Carousell fined S$58,000 for data leaks, over 2.6 million users affected

Carousell has been fined S$58,000 over two separate data breaches in 2022, one of which exposed the personal data of approximately 2.6 million Carousell users. The breaches were detailed in a judgment by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) yesterday (February 22). The first data breach occurred in July 2022 when Carousell implemented changes to […]
Maybank & The Makeover Guys have home renos worth RM1.1mil, here’s how to win a cut

New year, new home? Before you dismiss the idea as being a pipe dream due to limited finances, know that it might just be possible, with some luck on your side. Maybank has teamed up with local home renovation specialist The Makeover Guys (TMOG) to come up with a campaign that offers participants the chance […]
Don’t learn to code: Nvidia’s founder Jensen Huang advises a different career path

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Nvidia, the long-time graphics card company turned AI giant, joined the US$1 trillion valuation club last year and is now just US$50 million shy of US$2 trillion, following the surge in demand for its accelerator cards that large language models like ChatGPT […]
Is Khairul Aming’s record-breaking launch replicable? We got TikTok Shop M’sia to comment.

Imagine having over three million people tune in live to watch you sell a product. That’s a magnitude of people I can’t even imagine. That would fill more than 34 of Malaysia’s biggest stadium, the National Stadium. That’s more than half of Singapore’s population. That’s the number of people who clicked into Khairul Aming’s livestream […]
This S’porean went from collecting watches to creating self-designed timepieces for his brand

Trained as a lawyer, Royce Wee’s resume is definitely not one to scoff at. The Singaporean has worked as the deputy public prosecutor in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, in policy roles in the Infocomm Media Development Authority, and as a director for economic regulation at the Ministry of Communications and Information. He has since moved into […]
How this weekend-only breakfast kitchen in Shah Alam grew into 3 brands in less than 3 yrs

Growing up, I’ve realised that there’s one distinct thing about older eateries. Take away the food itself and you’ll notice that quite a few generational restaurants have a sense of community spirit. In fact, I’d even argue that the community support is exactly what built them up to be a neighbourhood staple. One newer eatery […]
ESG reporting can be hard, Pantas & Solarvest want to simplify it for M’sian corps

To promote sustainable energy practices, Pantas Software Sdn Bhd, a carbon management and ESG solutions provider, has brought on Solarvest Holdings Bhd as a decarbonisation partner. Described as a solar energy expert, Solarvest offers a range of clean energy solutions and is currently venturing into other clean energy solutions including hydrogen, battery storage, data center, […]
Tech is no longer at the top in Singapore, according to Indeed’s 2024 Best Jobs list

For the past several years, Indeed has compiled an annual list of the top 20 jobs in Singapore, ranking them based on salary, consistent growth in the number of job postings from 2021 to 2024 and employer demand. In 2023, tech-focused roles dominated Indeed’s Best Jobs list, taking up nine spots of the 20. This […]
He quit his corporate job to pursue baking, now his own pastry café in S’pore is turning 9

Chee Keong had a simple reason for starting Whiskit Bakery Cafe—“I have a sweet tooth and enjoy pastries.” Wanting to challenge himself, he took up short baking courses before realising that he’d like to pursue a career in it. Back then, Chee Keong was in his mid-30s and had been working for a few years […]
This M’sian ex-accountant spent RM150K to start a camping-themed reptile café in Ipoh

Home to good food and beautiful scenery, Ipoh has been fostering quite the happening café scene over the years. One relatively new destination cafe here is Coffee Camp 612. Opening their doors in January 2023, this space merges coffee with a camping theme, filled with lush greenery and even… reptiles? The founder is Wong Ru […]
Bean-free coffee? S’pore foodtech startup Prefer secures US$2M in seed funding

Prefer, a Singapore-based coffee startup, announced today (February 22) that it has raised US$2 million in its seed funding round led by investment company Forge Ventures. Other investment entities participated in the funding round, namely 500 Global, Accelerate Technologies, Better Bite Ventures, Sopoong Ventures, SEEDS Capital and Entrepreneur First, and Phillippine coffee startup Pickup Coffee. […]
Digital Penang is seeking 10 hardtech & deeptech startups to propel in a new “inculerator”

Digital Penang, a government-linked company owned by the Penang State Government, has launched a Hardtech Inculerator Programme 2024 (HIP24). According to a February 20 press release, HIP24 aims to bridge the gap between hardware-based technology and deeptech development and commercialisation with the goal of enhancing the digital economy in Penang. Deeptech and hardtech are terms […]
Sadly, 4-day work week has just failed in one of the longest corporate trials in the world

The pandemic has greatly accelerated changes in the workplace after millions of people around the world discovered the benefits of working from home. However, not every job can be performed remotely and there are many advantages to showing up at the office, as most people work in teams. One response to these challenges was a […]
Finally, cross-border drone deliveries can take off in M’sia with this Aerodyne partnership

Are we witnessing the takeoff of commercial drone deliveries in the region? Malaysian dronetech startup Aerodyne Group (Aerodyne) has inked an agreement with Singapore-headquartered DroneDash Technologies (DroneDash), a press release announced. This initiative is set to introduce cross-border drone delivery services between Malaysia and Singapore. Leveraging the specialised technologies of both companies, such deliveries will […]
After several career pivots, she found success in growing BilaBila Mart to 50 stores in 4 yrs

From 7Eleven to Family Mart, Malaysia is not short of convenience stores. One homegrown option that has popped up is BilaBila Mart. For a while, the founders behind this business remained elusive. In our coverage of them in 2021, we just mentioned they were three unnamed friends with backgrounds in sales and marketing. Since then, […]
11 free Muslim apps in M’sia to meet your Ramadan goals, from puasa tracking to paying zakat

