In a city overflowing with cafes and brunch spots, how does a home-cooked pancake on a balcony become one of KL's most talked-about dining experiences? Retrenched from a 9-year corporate career, Haermana Sivamohan craved genuine connection in a fast-paced, superficial world. In May 2025, she launched Construct KL out of her home in Bukit Tunku—inviting complete strangers to sit at her table, eat her gourmet pancakes, and actually talk to each other without the pretence of "networking." Fast forward 10 months, Construct KL has broken even, achieved viral organic growth, and become a highly sought-after private dining booking. But running a solo F&B operation from your home comes with an invisible, gruelling backend.



Haermana joins us in the studio to discuss the lonely solo-founder journey, the hidden operational nightmares of experiential dining, and how to turn a bootstrapped supper club into a six-figure business without losing its soul.

In a city overflowing with cafes and brunch spots, how does a home-cooked pancake on a balcony become one of KL's most talked-about dining experiences? Retrenched from a 9-year corporate career, Haermana Sivamohan craved genuine connection in a fast-paced, superficial world. In May 2025, she launched Construct KL out of her home in Bukit Tunku—inviting complete strangers to sit at her table, eat her gourmet pancakes, and actually talk to each other without the pretence of "networking." Fast forward 10 months, Construct KL has broken even, achieved viral organic growth, and become a highly sought-after private dining booking. But running a solo F&amp;B operation from your home comes with an invisible, gruelling backend.Haermana joins us in the studio to discuss the lonely solo-founder journey, the hidden operational nightmares of experiential dining, and how to turn a bootstrapped supper club into a six-figure business without losing its soul.

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.

Monetising Intimacy: How Construct KL Turned A Balcony Into A Business

For decades, tau fu fah and soy milk were largely considered traditional Chinese street food, but as dessert cafes booming with bubble tea, bingsu, and ice cream took over the Klang Valley, traditional desserts were left behind. In 2018, siblings Carmen, Joe, and Kelly Lau decided to change that. Drawing from their father’s 30-year legacy as the founder of Ipoh’s famous Woong Kee Bean Curd, they launched Dáo Desserts. Their mission was clear: take a cherished, traditional family recipe and modernise it for a new generation in a trendy, comfortable cafe environment.



Carmen and Kelly Lau join us in the studio to discuss the unvarnished reality of building a modern F&B brand out of a family legacy. We explore the messy dynamics of working with siblings, the operational headaches of scaling a highly perishable product, how they survive the fiercely competitive dessert market, and their ambitious plan to take Malaysian tau fu fah global.

For decades, tau fu fah and soy milk were largely considered traditional Chinese street food, but as dessert cafes booming with bubble tea, bingsu, and ice cream took over the Klang Valley, traditional desserts were left behind. In 2018, siblings Carmen, Joe, and Kelly Lau decided to change that. Drawing from their father’s 30-year legacy as the founder of Ipoh’s famous Woong Kee Bean Curd, they launched Dáo Desserts. Their mission was clear: take a cherished, traditional family recipe and modernise it for a new generation in a trendy, comfortable cafe environment.Carmen and Kelly Lau join us in the studio to discuss the unvarnished reality of building a modern F&amp;B brand out of a family legacy. We explore the messy dynamics of working with siblings, the operational headaches of scaling a highly perishable product, how they survive the fiercely competitive dessert market, and their ambitious plan to take Malaysian tau fu fah global.

How Dáo Desserts Took Tau Fu Fah To The Cafe Scene

For most Malaysians, a trip to the local laundromat means sitting in a stuffy room staring at a phone while a machine spins. But what if you could turn that mundane routine into an elevated, relaxing ritual? Founded in early 2026 by high school buddies Nicholas and Khaisong, Randy's Laundromat in Ara Damansara is tackling this exact problem by merging a fully functional laundromat with a trendy cafe serving artisan coolers and ciabatta sandwiches. But when you combine two difficult business models—F&B and heavy utility machinery—the operational challenges double. Plus, they face a unique marketing hurdle: convincing the cafe-hopping crowd that their aesthetic washing machines aren't just an Instagram gimmick, but a functional service.



Co-founders Nicholas and Khaisong join us in the studio to discuss the economics of bootstrapping a hybrid retail space, the challenge of changing deeply ingrained consumer behaviours, and their ambition to become Malaysia's leading lifestyle laundromat.

For most Malaysians, a trip to the local laundromat means sitting in a stuffy room staring at a phone while a machine spins. But what if you could turn that mundane routine into an elevated, relaxing ritual? Founded in early 2026 by high school buddies Nicholas and Khaisong, Randy's Laundromat in Ara Damansara is tackling this exact problem by merging a fully functional laundromat with a trendy cafe serving artisan coolers and ciabatta sandwiches. But when you combine two difficult business models—F&amp;B and heavy utility machinery—the operational challenges double. Plus, they face a unique marketing hurdle: convincing the cafe-hopping crowd that their aesthetic washing machines aren't just an Instagram gimmick, but a functional service.Co-founders Nicholas and Khaisong join us in the studio to discuss the economics of bootstrapping a hybrid retail space, the challenge of changing deeply ingrained consumer behaviours, and their ambition to become Malaysia's leading lifestyle laundromat.

Randy’s Laundromat: Elevating The Malaysian Laundromat Experience

When the pandemic decimated the events industry in 2020, Melissa and Ethan found themselves retrenched. With just RM500 and no grand ambitions, they banded together to survive. Six years later, their survival plan has evolved into MET Communications (MetComms)—a highly profitable, mid-to-high six-figure boutique marketing agency. Their specialty? Putting "bums on seats." Unlike general creative agencies that focus on vanity metrics, MetComms specializes exclusively in driving targeted registrations, delegates, and sponsors for large-scale B2B business events, conferences, and exhibitions across Southeast Asia.



Co-founders Melissa and Ethan join us in the studio to discuss the ups and downs of running a lean agency, the mechanics of marketing to highly niche B2B audiences, and the psychological battle of trusting junior staff so the founders can finally stop "doing the work."

When the pandemic decimated the events industry in 2020, Melissa and Ethan found themselves retrenched. With just RM500 and no grand ambitions, they banded together to survive. Six years later, their survival plan has evolved into MET Communications (MetComms)—a highly profitable, mid-to-high six-figure boutique marketing agency. Their specialty? Putting "bums on seats." Unlike general creative agencies that focus on vanity metrics, MetComms specializes exclusively in driving targeted registrations, delegates, and sponsors for large-scale B2B business events, conferences, and exhibitions across Southeast Asia.Co-founders Melissa and Ethan join us in the studio to discuss the ups and downs of running a lean agency, the mechanics of marketing to highly niche B2B audiences, and the psychological battle of trusting junior staff so the founders can finally stop "doing the work."

Monetising Intimacy: How Construct KL Turned A Balcony Into A Business

In 1 playlist(s)

Open For Business

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips