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In 2023 alone, many international coffee chains made their debut in Singapore, notably Indonesia’s <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/840735/kopi-kenangan-coffee-empire-enters-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kenangan Coffee</a>, Canada’s Tim Hortons and China’s <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/822039/luckin-coffee-bounced-back-accounting-scandal-expands-into-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luckin Coffee</a>, spurring the <a href="https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-whats-driving-singapores-coffee-craze-2297136" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coffee craze</a> in the city-state further. 


As the industry becomes increasingly competitive and saturated, smaller coffee startups and chains need to be innovative with their product offerings to ensure long-term business sustainability. 


With that, here are five homegrown coffee brands that are making waves with their one-of-a-kind coffee products. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Prefer </h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="660" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-1024x660.jpg" alt="Prefer bean-free coffee " class="wp-image-854560" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-300x193.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-768x495.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-1536x991.jpg 1536w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-2048x1321.jpg 2048w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefer-coffee-products-150x97.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prefer bean-free coffee grounds and bottled beverages / Image Credit: Prefer</figcaption></figure>


If you thought coffee could only be made with coffee beans, Singapore foodtech startup <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/852851/bean-free-coffee-startup-prefer-us2m-seed-funding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prefer</a> will prove you wrong. 


Founded in 2022 by Jake Berber and Ding Jie Tan, Prefer aims to disrupt the coffee market by offering a new substitute: its “bean-free” coffee, which is created by fermenting excess bread, soy pulp and spent grain. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="418" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-1024x418.jpg" alt="Prefer fermentation bean-free coffee " class="wp-image-854506" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-1024x418.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-300x122.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-768x313.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-1536x627.jpg 1536w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-2048x835.jpg 2048w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Prefers-fermentation-technology-150x61.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prefer’s fermentation process/ Image credit: Prefer </figcaption></figure>


Jake Berber, co-founder and CEO of Prefer, explained that the demand and price of coffee are expected to increase exponentially over the years. However, by 2050, <a href="https://www.iadb.org/en/story/most-unexpected-effect-climate-change#:~:text=Rising%20temperatures%20will%20reduce%20the,become%20hospital%20to%20the%20crop." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">about 50 per cent of the land used to grow coffee will be unable to</a>. 


By leveraging food fermentation, he believes that Prefer can provide an affordable alternative to coffee that does not exacerbate climate change and food waste issues. 


“We believe Prefer is the next generation of the commodity we know as coffee today,” shared Jake. 


Unlike harvesting fresh coffee beans from plantations, which can take months to grow depending on the season, Ding Jie Tan, co-founder and CTO of Prefer, shared that their coffee grounds can be created within 48 hours with their fermentation technology. 


Ding Jie added that Prefer’s coffee grounds are compatible with standard coffee machines. The company has since partnered with various F&B establishments, including Foreword Coffee Roasters and SaladStop!, that want to diversify their offerings for their customers. 


The startup raised US$2 million in seed funding last month and plans to use the funds to expand its production facility and market reach in Southeast Asia. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Crown Digital </h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista.jpeg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Ella robot barista" class="wp-image-854663" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ella-robot-barista-150x100.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ella, the robot barista created by Crown Digital / Image Credit: Crown Digital</figcaption></figure>


Two major ongoing issues faced by the Singapore F&B industry, especially the cafe scene, are high employee turnover rates and operating costs. 


Coupled with the change in dining behaviours caused by the advent of technology and delivery apps, many establishments—including Crown Digital — have turned to automation to address these issues, hoping to increase their <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/764920/crown-coffee-crown-digital-robot-barista-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">profit margins</a>. 


Crown Digital is an Internet of Things (IoT) startup and the brainchild of Singapore’s first robot barista, Ella. 


Keith Tan, the founder of Crown Digital, shared that Ella is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to independently brew 200 cups of coffee per hour, which is about <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/764920/crown-coffee-crown-digital-robot-barista-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four times faster than a human barista</a>. 


In 2021, Ella made her first international appearance in Japan, serving coffee to busy commuters in Tokyo and Yokohama train stations until February 2022. The startup then launched another kiosk at <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/780179/robot-barista-ella-raffles-place-mrt-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raffles Place</a> station soon after. 


Customers can order coffee through the one-stop mobile app and scan their unique QR code, which leads to a “pigeonhole” where they can collect their drinks. As of now, there are seven Ella machines in Singapore, notably at Changi Airport. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. NO HARM DONE</h2>


We often get our kopi—the Malay word for coffee—fix at our local kopitiams or coffee shops. But Simon Lieberum, the German founder of NO HARM DONE, aims to revolutionise our kopi drinking experience with their local-flavoured coffee capsules. 


Coffee capsules were first popular in Western countries and then expanded into the Asia-Pacific region, where they have become the <a href="https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/coffee-capsule-global-market-report#:~:text=Asia%2DPacific%20was%20the%20largest,America%2C%20Middle%20East%2C%20Africa." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fastest-growing market</a>. However, most are packaged in unsustainable materials, leading to a potential extreme rise in <a href="https://www.eco-business.com/news/rise-of-coffee-capsules-stirs-concerns-about-pod-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global pod waste</a>. 


On a mission to provide Asian consumers with <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/853267/no-harm-done-singapore-eco-friendly-coffee-capsule-brand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a sustainable Asian alternative to Western coffee</a> for their capsule machines, NO HARM DONE was launched in 2018 with a bootstrapped capital of S$1,000. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005-1024x536.jpg" alt="NO HARM DONE kopi capsules" class="wp-image-854580" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/No-Harm-Done-Singapore-coffee-capsule-005.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NO HARM DONE coffee capsules/ Image Credit: NO HARM DONE </figcaption></figure>


Simon shared that all ingredients used are sourced from Asia, and their capsules are produced in Singapore. “There is no need for us to ship coffees around the globe when we have great Asian coffees with minimal environmental footprint,” he added. 


NO HARM DONE’s coffee capsules are made with compostable pods and recycled boxes—an idea that was conceptualised after consulting with environmental consultants and industry experts. 


The capsules are sold based on a subscription model in limited amounts to prevent wastage, with each pod costing as low as 54 cents. Their products are also sold in supermarkets and e-commerce sites, including Shoppee and Lazada. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Morning </h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3.jpeg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3.jpeg" alt="morning coffee machine" class="wp-image-854769" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3.jpeg 1000w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-3-150x100.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Morning machine / Image credit: Morning </figcaption></figure>


Another startup with innovative coffee products is <a href="https://www.drinkmorning.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Morning</a>, which created a coffee tech ecosystem for businesses and consumers. 


Simply put, Morning provides a marketplace of the world’s best speciality coffee capsules and launched its coffee machine, Morning Machine, which has precision-brewing features. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine.jpeg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="547" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-854846" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine.jpeg 1000w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine-300x164.jpeg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine-768x420.jpeg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/morning-machine-150x82.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Control settings on Morning’s mobile app / Image Credit: Morning</figcaption></figure>


Leon Foo, the co-founder of Morning, shared that the team borrowed product features from professional coffee equipment to widen the machine’s brewing parameters leveraging IoT, from temperature precision to pressure profiling.


