Navigating the future of work with BenQ’s eye-care monitor – a true hybrid work companion
In the ever-evolving landscape of hybrid work, the quest for the perfect tools to amplify the work-from-home experience has become a mission for many. Having embraced the remote work lifestyle for the past three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve constantly sought ways to refine and optimise my home workspace. Recently, my […]
Meet the 4 winning M’sian EY entrepreneurs of the year & the nominees of each category
Every year, Ernst & Young (EY) recognises a lineup of entrepreneurs in its EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) awards programme. This is something that happens worldwide, and in Malaysia specifically, it has been an annual event for over two decades. The Malaysian edition of this prestigious award has seen winners such as Top Glove […]
Health is personal, so these M’sian brothers set up a customisable kombucha subscription biz
As brothers who are only two years apart, Bryan and Justin did many things together growing up, even though they ventured into different academic fields. While Bryan went for chemical engineering, Justin became a physiotherapist. Despite that, it was only natural that during the pandemic in 2021, the two came back together to cook up […]
From law to street art: He quit his lawyer job to start S’pore’s first indoor graffiti studio
Victor Tong hasn’t always held a career in the realms of entrepreneurship. The 31-year-old founder of Heaven Spot, Singapore’s first indoor graffiti studio, initially started his professional journey as a lawyer. He trained at a local law firm where he assisted their real estate division with transactions related to the sale and purchase of land. […]
S’pore telehealth startup Doctor Anywhere secures US$40.8M funding to fuel healthcare innovation
In a resilient move amid a global funding downturn, Doctor Anywhere (DA), a tech-led healthcare company headquartered in Singapore, has successfully closed a US$40.8 million Series C1 extension round. The funding round saw participation from prominent investors such as Square Peg and Novo Holdings. The additional capital injection is slated to accelerate next-generation healthcare innovation […]
8 years into their online cake biz, this couple has opened their own dessert café in KL
Established in 2020, Kuké might be a business you mistakenly believe is the result of the pandemic. However, even though the Kuké brand name only came to be in 2020, it actually has a much longer history. Husband-and-wife duo Inn and Corina actually started their baking business in 2015, though the both the business model […]
Don’t worry about higher GST – most Singaporeans are not going to really pay it
Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author. The dreaded second step up in Singapore’s GST increase is upon us, with the tax increasing to 9 per cent from 1 January 2024. Many citizens and politicians have been opposing or protesting the hike from 7 per cent, which was still the rate last […]
3 M’sians were highlighted in The Game Awards Future Class 2023, here’s who
Last year, Malaysian game designer, director, and producer Sophie Azlan had been inducted into The Game Awards’ Future Class. She had been the first and only Malaysian highlighted at the time by the prestigious annual award. For context, The Game Awards’ Future Class is kind of like Forbes’ 30 Under 30, but for the gaming […]
This 5 Y/O Malaysian recycling app believes it has what it takes to be a unicorn, here’s why
We’ve all been taught since young that recycling is the way to a greener future, so we’re no strangers to it. But how many of us can actually say we actively recycle our waste? For a country of nearly 34 million people, the answer is not many. According to a report by New Straits Times, […]
M’sian agritech startup bags RM3.2M in round led by 500 Global to grow its patented solution
Malaysian agritech startup Qarbotech announced Monday (December 4, 2023) that it has closed US$700,000 (approximately RM3,264,450 at the time of writing) in seed funding and grants. This seed round was led by 500 Global, and includes grants from the Singaporean government-linked Temasek Foundation, and Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional. Both grants were won through challenges, namely Temasek […]
3 things Khairy Jamaluddin shared that SMEs should keep in mind as we head into 2024
SEBA 2023 Central Grand was a night of celebration for many in the local entrepreneurship and SME community. 30 individuals were spotlighted, along with 10 companies. Wins, culture, and the spirit of unity were championed. Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative, Ewon Benedick, and Khairy Jamaluddin were in attendance, and mid-event, the latter graced the […]
DPM Wong unveils National AI Strategy 2.0 – outlines 15 key steps to be world’s leader in AI
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Lawrence Wong has unveiled Singapore’s updated National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0 at the Singapore Conference on AI yesterday (December 4). The new strategy, which aims to position the city-state as a world leader in AI, underscores 15 courses of actions that Singapore will undertake over the next three to five years. […]
This M’sian team spent 2 yrs innovating plant-based meat, here’s what they’ve achieved
According to Statista, the current revenue in Malaysia’s meat substitutes market amounts to US$15.34 million in 2023. This number is projected to grow annually by 8.64% (CAGR from 2023 to 2028). So it’s clear that the trends show an increasing interest in plant-based diets. It’s not a fad that will go away anytime soon, and […]
Hope in a bottle? This M’sian brand claims to help you “smile” or “focus” with its powders.
