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.

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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.

Building Huddle: AirUpThere’s Startup Journey

Most F&B founders measure success by the number of retail outlets they open. But Christine Tham and Leong Hoo Yin quickly realised that relying solely on retail is a "single-layer" business model that inevitably leads to a plateau. Founded in 2022, Gelatomania started as a retail brand but quickly pivoted to a much larger ambition: building an integrated, end-to-end gelato ecosystem for the Asian market. Recognising that Southeast Asia was heavily dependent on expensive, non-localised European brands for ingredients and equipment, Christine and Leong began offering Professional Gelato Training, B2B wholesale supply, and custom recipe development. To date, their academy has graduated over 5,500 "Gelato-maniacs" and helped launch several competing retail brands.



The co-founders join us to share the strategy behind their ecosystem play, the operational nightmare of competing against legacy European ingredient giants, and why true F&B defensibility comes from controlling the supply chain, not just the recipe.

Most F&amp;B founders measure success by the number of retail outlets they open. But Christine Tham and Leong Hoo Yin quickly realised that relying solely on retail is a "single-layer" business model that inevitably leads to a plateau. Founded in 2022, Gelatomania started as a retail brand but quickly pivoted to a much larger ambition: building an integrated, end-to-end gelato ecosystem for the Asian market. Recognising that Southeast Asia was heavily dependent on expensive, non-localised European brands for ingredients and equipment, Christine and Leong began offering Professional Gelato Training, B2B wholesale supply, and custom recipe development. To date, their academy has graduated over 5,500 "Gelato-maniacs" and helped launch several competing retail brands.The co-founders join us to share the strategy behind their ecosystem play, the operational nightmare of competing against legacy European ingredient giants, and why true F&amp;B defensibility comes from controlling the supply chain, not just the recipe.

The Ecosystem Play: Why Gelatomania Is Building More Than Just Outlets

Is it possible to run a highly profitable retail business in premium shopping malls by selling products for just RM5 on the honour system?



Adrian Ung, a seasoned commercial leader with 30 years of corporate experience, believed it was. In 2022, he co-founded Books For A Better World (BFBW), a social enterprise dedicated to giving pre-loved books a second life. Sourcing books from public donations and organisations like The Salvation Army, BFBW operates a network of affordable bookstores across the Klang Valley—including IPC, Avenue K, and 1 Mont Kiara. To keep overheads low, BFBW relies heavily on a self-service QR-code payment system and a dedicated workforce of senior citizen volunteers. Today, the bootstrapped social enterprise generates six-figure annual revenues while donating a portion of its proceeds back to charity.



Adrian joins us in the studio to unpack the operational tightrope of running a hybrid social enterprise, retail theft, the logistics of sorting thousands of donated books, how to negotiate with premium mall landlords, and why purpose-driven businesses actually command stronger community loyalty.

Is it possible to run a highly profitable retail business in premium shopping malls by selling products for just RM5 on the honour system?Adrian Ung, a seasoned commercial leader with 30 years of corporate experience, believed it was. In 2022, he co-founded Books For A Better World (BFBW), a social enterprise dedicated to giving pre-loved books a second life. Sourcing books from public donations and organisations like The Salvation Army, BFBW operates a network of affordable bookstores across the Klang Valley—including IPC, Avenue K, and 1 Mont Kiara. To keep overheads low, BFBW relies heavily on a self-service QR-code payment system and a dedicated workforce of senior citizen volunteers. Today, the bootstrapped social enterprise generates six-figure annual revenues while donating a portion of its proceeds back to charity.Adrian joins us in the studio to unpack the operational tightrope of running a hybrid social enterprise, retail theft, the logistics of sorting thousands of donated books, how to negotiate with premium mall landlords, and why purpose-driven businesses actually command stronger community loyalty.

Unstaffed And Profitable: Inside Malaysia’s Pre-Loved Book Empire

Gu On is not your average Korean BBQ joint. Launched in July 2023, the brand specialises in traditional Korean smoked meats, rich bone broths, and modern interpretations of Korean classics. But what truly sets Gu On apart is its rapid growth model. By leveraging a strategic "intrapreneurial" partnership and utilising a pre-existing central kitchen, founder Shuen Kuan bypassed the gruelling early-stage operational hurdles most F&B startups face. In less than two years, Gu On has scaled to three premium locations—including The Exchange TRX and The Starling—and generates combined annual revenues in the 8-figure range.



Shuen Kuan joins us in the studio to unpack the realities of scaling a multi-million ringgit restaurant group at lightning speed, as well as the massive roadblock currently paralysing their growth: Malaysia's severe F&B labour crisis. With foreign worker quotas frozen and local hiring pools shrinking for non-halal establishments, we explore what happens when a highly profitable brand has the capital to expand, but literally cannot find the manpower to do it.

Gu On is not your average Korean BBQ joint. Launched in July 2023, the brand specialises in traditional Korean smoked meats, rich bone broths, and modern interpretations of Korean classics. But what truly sets Gu On apart is its rapid growth model. By leveraging a strategic "intrapreneurial" partnership and utilising a pre-existing central kitchen, founder Shuen Kuan bypassed the gruelling early-stage operational hurdles most F&amp;B startups face. In less than two years, Gu On has scaled to three premium locations—including The Exchange TRX and The Starling—and generates combined annual revenues in the 8-figure range.Shuen Kuan joins us in the studio to unpack the realities of scaling a multi-million ringgit restaurant group at lightning speed, as well as the massive roadblock currently paralysing their growth: Malaysia's severe F&amp;B labour crisis. With foreign worker quotas frozen and local hiring pools shrinking for non-halal establishments, we explore what happens when a highly profitable brand has the capital to expand, but literally cannot find the manpower to do it.

Building Huddle: AirUpThere’s Startup Journey

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