The brand has announced that it will open its first brick-and-mortar store in May 2024 as one of the tenants in hospitality company Lo & Behold Group’s new lifestyle complex, New Bahru. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. MAD coffee</h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee.jpeg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="820" height="1024" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-820x1024.jpeg" alt="MAD Foods MAD Coffee " class="wp-image-855817" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-820x1024.jpeg 820w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-768x959.jpeg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee-150x187.jpeg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MAD-Coffee.jpeg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: MAD Foods via Facebook</figcaption></figure>


As convenience has become a selling point, many coffee chains have introduced ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee products, creating another saturated market within the industry. 


Singapore foodtech startup MAD Foods decided to create its take on the RTD cold brew trend by offering a 100 per cent plant-based and dairy-free canned coffee called <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/839802/mad-foods-coffee-malaysia-plant-based-vegan-dairy-free/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAD Coffee</a> in 2019. 


Unlike many RTD coffees that contain whole milk, MAD’s coffee is entirely made with oat milk sourced from Europe across all three variations: Decaf, Single Shot, and Double Shot. Their coffee cans are also made with BPA and plastic-free aluminium, keeping in line with their image as a sustainable brand. 


The startup entered an exclusive partnership with 7-Eleven for its launch in Malaysia last year. Its products are currently sold in online and offline supermarkets, such as Cold Storage and GrabMart in Singapore. 


<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>


<a href="https://www.anext.com.sg/about?channel_code=MKT-VP-DEPO-ALWAYS_ON-PROSPECTING-BUSINESS_ACCOUNT&utm_source=vp&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=content_vp_startups_biz_acc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANEXT Bank</a>, a Singapore-based digital bank regulated by MAS, empowers startups with easy and accessible financing to fuel their business growth and expansion.


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Featured Image Credits: Prefer, MAD Coffee, Morning, Crown Digital 


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/854666/wake-the-crew-cold-brew-coffee-concentrates-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">They quit their corporate jobs to offer S’poreans a newer way to enjoy coffee—concentrates</a>

Forget the big coffee chains, here are 5 brands championing innovation in S’pore

[Written in partnership with <a href="https://www.chargesini.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChargeSini</a>, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]


Just a couple of weeks ago, <a href="https://paultan.org/2024/04/08/tesla-cybertruck-in-malaysia-stainless-steel-pick-up-ev-on-display-in-showrooms-in-may-not-for-sale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla’s viral Cybertruck</a> had pulled up in Kuala Lumpur, and the hype has been unreal. My timeline’s been plastered by photos and videos of sightings, showing off the edgy, futuristic car from all angles.


This just goes to show that electric vehicles (EVs) are definitely all the rage nowadays in Malaysia.


And crucial to this demand and increased adoption are EV charging point operations. 


ChargeSini is one such operator in Malaysia. We’ve been following the homegrown startup for a while now, so here’s a look back on milestones it has achieved in the past two years, and what’s in store for the journey ahead. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">July 2022: Starting up</h2>


ChargeSini got its start in 2022, established by founder James Goh and his team of co-founders.


An avid car enthusiast, James is also the a co-founder of Raytech window tinting and <a href="https://www.caricarz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caricarz</a>, a vehicle re-commerce listing website for used cars.


Leveraging his past expertise, the “autopreneur” founded ChargeSini to contribute to the growth and development of Malaysia’s EV market.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">October 2022: Beginning the charge</h2>


In October, ChargeSini broke ground with its first charging stations, charging up the business for the rest of its growth.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">April 2023: Forming partnerships</h2>


Fast forward to the next year, the young company began forming strategic partnerships, starting by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sarawak-based e-payment tech company Pay&Go.


The agreement saw ChargeSini and Pay&Go mutually agreeing to collaborate towards boosting EV charging infrastructure.


The same month, ChargeSini also worked with British automotive brand MINI in Malaysia for a branding exercise, establishing the first MINI charging station at The Swan Garden Hotel Melaka.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-858645" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-3.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">May 2023: Bagging it up</h2>


In May 2023, ChargeSini successfully closed their equity crowdfunding round on pitchIN. The local EV charging solutions startup raised RM5.58 million from 74 investors.


At the time, co-founder Nick Leong <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/827266/chargesini-malaysia-electric-vehicle-ev-charging-station-ecf-funding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told Vulcan Post</a> that the fresh funds will be used to procure more EV chargers for the company—a claim that they certainly made good on.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">September 2023: Venturing east</h2>


Later that year, ChargeSini commemorated the launch of their very first EV stations in Sabah. Specifically, they were located at Riverson The Walk, Kota Kinabalu.


This solidified ChargeSini’s dedication to ensuring every part of the country has access to EV charging stations.


In fact, in that third quarter of 2023, the startup managed to install a total of 162 new EV charging ports at 46 locations all over Malaysia.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">October 2023: New partnerships</h2>


In October, ChargeSini signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mydin, the homegrown hypermarket chain all Malaysians know.


Under the MoU, ChargeSini aimed to set up a total of 24 EV charging stations at Mydin outlets nationwide.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-858644" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/malaysia-chargesini-milestones-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


Leveraging the established nature of Mydin, this collaboration worked to promote EV adoption across the country.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">November 2023: Developing Sarawak</h2>


This month marked the launch of ChargeSini’s first EV stations in Sarawak, which is located at The Podium, Kuching.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">December 2023: Ending the year strong</h2>


By the end of the year, ChargeSini boasted a total of 582 Charging Ports. Specifically, they had 464 AC chargers and 118 DC chargers to their name.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">February 2024: Even more partnerships</h2>


Earlier this year, ChargeSini collaborated with Edotco.


For the uninitiated, Edotco is considered (by some) to be one of the three unicorn startups in Malaysia. Specifically, it’s an integrated next-gen connectivity infrastructure services company.  


The goal with this partnership is to install EV charging stations at over 200 potential in-building locations nationwide in the next two years, further widening the network of chargers in Malaysia.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">March 2024: A new way to grow</h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-858646" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-001.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


In March, ChargeSini revealed that it would be adopting a new business model through its “Project Partners”.


This initiative allows for individual investors to buy and own their own EV charging stations, making it a win-win situation for them as well as ChargeSini as they continue to grow.


In conjunction with this new initiative, ChargeSini also started raising its Series A, targeting to raise US$6 million within a timeframe of six months.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">April 2024: Cross-country collaborations</h2>


By April this year, ChargeSini had already established its first EV station in Medan, marking its foray into Indonesia.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-858647" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-002.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


On top of that, ChargeSini announced a collaboration with Charge+, an established integrated EV charging solution provider for Singapore.


With this partnership, they are forming the largest Singapore-Malaysia EV charging network, with more than 2,400 points between the two countries.


