 “F&B isn’t easy,” but Edwin Chan YOLOed into it with just RM5,000, a KitchenAid, and his parents’ kitchen.



Ten years ago, Chef and Founder of Elevete Patisserie, Edwin Chan, left his full-time kitchen job to pursue his passion as a home baker. What started as a small homebaking venture has since evolved into a multimillion-ringgit business, focusing on supplying cafes and businesses while maintaining a Direct-To-Consumer presence exclusively online (unless you know Edwin personally!).



Known for blending French pastry techniques with Malaysian flavors, Elevete has grown into a 30-person team, securing retail spots in AEON and IKEA Singapore along the way.



In this episode of Open For Business, we explore Edwin’s journey from a humble home bakery to a full-fledged baking facility, the challenges of scaling while preserving artisanal quality (if even possible), and how Elevete sees the path ahead in such a competitive market.

“F&amp;B isn’t easy,” but Edwin Chan YOLOed into it with just RM5,000, a KitchenAid, and his parents’ kitchen.Ten years ago, Chef and Founder of Elevete Patisserie, Edwin Chan, left his full-time kitchen job to pursue his passion as a home baker. What started as a small homebaking venture has since evolved into a multimillion-ringgit business, focusing on supplying cafes and businesses while maintaining a Direct-To-Consumer presence exclusively online (unless you know Edwin personally!).Known for blending French pastry techniques with Malaysian flavors, Elevete has grown into a 30-person team, securing retail spots in AEON and IKEA Singapore along the way.In this episode of Open For Business, we explore Edwin’s journey from a humble home bakery to a full-fledged baking facility, the challenges of scaling while preserving artisanal quality (if even possible), and how Elevete sees the path ahead in such a competitive market.

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.

Elevete’s Sweet Success: From Homebaker to RM10M in Sales

From bean to cup, cafes are more than just spaces to enjoy coffee — they are stories waiting to be told. Today, we sit down with the co-founders of Flint Cafe & Roastery, Azri Jamaludin and Daniel Fleischer, on how they are carving a niche in Malaysia’s vibrant and highly competitive cafe culture. Launched with a passion for coffee, Flint integrates a coffee bar, roastery, and artisanal western and local cuisine within a modern courtyard gallery. In this conversation, we discuss the origins of Flint Cafe & Roastery, explore the challenges of building and running a cafe and roastery, and what keeps them ahead of the curve.

From bean to cup, cafes are more than just spaces to enjoy coffee — they are stories waiting to be told. Today, we sit down with the co-founders of Flint Cafe &amp; Roastery, Azri Jamaludin and Daniel Fleischer, on how they are carving a niche in Malaysia’s vibrant and highly competitive cafe culture. Launched with a passion for coffee, Flint integrates a coffee bar, roastery, and artisanal western and local cuisine within a modern courtyard gallery. In this conversation, we discuss the origins of Flint Cafe &amp; Roastery, explore the challenges of building and running a cafe and roastery, and what keeps them ahead of the curve.

Beyond The Bean

From baking at home with limited resources to navigating factory spaces and certifications, what started as a personal mission to address her own health challenges has turned into a full-time business for Ramya Raghupati, Founder and Director of Oh My Goodness.



Specialising in foods free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, Ramya has built a brand that caters to consumers seeking allergen-friendly, accessible, and delicious alternatives.



Oh My Goodness is now entering the Malaysian market with a partnership with The Food Purveyor, targeting customers through premium stores like Village Grocer and Ben’s Independent Grocer.



Here are some highlights from the conversation:

- Personal Health Journey: Ramya's health issues led her to a food elimination diet, sparking her passion for allergen-friendly foods.

- Founding Story: Oh My Goodness started as a personal baking experiment and grew into a full-fledged business, with initial products like the signature dark chocolate cake.

- Challenges of Starting Up: From baking at home to shared factory spaces, Ramya navigated regulatory hurdles and financial challenges while staying true to her vision.

- Product Philosophy: A focus on natural ingredients, consumer transparency, and food safety certifications, including Muis Halal and ISO 22000.

- Malaysian Market Entry: Partnering with The Food Purveyor, the company is expanding into Village Grocer and Bens Independent Grocer with plans to grow its product range.

- Entrepreneurial Resilience: Overcoming pandemic setbacks, balancing personal consultancy work, and reinvesting into her business to achieve profitability.

- Future Goals: Scaling regionally, introducing new products like a gluten-free pandan cake, and staying committed to creating accessible, delicious allergen-free food.

From baking at home with limited resources to navigating factory spaces and certifications, what started as a personal mission to address her own health challenges has turned into a full-time business for Ramya Raghupati, Founder and Director of Oh My Goodness. Specialising in foods free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar, Ramya has built a brand that caters to consumers seeking allergen-friendly, accessible, and delicious alternatives.Oh My Goodness is now entering the Malaysian market with a partnership with The Food Purveyor, targeting customers through premium stores like Village Grocer and Ben’s Independent Grocer.Here are some highlights from the conversation:- Personal Health Journey: Ramya's health issues led her to a food elimination diet, sparking her passion for allergen-friendly foods.- Founding Story: Oh My Goodness started as a personal baking experiment and grew into a full-fledged business, with initial products like the signature dark chocolate cake.- Challenges of Starting Up: From baking at home to shared factory spaces, Ramya navigated regulatory hurdles and financial challenges while staying true to her vision.- Product Philosophy: A focus on natural ingredients, consumer transparency, and food safety certifications, including Muis Halal and ISO 22000.- Malaysian Market Entry: Partnering with The Food Purveyor, the company is expanding into Village Grocer and Bens Independent Grocer with plans to grow its product range.- Entrepreneurial Resilience: Overcoming pandemic setbacks, balancing personal consultancy work, and reinvesting into her business to achieve profitability.- Future Goals: Scaling regionally, introducing new products like a gluten-free pandan cake, and staying committed to creating accessible, delicious allergen-free food.

Turning Health Challenges Into a Tasty Business Opportunity

Katrine Cheong, Founder and Director of Little Precious Postnatal Care, wants to redefine postpartum recovery in Malaysia by offering a hotel-like experience combined with expert-driven care, featuring customised confinement meals, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, professional staff, and even mental health support.



Since its establishment, Little Precious has prioritised both comfort and professionalism, and wants to set itself apart from conventional confinement centers. Despite launching during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the center has steadily grown, earning trust for its holistic approach to mother and baby care.



In this episode of Open for Business, we dive into Katrine’s journey from architect to entrepreneur, how Little Precious stands out in the postnatal care landscape, and her vision for shaping postpartum experiences in Malaysia.

Katrine Cheong, Founder and Director of Little Precious Postnatal Care, wants to redefine postpartum recovery in Malaysia by offering a hotel-like experience combined with expert-driven care, featuring customised confinement meals, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, professional staff, and even mental health support.Since its establishment, Little Precious has prioritised both comfort and professionalism, and wants to set itself apart from conventional confinement centers. Despite launching during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the center has steadily grown, earning trust for its holistic approach to mother and baby care.In this episode of Open for Business, we dive into Katrine’s journey from architect to entrepreneur, how Little Precious stands out in the postnatal care landscape, and her vision for shaping postpartum experiences in Malaysia.

Elevete’s Sweet Success: From Homebaker to RM10M in Sales

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