Startups to Scaleups – eFM Live

Ep 11. EasyParcel In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, Clarence Leong of Easyparcel sits down to discuss how he leads his last mile service for e-commerce business through the scale-up process. Easyparcel as a whole is a web-based parcel consolidator and E-commerce shipping solutions provider; the platform allows you to book for delivery from multiple established courier companies in Malaysia as well as a few other ASEAN countries at an affordable rate. Armed with the ethos of keeping the small business mentality as well as treating each customer with the time and care they deserve, Easyparcel simplifies logistics for SMEs and e-commerce sellers in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Key Takeaways With their regional ASEAN expansion, Easyparcel is in the midst of scaling up its geographical operation and it’s no small feat in each country they venture into. Clarence shares the challenges in the legality of incorporating a new company in a foreign land as well as acquiring talent to run it. Not only that, each country’s consumers operate uniquely different from any other country and as such, must be acquired through localised marketing strategy. He also divulges some of the mistakes that were made when Easyparcel first began their foray into neighbouring ASEAN markets and how a startup intending to scale-up can avoid such conflicts. Fun Fact With 8 years dedicated to studying and working in aerospace engineering before venturing into several startups prior to Easyparcel, Clarence is a certified aerospace engineer and has previously worked in the UK!   Download  

Ep 10. CALMS In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, the CEO of CALMS Technologies Sdn. Bhd, Koh Lee Ching sits down with Dr Siva to discuss how she led her company through 16 years of exponential growth and regional expansion. CALMS Technologies Sdn. Bhd. is a Malaysian incorporated company formed to focus in providing cost effective and leading edge card solutions mainly specialized in multiple smart cards and terminal applications. With more than a decade of experience in offering dynamic range of one card solutions to more than 400 organizations from various sectors in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, CALMS is changing the way card solutions security functions. Key Takeaways Lee Ching shares the story of how CALMS pursued its regional expansion to neighbouring ASEAN countries in this podcast, through the uncertainty and lack of exposure in the very beginning. She also shares how to manage resources, among which talent management is of utmost importance and an entrepreneur cannot afford to neglect the labour input into the business. As a firm deeply entrenched in cyber-security as well as in the business that requires absolute security assurances, Lee Ching points out ways to gain and maintain trust from clients. Fun Fact CALMS has expanded to and is available in all ASEAN countries except Brunei and Laos.   Download  

Ep 9. Evenesis In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, Muhd Yusno of Evenesis talks to us on how he built a worldclass web-based event management e-solution to streamline your event management process. By intergrating online event registration, ticketing, online payment gateaway, unique check-in QR code generation, reporting, email marketing, microsite generation into a one-stop solution platform, Evenesis has revolutionised the way meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) are organised. Now, Evenesis is experimenting beyond event planning by developing tools for post-event analysis as well. Key Takeaways Muhd Yusno shares how startups such as himself can pivot in their clientele such as from B2C to B2B as Evenesis has over the years through incorporation as well as the challenges of choosing and managing the right foreign markets to export to. Evenesis worked through the key to gauging market readiness abroad in order to best decide the best mechanism and tools for a successful market expansion. New technology and immersion into breakthroughs can also mean a critical pivot into new product offerings and an entrepreneur must wisely decide whether to focus on the key products or pivot to better serve their clients. Evenesis has scaled up from start-up level in 2010 by consistently finding the right balance between the two tough calls to make. Fun Fact The conception of Evenesis came after their founder’s wedding when they thought of how much easier weddings could be had the right platform existed back then.   Download  

