DNA Mapping, also known as DNA sequencing or genetic profiling, can provide actionable insights and help individuals identify genetic predispositions to certain diseases and health risks and to take proactive steps towards prevention. With that, Dyna Medical has introduced DynaDNA, Malaysia’s microarray technology DNA test kits, and Dyna App, a free-to-use digital gateway to improving users’ health and knowledge.
The DynaDNA test kit is a DNA test kit that is fully made in Malaysia. With just a simple saliva sample, over 500 genetic tests can be accurately conductes producing results for over 150 traits across 10 separate profiles, including those for heart and vascular health, genetic health conditions and disorders, brain conditions, and allergies and food sensitivity.
Mr. Martin Low Wink Keng, managing director of Dyna Medical, emphasised that by making DNA test kits more accessible, individuals will be empowered to make informed decisions about their own health and wellbeing. He gave the example of those who are concerned by the possibility of genetic diseases, such as thalassemia. A DNA test can make them aware of their risk of inheriting those diseases and allow them to make any necessary preparations or lifestyle changes.
He also spoke on the benefits of DynaApp, an integrated wellness platform that puts the power of personalised healthcare in the individual’s hands.
The free-to-use digital platform lets users view their DNA test kit results instantly, and at their convenience, allow users to book a consultation with qualified DynaDNA-partnered health professionals to explore their test results or to plan the next step of their health journey. Users can also purchase health and wellness products through the app’s built-in e-commerce feature.
Future developments for the app include access to a range of wellness services, including spa treatments and facials, as well as travel packages to notable wellness retreats. By making these products and services readily available to users, DynaApp is committed to understanding and addressing their unique needs and concerns and aims to help them achieve a healthy and holistic lifestyle.
Digital content creator and mother of three Iman Azman shared about her experience using the DynaDNA test kit at the launch. Also present was Dr. Hans Jeffry, a Dyna Medical medical product specialist, where he explained how DNA genetic profiling is able to provide actionable insights for one to take preventive measures for his or her own health and wellbeing.
It is Dyna Medical’s commitment to addressing the unique needs and concerns of the wellness community that has led the company to partner with KL Wellness City to host the launch of DynaDNA and Dyna App. As Southeast Asia’s first 360-degree wellness hub, KL Wellness City is a fully integrated township built around the concepts of medical care, healthcare, wellness and fitness, and shares in the principles of prioritising personal health knowledge.
Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara (THKD), the flagship hospital of TMC Life Sciences Berhad has become the first hospital in Southeast Asia to administer Spinraza, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The recipient of the treatment is a 5-year-old Sarawakian child, who has been diagnosed with SMA since birth.
This first initiative is part of THKD’s collaborative CSR program with ‘One Hope Charity & Welfare’ to provide treatment for a period of two years. The procedure was performed by consultant paediatric anaesthesiologist Dr Foo Sze Yuen in the presence of consultant paediatrician & paediatric neurologist Dr Sangita Dharshini Terumalay.
Dr Sivakumaran Jayaram, chief operating officer (Clinical) of THKD (fourth from left); Dr Foo Sze Yuen, consultant pediatric anaesthesiologist (fifth from left)
THKD CEO Nadiah Wan has said that THKD is proud to be at the forefront of this advancement in paediatric care. As TMC Life Sciences Berhad is a leading women and children’s healthcare group, THKD is dedicated to achieving new milestones in paediatric and women’s health, as demonstrated in their commitment as a participating hospital in the MySpin Patient Assistance Programme for SMA patients.
“The administration of intrathecal Spinraza is a testament to our pursuit of excellence, in line with our focus on women and children services as we move into more paediatric sub-specialties. With Spinraza, we can significantly improve the quality of life for children battling SMA. Its introduction into our treatment protocols empowers us to deliver even more targeted and effective care, elevating the standard of paediatric medicine and instilling hope in families facing this challenging genetic disorder. It is also a manifestation of our vision of helping people lead healthier lives by making healthcare accessible, accountable and sustainable.”
Dr Sangita said the administering of Spinraza in the hospital ushers in a new era of hope and enhanced care for children. “My primary objective as a paediatrician is to ensure the well-being and recovery of every child entrusted to our care. This certainly represents a milestone in paediatric medicine, offering an effective treatment that will positively impact the lives of affected children.”
Spinraza received US FDA approval in 2016 after a series of trials that showed meaningful benefits in seven clinical trials involving infants and children with SMA, thus becoming the first approved therapy for paediatric and adult patients with SMA. It is administered via injection into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord by a physician with SMA experience. Spinraza works as a disease modifying treatment that targets the underlying cause of muscle weakness in SMA – the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein (Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke).
SMA is an inherited neurological genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system causing the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem not to work properly. It impacts individuals across a range of ages, from infants and children to teens and adults, and with varying levels of severity. It is estimated that one in every 10,000 births worldwide is diagnosed with SMA, an inherited disease, and around one in every 40-50 people globally are carriers of the mutated gene (Source: Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Mutations, Testing, and Clinical Relevance).
Authority Institute’s co-founder and chief marketing strategist Maverick Foo was recently awarded Vistage Malaysia’s Speaker of the Year 2022 —empowering him to join a pantheon of exceptional speakers to have made an impact on Malaysian businesses.
At the recent Vistage CEO Summit 2023 held at the One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Foo was recognised as a thought leader, like past awardees, who shared vital insights about topics they have cultivated a passion for and developed considerable expertise about.
Maverick Foo, Speaker of the Year 2022.
“I am proud to have received this accolade on behalf of Authority Institute. It gives our institution a new boost and the confidence that we’re on the right track,” Foo said. He explained that his firm focuses on providing marketing and business growth consulting to small and medium enterprises.