By the end of this year, the two aim to increase this to a whopping 4,000 charging points, making them accessible to users of either platform as they travel across the Causeway.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="685" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-858648" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5-300x201.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5-768x514.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image5.jpg 1435w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


And before wrapping up the month, ChargeSini also announced a collaboration with TELD New Energy Co Ltd, recognised as a leading EV charging point operator in China, with an impressive global network of 550,000 charging points. 


Details of the partnership have not been revealed, but it marks an exciting foray into a broader market, signalling future collaborations between ChargeSini and TELD.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The future is all charged up</h2>


Just shy of two years old, ChargeSini has already accomplished quite a number of milestones, playing a part in accelerating Malaysia’s EV landscape.


And it’s definitely not stopping here.


Looking at its past achievements, it’s clear that a large part of ChargeSini’s growth is by way of collaboration. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a whole nation to grow a robust EV industry.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-858653" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Chargesini-malaysia-milestones-003.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ChargeSini</figcaption></figure>


Thus, for the rest of 2024, ChargeSini aims to continue driving its growth through partnerships, continuing its EV installations with Mydin, while working with other companies such as Lotus’s, Econsave, and AEON. 


They also have plans to work with governmental bodies such as the Penang Island City Council to propel EV charging too.


ChargeSini proudly shared that in 2025, plans in store include launching a new urban solution by the name of Energy Storage System (ESS), a 215kWh battery storage system designed for tasks like EV Charging, Peak Shift, Energy Backup, and Demand Response. 


They added that they’re set to manufacture their own AC charger in Malaysia, handling the entire process from design to packing in-house.


With that, ChargeSini aims to have the largest EV charging hub in the country—an achievement we can’t wait to see happen.


<ul>
<li>Learn more about ChargeSini <a href="https://www.chargesini.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about ChargeSini <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/chargesini/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/858076/juniper-networks-ai-improve-company-wifi-network/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How financial institutions & universities are reshaping their network through AI-native solutions</a>


Featured Image Credit: ChargeSini

From closing RM5.58mil to expanding abroad, here’s how ChargeSini has grown in just 2 yrs

Nestled in the heart of Shah Alam lies a sanctuary where time seems to slow down, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the earthy scent of plants. 


That is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gardenagemy/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gardenage</a>, a unique fusion of a plant nursery and a cosy cafe, where lush greenery meets culinary delights.


The story behind Gardenage is as charming as its ambience. A father, a son, and a friend, each with their own expertise and passion, came together during the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic to breathe life into a new venture. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From seed to sip</h2>


Kaiser and his son Miguel founded Gardenage in early 2020, when Kaiser’s events business, The Craftman, took a hit due to the pandemic. Later on, when the business expanded into a cafe, Chua joined forces with them. 


“Chua and I graduated from the same culinary school. He managed to intern at a fine-dining restaurant, <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/855982/sage-restaurant-wine-bar-malaysia-new-menu-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sage</a>, and continued working there for a few years before leaving to help his family’s dai chao restaurant known as Restaurant Sin Chua Kee,” Miguel told Vulcan Post.


“I, on the other hand, interned at Gardens Hotel for six months before transitioning to work for my dad’s events company.” 


The seed of the idea sprouted from Kaiser’s love for gardening. 


Inspired by the concept of indoor plant nurseries, they envisioned a space where people could not only shop for green companions but also unwind with a cup of coffee and a croissant amidst a verdant oasis. Thus, Gardenage was born.


What started as a modest garden centre with a coffee corner soon blossomed into a full-fledged cafe, driven by the growing demand for more substantial fare. 


“We never expected the demand for our food to be so strong, because of the demand we had to sacrifice space for plants to become sitting areas for customers,” he said.


Miguel and Chua, recognising the opportunity, took the reins of the cafe, while Kaiser continued to nurture the plants and curate the greenery that adorned the space.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-859812" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-41-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Gardenage</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Growing with time </h2>


Like a plant that has to persevere through unpredictable environments to face the sun, Gardenage’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. 


But the trio navigated the hurdles with resilience and determination. 


“Lacking confidence and expertise in kitchen operations, we opted for a trial run by opening a stall in a kopitiam at Sri Petaling.”


“After a few more months, we started to get the hang of how things worked and then decided to rent the unit next to Gardenage for the kitchen space,” he shared.


The cafe’s menu, a collaborative effort between Miguel and Chua, boasts an array of culinary delights that have quickly become favourites among patrons. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-859810" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-40-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Gardenage</figcaption></figure>


From the tantalising chicken quarters to the comforting mushroom and leek soup, each dish is served with a dash of innovation.


Their hands-on approach, with just seven team members including the founders, reflects their commitment to every aspect of Gardenage’s operation.


More than the F&B side of things though, Gardenage also offers a range of services tailored to plant enthusiasts, including repotting services and organic pest repellents, alongside small-scale landscaping projects and consultations. 


Kaiser remains the driving force behind these initiatives, showcasing a passion that knows no bounds. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-859811" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-38-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Gardenage</figcaption></figure>


As Miguel put it, “Gardening takes time, it ages like wine.” 


And indeed, with the team’s care, Gardenage has aged gracefully, evolving from a humble idea into a beloved community hub where patrons can indulge their senses and nurture their green thumbs.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brewing a blend of passion and success </h2>


In a saturated cafe scene, Gardenage stands out by offering a unique blend of experiences—a testament to the founders’ dedication to innovation and authenticity. 


“We are trying to sell things no one else is selling, and even if it’s the same thing, we put our own twist to it,” said Miguel.


While the cafe side proves more profitable, the plant nursery remains a labour of love, requiring meticulous care and attention.


Looking ahead, the trio has no immediate plans for expansion, preferring to focus on maintaining the integrity of Gardenage while exploring other business opportunities. 


As the sun sets on another day at Gardenage, casting a warm glow over the foliage and bustling cafe, one thing is clear—this is more than just a business venture. It’s a labour of love and a haven for all who seek solace in the embrace of nature’s beauty and culinary delights.


<ul>
<li>You can learn more about their business <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gardenagemy/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/malaysian-startup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/859678/net-zero-meaning-importance-malaysia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Net zero explained: Why Amazon, Microsoft, & M’sia itself are pledging to be carbon neutral</a>


Featured Image Credit: Gardenage

This Shah Alam plant nursery found accidental success in F&B, now it’s a full-fledged cafe

Fake honey is a huge problem, this M’sian biz addresses it with its farm-to-bottle approach

“In all their expressions, [they] have helped me to develop myself, becoming a more balanced being,” Ng Sze Kiat, the founder of <a href="https://www.bewildersg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bewilder</a>, told us. 


It’s a sweet sentiment that you might attribute to a friend, a family member, or even a loving pet. None of them apply in this case. Instead, Sze Kiat was referring to fungi.


While an odd statement to make, it came from a place of passion and deep understanding of his craft. You see, over a decade ago, he taught himself to grow mushrooms through liquid cultures while living in Istanbul.