Ep 8. Travarel In this episode with Proficeo’s Dr Siva we talk to Ija Mohan from Travarel – a Travel Apparel Marketplace by 3ciety. The Travarel platform enables travellers to discover and buy authentic apparel designed by local artists inspired by their city & community. Anyone can select a design of their choosing or customize their own and Travarel will print and deliver the order on behalf of the artist. With zero upfront costs and the ease of setting up an apparel line and selling without having to worry about stock, manufacturing or fulfilment, Travarel is changing the Malaysian apparel industry for designers, buyers and collectors alike. Key Takeaways Ija discusses how keeping tabs on future trends and innovating to stay relevant is an essential part of scaling up, which he incorporates into his venture 3ciety, which lead to the launch of Travarel to focus on the underserved travel market. In the face of success, adversity is never too far away and Travarel is no stranger to challenges in entrepreneurship. As a pioneer in Malaysia for such a platform, Ija talks to us about the challenges of being a leader and the first to venture into the unknown of the field. Dr Siva and Ija also dig into how product/brand extensions, market segment extensions or innovating to stay relevant with existing customers can all be scaleup opportunities for a quick and smart entrepreneur. Fun Fact Traverel will be collaborating with leading local travel platforms to boost their ancillary revenue by enabling Asean travellers to transform their intangible holiday experiences into tangible personalised products that they can cherish for a lifetime.   Download  

Ep 7. Recite App In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, we talk to Mazlita Mat Hassan, the co-founder of Recite App, a smart application providing Quran recital validation service on mobile devices. Recitals by app users are submitted anonymously and corrected by a pool of credible Quran teachers. Recite App provides a flexible and cost effective way of mastering the Tajwid for users of all ages. From the first launch in 2017, Recite App has garnered 46,000 downloads and 13,000 shares from one Facebook post alone.Through Recite App, quided Quran recitals have become accessible and helpful for just about anyone, anywhere. Key Takeaways Mazlita breaks down the finer details of venturing into Digital Islamic business, such as legislation on Quran prints and grey areas in the local laws. Dr Siva and her discuss as well the regulatory sandbox initiative in Malaysia. Among the topics discussed is Recite App’s “One Metric that Matters”; their members who play the role of the “tawjeed teachers” and the challenge of providing sufficient and qualified tajweed teachers for an ever-growing demand on the app. Learn how Recite App is working to achieve their One Metric that matters and how to keep the highest level of quality within its One Metric. Fun Fact Recite App was chosen by MDEC to be in EXPAND, a special programme that took them to Indonesia for one week to learn the ins and outs of the local market for future expansion.   Download  

Ep 6. Vidi (Formerly known as Touristly) In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, we talk to the CEO and founder of Vidi, Aaron Sarma on how Vidi (formerly known as Touristly) aims to take tourism and technology to a whole new level. Vidi empowers its users to create their own amazing personalised itineraries and purchase the best deals for their trip. Since this podcast was recorded, Touristly has rebranded to Vidi. The rebranding is in line with its vision to capture a larger segment of the global tours and activities space through visual discovery. The company has also recently launched a Beta of their new app, also called Vidi, which is available in both Android Play Store and iOS App store. Key Takeaways As with anything that is worth building, it takes time to build. Facebook took 15 years to grow before they listed and is now a household brand worldwide. Aaron touches on how there are a lot of misconceptions that milestones in a startup lifecycle happens fast but it is important to take a step back and try to appreciate the longer-term view when building a business. Fun Fact While relatively new, Vidi is a part of AirAsia’s ancillary service and only last year, AirAsia bought 50% of Vidi’s shares in a deal worth MYR 11.5 million (USD$2.9million).   Download  

Ep 5. iCookAsia In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, we chat with the CEO and founder of iCookAsia, Ezmir b. Mohd Razali on how iCookAsia is changing the way Malaysian brands and consumers approach content marketing in the ever-changing landscape of mass media advertising. From 2015, iCookAsia pivoted itself from its previous model to become a platform for content marketing, of which is was a pioneer in the Malaysian scene. Through iCookAsia, cooking has become fuss-free and easy through their fun-filled guide videos for cooks of all walks of life. Key Takeaways Ezmir discusses the difference between content marketing and advertising, especially for Small Medium Enterprises in Malaysia. He proposes a new perspective on brand growth, through creation of long-term, reusable content that has a high ROI as opposed to a one-off advertising. With the rise of Youtube and Instagram as well as the growing ease of producing and uploading content, it is important for brands to approach customer engagement from a different way in this new era. Fun Fact iCookAsia is the first online video recipe channel in Malaysia with great recipes and stories about food from Malaysia and around Asia   Download  