In his journey to this achievement, Foo worked on focusing to help Vistage Malaysia’s members understand the significance of developing a comprehensive strategy to capture the attention and interest of target customers in their businesses.
“It’s what we call a Customer Attraction Game Plan and this was the winning ticket to being awarded Speaker of the Year, alongside being judged on my performance, community involvement and lifetime achievements,” he added.
Speakers of the Year awardees are invited to speak at Vistage meetings for at least two consecutive years and are scheduled to give a minimum of 30 presentations to Vintage groups. The audience rate speakers after each presentation. Typically, speakers must aim for an average score of at least 8.5 out of 10 in content and delivery, to be considered for the title.
Foo presented at 37 sessions to a total of 32 groups and earned an average score of 8.8 for content and 8.9 for delivery. He was also subjected to vetting by a panel of Vistage staff members who judged his demonstration of Vistage’s core values of trust, caring, challenge, and growth.
“Vistage Malaysia uses the Speaker of the Year Award to recognise individuals who bring significant value to our members. Awardees consistently deliver high-quality, relevant, actionable content, and they represent a model for all Vistage speakers,” the organisation notes.
Authority Institute is the embodiment of consultants and trainers backed by a 40-year cumulative industry experience thus guaranteeing the best possible outcome and most relevant knowledge transfer to its clientele.
“Our uniqueness is emphasised by our capability to complement the training and consulting with signature solution frameworks and software tools. I can say, globally, that no other training and consulting company will deliver training that leaves practical frameworks that can be embedded into an organisation’s business.
“This is followed by post-training coaching programmes that provide practical means to apply all you’ve learned to your everyday business activities,” he said, adding that Authority Institute’s approach to strategic marketing is characterised by focusing on market orientation, customer needs, and value articulation.
This includes identifying new opportunities and ways to refine existing offerings; identifying ways to serve customers better while targeting new segments; assessing current market fundamentals, and identifying opportunities within and externally.
“We also look to identify competitive weaknesses to exploit and look to help you gain lasting competitive advantage in your market. Authority Institute also determines ways for businesses to improve operationally, and assess potential new opportunities to boost sales and profits.
“Authority Institute is always open to collaborating with firms and working towards achieving success across the board,” Foo said.
MP for Bandar Tun Razak, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, officiated the launch of the Digital Niaga Program with over 300 Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs and business owners in an official ceremony held at the International Youth Center in Bandar Tun Razak.
The Digital Niaga Program is built in collaboration with relevant government agencies and banking institutions in order to help local entrepreneurs have easy application to financing facilities and other training programs.
Digital Niaga supported by the Dropee platform is designed to empower local businesses to kickstart their growth. Dropee is Malaysia’s leading B2B e-commerce platform, which aims to simplify the supply chain process for businesses, enabling them to further grow their revenue, especially MSMEs.
Digital Niaga aims to address the challenges faced by small local businesses in obtaining credit from traditional banks to expand their operations, invest in innovation, and thrive in today’s competitive market. With the support of Dropee’s advanced technology and extensive network, Digital Niaga will provide a streamlined process that connects businesses with financial institutions, enabling them to access the funding they need to succeed.
“This program has been especially designed to assist MSME entrepreneurs to manage their business in a more efficient and systematic way”, said Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during her opening speech. “This program will provide market access, credit financing and improved invoicing through digitisation. This will help entrepreneurs to keep up with the growing needs of a rapidly changing digital landscape.”
“Our mission is to empower local businesses and make them a key player in driving the economy’s growth. We believe that access to credit should not be a barrier to success. Dropee, soon to be rebranded as Borong, has developed an easy roadmap that will transform the credit landscape for businesses”, says Aizat Rahim, Managing Director of Dropee.
Dropee offer three key components to support businesses in their journey:
Dropee Direct: A dashboard that easily allows businesses to sell online, track orders and manage inventory in real time.
Dropee Marketplace: A curated marketplace where businesses can explore a range of products for their businesses. This marketplace will enhance supplier relationships, enabling businesses to make informed decisions based on their unique needs.
Dropee Credit: Applicable businesses are able to buy now and pay later with credit terms. This allows businesses to access a range of products without straining their existing budget.
Digital Niaga is set to innovate the way that local businesses have access to financing, paving the way for local businesses to be the heart of their communities.
Exclusive updates and information about the partnering financial institutions will be available to those who pre-register their interest at www.digital-niaga.com.
About Dropee
Dropee is a B2B e-commerce solution provider that helps brands, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers grow their wholesale business confidently by making it easy for their customers to order the right products from them, in-person and online. Founded in 2017, Dropee is headquartered in Malaysia and has an office in Singapore offering a wide range of e-commerce solutions for businesses. Visithttps://www.dropee.com/ to bring your wholesale business online.
Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia (SC) hari ini mengumumkan pelancaran FIKRA ACE, inisiatif fintech dalam membangunkan ekosistem pasaran modal Islam (ICM) dengan memudahcarakan pembangunan fintech Islam melalui pendekatan berstruktur.
FIKRA ACE merupakan inisiatif tiga tahun yang dipertingkatkan berikutan pelancaran program pemacu teknologi kewangan (fintech accelerator) Islam sulung SC – FIKRA, pada Mei 2021.
Melalui pendekatan pemacu tunggal, FIKRA ACE kini terdiri daripada tiga komponen:
a) Accelerator yang merupakan program pemacu bertumpukan penyelesaian Islam; b) Circle, platform rangkaian untuk menghubungkan pihak berkepentingan berkaitan pasaran modal Islam dan industri fintech dan; c) Excel, platform kerjasama dengan institusi pengajian tinggi untuk pembinaan kapasiti
Inisiatif ini akan mengenal pasti syarikat dengan penyelesaian fintech untuk memupuk, mengembangkan dan berhubung dengan ekosistem ICM dalam pelbagai segmen. Inisiatif ini juga bertujuan untuk menyokong ruang fintech Islam dengan membina kapasiti dan saluran bakat untuk industri.