But when he tried replicating it upon returning to Singapore, it was failure after failure. The right materials were hard to source and he couldn’t turn to local mycology experts for help because, well, there weren’t any.


Determined, Sze Kiat stuck with his fungi experiments and learnt everything he needed to know about it. Or rather, everything he could at the time. “Working with fungi means that nothing is to be expected, and thus there can be no paths to follow,” he said.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859623" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-2.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


Mushrooms are bewildering in his opinion. They can feed, heal, clothe, and house you, but they can also kill you. There’s a push-pull element with mushrooms that draws him to these enigmatic organisms. 


“They scare people, especially in Singapore. Mushrooms refuse to be categorised and placed into neat little boxes,” Sze Kiat stated. It’s for this very reason that he founded Bewilder in 2019, a one-stop Mycological Design Studio.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spreading the spores in different ways </h2>


Bewilder initially started as a studio offering grow kits, fungariums, educational workshops, and fungi art pieces. Each of these was put forward to help “spread the spores”, so to speak.


Then Sze Kiat quickly saw that there was an opportunity in the culinary segment. Despite mushrooms being a pantry staple in many Singaporean kitchens, a bulk of the gourmet mushroom species used aren’t available here.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859621" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-4.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


This includes huge Lion’s Mane, Yanagi-matsutake, Chestnut mushrooms, and many others. So he began growing and supplying these gourmet mushrooms to restaurants. 


They’re on a grow-to-order model to ensure that chefs get the freshest mushrooms and reduce unnecessary wastage on Bewilder’s end.


Following that, the brand later expanded into the sales of cultures and consultation work for research institutions. This came about very organically due to Sze Kiat’s background and the fact that they’re pioneers in the field.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859726" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-9.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


“As a self-taught mycologist, my years of hands-on experience coupled with my unorthodox approaches translate into solutions that are of value in academia,” he shared.


Besides education, one of his main interests is in medicinal mushrooms and this shows in Bewilder’s offerings as well. The studio carries a large array of them such as Lingzhi and Cordyceps. He’s also looking to provide a full suite of medicinal mushroom related products and services in the near future.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s a labour of love</h2>


But if you’re not into any of these, perhaps <a href="https://www.bewildersg.com/bouquets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bewilder’s fungal bouquet</a> might be more up your alley. There’s a good range to choose from, like wedding bouquets crafted from various Lingzhi to edible ones like their “Bloom of Love” bouquet. The price for these starts from S$88.


The latter is their new special for Mother’s Day featuring colourful mushrooms. Don’t worry, Sze Kiat assured us that they’re indeed safe to consume. In fact, Bewilder’s farms undergo stringent inspections and have received certification from Singapore’s Food Safety agencies.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859624" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-6.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


To create the bouquets, customers get to choose the colour palette and themes they like before the studio begins sketching designs for it. Afterwards, Bewilder will select the species and mushroom strains to grow the bouquets from scratch.


It’s a laborious effort as mushroom cultivation typically goes through six stages:


<ol>
<li>Reviving the mother cultures – Bewilder grows the original fungal cultures they’ve stored to make sure they’re healthy and ready for the next step.</li>


<li>Liquid fermentation – Bewilder takes the healthy fungal cultures and grows them in liquid form to produce a lot of fungal material quickly. </li>


<li>Solid state fermentation – Bewilder sterilises grains and adds the liquid fungal culture to them, allowing the grains to ferment into what’s called “grain spawn”.</li>


<li>Substrate – Bewilder makes their own substrate bags before adding the grain spawn to start the growth process.</li>


<li>Incubation – The substrate bags are put into rooms in controlled temperatures to allow the fungus to spread. This can take up to a month depending on the type of mushroom species.</li>


<li>Fructification – Once the bags are completely filled with fungus, they’re moved to special chambers with the perfect conditions for mushrooms to grow.</li>
</ol>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859625" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


In all stages, Sze Kiat shared that contamination is one of the most challenging problems. Proper aseptic techniques need to be practised in order to ensure biodiversity. 


That said, he advised customers to handle the bouquets gently as some can be delicate. The studio’s “Bloom of Love” edible bouquet can last up to one week when kept refrigerated. 


Each bouquet is bespoke and currently sold for a limited time only. However, with the many requests outside of Mother’s Day, Bewilder is considering adding it to its product repertoire.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">“The key is to adapt to the ebb and flow”</h2>


At the moment, Bewilder operates out of Bukit Merah Central in a 3,500 sq ft facility with a team of five, including Sze Kiat. The founder remains very active in the studio’s day-to-day activities.  


Its retail doors are set to open to the public next year, but for now customers can shop online via <a href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its website</a>.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859626" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-8.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


Its most popular offering so far has been the monthly <a href="https://www.bewildersg.com/workshops-events-1/p/lowtechmushroomcultivation-jbytm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Low Tech Mushroom Cultivation Workshop</a> (S$128). Participants learn to grow their own edible mushrooms at home without the use of lab equipment. 


Speaking openly, Sze Kiat shared that profitability isn’t Bewilder’s success metric, but he’s also realistic in understanding how essential it is to the business.


“We strive to be more climate-positive and sustainable in our practices, and this often translates to higher costs from a monetary perspective. But at what cost, right? Sustainability, circularity, purpose, and a dash of daring are key for Bewilder. The secret is balance,” he stated.


In that light, the studio is modelled after the way mushrooms grow.


”As much as goals help give one a general direction be it business or any other aspect in life, the key is to adapt to the ebb and flow of the business landscape, like how we all do in life. Mushrooms adapt to environs, so too must we.”


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859627" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bewilder-fungi-farm-design-studio-singapore-3.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Bewilder</figcaption></figure>


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Bewilder <a href="https://www.bewildersg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/category/entrepreneur/fnb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/858266/review-airbot-robotic-vacuum-mop-l108s-pro-ultra-features/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Airbot’s new self-cleaning robot vacuum boasts 3 promising features, we test each one out</a>


Featured Image Credit: Bewilder

“Mushrooms scare S’poreans”, so he turns them into funky, functional art to fight those fears

They say ignorance is bliss, and I’m inclined to believe that whenever I try a new piece of tech that is by all means decent, but perhaps just not up to par with all the cooler, top-of-the-line gadgets I have the privilege of trying.


Recently, I’ve been able to try the ChatGPT-integrated <a href="https://my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nothing Ear (a)</a>, which is the brand’s more budget-friendly pair of earbuds.


So, how does it perform, stacked up against the other great earphones I’ve tried in the past?


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Visuals: Nothing less than beautiful</h2>


Keeping true to Nothing’s branding, the Ear (a) features the brand’s signature futuristic yet minimalistic style. I’m a sucker for buds with stems, which makes Nothing’s so charming to me.  


As for the case, compared to the previous squarish shape, this one is more rectangular, opening up like a book. The clear casing does worry me about upkeep, but so far, it’s pretty easy to clean and relatively smudge-resistant.  


