M’sian pimple patch brand Dododots announces world’s 1st concealer patches with 5 shades
“I still remember that night, 26th December 2020. I pitched the idea of coloured pimple patches to Ethan.” These are the words of Esther Erin, who is one of the two founders behind Dododots, a Malaysian pimple patch brand. Incorporated in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, the brand is known for its cute, stylish, and fully-coloured […]
A failed restaurant led this father-son duo to open a bakery that’s now at 2 outlets & counting
Born and bred in Malaysia, Ryan’s academic background is actually in medicine and biosciences. But you might not have ever guessed that, as he went on to study culinary and pastry at Le Cordon Bleu London. From there, he went on to work in London’s restaurant and hotel industry, as well as have stints in […]
To spice up Subang’s nightlife, the founders of Caffeinees opened a Snow White-themed bar
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “poison apple”? For me, it’s Snow White. I’d have it replaying on my VCR as a kid because she was a cool Disney character. I mean, she talked to animals and survived a poisoning. But if you bring the words up to […]
myBurgerLab’s co-founder gets candid on how they’ve successfully marketed their biz for 12 yrs
myBurgerLab (mBL) is a name that needs no introduction for most Malaysians. It was founded in 2012 by Chin RenYi, Cheah Chang Ming, and Teoh Wee Kiat. Today, RenYi remains the sole co-founder spearheading the business. Over his 12 years leading mBL, he has amassed plenty of experience in running a successful brand, including leveraging […]
These are the most wanted skills for AI jobs in Singapore, according to Indeed
The demand for AI jobs has been skyrocketing in recent times, with many flocking to get careers in the field. This much seems to be true in Singapore, where the government is planning a S$1 billion investment to strengthen AI capabilities. According to hiring and matching platform Indeed, searches for AI jobs on its site […]
Alibaba empowers small merchants with AI to compete in the global marketplace
The narrative of generative AI is that it can and has replaced people in jobs. So, it’s refreshing to see a senior executive for one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies speak of how its generative AI tools empower mom-and-pop stores to succeed in the global marketplace. Speaking at the Reuters Next APAC conference in […]
Crowne Plaza returns to M’sia after 11 years with its new KL location
Just 10 minutes away from the Petronas Twin Towers, there’s a relatively new hotel by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), situated in a recently built property. Some may remember this brand, though, considering that it actually has quite the history in Kuala Lumpur. The brand is none other than Crowne Plaza, which once had a location […]
Did DDex CEO and SGX CEO issue contradictory statements on crypto listing?
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Two cryptocurrency news stories on the same day is a pretty rare occurrence for Singapore, especially when they involve the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) and DBS Bank’s Digital Exchange (DDex), the digital assets trading service of DBS Bank, the largest bank in Southeast Asia by asset […]
From trash to treasure: This M’sian biz turns discarded electronics into gold & silver bars
[Written in partnership with Telcov, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] Imagine a world where transforming your old phone into valuable resources instead of letting it clog landfills becomes the norm. That’s the mission of Telcov, a Malaysian social enterprise that’s on a quest to revolutionise e-waste recycling. Inspired by Robert Kiyosaki, […]
This S’porean tutor won’t rest until online ed is the norm here, starting with A-Level Chem
[This is a sponsored article with Chemistry Guru.] For many of us, tuition is part and parcel of our schooling lives, as sometimes we need a little (or a lot more) help to get good at a topic outside of regular classrooms. However, tuition might be inaccessible for some students due to its cost and […]
Antler wants to invest US$3mil in M’sian startups & founders, here’s what they’re looking for
If you’re a founder who’s active in the startup community, you would likely have heard of Antler. But if you’ve never heard of them, Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm that backs founders from day zero with pre-seed and seed capital. They also participate in follow-on funding of up to US$10 million for […]
These pilots once sold burgers to survive, now they have a brick-and-mortar restaurant in KL
Forget turbulence, these pilots are serving up a flavour storm. When the pandemic grounded their aviation careers, Mohammad Hafiz bin Abd Rahman and Muhammad Afiq Nazar faced significant disruptions. Hafiz found himself furloughed, while Afiq’s flight hours were drastically reduced. The uncertainty surrounding the aviation industry’s rebound prompted them to explore a different path, one […]
No more diesel: S’pore Govt. to ban new diesel cars and taxis registration from Jan 1, 2025
Singapore will no longer register new diesel cars and taxis from Jan 1, 2025, onwards, following the government’s initiative to have all vehicles running on cleaner energy by 2040. According to a report by The Straits Times today (July 10), this decision to phase out more polluting vehicles was announced in Parliament in March 2021 […]
She quit her 9-to-5 job to grow her ciabatta home biz into a full-fledged cafe in KL
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Helene Hatta and Armand Ahyahudin, Chi Chi‘s journey began three years ago, a delicious tale that’s as heartwarming as their signature ciabatta bread. Helene, a former PR executive with a knack for baking, started small. “I started baking from home, initially just for fun,” she recalled. “My Instagram handle was Lil’ […]
Never too big to fail: SUPER Group scion on building & growing a CPG brand like Oatbedient
Recently, we chatted with Elaine Teo of Oatbedient to learn more about the homegrown oat milk brand. You can read more about the business, which was founded by the family behind coffee empire SUPER Group, here. “Frankly, we come from a background where we do all these instant format beverages, so we’re very familiar when […]
From lab coat to apron: This M’sian turned his chemist dad’s baking hobby into a cookie biz
Growing up, Shane Khaw’s father, who has a background in biochemistry engineering, was often the chef of the family, frequently plating up lunches and dinners. For the longest time, he had baking as a hobby. “During Chinese New Year, for example, he would bake his very own pineapple tarts in a flowery shape and keep them in a jar for visitors […]
S$650 million was lost to scams in 2023. Will AI Deepfakes drive this higher in 2024?
