Founded in 2001 with just RM10,000 in savings and RM110,000 borrowed from friends and family, Symbiotica Specialty Ingredients has grown into a major Malaysian manufacturer, exporting active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to 70 countries. After 23 years of organic growth, the company entered a new chapter in 2024 when Ekuinas acquired an 80% stake.

Founder and CEO Ajoy Gopinath Prabhu joins us to share his 24-year journey. He discusses how Symbiotica carved a niche in the high-value steroid market, the rigorous path to US FDA approval, and why he chose to partner with private equity to professionalise the family business for its next phase of growth.

Ajoy has been nominated for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Malaysia Awards in the Master Entrepreneur Category, alongside other notable figures like Dato' Davis Chong (Solarvest), Datuk Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed of Uzma Bhd, and ZUS Coffee founders Ian Chua and Venon Tian.

We discuss:

• The journey from a RM10K trading startup to a RM125M manufacturer.

• How Symbiotica competes globally with giants from India and China.

• The rigorous process of achieving US FDA and international certifications.

• Why the founders sold an 80% stake to Ekuinas after 23 years.

• The transition from an owner-operated family business to a corporatised entity.