Lightweight at 4.8g per earbud, they’re very comfortable to wear. I’ve been able to keep these buds in my ear for hours without feeling any discomfort, but the only downside is that they don’t allow for the snuggest fit.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-860084" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-004.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>


Together with the case, the Ear (a) weighs in at 49.2g, which makes it easy to carry around in your pockets.


Some crevices in the build get dirty quite quickly, which is especially a shame with the white colourway since it shows to easily.


Speaking of colours though, Nothing has introduced a new yellow colourway, which is ideal for those who like a bit of flashiness with their gadgets. For us, though, the white is as classy and timeless as ever.    


The pinch and hold haptics aren’t my favourite, as I prefer a more tactile feel, but I have no complaints about the actual functionality. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Audio: Nothing to complain about</h2>


I’m no audiophile, but having the opportunity to try great earphones such as ones from Jabra is like getting a taste of the forbidden fruit.


Don’t get me wrong, for the average listener, the Nothing Ear (a) is a perfectly capable pair of earphones. To me, though, the sound is a little thinner compared to some other buds I’ve tried.


But by all accounts, it’s a decent pair of earphones. The equaliser works well, with my favourite being the “more bass” option, whereby the Ear (a) enhances low frequencies in your music in real-time, elevating bass-heavy sounds.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-860085" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-002.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>


It features a dynamic 11mm driver, which is ever-so slightly smaller compared to the Ear (2)’s 11.6mm driver. Yet, the sound quality is pretty comparable to the Ear (2) buds, <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/822204/nothing-ear-2-earbuds-review-malaysia-performance-quality-price/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which I reviewed last year</a>.


The ANC is decent, not the most intensive but certainly good enough to keep me sane during rush hours on the train.  


There are three levels of noise cancellation, as well as an adaptive option that can be toggled in the Nothing X app.  


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ChatGPT integration: I’ve got nothing for you</h2>


When they said native integration, I really thought the buds would just organically come fitted with a ChatGPT software you could speak to any time, any day.


Turns out, it’s only compatible with the Nothing Phone 2, and will only come to the Nothing Phone (1) and Nothing Phone 2 (a) down the road. This feature will also be coming soon to Ear (1), Ear (2), and Ear (stick).    


But here’s a quick rundown of what this integration actually encompasses: you can use your voice (or pinch gestures) to access ChatGPT on the Ear (a).  


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-860086" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-003.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>


This first-of-its-kind integration lets users ask, listen, and learn from ChatGPT more easily than ever. The Nothing OS 2.5.5a will also feature bespoke ChatGPT widgets that act as shortcuts to use ChatGPT.


To be honest, this whole integration was not as fanciful as I expected it to be, but it’s certainly a neat feature that aligns well with the tech-forward sort of vision that Nothing personifies.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Everything else</h2>


Other features of the buds to note include its rating of IP54, meaning they’re somewhat water-resistant, but not waterproof.


My favourite thing about the earbuds, though, is their commendable battery life. The buds can last up to 42.5 hours of listening time with the case, and 9.5 hours on a single charge. I’ve used the buds for about a week, on and off, and I genuinely haven’t had to charge it at all.  


With all that said, I would say the Nothing Ear (a) is worth getting if you’ve already bought into the ecosystem.


But of course, the same can be said for Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s Buds. All things considered, with the Nothing X app, the Ear (a) is far more compatible with other ecosystems compared to Apple’s and Samsung’s.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-860082" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nothing-Ear-a-review-malaysia-005.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>


At RM479, I think it’s a great purchase for those who are already using a Nothing phone. But as for people who aren’t using a Nothing phone, you would be missing out on the extra features.


At the same time, though, Nothing has also launched the Nothing Ear, which is separate from the Nothing Ear (1) and Ear (2). At RM659, it’s a little bigger than the Ear (a) and supports wireless charging, but actually sports less battery life.


Looking at the specs and price difference, I’d say the Nothing Ear (a) is my preferred pick. 


<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes">
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pros</th>
<th>Cons</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lightweight, making it very comfortable to wear</td>
<td>Doesn’t offer the most snug fit</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Incredibly long-lasting battery life</td>
<td>Doesn’t support wireless charging </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Relatively affordable price point</td>
<td>The ChatGPT integration is only for the Nothing ecosystem</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Nothing Ear (a) <a href="https://my.nothing.tech/products/ear-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/category/vp-series/vp-verdict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


<a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/vp-verdict" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VP Verdict</a> is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page<a href="https://vulcanpost.com/854859/ocbc-onecollect-cross-border-payments-duitnow-paynow/"></a>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/858076/juniper-networks-ai-improve-company-wifi-network/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How financial institutions & universities are reshaping their network through AI-native solutions</a>

At RM479, the ChatGPT-integrated Nothing Ear (a) is only worth it if you’re in the ecosystem

Working in the healthcare sector, Dr Rafiq has become all too familiar with stories of parents having to leave work as soon as their children catch a cold at their nursery or school.


“It’s a pity that some bosses may have bad impression on these parents,” Dr Rafiq pointed out.


This may be especially concerning because kids do not get ill just once or twice, but multiple times, during their toddler days.


“We think that this can be avoided by treating the child first (of course with the parents’ consent) without having the parent rush from work, disrupting their performance at work,” the doctor said.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-857278" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-003.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</figcaption></figure>


That’s why Dr Rafiq and his business partner, Dr Qayyum, came together to start <a href="https://orioncare.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</a> (Orion).


A concept that combines a healthcare clinic, a preschool, and a childcare centre under one roof, here’s how Orion works.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A three-in-one solution </h2>


Led by Dr Rafiq, Orion Clinic is the flagship healthcare facility that underpins the business. It offers a range of medical services, from routine check-ups to acute treatments.


Then there’s Orion Preschool, which is a licensed school under the Department of Social Welfare. It follows the structure of the National Syllabus, designed to promote children’s learning, development, engagement, and safety. 


Following a Montessori-styled approach, the preschool also offers physical fitness, Mandarin, and Iqra’ classes to ensure holistic development.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-857276" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-004-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</figcaption></figure>


Last but definitely not least is Orion Childcare Centre, which is a licensed childcare centre under the Department of Social Welfare.


Part of this is the nursery, which cares for infants as young as 12 weeks old.


But the main draw of the childcare centre and the pre-school is the fact that there are in-house doctors available. Specifically, Dr Qayyum is the in-house doctor cum principal who can immediately attend to students if they fall ill.


“By bringing together healthcare, preschool, and childcare services in one convenient location, Orion saves families valuable time and energy,” Dr Rafiq explained. “No more juggling multiple appointments and drop-offs.”


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Balancing education and healthcare</h2>


Graduating in 2011, Dr Rafiq started his career as a doctor in Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. After that, he got transferred to a few other hospitals, and lastly, to Hospital Serdang.


In 2019, though, he decided to resign from government service to start his own practice.


“After almost nine years serving the government and harvesting knowledge and experience from the job, I think I was well-equipped enough to have my own private practice,” he said.


He decided to set up shop in Cyberjaya, which he felt didn’t have many clinics still at the time.  