Bagi kohort 2023, tiga bidang tumpuan FIKRA ACE ialah kewangan sosial Islam, pelaburan mampan dan bertanggungjawab (SRI) patuh Syariah dan pengurusan dana dan kekayaan Islam.
Pengerusi SC Dato’ Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin berkata: “Malaysia mempunyai keupayaan untuk mengekalkan ekosistem teknologi kewangan Islam yang berkembang maju dengan memanfaatkan kepimpinan globalnya dalam pasaran modal Islam.” “Ketika kita menyaksikan pertumbuhan dan inovasi yang luar biasa dalam fintech Islam, kita diingatkan tentang potensi yang dimilikinya untuk industri kewangan Islam dan ekonomi global yang lebih luas,” katanya.
Pada tahun 2021, urus niaga fintech Islam di negara Pertubuhan Kerjasama Islam (OIC) berjumlah USD79 bilion. Walaupun ini mewakili 0.8% daripada volum transaksi fintech global, segmen ini diunjurkan berkembang kepada USD179 bilion menjelang tahun 2026, iaitu pada kadar pertumbuhan tahunan terkompaun (CAGR) 17.9%1.
FIKRA ACE dianjurkan dengan kerjasama Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) sebagai rakan kongsi ekosistem dan strategik. Program accelerator untuk kohort 2023 dijangka bermula pada bulan Ogos.
Syarikat dengan penyelesaian fintech yang inovatif dijemput untuk mengemukakan permohonan, yang dibuka sehingga 4 Ogos 2023. Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai komponen-komponen FIKRA ACE, sila layari https://www.sc.com.my/fikra-ace. Untuk pertanyaan, sila rujuk ke fikraace@seccom.com.my.
Mengenai Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia
Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia (SC), sebuah badan berkanun yang melapor kepada Menteri Kewangan, ditubuhkan di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Sekuriti 1993. Ia merupakan agensi kawal selia tunggal bagi pengawalseliaan dan pembangunan pasaran modal. SC mempunyai tanggungjawab langsung untuk menyelia dan memantau aktiviti institusi pasaran, termasuk bursa dan rumah penjelasan, dan mengawal selia semua individu yang dilesenkan di bawah Akta Pasaran Modal dan Perkhidmatan 2007. Maklumat lanjut mengenai SC boleh didapati di laman sesawangnya di www.sc.com.my. Ikuti SC di twitter di @SecComMy untuk perkembangan terkini.
In this day and age, we have come to depend greatly on air conditioner to cool down the environment, especially our offices and homes. Especially in this hot weather, it seems like we have to turn it on more often than not – the entire time we are working and while we are in the comfort of our homes.
This will ultimately cause our electricity bill to be on the high side, and it is also not good for the environment as well. Smart Investor interviewed Brice Degeyter, General Manager of Bizsu, to find out more about their mission to help company’s save energy and costs.
Brice Degeyter, General Manager of Bizsu
Smart Investor: What is Bizsu and what are you set out to do?
Brice Degeyter: I founded Bizsu in 2019 to help make decarbonization easy for businesses. We do this by helping companies cut down very simply what consumes 60% of a company’s energy and operating costs on electricity: Air Conditioning (AC).
The truth is AC units have become an essential part of modern life, but this simple refrigeration technology has remained relatively unchanged since its creation in the 1920s. As climate change effects like rising temperatures and heat waves encourage more AC use, the increase in energy needed to cool us down could easily accelerate climate change.
So therefore, any effort on cutting down air cond bills, can also help save the planet!
SI: How does your product work to reduce air conditioning bills?
BD: Our product helps users save on average around 25% in energy consumption using a patented natural ceramic air conditioning filter technology.
It’s really based on physics and how air conditioning works. In the traditional air conditioner that we have at home, the air is sucked in at the top, goes through the aircon unit, and then comes back down to cool a room. The air that is sucked contains moisture. We then insert our Bizsu net inside the unit.
This breaks down the air water molecules going out of the aircon. This way, the surface area of the room is covered faster, so the AC stops faster. So you end up using less energy, and that means lower electricity bills.
We have done lab tests and recorded, on average, 25%, consistently. Variables include the type of air conditioning unit, the type of room, and how the thermostat is set up, as well as the function of the room. Data centres for example, may require higher cooling compared to an office or university lecture hall, and the savings, therefore, may be quite different – with savings of anything from 8% to 50%.
We’ve seen similar results from on-site installations at client sites as well.
SI: What is your customer base currently?
BD: We currently work with around 35 large companies. We have been securing between two to four new clients every month – and of late, it’s been more like two new clients every week.
Today, more companies come to us instead of us reaching out to them which was the case two years ago. Most of our business today has been through referrals – or word of mouth – as our clients see the savings in their energy consumption bills almost immediately.
SI: How has your revenue growth been since starting out?
BD: We’ve been growing by roughly 10X every year since the beginning, so 1,000% over the past 3 years. We are targeting to end 2023 at around RM7 million in revenue.
SI: Can this innovative product be installed only in new HVACs? Is there an optimum size for 25% energy efficiency to be realised?
Our solution can work on any type and any size of air conditioner. Variables include the type of air conditioning unit, the type of room, and how the thermostat is set up as well as the design and function of the room.
SI: Are there particular industries / building types that would easily benefit from this? Can they run a pilot?
