In a world where sustainability and environmental consciousness are becoming increasingly more important to consumers, Origo Eco initially stepped into the market to solve one particular problem - plastic straws. In just 3 years, they’ve sold over 21 million of their RiceStraws and their customers include companies such as Coffee Bean, Park Royal Penang, Wonderboom, and 8 Ounce Coffee.



Today they have expanded into more compostable utensils made from agricultural waste and by-products, but more importantly are moving into making shipping pallets, which will take Origo Eco to the next stage of their growth.



On this episode of Open For Business, you will learn about their journey, from idea to producing 1.5 million RiceStraws daily, the traction and revenue growth this business has seen, fundraising plans, and what lies ahead with Su Seau Yeen, co-founder of Origo Eco.

In a world where sustainability and environmental consciousness are becoming increasingly more important to consumers, Origo Eco initially stepped into the market to solve one particular problem - plastic straws. In just 3 years, they’ve sold over 21 million of their RiceStraws and their customers include companies such as Coffee Bean, Park Royal Penang, Wonderboom, and 8 Ounce Coffee.Today they have expanded into more compostable utensils made from agricultural waste and by-products, but more importantly are moving into making shipping pallets, which will take Origo Eco to the next stage of their growth.On this episode of Open For Business, you will learn about their journey, from idea to producing 1.5 million RiceStraws daily, the traction and revenue growth this business has seen, fundraising plans, and what lies ahead with Su Seau Yeen, co-founder of Origo Eco.

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.

Origo Eco: Turning Farm Waste Into Straws, Shipping Pallets, and More

Founded in 2020, TYMBA Education Group entered the market to address low pass rates and limited access to accounting qualifications outside major cities in Malaysia. Originally operating as a bootstrapped entity, the company has since achieved 55% year-on-year revenue growth and expanded its footprint across five ASEAN countries.



Recently, TYMBA secured a RM10 million investment from VentureTECH to aggressively scale its proprietary digital learning platform, TYMBAFlex, and deepen its regional presence.



CEO Airil Razali returns to Open For Business to share the company's evolution. We discuss the financial mechanics of transitioning from a bootstrapped startup to an institutionally funded EdTech group, the operational challenge of maintaining ACCA Platinum standards across borders, and whether TYMBA has successfully moved the needle on local demographic representation in the accounting sector since his last interview.

Founded in 2020, TYMBA Education Group entered the market to address low pass rates and limited access to accounting qualifications outside major cities in Malaysia. Originally operating as a bootstrapped entity, the company has since achieved 55% year-on-year revenue growth and expanded its footprint across five ASEAN countries.Recently, TYMBA secured a RM10 million investment from VentureTECH to aggressively scale its proprietary digital learning platform, TYMBAFlex, and deepen its regional presence.CEO Airil Razali returns to Open For Business to share the company's evolution. We discuss the financial mechanics of transitioning from a bootstrapped startup to an institutionally funded EdTech group, the operational challenge of maintaining ACCA Platinum standards across borders, and whether TYMBA has successfully moved the needle on local demographic representation in the accounting sector since his last interview.

Why Investors Just Put RM10M Into This Malaysian Accounting School

The Ministry of Education recently updated its guidelines to allow optional Standard 1 enrolment for six-year-olds. While this policy provides families with flexibility, it has sparked anxiety among parents trying to assess if their child is genuinely prepared for a structured primary school environment.



Recognising this immediate market uncertainty, Smart Reader Kids has launched a School Readiness Check and tailored preparation programmes to bridge the gap between preschool and Standard 1. 



But beyond classroom curriculums, Smart Reader Worldwide operates a highly lucrative, multi-million ringgit franchise ecosystem. Executive Director of Smart Reader Kids, Keefe Ong joins us to discuss the definition of school readiness, the financial mechanics of their franchise model, the strategy behind bootstrapped regional expansion into Cambodia and Australia, and the operational challenge of maintaining strict quality control across a massive international network.

The Ministry of Education recently updated its guidelines to allow optional Standard 1 enrolment for six-year-olds. While this policy provides families with flexibility, it has sparked anxiety among parents trying to assess if their child is genuinely prepared for a structured primary school environment.Recognising this immediate market uncertainty, Smart Reader Kids has launched a School Readiness Check and tailored preparation programmes to bridge the gap between preschool and Standard 1.&nbsp;But beyond classroom curriculums, Smart Reader Worldwide operates a highly lucrative, multi-million ringgit franchise ecosystem. Executive Director of Smart Reader Kids, Keefe Ong joins us to discuss the definition of school readiness, the financial mechanics of their franchise model, the strategy behind bootstrapped regional expansion into Cambodia and Australia, and the operational challenge of maintaining strict quality control across a massive international network.

Inside Malaysia's Multi-Million Ringgit Preschool Empire

Every single day, millions of students step onto a school bus and embark on what is largely an "invisible journey." For the hour they are on the road, parents are left guessing, schools have limited oversight, and drivers are forced to manage routes using paper registers and endless WhatsApp messages. Despite moving our most valuable assets, the school transport sector has remained surprisingly untouched by modern logistics technology.



Bus Buddy is stepping in to digitize this blind spot. Backed by the synergy of a 40-year-old traditional bus company and the tech firm Asia Mobiliti, Bus Buddy is a child-centric mobility platform connecting families, schools, and transporters.



CEO Samuel Yee joins us to talk about the business of student mobility, how growing up in a traditional school bus family inspired a highly scalable SaaS platform, and the ambitious Phase 2 roadmap to become a massive aggregator for child-friendly transport.

Every single day, millions of students step onto a school bus and embark on what is largely an "invisible journey." For the hour they are on the road, parents are left guessing, schools have limited oversight, and drivers are forced to manage routes using paper registers and endless WhatsApp messages. Despite moving our most valuable assets, the school transport sector has remained surprisingly untouched by modern logistics technology.Bus Buddy is stepping in to digitize this blind spot. Backed by the synergy of a 40-year-old traditional bus company and the tech firm Asia Mobiliti, Bus Buddy is a child-centric mobility platform connecting families, schools, and transporters.CEO Samuel Yee joins us to talk about the business of student mobility, how growing up in a traditional school bus family inspired a highly scalable SaaS platform, and the ambitious Phase 2 roadmap to become a massive aggregator for child-friendly transport.

Origo Eco: Turning Farm Waste Into Straws, Shipping Pallets, and More

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