Launched with the SC & Bursa, this programme helps M’sian SMEs access capital market funds
As we’ve heard time and time again, SMEs make up a huge part of Malaysia’s economy, generating about 38.2% of our country’s GDP. However, many smaller businesses may not be well-informed about the financing opportunities that are available to them, such as through capital markets. Addressing this information gap is Elevate Programme. Launched by […]
Malaysia’s aerospace & medical devices sectors get RM30 million grant to upskill talent
Malaysia has a grand plan to transform its industrial landscape. It’s the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 tabled on September 1, 2023, which outlines the strategies and targets to be fleshed out by the government. Among some sectors that will be seeing enhanced support include the aerospace and medical devices sectors. On March 13, […]
Golden Village parent company reportedly mulls sale of S’pore and Taiwan cinema assets, warns of loss
Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Singapore movie chain Golden Village, is considering the sale of its cinema assets in Singapore and Taiwan. Its cinemas in Singapore represent the biggest component of its business, contributing to almost half of Orange Sky Golden Harvest’s revenue of HK$396 million in the first half […]
I’M IN: This S’pore duo invested S$100k to start an online lingerie brand, now runs 4 outlets
Elfaine Tan and Kingsley Peh, founders of I’M IN, are no strangers to entrepreneurship. When they were 20 years old, they started Singapore’s first online “tryvertising” platform – SampleStore.com. The platform, which allows customers to ‘try’ the offering before buying it, was subsequently acquired by Singapore Post (SingPost). With this success, HerWorld Magazine named Elfaine one of the […]
Ignore the hype: Progress in AI is slowing down not speeding up – and history teaches us why
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. On November 30, 2022, the day OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public, we were thrust into a completely new reality — though not an unfamiliar one, given how many sci-fi novels and movies predicted that one day we would be conversing with intelligent machines. Launched around […]
How this Malaysian startup aims to help incorporate 1,000 Sdn Bhd companies this year
[Written in partnership with PubliCT.io, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] Entrepreneurs will know properly setting up a company and incorporate it as a private, limited company (a Sdn Bhd) can be quite the tedious task. However, as menial as the duty is, it’s a critical step in owning and running […]
6 SEA edtech startups picked by S’porean accelerator EduSpaze & what they do
It hasn’t even been a decade yet since I bid goodbye to academia, but the landscape I left is so different from what we have today. The way we learn has dramatically shifted with the implementation of technology in education, but there’s still a way to go before we hit optimal efficiency. Enter EduSpaze, a […]
Samsung’s midrange Galaxy A series is back, here’s what to know about the new A55 and A35
On March 11, Samsung unveiled its Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, two midrange smartphones. Virtually, the Galaxy A55 and the Galaxy A35 are similar. Both have a flat housing design, though it appears that the A55 sports a metal frame while the A35 is keeping to a plastic frame. The A35 is […]
Ex-Fave CEO Joel Neoh’s VC firm has invested in 10 early-stage SEA startups, 6 are M’sian
Less than a year since its inception, First Move, a founder-led early-stage venture capital (VC) firm, is establishing its presence in the Southeast Asian startup scene by backing its first 10 ventures. Back when we first reported on the fund in early July 2023, its portfolio already consisted of seven companies spanning across Malaysia, Singapore, […]
A new TOMORO for S’pore’s coffee scene, here’s what the Indonesian chain brings to the table
Indonesian chain TOMORO COFFEE has arrived on Singaporean shores, debuting its first local store at the National University of Singapore Business School Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library on February 28. This follows the arrival of other foreign coffee chains in the country in the past year, including Chinese giant Luckin Coffee, Indonesia’s Kenangan Coffee […]
She quit her corporate job to pursue art, now pioneers LEGO printmaking in Singapore
If you’ve been in the creative space long enough, you’ve probably come across month-long international challenges before. For writers, there’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you’re challenged to write creatively throughout November. For musicians, there’s FAWM (February Album Writing Month) where you have to write a new song every other day. Artists, however, had […]
We drove 50km to Sepang for this fruit farm with a Guinness World Record & it was worth it
When you think of Sepang, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? As someone who doesn’t know much about the location, all I can think of is KLIA and the Sepang International Circuit. But actually, Sepang is also home to quite a number of dragon fruit plantations, with a particularly notable one being HL […]
This new restaurant in Sunway is Malaysia’s first halal-certified Szechuan hotpot place
SUPAMALA Hotpot in Sunway Pyramid lands a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records for being the first halal-certified Szechuan hotpot in the country. This recognition comes shortly after the restaurant received its halal certification from JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) last month. This aligns with its goal of being a leading pork-free mala […]
99 Speedmart’s founder will let go of up to a 17% stake, according to IPO draft prospectus
On March 11, Malaysian mini mart chain 99 Speedmart filed an IPO prospectus draft on the Securities Commission (SC) Malaysia. A prospectus is a document that provides details about an investment offering that’s for sale to the public. In Malaysia, the SC is the sole regulatory authority for approving and registering prospectuses. According to the […]
Cream puffs, and only cream puffs, got these siblings from home bakery to a Shah Alam cafe
When I lived in Setia Alam, one question I was usually asked was, “What is a must-try restaurant or cafe there?” And my answer over the past few years has always been The Ordinary Baker. I’ve been to many eateries in the area but none have left as deep of an impression as that bakery. […]
This M’sian innovated his family’s 30 Y/O cabin manufacturing biz to start a tiny home brand
