Founded in 2025 by Fatima Rizwan, Okara is a Private AI Chat platform with a mission to deliver private, fast and secure chat experiences through open-source models built on a foundation of uncompromising data privacy.
As Fatima explains, she has a strong belief that using AI shouldn't mean giving up...
If you need to tell your employees that your team-building activity is “mandatory,” you’ve already lost the room.
And if the experience itself feels like a glorified icebreaker or a page torn from a corporate playbook, your people won’t just tune out. They’ll walk away unchanged. The post-activity photos might...
Datuk William Ng is well known in Malaysia for his tireless efforts to champion SMEs. The National President of SAMENTA (Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia), Malaysia’s oldest SME organisation, his advocacy for a pro-SME regulatory environment and productivity-linked incentives has shaped numerous national conversations and policies.
He is...
Filipino small businesses continue to stand out as among the most dynamic in the Asia Pacific region, with 77 per cent reporting growth in 2024 and 89 per cent expecting to expand this year.
These key findings are from the latest Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey conducted by CPA Australia. This bullish...
In 1991, Mr Gurcharan Singh left the Singapore Armed Forces to help his wife with her hawker stall at Tanjong Pagar. There, the couple sold a small variety of Northern Indian favourites.
As the store grew in popularity, customers made requests for other dishes which helped the couple expand their...
When Welson Ang left the Navy in 2004, he was facing tough times, experiencing financial constraints during the SARS outbreak, a period when opportunities were scarce and the economy was uncertain. “I knew I needed to support my family, but I didn’t have much to start with,” he shares.
From...
Hitting 100 clients is a milestone. It’s proof that your product resonates and your go-to-market engine works. But for many startups, it’s also where things start to unravel. That’s because what got you to 100 won’t get you to 1,000.
If you keep operating like that same startup, you’ll outgrow...
The ASEAN Foundation, in collaboration with TikTok Shop, has launched the ASEAN SOAR (Supporting Our Artisans and Retailers) Together program.
This initiative aims to empower 50 selected Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across ASEAN by providing tailored support in digital business that enables them to thrive and stand out in the global economy.
As...
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, staying competitive means adapting to new technologies that can drive efficiency and innovation. This is especially true for SMEs that often run on lean resources.
With AI revealing its transformative potential across the business landscape, how can SMEs leverage it for success? SME leaders...
Herbalife has released findings from its Asia Pacific Business of Wellness Survey, which revealed that despite concerns about the current state of the economy, more than three in five (63%) aspiring entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific plan to start a small business in the next 18 months.
In addition, there is positive sentiment for entrepreneurship with 59%...