BD: Absolutely! We now work with many large real estate companies. We joined the Capital Land Sustainability Challenge two years ago and from this we did a pilot of our solution in some of their buildings which gave them 51% savings in their electricity costs. They called us “magicians” and we have been implementing our nets in more buildings.
We hope to work with more real estate developers and real estate owners as well – particularly to run a proof of concept in Malaysia in the next few months. A pilot might start at around RM10,000 which is relatively cheap just to start with, and depending on the size of the floor or room that the company has, they can easily recognise savings in the millions.
We have the capacity to equip around 10 big buildings every month – from data centres, offices, hotels, warehouses, learning institutions and more. So the installation work is quite efficient as well without disruption to the business operations. We can complete a 30-floor office building in one day.
That said, gaining customer trust is very, very crucial. At the beginning there were just very few people who thought that something this simple could save 25% on energy bills and with a 20 year warranty sounded too good to be true. But our customers have proven that it is!
SI: How easy is it to install and maintain this new technology? What’s the warranty period?
BD: No modifications are required for the AC unit or for electricity to be switched off during installation. Bizsu’s CONTINEWM® Nets can be installed above the filter at the air return of the AC unit and it is ready for use.
We recommend dusting off the nets with a dry cloth whenever your AC servicing takes place. Best of all, CONTINEWM® has a 20-year warranty.
SI: How are you expanding into Malaysia and how is the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI) assisting you in this regard?
BD: MRANTI has helped us raise product awareness and introduce us to prospective clients and bigger companies in Malaysia. Having a government agency supporting us through this programme helps open doors.
Right now we are present in Malaysia, we are present in Singapore and we are focused as well in Taiwan.
Main funding sources and funding rounds
In terms of funding, we mainly talk to angel investors or family offices who can really help us grow in a country or in various countries. We raised a pre-seed of RM1 million, now we’re raising seed of RM1.8 million by Q3 this year.
We are already profitable as of today, and the goal is to stay there. The goal is just to keep increasing the number of clients that we can serve and remain profitable.
SI: What are some key growth opportunities and challenges ahead?
BD: We have an objective to help our clients save 1,000,000 tonnes of CO2 within the next five years. We have just started acquiring customers and the potential is huge as we can serve many sectors – real estate, hospitals, schools, hotels, data centres, residential complexes, malls and more!
The transportation sector is an area we are potentially exploring. How cool would it be if we can have it in the metro trains, buses, cars, including in electric vehicles! I believe there will be more climate-friendly solutions in our hands that help us have a much bigger impact than what we can do today.
SI: Tell us about the Hummingbird in your logo?
BD: One day, there was a fire in the forest. And all of them but the hummingbird leave the forest. Instead, he goes and picks up a drop of water in the lake and drops it into the fire. All the animals look and ask: “What are you doing? You really think you’re going to stop the fire just on your own?” The Hummingbird says, “No, but at least I do my part.”
Bizsu’s goal is to do our part in decarbonising the economy and reducing the impact of climate change. What we will do in five years will be towards this, trying to do more. I believe there will be more solutions that help us have a much bigger impact than what we can do today.
What will that be, exactly? The future can only tell.
Cloud-based retail management software company, Web Bytes Sdn Bhd, today announced that it has launched the Xilnex Retail Tech Experience Center in Malaysia within its own café named ‘Wonders’. The Center showcases a comprehensive suite of Xilnex retail solutions for brick-and-mortar shops, while offering a fully functional café experience to visitors.
Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO of Web Bytes Sdn Bhd said, “By having a tech experience center installed within a real-life café and retail shop, retailers can witness the power of Xilnex’s retail solutions in action and this can provide them with the firsthand experience of leveraging the right technology towards transforming their retail business, also supporting the growing trend of hybrid stores that combine shopping and dining. In addition, we will use the Center to pilot and validate new customer experience (CX) models as well as use it as a testbed for our new retail technologies, to develop practical real-world applications and use cases”.
Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO of Web Bytes Sdn Bhd explaining how the Retail Tech Experience Center is the first of its kind in Malaysia
Located at PJ Midtown, the Retail Tech Experience Centre is designed to offer retailers an immersive experience where they can interact with Xilnex’s latest technologies in a real retail environment, beyond just simulations or mock demos. Deployed within Wonders Café are a range of Xilnex’s flagship solutions specifically for food and beverage (F&B) retailers such as the Xilnex Self-service Ordering Kiosk, Xilnex iPad POS, Xilnex Restaurant Queue Management System, Xilnex Kitchen Display System and the Xilnex Live Rack, which is an automated food pickup smart rack with built on sensors, to ensure a seamless prepare and serve experience from kitchen to customer.
Also showcased are retail tech innovations such as the Xilnex Self-checkout Kiosk and the Xilnex Live Display, a retail shelf with a built-in RFID reader that offers an interactive and informative experience, enabling shoppers to access detailed information about products on a hi-fidelity screen simply by scanning the RFID tags.
Ken Phua, Deputy President of Malaysia Retailer Chain Association sharing insights on the retail market in Malaysia
Malaysia Retail Chain Association Deputy President, Ken Phua commended Web Bytes for their innovative approach of having a tech experience center for retailers integrated with its own fully operational retail store and café, as this not only underscores Web Bytes’ commitment to understand the needs and challenges faced by retailers but also serves as a catalyst to empower retailers to embrace new technologies, enabling them to thrive in an ever-evolving and demanding retail landscape.
The Retail Tech Experience Center also houses a fully equipped conference room to facilitate training sessions, workshops, and seminars, to help Web Bytes’ retailer customers and partners enhance their understanding of Xilnex’s solutions and leverage the latest technologies of predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, innovative payment channels and more.