Tiny houses have always been a fascination of mine. As a teen, I watched endless tiny home videos, seeing the innovative ways people made use of their mobile trailers or container homes, optimising the space through hidden storage, elevator beds, multipurpose furniture, and other clever tricks. Given my interest, it’s no surprise that I stumbled […]
He began with gentle body wash for his baby, now his S’porean bath brand is used in hotels
The genesis of PINE & CO happened in 2018, inspired by founder Joshua Yong’s love for idyllic living. A musician by trade with a degree in piano performance, Joshua turned to a friend who is a cosmetic scientist to bring his vision to life. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the brand truly took on […]
They started the 1st gentlewoman’s club in M’sia that has a gym, cafe & salon under one roof
There’s a popular saying that when one door closes, another one opens. That’s how I would describe the story behind Marookha Cafe, the first (and so far only) gentlewoman’s club in Malaysia, where you can find a fitness studio, a restaurant, and a nail and waxing salon under one roof. Before starting the cafe, Zara’s […]
The Tokyo govt wants to grow MY & SG startups in Japan, here’s how entrepreneurs can benefit
[This is a sponsored article with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.] Known for its technological advancements, attractive investment prospects, and skilled workforce, Japan has long been associated with major corporations and well-established industries. Yet, the cultural factors in the workforce such as a preference for stable employment and being risk-averse have impeded entrepreneurship and innovation in […]
TSL Media Group acquires influencer marketing agency X10 Media, adds 3,000 influencers to creator pool
Homegrown media company The Smart Local (TSL) Media Group announced its acquisition of influencer marketing agency X10 Media today (March 8). Through the acquisition, X10 Media’s network of 3,000 influencers will be integrated into TSL Media Group’s community of creators, enhancing the Group’s reach beyond its existing brands. This move marks a significant milestone for […]
Turning boomers into gamers: Goodday is creating Malaysia’s 1st senior esports team
Malaysian milk brand Goodday wants to form Malaysia’s first senior esports team through a competition called Boomers2Gamers. Offering up to RM20,000 in prizes, they’re looking for those 50 years old and above to compete in Counter Strike 2, a well-known multiplayer first-person shooter game. According to a press release, Boomers2Gamers wants to help the older […]
Workcationing at KL’s new Hotel Indigo showed us locals a luxurious take on Malaysian charm
This is a workcation series where we personally visit and review hotels, resorts, and more, to find out how well they cater to digital nomads and hybrid professionals. Hotel highlights: ✓ Instagram-worthy interior design at every corner, featuring a nostalgically localised touch ✓ Well-equipped facilities such as the gym and the pool ✓ Delicious dining options within […]
This dragon fruit farm is putting Sepang on the map as an agrotourism attraction, here’s how
When talking about local fruits, many Malaysians would default to the usual names like durian, mangosteen, and rambutan. But one crop that commonly gets left out is dragon fruit. Despite not being native to the country, it’s a fruit that the people of Sepang are more than familiar with. The township has about 181.45ha of […]
Xiaomi M’sia debuts 14 Series flagship phones featuring Leica cameras, here’s what to know
Touting itself as “the pinnacle of mobile optics” is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which was just launched in Malaysia this morning at Hilton Hotel, PJ. Alongside that, the brand also released the Xiaomi 14 and a new line of wearables, including the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro (RM339), Xiaomi Watch S3 (RM699), and Xiaomi Watch […]
New Grab competitor in M’sia? European mobility app Bolt is pulling up, here’s what it does.
Word on the street is that a new mobility company, Bolt, is making its way into Malaysia. Dubbed an all-in-one mobility app, Bolt was founded in Estonia over a decade ago in 2013. It offers ride-hailing, scooter and bike rentals, food and grocery deliveries, and carsharing services. It currently operates in over 500 cities in […]
Most products in this PJ store are nearly expired, and people like it that way
While shopping at grocery stores, have you ever come across an area selling discounted food that’s near their expiration dates? Well, there’s a shop that dedicated to selling near-expiry products in Damansara Uptown. It mainly carries food products sourced around the world, typically within three to six months of expiry. Aptly named Near To, the […]
MDEC wants more M’sian startups to join the metaverse & it’s offering them up to RM200K
If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen videos of people in public using Apple’s latest Vision Pro. With it comes a resurgence of a buzzword that was popular a while back, the metaverse. For context, the metaverse is basically a virtual space where users can interact with each other and have virtual […]
Ryde announces IPO in the US, but the journey may be far from easy
Singapore carpool startup Ryde has just announced its IPO listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today (March 6). This follows their announcement in September last year, where they expressed their goal to raise US$17 million for their IPO. In a news report by BNN, this decision represents a strategic move for the ride-hailing […]
S’pore’s Temasek reportedly in talks to invest in ChatGPT maker OpenAI
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings is in talks to invest in OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence (AI) company behind ChatGPT. Citing two people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (March 5) that senior executives at Temasek have met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman several times over recent months. The state-owned investment company had initially […]
From stolen ideas to lengthy lawsuits: How these S’pore bizs bounced back stronger from IP setbacks
When diving into starting their own business, entrepreneurs often find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of challenges, from product development to securing funding and assembling a stellar team. Amidst these challenges, there is an important component to consider: the protection of intellectual property (IP). Many start-ups perceive securing IP rights as a costly undertaking, […]
