What does it take to build a business when the stakes are high and your time is already accounted for? 



In this episode of Open For Business, we sit down with Thiban Chandra, founder of TechX Malaysia, to explore the reality of the corporate side-hustle. From his career as a reservoir engineer in the oil and gas industry to launching a home audio and Hi-Fi venture, Thiban shares how he identified a gap in the Malaysian market for accessible luxury. 



We dive into the financial risks of self-funding through bonuses and credit cards, the necessity of deep collaboration in a niche industry, and the influence of Howard Schultz’s Pour Your Hearts Into It on his entrepreneurial philosophy. 

What does it take to build a business when the stakes are high and your time is already accounted for?&nbsp;In this episode of Open For Business, we sit down with Thiban Chandra, founder of TechX Malaysia, to explore the reality of the corporate side-hustle. From his career as a reservoir engineer in the oil and gas industry to launching a home audio and Hi-Fi venture, Thiban shares how he identified a gap in the Malaysian market for accessible luxury.&nbsp;We dive into the financial risks of self-funding through bonuses and credit cards, the necessity of deep collaboration in a niche industry, and the influence of Howard Schultz’s Pour Your Hearts Into It on his entrepreneurial philosophy.&nbsp;

The flagship entrepreneurship show on BFM, featuring personal business stories from early stage start-ups, all the way to billionaire octogenarians in Malaysia and abroad. Notable guests include Martin Cooper (father of the mobile phone), Julian Assange (founder of WikiLeaks), Ralph Henry Baer (father of video games), Tony Buzan (Mindmap Guru), Isaac Tigrett (Hard Rock Cafe founder), Robert Kiyosaki (Financial Guru), Nick Vujicic (motivational speaker) and more. Tap into this valuable resource of shared experiences for the SME industry, which also touches on news, issues and trends affecting the business community and beyond.

Open For Business

Discover fresh concepts, tackle obstacles, and unleash growth - Open For Business is the dynamic show where BFM engages with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry trailblazers, igniting inspiration, sparking success, and exploring new business models.

Bonus Checks and Bass Lines

Grassroots sports have always had the talent, the passion, and the stories but rarely the technology.



AirUpThere Technologies is trying to change that. Since 2018, the Malaysian startup has been building AI-powered camera systems and a sports streaming platform called Huddle, designed to help schools, academies, and amateur leagues broadcast games, analyse performance, and create professional-grade sports content without a production crew.



We speak with co-founder Andri Khusahry about how they turned a passion for sport into a scalable sports-tech business, the commercial logic behind automated broadcasting and analytics, and how they’re positioning Huddle in a fast-growing global sports tech market. We also explore the realities of monetising sports data, navigating privacy concerns, and what it takes to scale a Malaysian tech platform across the region.

Grassroots sports have always had the talent, the passion, and the stories but rarely the technology.AirUpThere Technologies is trying to change that. Since 2018, the Malaysian startup has been building AI-powered camera systems and a sports streaming platform called Huddle, designed to help schools, academies, and amateur leagues broadcast games, analyse performance, and create professional-grade sports content without a production crew.We speak with co-founder Andri Khusahry about how they turned a passion for sport into a scalable sports-tech business, the commercial logic behind automated broadcasting and analytics, and how they’re positioning Huddle in a fast-growing global sports tech market. We also explore the realities of monetising sports data, navigating privacy concerns, and what it takes to scale a Malaysian tech platform across the region.

Building Huddle: AirUpThere’s Startup Journey

Two years ago, TTRacing was already a fast-growing gaming chair brand making its mark across Southeast Asia. Since then, the business has continued to evolve, expanding its product portfolio, strengthening its regional presence, and navigating the realities of scaling in a highly competitive consumer category.



In this episode of Open For Business, we catch up with Founder and CEO Henry Ting to unpack how TTRacing has grown since 2024, how its revenue mix and operations have changed, the commercial logic behind its product and market expansion, and how the company is balancing growth with profitability. We also look ahead to what the next phase of TTRacing could look like as the brand moves beyond its gaming roots and charts its ambitions for the years ahead.

Two years ago, TTRacing was already a fast-growing gaming chair brand making its mark across Southeast Asia. Since then, the business has continued to evolve, expanding its product portfolio, strengthening its regional presence, and navigating the realities of scaling in a highly competitive consumer category.In this episode of Open For Business, we catch up with Founder and CEO Henry Ting to unpack how TTRacing has grown since 2024, how its revenue mix and operations have changed, the commercial logic behind its product and market expansion, and how the company is balancing growth with profitability. We also look ahead to what the next phase of TTRacing could look like as the brand moves beyond its gaming roots and charts its ambitions for the years ahead.

 From Gaming Chairs to Building Ergonomic Lifestyles

1.9 million. That’s how many living quarters are vacant here in Malaysia, nearly 20% of the total, according to the 2020 Census. This puts hard numbers to a feeling many of us have: Malaysia has a housing paradox. We see "For Sale" signs and empty houses, yet many Malaysians still feel priced out of owning a home.



UrbanMetry’s Cha-Ly Koh and Stirling Yiin discuss Urby, their platform selected for the Securities Commission's regulatory sandbox. Urby uses data algorithms to identify dilapidated homes, facilitates fractional ownership to renovate them, and sells them to genuine homebuyers, aiming to turn "ghost houses" into community assets.



We discuss:


Not Flippers: How Urby distinguishes itself from property speculators by purchasing undervalued assets and injecting value through renovation, rather than just bridging price differentials.


Social Assets: Why mature neighborhoods with dilapidated infrastructure are actually goldmines for "social capital", nostalgia, existing networks, and food culture that have tangible monetary value.


The Algorithm: How UrbanMetry uses data to determine the true current asset value, ensuring renovation costs don't push the property price above what the neighborhood can afford.


Nor For "Crypto Bros"?: Why their target demographic isn't young male speculators, but rather women aged 27–40 who feel underserved by "boring" financial products and want tangible agency in community rejuvenation.


The Unit Economics: A breakdown of the fractional ownership model, short-term vs. long-term notes, and how the platform utilises "put options" to protect investor principal.

1.9 million. That’s how many living quarters are vacant here in Malaysia, nearly 20% of the total, according to the 2020 Census. This puts hard numbers to a feeling many of us have: Malaysia has a housing paradox. We see "For Sale" signs and empty houses, yet many Malaysians still feel priced out of owning a home.UrbanMetry’s Cha-Ly Koh and Stirling Yiin discuss Urby, their platform selected for the Securities Commission's regulatory sandbox. Urby uses data algorithms to identify dilapidated homes, facilitates fractional ownership to renovate them, and sells them to genuine homebuyers, aiming to turn "ghost houses" into community assets.We discuss:<ul><li>Not Flippers: How Urby distinguishes itself from property speculators by purchasing undervalued assets and injecting value through renovation, rather than just bridging price differentials.</li><li>Social Assets: Why mature neighborhoods with dilapidated infrastructure are actually goldmines for "social capital", nostalgia, existing networks, and food culture that have tangible monetary value.</li><li>The Algorithm: How UrbanMetry uses data to determine the true current asset value, ensuring renovation costs don't push the property price above what the neighborhood can afford.</li><li>Nor For "Crypto Bros"?: Why their target demographic isn't young male speculators, but rather women aged 27–40 who feel underserved by "boring" financial products and want tangible agency in community rejuvenation.</li><li>The Unit Economics: A breakdown of the fractional ownership model, short-term vs. long-term notes, and how the platform utilises "put options" to protect investor principal.</li></ul>

Bonus Checks and Bass Lines

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