Open For Business

On this episode of Open For Business, we speak with Paul Dass, Managing Director of Green Street Farms, about what it means to grow food with care in the heart of a city.Green Street Farms uses aquaponics, a natural system where fish and plants support one another, to produce fresh food while working in rhythm with nature. But beyond the method, this is a story about intention: choosing to grow slowly, thoughtfully, and in a way that stays connected to the people who eat the food.Paul shares the personal journey behind the farm, the lessons learned from working with living systems, and how reconnecting people to where their food comes from can quietly change how we think about nourishment, responsibility, and care.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Startup accelerators are everywhere, but few operate like AppWorks. Based in Taiwan with a sizable footprint in Southeast Asia, the firm runs an accelerator that takes zero equity and charges zero fees, a model sustained by its associated VC funds.Alyssa Chen, Principal of the AppWorks Accelerator, joins BFM to explain how this "founder-first" model acts as the top-of-funnel engine for an ecosystem that has raised $6.6 billion in funding across 650 active startups.We dive into their strategic pivot for 2026, targeting "outlier" founders in Manufacturing AI, Defense Tech, and Onchain Banking, and how they are building a cross-border corridor linking Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.We discuss:The "Freemium" Model: How AppWorks sustains a fee-free, equity-free accelerator by using it as a high-quality deal flow pipeline for its VC funds.Vetting "Outliers": Why a free program still requires a grueling 30-question application and interview process to filter out value-seekers and find true execution-focused founders.The 2026 "Request for Startups": Why AppWorks is pivoting to hard tech. Alyssa explains the focus on Manufacturing AI (leveraging Taiwan’s hardware strength), Defense Tech (dual-use commercial applications), and Onchain Banking.The Southeast Asia Thesis: Despite the region's "exit bottleneck," Alyssa argues that the ecosystem is maturing, with founders shifting from "growth at all costs" to profitability and cash flow.The Taiwan-Malaysia Bridge: How AppWorks is actively linking markets, using Taiwan for R&D and revenue, Singapore for capital and legal structure, and Malaysia for talent and team building.Alumni Power: How a network of 2,000+ founders (including 900 CEOs) drives the ecosystem, with 570 active startups helping each other navigate fundraising and expansion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private credit has exploded over the last decade. But is it a necessary structural shift or a "shadow banking" bubble waiting to pop?David Z Wang, Co-Founder & CEO of fintech firm Helicap Group, joins BFM to make the case for connecting global investors to Asia's massive private credit opportunity.Backed by S$20 million in paid-up capital from the likes of Kenanga Group, Phillip Capital, Saison Capital, and Tikehau Capital, Helicap has helped deploy around US$700 million to the region's "underbanked" sector. The firm mainly targets licensed non-bank financial institutions as distribution points to indirectly serve millions of MSMEs and individuals.We discuss:The Bubble Question: While US private credit faces scrutiny, David explains why Asia is different. With only 3-5% of the global market share despite holding 60% of the population, he believes the region offers growth without the saturation risks seen in the West.Principal Protection vs. Volume: Unlike platforms chasing rapid GMV growth, Helicap claims to adopt a slower, investor-first approach. We explore their co-investment model — where they say they put their own skin in the game for 90% of deals — to align incentives and prioritize capital preservation.Helicap vs. P2P Platforms: Why invest with them when P2P platforms and bond funds already exist? David argues that for investors with larger capital sums, manually picking loans is unmanageable. He explains how Helicap’s structure handles diversification and diligence, offering what he describes as a passive, institutional-grade alternative.Defining the 'Underbanked': David clarifies the critical strategy of targeting the "underbanked" (those with income but no credit) rather than the "unbanked." By lending via licensed B2B partners, the company claims to secure better data visibility and lower default risks.The Malaysia Expansion: With Kenanga Group as a strategic backer, Helicap is making a major play for the Malaysian market. We discuss their stated plans to bring institutional-grade technology to local SMEs and partner with local P2P players to offer Ringgit-based products.The 2026 Roadmap: With David reporting that profitability has been secured in 2025, what's next? He outlines the shift from constant fundraising to operational excellence, focusing on risk management, team growth, and deep integration with regional partners to cement their position in Asia.M&A vs IPO: With strategic backers like Kenanga on the cap table, is an acquisition inevitable? David opens up about Helicap’s long-term trajectory, weighing the stability of joining a banking giant versus the ambition of remaining an independent, IPO-bound fintech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysians are investing more than ever, but many are doing so in a market flooded with hype, social media tips, and unverified “gurus.” The result? Emotional decision-making, rising losses, and growing distrust among retail investors.We speak with Warren Mak, CEO and Co-Founder of Ted Optimus, about why so many Malaysians struggle to invest sustainably, and how his platform aims to help investors slow down, think rationally, and separate real opportunities from costly noise.He shares how his experience in investor education led him to build Trade Wizard, a platform that combines AI-powered stock insights with practical financial education, designed specifically for local retail traders.From scam culture and Telegram tips to building discipline, trust, and long-term investing habits, we take a candid look at what smarter investing in Malaysia could, and should look like.