eventually became the seed for their joint venture. Marcus, fresh out of college and mulling over career options, was caught between the […]
This M’sian cafe found its niche by incorporating this skincare ingredient in its offerings
I’ve heard about collagen—usually in the form of skincare products or health supplements promising to rejuvenate skin and make you look younger. But a cafe that incorporates collagen into its food and drinks? That was definitely something new to me. When I first came across Bliss Babe, Malaysia’s first collagen cafe, I couldn’t help but […]
1.5 years in, Malaysia’s Big Boss HSP is on track to making 8-figure revenue/year
In just a year and a half, homegrown F&B haunt Big Boss HSP has transformed quite a fair bit. From one outlet on Jalan Tun HS Lee, the team has now grown to four outlets and counting, serving up the growingly popular hot snack packs. Speaking to us, CEO Roger shared that beyond upping their […]
These M’sian friends gave up stable corporate incomes to sell coffee by the lake
Leaving the security of a nine-to-five job to start your own business from scratch is no small feat. But when you’ve got someone by your side cheering you on and believing in your dream just as much as you do, it changes everything. That’s exactly what these founders experienced. With their partners in their corner—pushing, […]
Singapore’s 2025 salary hikes expected to be the lowest in SEA, survey shows
Singapore’s salary growth is projected to be modest in 2025, hovering at around 4.4%, according to Aon’s 2024 Salary Increase and Turnover Study. This rate is the lowest in Southeast Asia, with neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Indonesia expecting considerably higher increases. The study, which took place between July and September 2024, examined the salary […]
Exploring the Rise of Anonymous Casinos: Privacy-First Gambling for the Modern Age
With the growth of online gambling, players have become increasingly concerned with safeguarding their privacy and personal data. Anonymous casinos have emerged as a response to this demand, offering a unique, private, and secure gaming environment that appeals to users who value discretion. In this article, we’ll dive into what anonymous casinos are, why they’ve […]
Lalamove goes beyond delivery services, now offers ride-hailing in Klang Valley on its app
The e-hailing scene in Malaysia is evolving rapidly, and it’s not just newcomers like Bolt shaking things up. Lalamove, a well-established name in the e-courier sector, has now ventured into ride-hailing with its new Lalamove Ride service—and it’s all available within the same app. This might be good news for those already familiar with Lalamove’s […]
We tried the newly launched ride-hailing app Bolt in Malaysia, how does it compare to Grab?
My fellow non-drivers, you’ve likely heard that there’s a new ride-hailing app in town by the name of Bolt. We caught wind of the European mobility app’s foray into Malaysia earlier this year, when there had been sightings of job postings on LinkedIn. But finally, the app is functional locally. If you’re wondering whether it’s […]
How this M’sian crypto CEO went from getting lowballed to bagging US$4.2 mil in seed funding
I don’t often see Malaysian startups that manage to bag big cheques, especially from US-based funds. But one homegrown startup that has managed to do it this year is Hata. Hata is a licensed digital asset exchange based right here in Malaysia, and just recently, it raised US$4.2 million in seed funding. The capital will […]
Forrest Li on how Sea navigated “rocky seas” to achieve its 1st profitable year since IPO
In 2020, Singapore gave birth to its first tech unicorn—Sea Limited, the company behind recognisable businesses such as gaming entertainment company Garena, ecommerce giant Shopee, and digital bank MariBank. The tech conglomerate has experienced its fair share of highs and lows, and Forrest Li, Chairman and CEO of SEA Limited, took to the stage at […]
Building tech for good: How S’pore and New Zealand are partnering for a greener future
[This is a sponsored article with the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.] As reports of extreme weather conditions and climate events become increasingly common, the urgency to address climate change has never been more pressing. For Singapore, the stakes are especially high—the city-state is one of the lowest-lying nations in the world, making it vulnerable to […]
This M’sian quit pharmaceuticals to run her side gig, now makes “tea cup” candles full-time
Candles are a common commodity nowadays, including artisanal ones with unique scents and designs. But Dreamm Studio’s offering stands out in a saturated landscape with her intriguing concept. She offers cup candles, whereby wax is poured into an actual coffee or tea cup, completed with unique range of customisable wax “toppings”. It’s not easy to […]
This biz is disrupting the M’sian fitness industry with gym “cubes” for rent at RM75/hr
Private gyms seem to be all the rage these days, with more people looking for exclusivity and privacy to better fulfil their fitness goals. One business that’s arguably taking this concept to the next level is Kamileon, which has been introducing private fitness “cubes” for rent to the Malaysian market. Two Brits in Malaysia The […]
Piyush Gupta reflects on his 15 yr tenure as DBS CEO and his decision to step down
DBS CEO Piyush Gupta is a man of action—he’s all about hands-on execution when it comes to his leadership style. “There’s a proverb that says, leadership is about doing the right things, and management is about doing things right—I don’t believe that.” To Gupta, leadership is about constantly adapting to market changes, and “rolling up […]
S’pore’s Tipsy Collective allegedly delayed paying October salaries amid legal dispute
Over 100 employees from Singaporean hospitality group Tipsy Collective allegedly did not receive their October salaries, hinting at the company’s potential financial mismanagement. According to a report by The Straits Times, an internal memo was sent to employees on November 6, 2024, one day after payday, where they attributed the salary delay to “a temporary […]
SFF 2024: What’s next for S’pore’s fintech industry? Experts hash it out.
As part of this year’s Singapore Fintech Festival, Singaporean bank UOB took to the stage to present the main findings for its annual FinTech in ASEAN report on Thursday (November 6) afternoon. Janet Young, the managing director and group head of channels and digitalisation at UOB, presented the report’s key takeaways, which outlined pivotal events […]
MAS’ new MD makes 1st appearance at SFF, shares overall vision for S’pore’s fintech sector
When it comes to MAS’ overall vision for Singapore’s fintech sector, their focus lies on three key pillars: community, collaboration and capabilities. Speaking today (November 7) for the first time at the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) 2024, Chia Der Jiun, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), highlighted how these pillars are the […]
S’poreans can soon use a single QR code to pay with different digital wallets, banking apps
Singapore’s leading payment services provider, Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), announced the islandwide rollout of the Singapore Quick Response Code Scheme (SGQR+) today (November 7). Following the successful pilot in November last year, SGQR+ is now available at 24,000 acceptance points across Singapore. Issuers’ wallets will also be extended to hawker centres, bringing the total […]
Cradle, ZUS Coffee & Asia School of Business are linking up to support Startup Week M’sia in Nov
Startup founders in Malaysia, mark your calendars because here’s a week of events you don’t want to miss out on. From November 18 to 24, Startup Week Malaysia (SWM) will be hosting a whole range of events at Asia School of Business (ASB), a joint host of the event. The week also comprises other jointly […]
SFF 2024: Ravi Menon introduces GFTN, here’s all you need to know.
Following an announcement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) a week prior, Ravi Menon took to the stage at the annual Singapore Fintech Festival today (November 6) to share more about the new Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) initiative. GFTN aims to enhance Singapore’s position as a global fintech hub by fostering international […]
This S’porean opened her 1st cafe with S$200k as a fresh grad, now owns 7 cafe brands
If you were to ask any Singaporean on the street what their first part-time job was, most would tell you that they worked in a cafe or for an F&B brand. While many see that as an opportunity to earn extra pocket money, Daphne Goh, Managing Director of Atlas Coffeehouse, found comfort amid the hustle […]
