Bored of basic Apple Watches, this M’sian biz turns them into luxury-looking timepieces
Something that has put me off smartwatches is the fact that they oftentimes come off too minimalistic, without the sophisticated look and feel that luxury watches come with. Yet, luxury watches often lack the sheer functionality and modern sensibilities that a smartwatch offers. Of course, there are some that break this mold, with my favourite […]
Buka puasa on a budget: 10 Ramadan buffets in Klang Valley that are below RM100/pax
With Ramadan fast approaching, we’re sure many of our Muslim readers are looking forward to a new month of reflection and prayer. Along with that, Ramadan is also a time to embrace community. And what better way to do this than to break your fast with friends, family, or colleagues? To ease the burden of […]
Sea Ltd posts first ever annual profit in 2023, pushing the stock rally up to 40% this year
Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. No information published below should be treated as financial advice. Despite growing competition in the e-commerce segment, Sea Ltd. has managed to achieve its first profitable year since going public in 2017. A fairly modest US$162 million in net income last year compared favourably against […]
iMotorbike’s M’sian co-founder & CMO on being a female leader in a male-dominated industry
At the age of 25, Sharmeen Looi got her first true taste of entrepreneurship as a co-founder at ShopBack Malaysia. Now, she’s the co-founder and chief marketing officer (CMO) of iMotorbike, a Malaysian startup dedicated to buying and selling pre-owned motorcycles. Born to an Indian mum and Chinese dad, the Penangite shared that she’s always […]
They quit their jobs to carry on their parents’ legacy—a 32 Y/O chicken rice biz in PJ
As a Melakan, my all-time favourite kind of chicken rice is chicken rice balls. There’s something about the spherical format that makes the meal taste so much better to me. But so far, my favourite chicken rice haunt in the Klang Valley area has been Yun Kei, hands down. At one point, it was the […]
This established M’sian ECF site has launched a halal venture capital firm & accelerator
In 2014, Ethis began as an Islamic crowdfunding group designed for Muslim and ethical investors, a core mission that still continues today. The Malaysian-headquartered platform invests in startups and companies that adhere to Islamic finance standards, bolstered by a syndicate of angel investors comprising Islamic industry leaders and enthusiasts. Ethis now takes its mission of […]
This M’sian agency has no working hours and no leave limits, here’s why & how it works
In this day and age, with work from home being rather normal, it’s not surprising to hear that a business doesn’t have an office. However, it’s not as common to hear of a business with no regular working hours or leave system, whereby employees are expected to just work as they please. Choobub Creatives, a […]
Championing Sabahan coffee beans, this M’sian couple wants to empower local farmers
“We always regretted not growing coffee 10 years ago,” Jackz Lee, the co-founder of Sabarica Coffee, jokingly told us. “But the next best season to grow coffee is today.” A forestry graduate first and foremost, he’s deeply passionate about changing the status quo for Sabahan coffee farmers. Which may seem a little out of place […]
myTukar calls out Carsome for “unethical” marketing tactic of incentivising 5-star reviews
On February 29, car selling platform myTukar published an open letter to their competitor Carsome, addressing it to the unicorn startup’s CEO Eric Cheng. According to the letter, myTukar noticed and alleged that Carsome has a “long practice” of incentivising five-star reviews by rewarding such reviewers with prizes or the potential of prizes. “We believe […]
Do good while you poop: This S’porean biz offers toilet paper subscriptions to drive impact
If you remember the panicked shopping frenzy during the start of the pandemic, you’ll know just how important toilet paper is in our daily lives. Yet, the fact of the matter is that in many parts of the world, proper sanitation is not a given, much less toilet paper. Established in 2020, Wype is […]
Gym chain Ritual abruptly closes all 4 S’pore outlets, members may not get their money back
Singapore mainstay fitness gym chain Ritual announced the closure of all Singapore outlets and that it is entering provisional liquidation yesterday (February 29), much to the dismay and shock of its members. According to a report by The Straits Times, members received an email from the gym: “We share this message with you today with great […]
This PJ kopitiam was started by siblings in Sabah, now they’ve expanded it to 4 outlets
Have you ever seen the same ads on Instagram multiple times across different days? That’s usually the case for me. A while back, I kept getting suggestions for Guan’s, a cafe based in Sabah. So I tapped into the ad to see just how aesthetically pleasing the food was (the answer: quite). But when I […]
Remembering Surina Shukri through her successful contributions to Malaysia’s business scene
Surina Shukri, former CEO of MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation), passed away this morning. Aged 48, Surina’s family released a statement explaining that she passed away following her long battle with cancer at Ampang Puteri Hospital. She’s survived by her husband, Jasmin Ong Rashid, and three children, Ean, Arianna, and Zac. In light of Surina’s […]
This KL cycling cafe is how this couple diversified their restaurant biz to keep it alive
If there’s one thing that keeps smaller businesses afloat, it’s the sense of community spirit it nurtures. It’s not as common nowadays with many newer F&B establishments popping up every other day, each selling similar products and services. However, much like how Breakfast Room in Shah Alam has drummed up solid community support, so too […]
This German’s startup is redefining the way Singaporeans enjoy local drinks like kopi
Born and raised in Germany, Simon Lieberum might seem like an unlikely candidate to be advocating for local kopi over Western coffee. But after a fateful encounter with his first cup of Kopi-C Peng, the man was a goner for the drink. With a background in economics and international business, Simon has been in Singapore […]
We surveyed M’sian employees about job loyalty, here’s how they say companies can earn it
