Lab-grown quail? Aussie firm Vow gains approval to sell cultivated quail in S’pore
Australian alternative protein company Vow launched its cultivated quail meat, Quailia, yesterday (April 3) in Singapore after receiving regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Under the brand Forged, Quailia is described as an “entirely new cultivated meat” made from the cells of a Japanese quail. According to an article by The Straits Times, […]
Malaysians in Forbes’ 2024 World’s Billionaires List: Who’s new, who’s missing?
It’s April, and as always, Forbes has dropped its World’s Billionaires List, which is updated and published annually. 17 Malaysians have made the cut this year, with the majority of them being returning names. But we have a couple of new billionaires, as well as a few who are missing from the list. Across the […]
At 19, this M’sian started a shoe painting biz that’s since grown into a physical art studio
A career in the arts wasn’t exactly what Maggie Tan’s mum had envisioned for her. She would tell Maggie, “Art cannot feed you.” So Maggie chose to study a business degree instead, something that’s more practical, and thought that was the end of it. But a simple birthday gift led her back to her true […]
These M’sian men started a fashion house turning old clothes into one-of-a-kind bags
Ever wondered what to do with the old clothes pile that you have been hoarding? Well, this duo has been recycling used clothes to create unique and stunning bags for the past four years. Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Hadi, 29, and Muhammad Harrith Hasmadi, 27 are the masterminds behind Hashadi, a local designer brand making waves […]
This couple’s Puchong cafe wants to grow our “speculoos culture”, one biscotti at a time
Looking back at the pandemic, I’m sure there are many things we might reminisce or even miss about the era. It was undoubtedly a time of many uncertainties and stresses, but also one that sparked a lot of new ideas and businesses. As some say, challenges breed innovation. And when one door closes, another may […]
Declining birth rates won’t stop this M’sian baby brand from scaling with new US$4.2M funds
Some of the best businesses begin with the simplest desires. For Applecrumby’s co-founders Sean and Jesmine Tan, the objective was to provide the best, most eco-friendly care for their daughter. This desire led them to create their own premium, 100% chlorine-free diapers and wipes. From that foundation, their baby care ecommerce platform Applecrumby & […]
Leveraging a 48 Y/O noodle legacy from Johor, this founder is growing a halal F&B chain in KL
Au Ai Leen, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, has brought a piece of Johor to Klang Valley foodies through an almost 50-year-old legacy of flavour and tradition. Redefining her family’s original beef noodle soup, Tangkak Beef Noodle House director Ai Leen and her husband decided to cater to the halal market in 2023 while maintaining their deep-rooted […]
Making AI work for you: How this S’porean startup is revolutionising real estate with AI
This article is sponsored and written by MOGUL.sg AI has been the dominating theme in tech in 2023, few will dispute that. There has been a broad mainstream adoption of Generative AI tools, especially in the work space. At the same time we saw how researchers in dedicated fields like cybersecurity or drug discovery have […]
Carousell doubles down on luxury segment with acquisition of S’pore luxury bag reseller LuxLexicon
Carousell Group has expanded its luxury segment by acquiring LuxLexicon, a Singapore-based luxury bags reseller and authenticated luxury consignment platform, today (April 2). The secondhand marketplace is looking to extend its gains in the luxury resale market with the acquisition as it seeks to tap a market projected to reach US$7.5 billion by 2026. Over the […]
As part of its ESG efforts, Jaya Grocer adopts on-demand pay for employees nationwide
With a focus on employee well-being, Jaya Grocer announced yesterday (April 1) that it’s introducing earned wage access (EWA) in the company. This is done in collaboration with one of Asia’s largest EWA providers called Paywatch. Headquartered in Malaysia, Paywatch is a fintech startup that’s worked with major banks like Hong Leong Bank. This collaborative […]
Grab to discontinue GrabPay cards in June, cites higher adoption of other Grab offerings
Grab will be discontinuing their GrabPay digital and physical cards from June 1, 2024 onwards. In an announcement on its website, the mobility and tech giant stated that users will no longer be able to make online and offline transactions with their digital or physical GrabPay cards from June this year. The company will also […]
To make travelling safer for ladies, she started Malaysia’s first all-women adventure club
When Fazleen Nazri started going on hiking trips, she never thought of turning it into an adventure club. She was just someone who enjoyed the outdoors and frequently ventured out of her comfort zone. The more she travelled, though, the more she saw its viability. It began with her friends asking to join on hiking […]
Real Madrid CF has launched an accelerator seeking M’sian startups, here’s how to join
Football lovers, here’s a chance to potentially work with the iconic Spanish football club, Real Madrid CF. Optin Studio, a Kuala Lumpur-headquartered innovation venture firm, announced the launch of the Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia Program. This is done in partnership with Real Madrid Next and Creww Inc., a Japan-based startup community platform that […]
ZUS Coffee collabs with local hearing aid provider to improve the lives of its deaf baristas
ZUS Coffee, the tech-driven Malaysian coffee chain, has taken another step towards being more inclusive by partnering with Audiolab Hearing Care Centre (Audiolab) once again. As part of the hearing solutions provider’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Audiolab has donated two pairs of superpower hearing aids to ZUS Coffee’s baristas facing severe to profound […]
Local maritime startup Pyxis launches S’pore’s first electric workboat for port and ship workers
Homegrown maritime electrification technology start-up Pyxis launched Singapore’s first fully electric workboat, the X Tron, on March 27. With the launch, the start-up aims to provide port and ship workers who shuttle between mainland Singapore and ships anchored in the Republic’s waters with quieter, cleaner and greener rides over the sea. The X Tron measures […]
Why this KL fine dining spot now sources ingredients locally & won’t chase Michelin stars
There’s no question that many of us Malaysians tend to think imported ingredients are better. From Australian dairy to Japanese beef, it’s true that certain imported items have been honed to be of a superior quality. But this shouldn’t lead us to believe that all foreign goods are better than our homegrown offerings. And disregarding […]
This S’porean wants to take recreational drone-flying to new heights with his “flight club”
About three quarters of Singapore is a no-fly-zone. That means people who fly their drones here without applying for a permit would get fined heavily and may even go to jail. At the same time, empty fields or other available places are often being replaced by housing or other development. All this paired with the […]
Here’s the startup idea that won these Sixth Form students RM50K from 1337 Ventures
[This is a sponsored article with HELP International School.] Picture this: You’re a secondary school student tasked with a volunteer project. You and your group must work with a reputable NGO or social enterprise as part of your course’s syllabus. You pick an organisation and message their socials, drop them a professionally written email, and […]
Wanting more M’sians to learn code, he created a free app that’s like Duolingo for coding
Learning how to code has always been something that many of my peers and I wanted to pick up. Yet, as working adults whose exposure to coding is basic lines of HTML at most, it’s something that’s perpetually on our backburners. If you can relate, I’m happy to report that there’s a Malaysian app that […]
What happens when a “crazy cat lady” starts a hijab brand? This M’sian biz is the answer.
