How did a Silicon Valley property play become a global corporate innovation driver and VC firm? In this episode of Open For Business, Jojo Flores, Co-Founder of Plug and Play, shares how a Silicon Valley real estate play in 2006/2007 has turned into a global innovation platform and early-stage startup investor. Plug and Play now operates across 50+ locations, running accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and a venture capital firm.



We discuss their journey, expansion into APAC, and their perspective on the future of innovation in the region. Key points we dive into include:

- The story behind the founding of Plug and Play and its early beginnings in real estate.

- How Plug and Play became a hub for startups like Dropbox, Lending Club, and PayPal.

- The role of corporate partnerships in Plug and Play’s accelerator and innovation programs.

- Plug and Play’s investment strategy and how they choose the startups they invest in.

- The expansion into Southeast Asia and insights on Malaysia’s innovation potential.

How did a Silicon Valley property play become a global corporate innovation driver and VC firm? In this episode of Open For Business, Jojo Flores, Co-Founder of Plug and Play, shares how a Silicon Valley real estate play in 2006/2007 has turned into a global innovation platform and early-stage startup investor. Plug and Play now operates across 50+ locations, running accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and a venture capital firm.We discuss their journey, expansion into APAC, and their perspective on the future of innovation in the region. Key points we dive into include:- The story behind the founding of Plug and Play and its early beginnings in real estate.- How Plug and Play became a hub for startups like Dropbox, Lending Club, and PayPal.- The role of corporate partnerships in Plug and Play’s accelerator and innovation programs.- Plug and Play’s investment strategy and how they choose the startups they invest in.- The expansion into Southeast Asia and insights on Malaysia’s innovation potential.

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.

Plug and Play: From Property Deal to Corporate Innovation Driver

Today on Open For Business, Augustine Edwards talks about how he founded AES Academy. From a kid fascinated by loudspeakers his brother gave him, he turned his passion into a full-blown career, mastering the art of audio engineering. AES Academy is a launchpad for the next wave of audio wizards, blending technical expertise with creative innovation. He shares the ups and downs of starting an academy, the evolving audio scene in Malaysia and the future prospects of the audio engineering field.

Today on Open For Business, Augustine Edwards talks about how he founded AES Academy. From a kid fascinated by loudspeakers his brother gave him, he turned his passion into a full-blown career, mastering the art of audio engineering. AES Academy is a launchpad for the next wave of audio wizards, blending technical expertise with creative innovation. He shares the ups and downs of starting an academy, the evolving audio scene in Malaysia and the future prospects of the audio engineering field.

The Art Behind The Sound

BookXcess began in 2007 with just 5,000 remaindered books. Today, it’s on track to hit RM100 million in sales, working directly with publishers to fulfil its mission of making books more affordable and accessible.



In 2009, Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng launched the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, which has since become a global cultural phenomenon and has expanded to 37 cities in 14 countries, attracting 3 million visitors annually and selling over 15 million books.



From nearly going out of business during the pandemic, the company has rebounded, now operating over 22 outlets nationwide and 3 more in Singapore. In 2023, they achieved USD$4 million in profits and are set to surpass RM100 million in revenue this year, with plans to explore an IPO in 2026.



In this conversation, we explore:

- Andrew’s journey in building these two iconic brands. 

the business model behind BookXcess and how they are working with publishers to play the high volume game

- Why BookXcess takes the risk of owning the books they sell instead of using consignment.

the challenges they’ve faced, including the logistical challenges of moving millions of books.

- How BookXcess is innovating with store designs and layouts, BookBots, “blind dates” with books, and more.

- Andrew’s vision for the future of BookXcess and Big Bad Wolf as they continue to grow in an evolving market.

BookXcess began in 2007 with just 5,000 remaindered books. Today, it’s on track to hit RM100 million in sales, working directly with publishers to fulfil its mission of making books more affordable and accessible.In 2009, Andrew Yap and Jacqueline Ng launched the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, which has since become a global cultural phenomenon and has expanded to 37 cities in 14 countries, attracting 3 million visitors annually and selling over 15 million books.From nearly going out of business during the pandemic, the company has rebounded, now operating over 22 outlets nationwide and 3 more in Singapore. In 2023, they achieved USD$4 million in profits and are set to surpass RM100 million in revenue this year, with plans to explore an IPO in 2026.In this conversation, we explore:- Andrew’s journey in building these two iconic brands. the business model behind BookXcess and how they are working with publishers to play the high volume game- Why BookXcess takes the risk of owning the books they sell instead of using consignment.the challenges they’ve faced, including the logistical challenges of moving millions of books.- How BookXcess is innovating with store designs and layouts, BookBots, “blind dates” with books, and more.- Andrew’s vision for the future of BookXcess and Big Bad Wolf as they continue to grow in an evolving market.

The Big Bad Wolf of Book Sales: How BookXcess Built a 9-Figure Powerhouse

No entrepreneur left behind? That seems to be the driving force behind GUIDE, an early-stage venture studio and advisory firm founded by Neil Cheong and Alvin Chin.



In this episode of Open for Business, we explore how GUIDE aims to provide venture education, hands-on support, and mentorship to founders and entrepreneurs, all while building a scalable business for themselves.



We delve into their transition from Ignition Chamber to GUIDE, their unique approach to advisory services, and their ambition to grow a content-driven business that supports a thriving entrepreneurial community.



Key Areas of Conversation:

- Founder Support: GUIDE’s focus on early-stage businesses, offering education, mentorship, and ecosystem-building support.

- Evolution from Ignition Chamber: The formation of GUIDE and why they’re focusing on content to scale their business.

- Business Model & Scalability: How GUIDE balances advisory services with a scalable educational membership model.

- 1% Equity Model: GUIDE’s innovative equity-based fee structure to support founders.

- Future Vision: GUIDE’s plans to scale founder programs and foster a vibrant entrepreneurial community.

No entrepreneur left behind? That seems to be the driving force behind GUIDE, an early-stage venture studio and advisory firm founded by Neil Cheong and Alvin Chin.In this episode of Open for Business, we explore how GUIDE aims to provide venture education, hands-on support, and mentorship to founders and entrepreneurs, all while building a scalable business for themselves.We delve into their transition from Ignition Chamber to GUIDE, their unique approach to advisory services, and their ambition to grow a content-driven business that supports a thriving entrepreneurial community.Key Areas of Conversation:- Founder Support: GUIDE’s focus on early-stage businesses, offering education, mentorship, and ecosystem-building support.- Evolution from Ignition Chamber: The formation of GUIDE and why they’re focusing on content to scale their business.- Business Model &amp; Scalability: How GUIDE balances advisory services with a scalable educational membership model.- 1% Equity Model: GUIDE’s innovative equity-based fee structure to support founders.- Future Vision: GUIDE’s plans to scale founder programs and foster a vibrant entrepreneurial community.

Plug and Play: From Property Deal to Corporate Innovation Driver

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