Someone recently called me from a mobile number, pretending to be a bank that needed my PIN details to clear a ‘stuck’ transaction. A quick visit to ScamShield’s WhatsApp bot, and I found out that this was indeed a new scam number, so the more reports against it, the quicker it will be blocked. The […]
This agritech solution by UiTM & TechnoDex aims to boost food security & empower B40 farmers
[This is a sponsored article with TechnoDex Berhad.] Climate change has significantly impacted agriculture, causing unpredictable weather patterns and shifts in growing seasons. These changes cut crop yields, affecting B40 farmers who rely on their harvests for income. At the same time, Malaysia’s rapid urbanisation is leading to a decrease in arable land. These issues […]
They spent S$8mil to turn an old power station into SEA’s largest virtual production studio
“As a country, we lag behind our neighbours and the world in terms of movie and television because of [the] lack of resources, spaces to film, talent, and viewers,” Karen Seah, the co-founder of X3D Studio said to Vulcan Post. “However, if we’re able to lead in the space of virtual production, we’ll be able […]
This new M’sian e-hailing biz is changing the game for drivers with its subscription model
Hailing a ride in Malaysia can be a gamble. Surge pricing during peak hours? Long waits while the app endlessly searches for drivers? MyRide, a new homegrown e-hailing app, promises to be the answer to our woes. But can this local challenger compete with established giants like Grab and the budget-friendly inDrive? Steering towards driver […]
Meet the startup that powers the backbone operations of over 7K M’sian F&B outlets
[This is a sponsored article with FeedMe.] “We started understanding the frustrations in the F&B industry as we were building software for it,” Lo King Wei (King) told Vulcan Post. While frequenting his favourite kopitiam in Johor, the IT engineer always noticed the inefficiencies at the beverage counter while ordering his kopi. “The aunty will […]
Spruce up your mechanical keyboards with artisanal keycaps by these 7 M’sian brands
If you were active on the internet during the pandemic (and come on, who wasn’t?), you’d recall that mechanical keyboards had been all the rage. Even if you weren’t in the community, or were personally vested in buying into the culture, you likely have scrolled past videos where people were click-clacking away at their customised […]
Singapore Charges Ahead: EV Adoption Accelerates, hitting 32.6% Market Share in 2024
In my 7 June 2024 article on upcoming EVs in Singapore, I mentioned a Bloomberg Green study that set the Tipping Point to the mass adoption of EVs when more than 5% of new car sales are electric. “when 5% of new car sales are purely electric. This threshold signals the start of mass adoption, […]
He thinks people will pay RM2,200+ for a blind date party in KL, so we had to find out why
Recently, we came across a fascinating event known as The Blind Date Party. Featuring quite the sophisticated website and a curious premise, this quickly became the topic of our office conversations. Framed to be an exclusive experience, this soiree is aimed to redefine and elevate the conventional blind dating experience. The kicker? Prices start at […]
“Not to become a profit centre”: The real reason behind this new Mont Kiara food hall
In the middle of May, the bustling suburb of Mont Kiara with its tall skyscrapers and walkable neighbourhoods welcomed its first food hall—The Pantry. It’s one of the few places in the area where you can get cheap eats. And no, we’re not talking about KL’s definition of cheap where a sandwich typically costs over […]
These M’sian health nuts opened a roastery & store in Penang to sell healthy nuts
Jason Lee and Chris Seah, the co-founders of Big Nuts in Penang, come from vastly different backgrounds. Jason, a culinary expert, ran a successful Italian restaurant in Penang for three years. Chris, on the other hand, thrived in the corporate world as an Inside Sales Executive at Dell. Despite their contrasting paths, both found themselves […]
Singaporeans will receive $1.4 billion GST vouchers in August 2024, up to $850 cash
Singapore’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) has confirmed the 2024 GST voucher disbursement that was first revealed at Budget 2023 by the then Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong. The government implemented the GST Voucher (GSTV) Scheme in 2012 to help low—and middle-income Singaporeans and households defray GST and daily expenses. The 2024 GSTV disbursement takes place […]
3G Sunsets in Singapore as 5G Shines Brightly
UPDATE 24 July 2024 IMDA has announced that M1’s 3G network will start to retire on 1 August 2024. Singtel and Starhub have not completed their 3G subscriber migration and their 3G networks are now planned to retire in November 2024. Singapore will fully disconnect from 3G by the end of July 2024. Retiring older […]
Over 50,000 foodpanda riders can now retire better through this new EPF initiative
foodpanda Malaysia riders have cause for celebration. That’s because foodpanda and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today as part of its Panda Hearts Programme aimed at uplifting and supporting delivery partners. This marks a significant milestone for the brand in providing financial security and benefits to the online […]
This ex-paralegal brewed up a biz selling “kombucha’s cousin” featuring M’sian flavours
JL Tan wasn’t always brewing up batches of bubbly goodness. The 29-year-old founder of TepTep used to navigate the world of law, but a passion for wellness and a fortuitous encounter with tepache changed her course entirely. It all started with a personal battle—an H. pylori infection that left her feeling drained. But then, tepache […]