Have you ever walked into a store and found something you really liked, only to walk away disappointed after checking the price tag? That’s how Umai felt a few months ago. She had just tried on a cute cat scarf before having to leave the KL luxury store with a heavy heart. Even then, though, […]
Why Table & Apron’s founder opened a bakery next door when it “made little business sense”
Established in 2014, Table & Apron has undoubtedly become a staple in Damansara Kim. We’ve even featured the business back in 2017, speaking to its founder Marcus Low about how he revamped the business after losing his core team. Now, nearly seven years after our last interview, Marcus has not only sustained Table & Apron, […]
Why M’sians need to join this 2-day event in PJ that’ll boost your understanding of IPs
[This is a sponsored article with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia.] Every now and then, accusations or infringement cases crop up around brands “stealing” or “copying” another’s creative work, design, or even name. One noteworthy case of this happened in 2001, when ChipsMore, the British chocolate chip cookies brand, successfully sued the Malaysian ‘ChipsPlus’ […]
All sizzle, no steak: Cultivated meat has turned out to be a Silicon Valley flop, here’s why
Back in the early 2000s, NASA-funded scientists conducted an investigation into alternative protein sources to offer astronauts more palatable options on long space journeys. The result? Lab-grown goldfish meat that “looked and smelled” exactly like fish. The scientists didn’t go as far as tasting it, though. The cultivated meat hadn’t yet been certified as safe […]
Forget the big coffee chains, here are 5 brands championing innovation in S’pore
In 2023 alone, many international coffee chains made their debut in Singapore, notably Indonesia’s Kenangan Coffee, Canada’s Tim Hortons and China’s Luckin Coffee, spurring the coffee craze in the city-state further. As the industry becomes increasingly competitive and saturated, smaller coffee startups and chains need to be innovative with their product offerings to ensure long-term […]
With a quirky interior & fusion food, this café offers diners in Kelantan something different
On my way to Siti Khadijah Market in Kota Bharu earlier this year, an interesting-looking cafe on the roadside caught my eye. Named To The Moon, it looked reminiscent of a spot you’d find in Penang or KL. While cafe culture in Kelantan has been growing over the years, it’s still rare to find “aesthetic” […]
How a health scare led this S’porean to make jewellery that helps people cope with death
When celebrating your birthday, the last thing you’d expect is for a family disaster to happen. But that’s exactly what happened to Andrew Lim when he hit the big 3-0. After returning with his friends from an escape room game, he found close to 30 missed calls and text messages from his mum and sisters. […]
This Bornean team was invited to perform in Japan, now crowdfunding RM180K to make it happen
Last year, The Tuyang Initiative (Tuyang) was invited to perform at the World Music & Dance Festival in Hakodate, Hokkaido, set to be held in August 2024. Tuyang, which we’ve previously featured, is a community-led arts management organisation devoted to preserving indigenous Bornean cultures. Established in 2017, this wouldn’t be the first time the Tuyang team […]
This M’sian quit engineering to open a Texan BBQ food truck, now he’s scaled it to a restaurant
American barbecue (BBQ) seems to have quite a mesmerising hold on those who come across it. Nizar, who first discovered American BBQ more than a decade ago in Dallas, Texas, happens to be one of them. He used to work in the airline industry as an engineer and chanced upon the local Texan BBQ culture. […]
Thomson Medical Group could yield S$1.1bn development gain from burgeoning Johor landbank
According to a recent report from investment and wealth management firm Philips Capital, regional healthcare company Thomson Medical Group (TMG) may be an opportunity for investors and industry watchers. The report noted that TMG had only registered a value of S$91 million on its books for its plot of freehold land in Iskandar, which is 1 […]
This spot at Orchard Road lets S’porean home-based bakers trial a physical store, rent-free
It was only supposed to a be a six-month project. So, how did it end up becoming a permanent fixture in Orchard Central? We’re referring to Baker X, an initiative by Far East Organization that aims to support baking entrepreneurs. “Recognising their role in our communities and economy, we were inspired to create an innovative […]