Together with Dr Qayyum, he came up with the idea to create a system where parents feel assured about their children’s safety and health.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-857275" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-0054.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</figcaption></figure>


Believing in his vision, Dr Rafiq borrowed money from his family as well as applied for a loan from Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB). With about RM400k, he and Dr Qayyum started the clinic and the childcare centre.


The two of them, who both got their medical degrees from Moscow, Russia, are the only medical doctors in the establishment.  


Joining them is a total of 15 teachers, who altogether cater to 59 students currently. The teacher-to-student ratio is as such:


<ul>
<li>Infants: 1 to 2.25</li>


<li>Toddlers: 1 to 4</li>


<li>Preschool: 1 to 5  </li>
</ul>


All school teachers and carers possess experience as an educator, Dr Rafiq assured.


While the school is Dr Qayyum’s domain, Dr Rafiq mans the clinic alongside six other staff members.


“They shouldn’t be worried about the kids being exposed to illnesses from the clinic as the clinic and the school are not interconnected,” Dr Rafiq clarified.


This is as the clinic is located on the ground floor while the school side of things is on the first floor. Kids who are unwell and need urgent medical attention will be brought to the clinic by the teachers to be examined and treated by the doctor.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A unique edge</h2>


The main money maker for Orion is the clinic, with 70% of the revenue coming from there, while the remainder is generated by the school.


For the preschool and childcare centre side of things, the pricing starts from RM1,200 per month.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-857279" width="840" height="439" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-001.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</figcaption></figure>


This fee is inclusive of monthly check-ups in the school and gives parents 10% off for every treatment in the clinic. The child’s immediate family members also can enjoy the discount at the clinic.


Believing in the potential of their concept, Dr Rafiq shared that they do have ambitions to expand into other areas, particularly those with a population similar to Cyberjaya.


When I first heard about Orion, I was sceptical about whether they were able to properly balance healthcare and childcare.


Nowadays, young parents seem to care more than ever about early childhood development to ensure they’re setting their kids up for success.


As an example, in the same vicinity as Orion is <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/845610/hei-schools-cyberjaya-finnish-early-education-malaysia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HEI Schools Cyberjaya</a>, which <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/853039/hei-schools-cyberjaya-tour-malaysia-finnish-kindergarten/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">we visited earlier this year</a>. Specialising in Finnish education, I’d say the University of Helsinki-backed pedagogy there is pretty attractive for parents.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-857273" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Orion-Clinic-preschool-childcare-centre-002.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre</figcaption></figure>


However, Orion was founded by doctors, not educators. Are they truly equipped to teach children?


To that, they explained that Dr Qayyum, who is the principal, is focused on managing the school rather than teaching the children. The teaching and caregiving are left to the experts who do have the necessary qualifications and knowledge. 


Where Dr Rafiq and Dr Qayyum shine is in the business and medical side of things, offering parents ease of mind with their wealth of medical expertise.  


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Orion Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre <a href="https://orioncare.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/malaysian-startup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/854859/ocbc-onecollect-cross-border-payments-duitnow-paynow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here’s how OCBC Business is making it easy for M’sian SMEs to offer cross-border QR payments</a>


Featured Image Credit: Orion Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre

This doctor’s Cyberjaya clinic is also a preschool, here’s why this unique combo works

Australian alternative protein company <a href="https://www.eatvow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vow</a> launched its cultivated quail meat, Quailia, yesterday (April 3) in Singapore after receiving regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). 


Under the brand <a href="https://www.forgedbyvow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forged</a>, Quailia is described as an “entirely new cultivated meat” made from the cells of a Japanese quail. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="987" height="829" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait.png" alt="The Forged Parfait Vow " class="wp-image-856474" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait.png 987w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait-300x252.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait-768x645.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-forged-parfait-150x126.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Forged Parfait / Image Credit: Vow</figcaption></figure>


According to an article by <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s-pore-approves-lab-grown-quail-for-consumption-here" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Straits Times</a>, co-founder and CEO George Peppou shared that the company wanted to create a product that was “distinctively different” from meat that consumers are already accustomed to, such as chicken, pork, or beef. 


“People have a general vibe of what quail tastes like, but they don’t have a very distinct impression of its taste as they would with other conventional types of meat,” explained Peppou. 


He also shared that it took 15 months for the company to receive approval from the SFA for the sale of its cultivated quail as a food ingredient. The license will allow Vow to develop all kinds of quail-derived food products, including whole meat cuts, without further approval from the authorities. 


The Forged Parfait will be available to the public for tasting at Mori restaurant from April 12 to 27, as part of a S$289 seven-course omakase menu with alcoholic drink pairings. 


According to Forged’s website, the brand will be announcing its first restaurant collaboration in May this year and has plans to launch new flavours down the road. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Doesn’t want to compete in taste with “real meat”</h2>


Quailia is currently produced in Sydney, where scientists start by taking a small sample of cells from a Japanese quail species and isolating the cells that contribute to the parfait’s taste and texture. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bioreactor.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="511" height="763" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bioreactor.png" alt="Vow bioreactor tank " class="wp-image-856475" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bioreactor.png 511w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bioreactor-201x300.png 201w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bioreactor-150x224.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 511px) 100vw, 511px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vow’s bioreactor tank/ Image Credit: Vow</figcaption></figure>


These cells are then cultured in a bioreactor – a stainless steel tank similar to the ones found in a brewery. To bring out the “gaminess of quail”, ingredients including butter, seasoning and cognac are added to make the parfait. 


Unlike many cultivated meat companies, Vow does not intend to replace agricultural-grown meats with their products. In <a href="https://medium.com/vow-food/vow-is-officially-on-market-f2b3028abb5e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a self-written article</a>, Peppou pointed out the challenges that many of Vow’s predecessors experienced in changing consumer behaviours with their alternative proteins.


<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
You’re not going to change consumer behaviour by offering them something which is a similar enough version of what they already consume.


Externalities like sustainability or animal ethics are not enough for us to change our behaviours for very long, despite what we’d like to believe. This is why plant-based alternatives have plateaued in sales in the past three years; the ethical or moral motivations aren’t reason enough to get meat-eaters to forgo a thing they love, and any alternative is fighting against a lifetime of experience on what chicken is and isn’t.
<cite>George Peppou, co-founder and CEO of Vow in a written article on Medium</cite></blockquote>


Over the past few years, the cultivated meat industry has started out with much fanfare. However, many alternative protein companies have plateaued and been <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/853849/why-cultivated-meat-turned-out-to-be-a-silicon-valley-flop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unable to achieve commercial success</a>.


A notable case in Singapore would be <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/826097/shiok-meats-ceo-shares-entrepreneurial-business-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiok Meats</a>, who garnered media attention for their cell-based siew mai and cultivated crustacean products. The food-tech startup has shared that they were unable to scale their production process and experienced high turnover rates as a result. 