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While skeptics dismiss the current wave of startups as mere AI 'wrappers,' a grassroots movement in Kuala Lumpur is ignoring the noise and building anyway. It begs the question: is it really just an 'AI wrapper' if it solves a fundamental business problem?Joseph Chin, City Organizer for AI Tinkerers Kuala Lumpur, joins BFM’s Open For Business to discuss how a small meetup grew into a thriving network of nearly 2,000 members. A former software engineer turned solo founder, Joseph also shares the journey of bootstrapping DocuAsk.ai to profitability, acquiring nearly 300,000 users along the way.We discuss:The "Wrapper" Debate: Joseph argues that while some AI products are lazy wrappers, others (like his own) act as essential bridges, making complex models palatable for end-users, much like Uber is an "AWS wrapper."Distribution as the Moat: Why building great software is no longer enough. Joseph explains his painful pivot from engineer to operator, realising that mediocre software with great distribution beats the alternative every time.The Pivot to Profit: How he saved his bootstrapped startup by firing marketing agencies and learning digital ads himself, a move that tripled performance and led to profitability.The AI Tinkerers Explosion: Inside the rapid growth of the KL chapter. Joseph shares how loneliness as a solo founder sparked a community that now inspires members to quit their jobs and launch startups.Shattering Talent Myths: We discuss the massive turnout for recent local hackathons (almost 2,000 RSVPs), debunking the long-held assumption that Malaysia lacks the deep tech talent or hunger to build world-class products.The Value of "Tinkering": Why action beats theory. Joseph advocates for hackathons not just for product creation, but as a forcing function to break self-imposed limitations and accelerate learning velocity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many entrepreneurs, the idea of living and working anywhere in the world is the ultimate goal. But for Andrew Henderson, it’s more than a dream—it’s a business model. He’s the founder of Nomad Capitalist, a consultancy that helps high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs build global lifestyles through offshore strategies, second citizenships, and optimised tax structures.Based partly in Malaysia, Andrew has become one of the most recognised voices in the offshore world, featured in outlets like Bloomberg, Forbes, and CNN. Today, we’re finding out why Malaysia is emerging as one of the world’s most attractive bases for global entrepreneurs, how Nomad Capitalist operates behind the scenes, and what it really means to “go where you’re treated best.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI sector is frothy, filled with "wrappers" disguised as deep tech and companies blurring the line between innovation and snake oil. Yet, Agnes AI claims to be different. By combining a "Snapchat-style" social feed with an enterprise-grade productivity suite, they aim to capture the 99% of Southeast Asian users who aren't paying for ChatGPT.Bruce Yang, Co-Founder and CEO, joins us to explain why Agnes AI is building a "mobile funnel" to drive desktop software sales. He breaks down their transition from Sapiens AI, their claim of "Sovereign AI" (training their own models rather than relying on APIs), and their ambitious goal to replace your entire office stack, from Word to Slack.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Southeast Asian payments landscape is a fierce battleground, crowded with global giants like Stripe and Adyen, regional heavyweights, and local gateways. Yet, HitPay has carved out a lucrative niche, processing over $1 billion annually for more than 10,000 businesses across the region.CEO Aditya Haripurkar joins us to explain why the region needed an "SMB-first" payments player. He details HitPay’s journey from e-wallet and a Venmo parallel to securing a $16 million Series A led by Tiger Global, driven by a 100% compound annual growth rate.We discuss:The Boom: How HitPay went from processing $100k to $20 million monthly in under two years.Differentiation: Why focusing on "omni-channel" and local payment methods beats the enterprise-first approach.The Business Model: Why HitPay gives away POS software and website builders for free.Capital Efficiency: processing $1 billion annually with a team of just 36 employees.Future Trends: Why HitPay is integrating stablecoin payments for Singaporean merchants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most people think of buffets, they think of indulgence, not innovation. But for treatsure Co-Founder and CEO Preston Wong, surplus food became a business opportunity. After gaining traction in Singapore with its “buffet-in-a-box” concept, treatsure is now partnering with top hotels like The Westin and Grand Millennium to reduce food waste in Malaysia’s hospitality sector. In this episode, Preston shares how treatsure balances sustainability with profitability, and what it takes to scale a purpose-driven business across borders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The non-bank lending industry, comprising licensed money lenders, pawnshops, and used car dealers, often operates on paper ledgers and Excel sheets. Johnny Tin, a former banking tech consultant, left his 9-to-5 to change that.He joins us to discuss Arkmind, his company attempting to digitalise this unglamorous sector. We explore how Arkmind bootstrapped its way to RM1 million in annual revenue, the impact of the Consumer Credit Act, and how they are helping traditional lenders use AI to approve loans in hours instead of days.We discuss:Why non-bank lenders are still stuck on paper and physical ledgers.Building an end-to-end digital lending system, from licensing to collection.Bootstrapping from RM100k and pivoting from project fees to SaaS.How Arkmind uses client data to build custom AI credit scoring engines.Targeting 40% annual growth and expanding into Islamic loans and BNPL.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.