Ooi added, “Growing together with our customers is at the heart of our philosophy. We see ourselves as more than just a software and service provider; we strive to be a trusted advisor and strategic ally. We will continue to invest in enhancing our solutions and services, aligning them with the ever-evolving demands of the industry”.
Web Bytes’ retailer customers include food and beverage brands like ZUS Coffee, Gigi Coffee, Tacobell. Bubble Bee as well as retailers like The Body Shop, Eco-Shop and Sunway MultiCare Pharmacy. Xilnex’s POS solutions are also used in all international airports in Malaysia.
Officiating the launch of Xilnex Retail Tech Experience Center (from L-R): with Lee Kah Hin Jerry, Chief Investment Officer of GD Express Bhd; Ken Phua, Deputy President of MRCA and Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO of Web Bytes Sdn Bhd
About Xilnex and Web Bytes Sdn Bhd
Web Bytes Sdn Bhd, a software development company that is 38% owned by GD Express Carrier Bhd (GDeX), specializes in software solutions for retail and food and beverage industries. The company’s core product is Xilnex, a cloud-based, point-of-sales (POS) retail management solution. Since 2015, Xilnex has expanded its presence beyond Malaysia to Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Canada and Australia.www.xilnex.com
About Wonders Café and Xilnex Retail Tech Experience Center
Wonders Café was first conceptualized more than ten years ago as an imaginary café to serve as a testbed for Xilnex POS solutions. Throughout the years, the imaginary retail shop has served as a valuable tool to enable hundreds of software engineers at Web Bytes to develop and test Xilnex software solutions. Today, Wonders Café has materialized to become a real brick-and-mortar café and retail store while functioning as a Retail Tech Experience Center, to showcase Xilnex latest technologies in a real retail environment. With a tagline of ‘Crafting Wonders’, the café and Retail Tech Experience Center will continue to serve as a sandbox for Xilnex new retail technologies including artificial intelligence, predictive analysis, advanced payment solutions and more. www.wonders.my
Youbuy Online Sdn Bhd (Youbeli) inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) recently with the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) to promote the Sell to Indonesia via Blibli Package.
The collaboration between both parties presents a new opportunity for them to engage in joint cooperation and collaboration. They will contribute their respective knowledge, expertise, resources, and technical capabilities to promote and support the ‘Sell to Indonesia Cross Border package. The MOA also outlines their commitment to executing and undertaking this collaboration in accordance with this Agreement to promote the initiatives of HDC’s Halal Integrated Platform (HIP), Youbeli.com, and Youbeli Malaysia Official Store on Blibli.com.
The HIP will be the one-stop online platform to connect industry players in the Halal market. This platform aims to enhance business transactions within the ecosystem, fostering a thriving business environment and enhancing the Halal ecosystem better. It includes services such as Halal Parks, the Halal Training Institute, Halal Consultancy and Advisory, and the Halal Knowledge Centre.
Joint Endeavor for Market Expansion: Youbeli and HDC Establish MOA, Unlocking Potential in Indonesia
Through this partnership, Youbeli and HDC will facilitate suppliers to be onboarded as Youbeli Merchants and register as HIP members. Both parties will also provide an opportunity for Halal Industry players to have a brand presence in the Indonesian market through Cross Border eCommerce and with future expansion plans into B2C trade with the aid of sales and marketing channels.
Under the terms of the MOA, HDC among others, will develop a targeted marketing campaign for the program to HIP’s more than 10,000 members and other Halal Industry players including leveraging HDC ground activation with Halalpreneurs. To assist the efforts, HDC will identify and recommend any relevant HIP services offered by strategic partners and opportunities from both private and government sectors to support the initiatives.
Youbeli will provide technical, logistics, marketing, trade, and settlement support for all products and services provided by Youbeli and Blibli.com to more than 5,000 merchants with the aim to help local sellers in expanding their business to the Indonesian market. This cross-border package will enable merchants to gain transactions without a physical presence in Indonesia, with the help of marketing capabilities by Youbeli and Blibli.com. By availing of this package, merchants can list their products on Indonesia’s top general marketplace, Blibli.com, and seamlessly manage their operations through Youbeli Seller Center. Additionally, the package offered also includes a complimentary warehouse storage service up to 6 months and international logistics to Indonesia.
The MOA signing ceremony took place at SIDEC and was signed by Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of HDC, and Youbeli Chief Executive Officer, Chua Khai Suan.
Unlocking Opportunities: Chua Khai Suan CEO of Youbeli and Hairol Ariffein Sahari CEO of HDC Foster Growth through MOA
QUOTE FOR HDC
“The collaboration aims to pave the way for its halal integrated platform (HIP) and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to perform cross border e-commerce export such as Indonesia,” said HDC CEO, Hairol Ariffein Sahari.
“We hope through today’s MOA, there will be further increase in the amount of Malaysian halal products exported to Indonesia since it is one of the main export destinations of our local halal products,” he added.
QUOTE FOR YOUBELI
“This collaboration will create opportunities for Malaysian businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape, leveraging the ‘Sell to Indonesia’ package, a strategic partnership between Youbeli.com and Blibli.com,” said Chua Khai Suan, Youbeli CEO.
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Youbeli as we continue to champion the growth and success of Malaysia e-commerce business,” he added.
About Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC)
HDC is a government agency that spearheads the development of Malaysia’s integrated and comprehensive halal ecosystem with a vision to make halal the first choice in business ventures.
About Youbuy Online Sdn Bhd
Youbuy Online Sdn Bhd (Youbeli) is a premier multi-category online marketplace in Malaysia, that aims to help local sellers to expand their business to the Indonesian market with hassle-free solutions.
Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (“EXIM Bank”) today unveiled its EXIM Go-Export Financing programme (GEFP 2023) that provides financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporate clients, enabling them to invest and grow in the areas of export development, green technology and supply chain ecosystem. GEFP comprises three (3) programmes known as EXIM Go-SMExport, Go-Export ACE, and Go-Export GreenTech.
Seen as a catalyst for businesses, these financing programmes will enable SMEs and corporate clients to grow their business, obtain funds for cashflow requirements, or expand in strategic green-tech and/or other tech sectors.
During the launch, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz said: “The fast-changing global landscape requires SMEs to be agile and responsive to key themes such as ESG and IR4.0. As SMEs form the backbone of our economy, they deserve all possible support to make them future-ready. EXIM’s financing for export development, green technology and supply chain ecosystem are welcome solutions to SMEs’ most common challenges. When our SMEs are better-equipped to take on challenges related to funding, tech adoption and ESG, they will not only secure their growth path, but also become more resilient for global supply and value chains.
EXIM Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Ismail said: “Our aim is to support SMEs and corporate clients build a successful export business. The EXIM Go Export programme is a tailor-made banking solution that prioritises the needs of our customers and ensures our offerings align with their specific exporting business requirements. In supporting business communities develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed; we are helping them grow – and that fulfils our mandate.”
EXIM Go-SMExport is created to support and strengthen SMEs’ production capacity and capabilities to enter the global market, while Go-Export Anchor Company Ecosystem (ACE) is a supply chain solution to facilitate anchor companies in building and maintaining a resilient ecosystem and improve business continuity of their suppliers and vendors. Vendors get quick access to funds and anchor companies enjoy greater flexibility in credit terms. EXIM Go-SMExport and Go-Export ACE is open to all sectors, particularly electrical and electronics, digital economy, pharmaceutical, aerospace and chemicals, in line with Malaysia’s National Investment Aspirations and New Investment Policy.
EXIM Go-Export Green Technology (GreenTech), on the other hand, is a comprehensive, sustainability-driven financing programme designed to help exporters grow by investing in strategic sectors such as automation, digital tech, green tech and biotech.
EXIM Bank also offers a takaful protection scheme to help Bumiputra exporters expand their markets and protect them from the risk of unpaid credit. Through collaboration with TERAJU, the contribution for this takaful policy will be subsidised for eligible Bumiputra companies. This is yet another initiative by EXIM to encourage the global expansion of Bumiputra companies.
At the programme launch, EXIM Bank also formalised its collaboration with Etiqa General Takaful Berhad and Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Berhad (SJPP) through the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU).
The first MoU with Etiqa General Takaful Berhad is to strengthen the cross-selling of general takaful products and financing facilities to promote domestic and export-oriented production.
The MoU with SJPP, on the other hand, is to strengthen their existing collaboration in implementing financing facilities, guarantee schemes on domestic and export-oriented propositions, including programmes related to financing, guarantees or advisory.
EXIM Bank was represented by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Ismail, witnessed by Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz and EXIM Bank’s Chairman Dato’ Azman Mahmud. Etiqa General Takaful Berhad was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, who was witnessed by its Head of Enterprise Corporate, Asmah Daud; while for SJPP, the signatory was its Principal Officer, Chen Yin Heng, with its Senior General Manager, Azlan Mohd Agel, as witness.
Amongst the other entities present at the event were MIDA, MATRADE, SIRIM, MARii, HDC, TERAJU, Malaysian Exporter Academy and Dewan MyGerak Eksport Malaysia.
About EXIM Bank of Malaysia Berhad
The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) was incorporated on 29 August 1995 and is wholly-owned by the Government of Malaysia. The Bank has assisted a diverse range of Malaysian business in various sectors in their global ventures. EXIM Bank takes pride in meeting its mandated role of stimulating and enhancing the competitiveness of Malaysian industries for exports and investments globally via the provisioning of internationally and domestically competitive banking and insurance products and advisory services. The Bank also offers Shariah-compliant financing and Takaful instruments. For more information, visit www.exim.com.my.
In Malaysia, 2.97-kilo tonne of paper waste is sent to landfills daily. This could fill Petronas Twin Towers, the Malaysian landmark skyscrapers, in 45 days! This has resulted in more greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), pollution and scarcity of land to accommodate an ever-increasing demand for space for landfill construction.
There’s a new force in town that is founded by a group of enthusiastic packaging material experts, that aims to tackle global warming and environmental pollution by reintroducing residual paper liner from the label packaging industry back into the value chain as recovered cellulose pulp.
This will prevent the valuable paper liner residues from ending up in landfills and focuses on recovering the cellulose pulp as raw material, which meets the need of local paper manufacturers. Materials In Works (MIW) has gained acknowledgement from the United Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Smart Investor got in touch with John Ooi, Technical Director & Co-Founder of Materials In Works (M) Sdn Bhd to learn more about them and their mission.
John Ooi, Technical Director & Co-Founder of Materials In Works (MIW)
Smart Investor: Could you provide an overview of Material In Works (MIW) and its mission in the ESG industry?
John Ooi: MIW executes several upcycling projects in the ASEAN region. With their innovative solution for paper liner wastes which aims to tackle major challenges of our time associated with landfills and greenhouse gases, the Malaysia-based start-up has gained acknowledgement from the United Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
On top of that, MIW has followed the call from Ecothon, which is searching for entrepreneurs or startups that adopt SDG 12 aspects in their sustainable business model, reducing environmental impact and substitution of essential product ingredients hindering recycling into account. As a result, the start-up with a tech-based solution for paper liner wastes has been crowned as the Champion in Ecothon Malaysia 2021.