In March this year, the company <a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/sg-alt-meat-makers-shiok-meats-umami-bioworks-set-merge#:~:text=TWO%20Singapore%2Dbased%20cultivated%20seafood,%E2%80%9Cin%20the%20coming%20weeks.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">merged</a> with another Singapore-based startup, <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/826966/umami-meats-cultivated-seafood-singapore/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Umani Bioworks (previously known as Umami Meats)</a>, to spur regulatory approvals and launch its products into the market. 


Despite the industry’s scrutiny, Peppou shared that he has remained confident in the firm’s commercial viability through its “one-of-a-kind” products. 


The firm previously <a href="https://medium.com/vow-food/announcing-vows-series-a-58445e4a5b99" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised US$49.2 million in Series A funding</a> in 2022, where the funds will be used to build their second factory facility and bring their products to the market. 


Vow was also the mastermind behind the <a href="https://www.forgedbyvow.com/the-feed/a-world-first-the-mammoth-meatball/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“mammoth meatball,”</a> which went viral last year because it was created using the DNA of the extinct mammoth. While the meatball was not made for consumption, the firm also boldly stated the “potential of cultured meat from many different perspectives.”


Whether it is blind optimism or a new breakthrough in the cultivated meats industry, only time can tell the success of Vow and Forged. 


Featured Image Credit: Square Peg Capital, Vow


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/853849/why-cultivated-meat-turned-out-to-be-a-silicon-valley-flop/">All sizzle, no steak: Cultivated meat has turned out to be a Silicon Valley flop, here’s why</a>

Lab-grown quail? Aussie firm Vow gains approval to sell cultivated quail in S’pore

While many eyes were on <a href="https://kl20.gov.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KL20 Summit</a>’s main Leader and Founder stages, there was also something called the Catalyst Corner where a variety of different side events were being held.


One such event was called “Catalyst for Change: She Runs the World”. Organised by <a href="https://cradle.com.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cradle Fund</a> and <a href="https://women-in-tech.org/my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women in Tech</a> as a roundtable discussion, it was meant to foster discussions around female empowerment and entrepreneurship.


And before you complain about whether such a panel is still needed, here are some fast facts.


The <a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report</a> had ranked Malaysia as 102nd out of 146 countries, and showed that we were far behind compared to our neighbours when it comes to gender equality.


So yes, there are still many conversations that need to be had about the state of our gender equality.  


The panel comprised of: 


<ul>
<li>Yuki Aizawa, the APAC Director for Women in Tech</li>


<li>Juliana Jan, the Senior Vice President in Grant & Investment for Cradle</li>


<li>Viviantie Sarjuni, the CEO of <a href="https://scenic.my/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SCENIC</a></li>


<li>Shermaine Wong, <a href="https://www.cultcreative.asia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cult Creative</a>’s co-founder and CEO</li>


<li>Norilmi Amilia Ismail, <a href="https://spacein.com.my/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceIn</a>’s CEO</li>
</ul>


The conversation was moderated by Tunku Danny Mudzaffar, the founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.microleapasia.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microLEAP</a>, a company that helps micro-enterprises secure investments and democratise investing. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859657" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-3.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Cradle Fund</figcaption></figure>


Something particularly memorable to me was that towards the end of the session, there had been a well-intentioned question thrown out to the panellists.


The participant started by saying that he’s worked with women all his life, so he wondered what’s stopping women from running the world.


“Is it mentality? Is it really discrimination?” he wondered.


It was quite the poignant question, one that all the panellists were inadvertently answering throughout the talk—or perhaps, even, throughout their whole careers.


His question is one that was echoed by Cradle Fund’s Juliana Jan, who shared earlier on in the session that from a funder’s point of view, the issue didn’t lie in discrimination, but rather, the fact that there are simply too few women applying for funds.


So, why aren’t more women participating?


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s a leaky pipe</h2>


A quick answer to that question can be found in the manifesto of Women in Tech, which is “From the Classroom to the Boardroom”.


Essentially, yes, there is a pipeline from the classroom to the boardroom. But it’s one with lots of holes that require fixing.


The drop-off from education to the workplace is like a chicken and egg problem. Yuki pointed out that there is a lack of role models for young women especially in STEM, which then leads to less women wanting to join those sectors.


That’s one reason why having events such as these are important—to increase the visibility of ladies leading their fields.


But more than just seeing female leaders, it’s important to have clear and visible pathways to everyday jobs. In other words, there’s a need for “everyday champions” to be highlighted.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s not always a meritocracy (biases)</h2>


Arguably, an ideal society would be one that is merit-based, that fairly assesses talents instead of gender.


For one, that’s what Juliana said Cradle aims to do.


Unfortunately, men may often underestimate women’s capabilities. They may not be fairly judged for a myriad of reasons.


At the same time, some women underestimate their own capabilities and performance. You might think of this as the impostor syndrome or the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackzenger/2018/04/08/the-confidence-gap-in-men-and-women-why-it-matters-and-how-to-overcome-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confidence gap</a>, which goes back to the first point.


“It’s happened to me,” Norilmi from SpaceIn said.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859656" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Cradle Fund / Shermaine Wong</figcaption></figure>


Double-hatting as a lecturer, many tend to assume that she doesn’t know anything about business. Of course, that presumption typically backfires when Norilmi shows that she does have business savviness as a domain expert.


She said that it’s important to grow the resilience to overcome these assumptions that you may face in the industry, and recognise that it might not be a fair assessment of your real capabilities.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Activism overlooks intersectionality</h2>


When it came SCENIC CEO Viviantie’s turn to speak, she was asked, “With Sabah having the highest rural population in Malaysia, do you see inherent biases or societal exploitations?”


“All the time,” she answered.


SCENIC, for those who may not know, is the Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre.


Viviantie who is a Sabahan herself shared that she often hears many underhanded comments such as “for a Sabahan, you are quite smart”.


“We’re made to believe we’re not good enough,” she shared. She brought up an incident she experienced at a social enterprise, where a woman had to drop out. She said she couldn’t continue her journey with them because her husband wouldn’t allow her.


These issues are commonplace in rural areas where opportunities are scarce and support even scarcer.


Overlooking the woes that women in rural areas face hurts women overall, which is why it’s crucial not to leave them out of the conversation.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Women shoulder many responsibilities and societal expectations</h2>


It’s not just in rural areas that this is happening, of course.


There are many cultural expectations that modern women face still, such as the expectation to defer to men as well and always put the family first.


Norilmi’s solution to this was by finding and forming communities of women who can support one another.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-859661" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/women-malaysia-4.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Solidarity and support from male counterparts is of course needed as well / Image Credit: Cradle Fund</figcaption></figure>


However, especially for mothers, it can be difficult to network with others on top of caring for their children. Many sacrifices would have to be made.


“Time is very limited,” Shermaine of Cult Creative had said at one point. “It goes back to having support. Supportive partners, co-founders, and work environment.”


And of course, there needs to be a supportive ecosystem overall. The ecosystem should be developed in a way where mentorship and community are easily accessible. That way, we’ll start seeing more submissions and applications from women overall.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">You’ve got to virtue signal</h2>


At the end of the day, intentionality is key.