It’s almost that time of the year where all your favourite Ramadan bazaars are grilling and cooking up feasts upon feasts. Not to mention the many local boutiques like Bayu Somerset that will display new Raya collections. Those aside, Ramadan is a time of self-reflection and atonement. While some might argue that technology can be […]
After dominating global market share for OLED laptops, ASUS’ new frontier is AI laptops

What comes to mind when you think of ASUS? For me, one word in particular sticks out: bold. I’m no expert when it comes to the brand, but it’s shown me that it doesn’t shy away from pushing the envelope in consumer tech. So it’s no surprise that when asked what ASUS’ standout milestones are, […]
Failure didn’t stop this Sabahan engineer from bouncing back with a new biz that’s now 4 Y/O

For a lot of people, it’s quite normal to throw in the towel when the venture you’ve spent time and sweat on doesn’t work out. After all, knowing when to let go is part of being an entrepreneur. But a common trait that most successful entrepreneurs have is the resilience to not let one defeat […]
After 2 yrs, Tiffin at the Yard has shut down. Here’s what’s next for the M’sian F&B group.

As the final MCO lifted in Malaysia in 2021, Malaysians were hungry for new experiences—a hunger that Tiffin at the Yard catered to. Opened in November 2021, Tiffin at the Yard was described as a culinary playground that aimed to feature the country’s top chefs, restaurateurs, as well as up-and-coming talents. With a cool, industrial […]
M’sian ecommerce merchants can get a cut from this Sidec award’s prize pool of RM100,000

Calling all ecommerce entrepreneurs, the Top E-Commerce Merchant (ECM) Awards is now welcoming entries for the 2024 edition of its programme. Now entering its ninth year, the Top ECM Awards is presented by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) with the objective to celebrate those demonstrating excellence and innovation in the digital […]
They transformed a rain shelter in Putrajaya Botanical Garden into a now-viral juicery

Describing itself as a “cave-themed” cafe due to its rugged stone wall and dim lighting, Gua. Juicery is a Muslim-owned fruit-centric cafe established in the tail end of 2023. Fresh fruit juice and grab-and-go pastries might not sound like novel offerings, but its location provides something unique compared to the usual juice spot. Tucked away […]
In 2023 Meta lost $16 billion on VR because Zuckerberg doesn’t understand his own products

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. Mark Zuckerberg is clearly upset that Apple can get away with selling a $3500 headset that people around the world are fawning over (even if recognising that not everything about it is perfect), while he’s struggling to make money with his $500 Quest 3, as Reality […]
Budget 2024 in focus: Here are some key takeaways for S’porean businesses

1. S$1.3 billion Enterprise Support Package to help businesses manage costs During his Budget 2024 speech today (February 16), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong announced an S$1.3 billion Enterprise Support Package to help businesses in Singapore manage rising costs. The Enterprise Support Package comprises a corporate income tax rebate, enhancements to […]
Budget 2024: S’pore to provide 50% personal income tax rebate, capped at S$200

In light of rising cost-of-living concerns, DPM Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech today (Feb 16) that the government will provide a personal income tax rebate of 50 per cent for the Year of Assessment 2024. The rebate will be capped at S$200. The move, which will cost the government about S$350 million, will allow more […]
Budget 2024: More financial support for ITE, Special Needs Children to further their education

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his speech for Budget 2024 today (February 16) that Institutes of Technical Education (ITE) graduates aged 30 and below will receive financial support to further their education. DPM Wong introduced the ITE Progression Award, where graduates eligible S$5,000 in their post-secondary education accounts when they enrol in a […]
Budget 2024: Rebates to be given to soften property tax changes

In his Budget 2024 speech, DPM Lawrence Wong announced that the annual value (AV) bands for owner-occupied properties are raised from 2025 onwards, allowing some home owners to pay less property taxes as a result. The lowest AV band threshold will be raised from S$8,000 (US$5,900) to S$12,000. The highest threshold will increase from over […]
Budget 2024: Couples waiting for BTOs to get govt vouchers for HDB rentals, preschools to be more affordable

The government will be providing more support for young families with urgent housing needs under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) as they wait for the completion of their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, DPM Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech today (Feb 16). Eligible families will receive a one-year PPHS voucher to rent a Housing […]
Budget 2024: S’pore to invest S$3.5 billion over the next decade to support ageing population

In his Budget speech today (Feb 16), DPM Lawrence Wong announced that the government will be investing S$3.5 billion over the next decade for initiatives under Age Well SG, a national programme that helps seniors to age actively, stay socially connected, and be cared for within their own communities. This includes the expansion of Singapore’s […]
Budget 2024: S’poreans aged 40 and above to receive S$4,000 top up of SkillFuture credits from May 2024

In his speech for Budget 2024, DPM Lawrence Wong announced that all Singaporeans aged 40 and above will receive a S$4,000 top up of SkillsFuture credits from May 2024 onwards. On top of the S$500 SkillsFuture credit offered, DPM Wong explained that the new $4,000 credit will be used selected training programmes with better employability […]
Budget 2024: CPF contribution rates to raise by 1.5% points from 2025

The Singapore government has announced today (February 16) that the Enhanced Retirement Sum will be raised and the CPF contribution rates for those aged 55-65 will increase by 1.5 percentage points from 2025 onwards. In his speech for Budget 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has also announced that the Special Accounts in CPF will […]