Ep 4. FLEXIROAM In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, we chat with FLEXIROAM Co-Founder and Vice President, Jason Khoo about how his Startups is reinventing the global mobile virtual network by offering an affordable alternative to current mobile roaming services. Founded in 2011 with the aim of expanding the horizons of global communications, FLEXIROAM leverages on innovative technologies to offer international outbound travellers voice and data roaming in over 200 countries and territories. With alliances in over 100 travel industry partners, including major airlines and top travel agencies, FLEXIROAM is poised to become a formidable name in the international roaming marketplace. Key Takeaways “You need to have the courage to scrap everything and start fresh to stay relevant and ahead of the game”, quips Jason. He firmly believes that as you grow from startup to scaleup, you will have multiple products and services which, while they can give you good revenue streams, they may not be the best way to create an identity. “Even at scaleup stage, you must have the courage to re-invent yourself for the next phase of growth.” Fun Fact FLEXIROAM was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in June 2015 with the goal of rapid growth and global expansion.   Download  

Ep 3. SportsBoleh In this episode, we hear from LILA CEO, Joseph Dolcetti about his company’s latest offering, the EXOGEN wearable-resistance exoskeleton. Through high-performance research, education and utilising innovative technologies, LILA’s EXOGEN suit completely redefines the world of human performance. A compression-based multi-function suit, its uses vary from movement-technology for sports, to general fitness, military and even emergency services Key Takeaways “Businesses Fail not when you run out of Money but when Entrepreneurs Run out of Steam”, quips Joseph Dolcetti. He reiterates a central component to becoming a successful entrepreneur: “People have no idea how long it takes to build Success. With new technology – there is an element of education involved about the product and the benefits.” His advice? Test more than one vertical market at the start because each vertical market will require different levels of validation of the value proposition. Only when you do this, can you find out which niche is your early adopter. Fun Fact The word ‘LILA’ means ‘GOD at play’; the activity of the supreme being unencumbered by laws. Lila is a conceptualism of the universe as a playground of the gods. The supreme being changing itself to human form to come to earth to experience movement, sport and play.   Download  

Ep 2. EasyUni In this episode of Startups to Scaleups, we speak to EasyUni CEO, Edwin Tay, and CTO, Nurbek Jusupov about the challenges faced with running a global website that compiles a multitude of different universities and courses in a single site. Created in 2011 with the support of the then Deputy Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia, EasyUni has brought more than 3,000 universities from 20 countries and aggregated them into one website. The platform accommodates students, parents, and lecturers by connecting them with various universities thus shortening the tertiary application process. They now employ 30 employees spanning across 3 countries! Key Takeaways Edwin and Nurbek regularly stress a key issue plaguing young entrepreneurs today; that of premature scaling. Their philosophy? To continuously focus on what you already know and have instead of taking large risks. In this podcast, the two pioneers also expound upon how best to understand what your customer really wants, and how to provide it for them. Finally, they’ll illustrate why specialisation and niche markets are the way forwards, and why entrepreneurs need to learn how to fail fast, pivot, and listen to their customers. Fun Fact The EasyUni website facilitates students and parents through every step of the process. From searching for a university, to the application stream; all at zero cost   Download  

Ep 1. Babydash In this very first episode of the “Startups to Scaleups” podcast series, Dr. Siva sits down with Babydash CEO, Lavinie Thiruchelvam to discuss the tribulations faced by modern mothers, and how her startup intends to aid in providing Malaysian mums a hassle free experience when shopping for baby utilities. Founded by two mums who had become increasingly drained by having to run between shops for basic baby items, Babydash removes the stress associated with baby shopping by offering an easy and convenient way for Malaysian parents to purchase items such as diapers and milk without having to suffer the long queues at grocery stores. Through their proprietary online website, customers can pre-order diapers and milk and have them delivered to their office or home. Key Takeaways Lavinie has always maintained that Entrepreneurship is not a sprint, but a marathon. Although a niche ecommerce business, she and her partner were able to propel the business to being the number 1 ecommerce site in the mum and baby niche vertical market. She also states that perseverance matters when building a business but more importantly, that there are happy customers. Because suppliers want to see that you have a strong customer base and this business is all about customer service, trust, personal touch and great customer service are the most important components to build customer loyalty. Fun Fact Babydash’s online platform is as simple as selecting your product, listing your address, and then proceeding with payment. A considerably easier task when compared to traditional methods of purchasing baby items!   Download