Company loyalty versus job hopping, which boat are you in? It’s been a hot topic lately with plenty of people debating it online after the unexpected layoffs that have been happening at notable international tech companies like Google, Twitch, and even Singapore’s Lazada. Generally, the consensus is that there are pros and cons to both. […]
Inside the 120,000 sq ft cinema that is GSC’s new luxury Aurum Theatre at The Exchange TRX
Aurum Theatre, Golden Screen Cinema’s (GSC) luxury concept, has officially launched its newest location at The Exchange TRX today. This marks GSC’s 56th cinema location. Spanning an impressive 120,000 sq ft, Aurum Theatre at The Exchange TRX is said to be SEA’s largest ultra-luxurious entertainment experience. The cinema is spread across four floors and features […]
A redundant solution? Here’s why SBS Transit’s odd partnership with GetGo will not work out
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author Car-sharing has long been considered a solution to one of the biggest problems facing public transportation commuters — the issue of first- and last-mile connectivity, at least in regions where the public transportation infrastructure is lacking. Without adequate access to transit services, commuters are forced to […]
Behind the glam: Meet Arissa Cheo, Yoyo Cao and Lin Ting, the trio behind ROMI Beauty
Searching for the perfect beauty product is an ongoing problem all too familiar to most women. The same goes for Arissa Cheo, Yoyo Cao and Lin Ting, co-founders of ROMI Beauty. ROMI Beauty marks the trio’s first foray into the beauty industry, which started from their skincare concerns. “I have very sensitive skin prone to […]
Individual investors can buy & own EV charging stations from this M’sian startup, here’s how
[Written in partnership with ChargeSini, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] With the rapid rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and increasing demand for charging infrastructure in Malaysia, the need for expansion is paramount. At least, that’s what local charging point operator ChargeSini believes. “The EV market presents a vast opportunity, […]
Tradition never goes out of style: This cake house has grown to 3 outlets in Ipoh in 42 yrs
On a trip to Ipoh last year, I dropped by a bakery named Yohan Cake House. It has been around for almost 42 years, and I was told by some locals that it was a well-established brand. The local haunt is best known for its eye-catching Tiger Skin Cake, named to reference the patterned skin […]
Tetra Pak closes Jurong factory to consolidate production, 300 employees face job cuts
Multinational food packaging and processing company Tetra Pak will retrench about 300 employees as the company moves to close its Jurong factory and consolidate production into its other factories in the region. This shift will take place over the next 12 months and is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its global manufacturing footprint, […]
PropertyGuru lays off 79 employees, shutters unprofitable units to “future-proof” biz
PropertyGuru Group will lay off 79 of its staff, or about 5 per cent of the company’s total workforce, and close down unprofitable units part of a strategic review, The Edge reported. In an open letter to employees today (February 27), the company’s CEO and Managing Director, Hari Krishnan, said that the decision was made […]
What it’s like driving an EV for the first time, using the BYD Seal on KL roads
I’m really late to the electric vehicle (EV) game. We’ve been writing about EVs for years, but I have never actually sat in one, let alone driven one. With the launch of the BYD Seal though, that all changed. But first, a few disclaimers. Obviously, I have no basis of comparison when it comes to […]
By turning tuak fizzy, this S’wakian wants to bring the Bornean alcohol to the world stage
At 25 years old, Shaun Chang is the co-founder of Endu, which claims to offer Malaysia’s first naturally carbonated sparkling tuak. Based in Kuching, Sarawak, Shuan’s roots are a mix of Chinese and Iban heritage. He embarked on the Endu journey in November 2021 alongside his mother, who taught him the art of tuak, using […]
This M’sian halal shaved ice biz was almost bankrupt, now supplies to 500+ merchants
In the hot, humid country that is Malaysia, shaved ice has always been quite the popular icy treat. Think about the more classic ice kacang to the bingsu trend originating from Korea. A notable player in the shaved ice scene is KAIICE, though you might not have heard of them. This is because their prominence […]
GetGo vehicles to be made available within 500m of 50 MRT stations under collab with SBS transit
Car-sharing platform GetGo and bus and rail operator SBS Transit have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today (26 February) to promote car-sharing for better first- and last-mile connectivity to or from SBS Transit’s islandwide rail and bus network. Under the partnership, GetGo’s car-sharing vehicles will be made available within 500 metres of all the 50 […]
This duo turned handmade “pursebooks” into a cross-border S’porean social enterprise
When Filipina Mitzi Uy found her househelp crying one day, she never would have imagined that leading to a cross-border social enterprise, Mori. Her househelp, a mother living away from family, was crying because her daughter was sick and she felt helpless at being unable to care for her. This troubled Mitzi too as she […]
I visited the 45,000 sq ft Cyberjaya preschool that’s pioneering Finnish education in M’sia
Last November, we wrote about HEI Schools Cyberjaya, a new kindergarten in Malaysia that utilised a turnkey curriculum from Finland, developed and continually updated by the University of Helsinki. In response to our article, there were many varying opinions about this concept, with some complimenting the initiative, while others criticised it. Given these polarising reactions, […]
How to grow a successful retail biz, according to BilaBila Mart’s EY-awarded co-founder
It’s only natural that one of the convenience stores that I frequent the most is BilaBila Mart, since I live very close to one. But it’s not just the proximity that has made a regular customer out of me. Rather, it’s the fact that it offers convenience, variety, and novelty—plus it mainly features smaller, homegrown […]