SI: What specific environmental, social, and governance challenges does your startup address?
JO: MIW addresses one of the 3 main pillars of ESG, Environmental.
MIW have an IP-backed treatment process that recovers cellulose back into raw material for paper manufacturers, it helps in diverting the valuable waste from ending up in landfill sites. This is mutually beneficial for the environment and the paper industry, as price and availability of raw material are key concerns for players.
By recovering 60% of paper liner wastes in Malaysia, MIW can save 54,600 Trees from being cut down, which is equivalent to offsetting 10,920t of CO2 emissions per year. As such, with the proprietary upcycling solution, MIW can reduce CO2 emissions by 79%, in comparison to conventional landfill disposal methods.
SI: How does your business model integrate sustainability and social responsibility?
JO: MIW adopts a sustainable business model whereby MIW’s core principle of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is to tackle climate change for the betterment of the 3Ps (People, Planet and Profit). The adoption involves decoupling economic growth from environmental degradations, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable lifestyles; do more and better with less – “Less is More”. In summary, with the involvement of SCP startups like MIW in the value chain, we catalyze business transformation, in which new products with lower environmental footprints are created for bigger profit, and the benefit would go to the consumers, as they can enjoy making sustainable choices during their purchase for an environmentally friendly product.
SI: Can you elaborate on the positive impact your startup aims to create in the ESG space?
JO: Here you go:
SI: What sets your startup apart from other players in the ESG industry?
JO: The label packaging industry is a mass market producing substantial paper liner waste. In Europe, it attracts many local recyclers / upcyclers to tackle the waste and generate profit from it. Among the recyclers / upcyclers the identical ones are: Reculiner, Cycle4green, Les Recyclades and they are only focused on Europe region. To date, there are no competitors present in the ASEAN region, and the wastes are handled mostly by conventional landfill disposers.
In ASEAN region, MIW position ourselves distinctively with proprietary upcycling technology and processes that produce high quality recovered cellulose pulp as a raw material for paper products manufacturers. The initiative is effectively diverting the valuable paper liner waste from ending up in landfills.
SI: How do you measure and track the ESG performance of your startup?
JO: At the start, the ESG data will be self-measured by MIW. This includes benchmarking with relevant industries, referring to ISO standards, etc. At a later stage, MIW will track and measure ESG performance with confidence via utilizing an independent 3rd party firm by effectively transforming ESG commitments and data into transparent reports for the stakeholders.
SI: What milestones have you achieved so far in terms of sustainability and social impact?
JO: In the year 2021, MIW won as the champion in Ecothon Malaysia SDG 12 Program organized by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative, Korea Ministry of SME and Startup, ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC), Hanns Seidel Foundation, Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research (CEDAR).
Few more remarkable achievements made in year 2022:
Top 10 in Youth Co: Lab Malaysia Cohort Program, co-created by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation
Top 5 in Environmental NGO Accelerator Programme, organized by Biji-biji Initiative and supported by Yayasan Hasanah
Top 5 in MYStartup Pre-accelerator Programme Cohort 1, a national project initiated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and developed by Cradle Fund
Best Regional Impact Startup in International ISC3 Innovation Challenge for an innovative solution to solving an issue that is particularly relevant to ASEAN region
SI: How much funds are you seeking to raise through this fundraising exercise in collaboration with Beyond4 Fund 1?
JO: RM2 million. The governance structure implemented by BEYOND4 ensures the funds are spent responsibly to give the most value to the investor. BEYOND4 Fund1 aims to invest in the top startups that have traversed this path and proven themselves. This ensures a deal pipeline of the best and brightest startups that have withstood the trials and tribulations over the previous 18 months from accelerator to seed funding to VC investment, thus increasing the probability of a better return on investments.
SI: What are your plans for utilising the funds raised through fundraising for business expansion?
JO: We are planning to raise RM 2,000,000 whereby 30% will be used for setting up our pilot plant at Johor Bahru, Johor while 18% on OPEX and factory rental, 7% for team hiring and employee welfare, 10% each on IP filling, License and Permit also for marketing expenditures. While the remaining 25% will be used as administration, which includes shared services and platform fees.
SI: How do you ensure transparency and accountability in your operations?
JO: MIW is aiming to secure the ISO standards for transparency and accountability purposes (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.).
SI: Can you provide examples of partnerships or collaborations that have helped drive your startup’s growth?
JO: MIW is working with renown public research institutions and universities professionals in several projects that will bring greater value to the company’s growth
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
– Piloting Upcycling Solution to Tackle on Label Packaging Waste, potentially to capture yearly volume of 3,600 tons of paper liner waste available in Malaysia which translates to MYR 5.0 Million worth of revenue
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
– Recovering Clean PET from Thermal Transfer Ribbon Packaging Waste which had received full payment of MYR 67 K from a Japanese MNC client to start a pre-pilot project (potential to grow into MYR 0.5 Million worth of revenue in a year)
– Recovering Calcium Carbonate (Calcite) from Paper Sludge Waste, a promotion on cradle-to-cradle service for paper products manufacturer
SI: How do you engage with stakeholders, including local communities and investors, in your ESG initiatives?
JO: Through MIW initiative, we ensure that all stakeholders in the ecosystem receive quality waste management service and solution products, most importantly helping them to achieve sustainability goals. The key activities are:
Collect waste
Pick up and handle the waste
Upcycling process
Create new materials as raw material
The benefits are:
Label packaging stakeholders who are contributing substantial paper liner wastes to Malaysia’s landfill sites which resulted in more GHG emissions, pollution and scarcity of land to accommodate an ever-increasing demand for space for landfill construction.