When I first got ads online from a health brand called ThisGood Co (ThisGood), I admit I was a bit sceptical. Maybe it’s an occupational hazard, after seeing one too many brands claim to offer some great health benefit only to have pseudoscientific products that aren’t backed by research. But it turns out that the […]
10 SMEs recognised by SEBA at its 2023 awards ceremony, and what they do
SEBA 2023 Central Grand awards kicked off with a bang on November 30, and many local entrepreneurs and SMEs were celebrated that night. 10 SMEs got the recognition of Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia (YUM), winning awards in various categories. These companies were selected after a stringent vetting and auditing process, and had to meet the criteria […]
SEBA is bringing its awards to Borneo to celebrate entrepreneurs in Sabah, Sarawak & Brunei
Every year, SEBA, also known as the SME and Entrepreneurs Business Award, recognises top Malaysian entrepreneurs and businesses. Just yesterday on November 30, SEBA 2023 Central Grand took place at Sheraton Petaling Jaya, honouring 30 entrepreneurs and 10 companies. Wanting to uplift all SMEs in Malaysia, not just ones in the Klang Valley area, SEBA […]
These are the 30 M’sian entrepreneurs recognised at SEBA 2023, here’s what they do
An evening of celebration and recognition took place on November 30 at the much-awaited SEBA 2023 Central Grand. In attendance were local entrepreneurs and SMEs, as well as Yang Berhormat Datuk Ewon Benedick, the Minister of Entrepreneur & Cooperatives Development, and Yang Berusaha Tuan Khairy Jamaluddin, our former Minister of Health. Here were the 30 […]
AI job interviews: The rise of AI in recruiting can streamline hiring, but at what cost?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, and it is affecting how we are getting hired. To date, many companies have incorporated forms of AI into their hiring processes. Consumer goods giant Unilever first used AI to hire entry-level roles in 2016 as part of their digitalisation plans, claiming to have cut down […]
From EV chargers to powering Pulau Ubin: How this S’pore startup is redefining energy storage
The net zero mission is all about sustainability, from how energy is generated to the manner in which it is stored. As per the International Energy Agency, the world is set to add as much renewable power in the five years starting 2023 as it did in the 20 years prior. Renewable energy adoption is […]
Why this 13 Y/O café in Melaka for “serious coffee drinkers only” bans photography
If you’re not serious about coffee, do not go to Mods Cafe in Melaka. Consider this an official warning, if the sign on the door that literally reads “Serious Coffee Drinker Only” isn’t enough to deter you. Serving artisanal coffee along Jalan Tukang Emas in Melaka’s Jonker area, Mods Cafe features a unique retro aesthetic […]
Tech meets F&B: This Korean fried chicken joint uses robots to automate frying, now in S’pore
The preparation of fried chicken can be a laborious one, especially when it comes to Korean fried chicken, which is typically double-fried. Even if you manage to nail the process perfectly, achieving that perfect golden crispiness is a challenge — too much oil can make it soggy, while a low oil temperature can prevent it […]
CelcomDigi celebrates 1-yr anniversary, offers new 5G plans & affordable phone packages
Last year on December 1, telecommunication giants Celcom and Digi came together under a momentous merger, becoming the portmanteau of CelcomDigi. Celebrating its first-year anniversary, the company welcomed members of the media to the first media briefing held in its CelcomDigi Hub, located at Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park. Here, CEO Datuk Mohamad Idham Nawawi took […]
Fintech firm Aspire unveils new S’pore HQ – aims to double headcount to 300 by 2025
Aspire, an all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses, announced the official opening of its new headquarters (HQ) in Singapore yesterday (November 29), as the company doubles down on driving fintech R&D and innovation in the region. The HQ will serve as the company’s financial technology excellence hub in Singapore, through which it will drive product […]
Between Oxford and Yale: NUS graduates ranked 9th most sought-after by global employers
For the fourth year in a row, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has kept its position within the Top 10 in Global Employability University Ranking and Survey conducted by a French HR consultancy Emerging and Times Higher Education. Dropping in ranking from 8th in 2023 to 9th for 2024, NUS landed between two global […]
The future of digital money: Singapore sets the standard for stablecoin adoption
Singapore doesn’t look too favourably upon cryptocurrencies, but it’s still paving the way for the adoption of digital assets. When it comes to cross-border transfers and a more efficient banking system, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is placing its faith in stablecoins, CBDCs, and tokenised bank liabilities rather than Bitcoin and Ethereum. As MAS’ […]
Japanese luxury department store opens at The Exchange TRX, offers 700+ global brands
Yesterday (November 29), SEIBU, the luxury Japanese department store opened its first Malaysian outlet at The Exchange TRX in KL. This is the third SEIBU store overseas, with the second one opened in Indonesia last year. It’s designed by UK architects HMKM and Cardy Papa, who are known for creating award-winning department store designs globally, […]
Last year, we predicted these 2023 industry trends. Here’s what we actually got right.
At the end of 2022, we sat down to come up with some industry and business trends we foresaw would happen in 2023. Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, it’s time yet again to look at these predictions to see whether we had hit the nail on the head. 1. Deep learning […]
Building Gprnt.ai: MAS works with Microsoft, HSBC, KPMG, to simplify ESG reporting
In 2004, the United Nations (UN) published a report advocating for businesses and stakeholders to pay closer attention to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). It recommended actions such as implementing ESG principles and factoring them in when making investments. The ultimate goal was to facilitate sustainable development and more resilient financial markets. In the […]
10 can’t-miss events from Startup Week, hosted by the largest entrepreneur FB group in M’sia
If you haven’t heard yet, Nextupasia, the largest Malaysian entrepreneurship group on Facebook with over 138k members, is hosting its inaugural event called Startup Week Malaysia. Happening from December 1 to December 9, 2023, there will be a lineup of exciting events for entrepreneurs. All with the shared goal of educating, inspiring, and connecting entrepreneurs […]
VPS can be a cost-effective & scalable asset for modern companies, this M’sian biz shows how
[This is a sponsored article with VPS Malaysia.] In 2012, Kon Jew Chung struggled to find an affordable VPS provider for his projects, and he knew from his experience that things didn’t have to be so costly. Did you know: A VPS—or virtual private server—is a virtual machine that provides virtualised server resources on a […]
