Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved away from that, atleast for now.

Supported by their fully-subscribed six-figure pre-Series A round and previous RM1.5 million seed round in 2021, Ouch launched its first in-house product - a digital takaful product called Pusara Pro, marking its entry into the takaful market as the first digital takaful operator in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Regulatory Sandbox.

On this episode of Open for Business, you will hear about what inspired this venture, how they’re going to compete with the sizable incumbents in the insurance space, and why they’ve decided to make their own in-house insurance products with CEO Shazy Noorazman.

Insurtech platform Ouch! started as a distribution platform for insurance products such as medical, motor, home, travel, and life, but has now moved away from that, atleast for now. Supported by their fully-subscribed six-figure pre-Series A round and previous RM1.5 million seed round in 2021, Ouch launched its first in-house product - a digital takaful product called Pusara Pro, marking its entry into the takaful market as the first digital takaful operator in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Regulatory Sandbox. On this episode of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/podcast?pseaid=240">Open for Business</a>, you will hear about what inspired this venture, how they’re going to compete with the sizable incumbents in the insurance space, and why they’ve decided to make their own in-house insurance products with CEO Shazy Noorazman.

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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.

Ouch! - Tackling The Pain Points of the Takaful Industry

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.

Putting the Yellow School Bus in Your Pocket

The Kuala Lumpur F&B industry can be brutal. Most trendy dining spots survive for two or three years before becoming obsolete. Yet, 14 years on, The Marini’s Group remains one of the city's most formidable, independently owned hospitality empires.



Founded by Modesto Marini and Elizabeth Hew-Marini, the group operates some of the most lucrative and iconic venues in the capital, including Marini’s on 57, the Michelin-selected steakhouse Marble 8, the Spanish-Nikkei concept Mesa on 51, and the high-energy nightclub, Müro. But beyond the glamour of celebrity guests and panoramic skyline views lies a highly disciplined business operation.



Elizabeth joins us to discuss the financial mechanics of ultra-premium hospitality, the unit economics of securing rooftop real estate, and why they have refused to hand their empire over to private equity.

The Kuala Lumpur F&amp;B industry can be brutal. Most trendy dining spots survive for two or three years before becoming obsolete. Yet, 14 years on, The Marini’s Group remains one of the city's most formidable, independently owned hospitality empires.Founded by Modesto Marini and Elizabeth Hew-Marini, the group operates some of the most lucrative and iconic venues in the capital, including Marini’s on 57, the Michelin-selected steakhouse Marble 8, the Spanish-Nikkei concept Mesa on 51, and the high-energy nightclub, Müro. But beyond the glamour of celebrity guests and panoramic skyline views lies a highly disciplined business operation.Elizabeth joins us to discuss the financial mechanics of ultra-premium hospitality, the unit economics of securing rooftop real estate, and why they have refused to hand their empire over to private equity.

Ouch! - Tackling The Pain Points of the Takaful Industry

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