Local communities who is living near to the landfill site
The betterment of the environment for our future generation
SI: What challenges do you anticipate in scaling your business while maintaining a strong ESG focus?
JO: The ESG is the core of our business, we do not find any challenges executing the focus once we trained our people well. We strongly believe implementing ESG principles can provide impactful growth, better retention, loyalty, and performance to our company.
SI: How do you see the future of the ESG industry and the role your startup will play in it?
JO: By participating in ESG principles, we believe it gave our organization credibility and a competitive advantage. Consumers are shaping the future of what brands have to offer, and they want a product with a positive impact. The journey to reduce waste that is going to landfills is one that requires cooperation from all parties, even manufacturing industries. Lately, more companies are inclined to incorporate the circular economy model into their business. MIW is one of the companies that can help. Through our upcycling process, MIW is helping in the reduction of waste that is headed to the landfills as well as being able to become a supplier of green raw materials. This raw material will then be used to create A4 copier paper, tissue paper, food packaging, and more.
SI: Can you share any success stories or case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of your ESG solutions?
JO: Label packaging stakeholders (manufacturers and brand owners) demand for a solution that can repurpose their waste and state they want the organization to be 95% landfill free by 2025. MIW plays an important role in the value chain by demonstrating the capability to upcycle the paper liner wastes into valuable resources such as raw material – Recovered Cellulose Pulp which then can be used to make premium products such as tissue papers, A4 copier paper, cereal box and more.
SI: How do you approach risk management and address potential negative impacts associated with your operations?
JO: MIW has been able to differentiate itself by having our high-quality products processed by IP-backed upcycling technology. We are earning by charging waste collection fees to the label packaging stakeholders at RM 308/ton and via selling recovered cellulose pulp as a raw material at RM 1672/ton. The high-value lignin-free recovered cellulose pulp is expected to fit for making premium products such as speciality papers, tissues and food packaging. The company initiative is supported by universities and research institutions to examine and benchmark the recovered cellulose pulp against virgin pulp with scientifically proven data. The aspiration is to grow with our partners to bring forward green upcycling programs to their clients based on our industrial know-how in the region. Our proven model ensures that all stakeholders in the ecosystem receive quality waste management services and solution products, most importantly helping them to achieve sustainability goals. The key activities are:
Collect waste
Pick up and handle the waste
Upcycling process
Create new materials as raw material
With funds raised from ECF, 30% will be invested into setting up paper liner waste upcycling plant, MIW is scaling the proprietary technology developed in the lab into pre-industrial scale which will attract the early adopters on board by Q3 2023.
The goal for the ECF round is to prove the technology is scalable and reproducible to upcycle paper liner waste into recovered cellulose pulp. Then, it can be sold as a raw material to make into paper products. The pilot plant is meant to upcycle 125 to 280 tons paper liner waste in a month and achieve financially self-sustaining afterwards.
SI: What strategies do you have in place to attract and retain talent that aligns with your ESG values?
JO: The key members on board have a long term, close relationship with the founder of the company, Mr. Ooi. There will be a financial and non-financial incentive. Financial (monetary) incentives are payments or rewards that are given in exchange for achieving certain goals or targets inclusive of Incentive Stock Option. Non-financial incentives are non-monetary rewards, such as awards, privileges, or recognition.
SI: How do you incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into your startup’s practices and decision-making?
JO: MIW will uphold the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion during our hiring processes. After the ECF round, the company will expand the team by hiring a label packaging industry sales veteran for daily account handling and stakeholder engagement. On the USM side, the company has Dr Leh, who is not only working as a technical advisor but also knows the key personnel (some of them are Dr. students) in the paper industry and the machine supplier herself.
SI: What are your long-term sustainability goals and how do you plan to achieve them?
JO: The company is upcycling the hard-to-recycle item, paper liner waste which currently 100% landfill into recovered cellulose pulp. In return, it brought positive impact towards the environment.
(Output based):
Amount of recovered cellulose recovered and upcycled for commercial use in the last 12 months (e.g. 600 tons)
Number of trees saved from being cutting down (One ton of paper liner is made by 13 trees)
Amount of t of CO2-emission offset produced (One tree is absorbing average 200kg of carbon over its lifetime)
The company’s long-term goals are to remain financially sustainable in the beachhead market, followed by an expansion plan to the rest of ASEAN market which is broader than Malaysia, such as Indonesia and Thailand. The label packaging industry sales veteran will engage actively with the brand owners (such as Nestle and DHL) and label packaging stakeholders who already have footprint in the mentioned countries in ASEAN.
SI: How do you plan to leverage emerging technologies or innovation to further enhance your ESG offerings?
JO: The startup is working on fundraising to scale up its technology to a pilot scale, with a focus on label packaging stakeholders. They are also looking for collaboration opportunities with other paper product manufacturers such as tissues, food packaging, and speciality papers. MIW also works on further improving the paper liner treatment itself, e.g., by reclaiming the silicone used for the anti-adhesive coating on the paper liners. MIW operates mainly in the ASEAN region, with Malaysia as the beachhead market. MIW initiative is supported by industry experts, machinery suppliers and renowned Malaysian public universities. With their innovative solution for residual paper liner reducing the landfill and Green House Gases problems, MIW contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
SI: Lastly, what message would you like to convey to potential investors who are considering supporting your startup’s expansion?
JO: ‘Make A Positive Impact While Backing A Sustainable Mission’
MIW solution ♻️ repurposes paper liner waste into Recovered Cellulose Pulp, creating a valuable resource for paper product manufacturers while diverting waste from landfills.
Investing in MIW means supporting a sustainable business that benefits not only the label packaging stakeholders but also the local communities and the environment for future generations.
