Gu On is not your average Korean BBQ joint. Launched in July 2023, the brand specialises in traditional Korean smoked meats, rich bone broths, and modern interpretations of Korean classics. But what truly sets Gu On apart is its rapid growth model. By leveraging a strategic "intrapreneurial" partnership and utilising a pre-existing central kitchen, founder Shuen Kuan bypassed the gruelling early-stage operational hurdles most F&B startups face. In less than two years, Gu On has scaled to three premium locations—including The Exchange TRX and The Starling—and generates combined annual revenues in the 8-figure range.



Shuen Kuan joins us in the studio to unpack the realities of scaling a multi-million ringgit restaurant group at lightning speed, as well as the massive roadblock currently paralysing their growth: Malaysia's severe F&B labour crisis. With foreign worker quotas frozen and local hiring pools shrinking for non-halal establishments, we explore what happens when a highly profitable brand has the capital to expand, but literally cannot find the manpower to do it.

Gu On is not your average Korean BBQ joint. Launched in July 2023, the brand specialises in traditional Korean smoked meats, rich bone broths, and modern interpretations of Korean classics. But what truly sets Gu On apart is its rapid growth model. By leveraging a strategic "intrapreneurial" partnership and utilising a pre-existing central kitchen, founder Shuen Kuan bypassed the gruelling early-stage operational hurdles most F&amp;B startups face. In less than two years, Gu On has scaled to three premium locations—including The Exchange TRX and The Starling—and generates combined annual revenues in the 8-figure range.Shuen Kuan joins us in the studio to unpack the realities of scaling a multi-million ringgit restaurant group at lightning speed, as well as the massive roadblock currently paralysing their growth: Malaysia's severe F&amp;B labour crisis. With foreign worker quotas frozen and local hiring pools shrinking for non-halal establishments, we explore what happens when a highly profitable brand has the capital to expand, but literally cannot find the manpower to do it.

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.