Sure, it might seem counter-intuitive to have to mandate a quota for women’s participation. It might feel like pigeonholing women entrepreneurs when there is a female panel at every conference.


But until this practice becomes so ingrained into society that it’s a norm, these efforts will be necessary.


As Yuki said, whether we like it or not, we must be intentional about have female representation. In that same way, the boardroom must be intentional about hiring women. Platforms must be intentional about welcoming women to submit their applications.


In other words, in order for women to be running the world, we must be intentional about it. With that, the rest will follow. 


<ul>
<li> Read other articles we’ve written about KL20 Summit 2024 <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/kl20-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/858076/juniper-networks-ai-improve-company-wifi-network/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How financial institutions & universities are reshaping their network through AI-native solutions</a>


Featured Image Credit: Cradle Fund

What’s stopping female entrepreneurs from becoming leaders? 5 M’sian female leaders share.

You’ve likely seen those “is it cake” challenges where bakers make hyper-realistic cakes. Now, here’s a Singaporean business that makes cake-looking items that aren’t cakes, but rather, soap.


Called <a href="https://cleanfolksclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clean Folks Club</a>, it was founded by friends Rebecca and Siyan. Bonding over a shared passion for business and creative endeavours, the two launched a fashion label straight out of university.


Unfortunately, the pandemic forced them to shutter their retail store. But rather than see this as a setback, the two considered it to be an opportune time to try something different.


“After years in the fashion industry, we were looking to pivot to something more sustainable and environmentally friendly,” they shared with Vulcan Post.


From that vision, the duo would end up finding their calling in solid soaps.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857120" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-002.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


As someone with sensitive skin, Rebecca has long been restricted to using specialised body washes. However, these products often lack in scent and appeal, and sometimes even texture.


“This inspired us to explore the possibility of crafting an enjoyable product that is gentle on the skin and also able to enhance the shower experience,” the two shared.


They landed on solid soaps as a solution, as they are one of the easiest eco-friendly switch consumers can make.


With no experience making solid soaps, Rebecca and Siyan spent over a year doing intense R&D. During this time, they learnt about how soaps were made, how to formulate their own soap recipe, and how to tweak it to enhance different attributes of the soap.


After perfecting a soap recipe, they launched Clean Folks Club mid-2021.


Starting out, they focused on solid soaps as the main products, alongside a line of sugar body scrubs and body lotions that were also formulated in-house.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857126" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-005.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An accidental success</h2>


Initially, Rebecca and Siyan focused on art soap bars with arches and sunset designs, as well as basic bars tailored to specific skin needs. Wanting them to be recognisable, they didn’t veer too far from the standard shape and look of soap bars.


At the last minute, though, they decided to add two cake soaps to the line-up, a strawberry shortcake soap and a lavender mango soap.


“It was just supposed to be a fun thing created out of our love for desserts, and we thought why not include them,” the co-founders recalled. “We definitely did not expect them to completely sell out quickly and every time we restocked them.”


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857121" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-003.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


Recognising the potential, the duo decided to pivot in April 2023, scrapping the original range to fully embrace dessert-themed soaps.


With that, they launched a full line of six new cake soaps as well as a mix-and-match macaron soap set.


To celebrate National Day, Clean Folks Club also collaborated with a local perfumer to create limited-edition ice cream wafer soaps as well as Ang Ku Kueh soaps, complete with “authentic fillings” also made from soap.


These were well received, so much so that they added the Ang Ku Kueh soap to their permanent collection.


Another unique soap design are the Mahjong soaps, first launched two Lunar New Years ago. Siyan and Rebecca revealed that they didn’t have many expectations because they didn’t think people would want to gift soaps for the occasion.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857122" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-7.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


“To our surprise, they sold out really quickly and we had to make a lot more than we expected to keep up with the demand,” they said.


With these successes, Clean Folks Club aims to expand their collection of heritage soaps. They’re already working on more local delicacies (perhaps a pandan waffle or tutu kueh) and are developing a technique to create a peranakan house soap bar.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Functional gifts</h2>


With how beautiful the soaps are, it’s no surprise that they’re primarily bought as gifts.


“When we meet people at fair/events in person, the general consensus is that they can’t bear to use it themselves but find them delightful gifts,” Rebecca and Siyan mused.


However, the duo does try encourage customers to use their soaps, highlighting the value of “creating small luxuries for oneself”.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857123" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-008.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


“We would like to think we have convinced quite a few people to do that as we do have returning customers who purchase the soaps for themselves,” they said.


Aside from their usual offerings, custom orders are also a big part of Clean Folks Club’s business. This may be for personal events like parties and weddings, or corporate orders for door gifts or PR packages.


Some notable companies that Clean Folks Club has worked with include Uniqlo, Magnum, Discovery, Adobe, Lenskart, and homegrown brands such as Cheak and Lemuel Chocolate.


Last year, they even got an opportunity from a government agency to produce 1,000 pieces of their Ang Ku Kueh soaps.


“These soaps were selected to be included in a curated gift set representing Singapore, which was sent to countries all around the world, so that was very exciting and humbling to be part of,” they expressed.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A sustainable business in all aspects</h2>


When asked about the financial performance of their business, Rebecca and Siyan shared, “If you asked us this question in the first year, we would have told you that selling solid soaps is an uphill task and we’re unsure of the long-term financial viability.”


However, they now see the business more positively. Over the past year, they’ve been able to identify areas with potential for growth. The duo also said that they’ve had healthy profit margins, despite the increase in raw material costs.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857124" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-001.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


For now, Clean Folks Club only has two staff members—Rebecca and Siyan themselves. Being a lean team, things can get overwhelming at times, especially during peak gifting seasons.


“During those periods, we often find ourselves putting in 12-hour days back-to-back and enlisting the help of friends and loved ones to manage the workload,” they said. “So we’re definitely hoping to expand our team this year to alleviate this.”


In any case, it’s not like the duo plans to turn their business into some highly corporatised business.


“We think CFC ultimately, being born out of the uncertainty of the pandemic and the burnout of hustle culture, was always meant to be a reminder for us to take things slow and is created out of a want to change things for the better, to embrace the small ordinary moments in life,” they explained.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857125" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clean-Folks-Club-Singapore-soap-brand-004.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Clean Folks Club</figcaption></figure>


“Our unofficial motto is ‘discover joy in the everyday’. So big ambitious plans like opening multiple chain stores or global expansion was never seen as an end goal.”


Rather, success for the two would be to balance supporting themselves in a sustainable way while continuing to mindfully create things and experiences that are delightful.


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Clean Folks Club <a href="https://cleanfolksclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about startups <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/category/startups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/854859/ocbc-onecollect-cross-border-payments-duitnow-paynow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here’s how OCBC Business is making it easy for M’sian SMEs to offer cross-border QR payments</a>


Featured Image Credit: Clean Folks Club

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