Australian alternative protein company Vow launched its cultivated quail meat, Quailia, yesterday (April 3) in Singapore after receiving regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Under the brand Forged, Quailia is described as an “entirely new cultivated meat” made from the cells of a Japanese quail.

According to an article by The Straits Times, co-founder and CEO George Peppou shared that the company wanted to create a product that was “distinctively different” from meat that consumers are already accustomed to, such as chicken, pork, or beef. 

“People have a general vibe of what quail tastes like, but they don’t have a very distinct impression of its taste as they would with other conventional types of meat,” explained Peppou.

He also shared that it took 15 months for the company to receive approval from the SFA for the sale of its cultivated quail as a food ingredient. The license will allow Vow to develop all kinds of quail-derived food products, including whole meat cuts, without further approval from the authorities.

The Forged Parfait will be available to the public for tasting at Mori restaurant from April 12 to 27, as part of a S$289 seven-course omakase menu with alcoholic drink pairings.

According to Forged’s website, the brand will be announcing its first restaurant collaboration in May this year and has plans to launch new flavours down the road.

Doesn’t want to compete in taste with “real meat”

Quailia is currently produced in Sydney, where scientists start by taking a small sample of cells from a Japanese quail species and isolating the cells that contribute to the parfait’s taste and texture.

These cells are then cultured in a bioreactor – a stainless steel tank similar to the ones found in a brewery. To bring out the “gaminess of quail”, ingredients including butter, seasoning and cognac are added to make the parfait.

Unlike many cultivated meat companies, Vow does not intend to replace agricultural-grown meats with their products. In a self-written article, Peppou pointed out the challenges that many of Vow’s predecessors experienced in changing consumer behaviours with their alternative proteins.

You’re not going to change consumer behaviour by offering them something which is a similar enough version of what they already consume.

Externalities like sustainability or animal ethics are not enough for us to change our behaviours for very long, despite what we’d like to believe. This is why plant-based alternatives have plateaued in sales in the past three years; the ethical or moral motivations aren’t reason enough to get meat-eaters to forgo a thing they love, and any alternative is fighting against a lifetime of experience on what chicken is and isn’t.

George Peppou, co-founder and CEO of Vow in a written article on Medium

Over the past few years, the cultivated meat industry has started out with much fanfare. However, many alternative protein companies have plateaued and been unable to achieve commercial success.

A notable case in Singapore would be Shiok Meats, who garnered media attention for their cell-based siew mai and cultivated crustacean products. The food-tech startup has shared that they were unable to scale their production process and experienced high turnover rates as a result.

In March this year, the company merged with another Singapore-based startup, Umani Bioworks (previously known as Umami Meats), to spur regulatory approvals and launch its products into the market.

Despite the industry’s scrutiny, Peppou shared that he has remained confident in the firm’s commercial viability through its “one-of-a-kind” products.

The firm previously raised US$49.2 million in Series A funding in 2022, where the funds will be used to build their second factory facility and bring their products to the market.

Vow was also the mastermind behind the “mammoth meatball,” which went viral last year because it was created using the DNA of the extinct mammoth. While the meatball was not made for consumption, the firm also boldly stated the “potential of cultured meat from many different perspectives.”

Whether it is blind optimism or a new breakthrough in the cultivated meats industry, only time can tell the success of Vow and Forged.

Featured Image Credit: Square Peg Capital, Vow

Grab will be discontinuing their GrabPay digital and physical cards from June 1, 2024 onwards.

In an announcement on its website, the mobility and tech giant stated that users will no longer be able to make online and offline transactions with their digital or physical GrabPay cards from June this year. The company will also not be accepting new card applications starting in April.

Grab stated that the decision came after evaluating its existing financial services, where they saw higher adoption of other Grab offerings, including PayLater by Grab and GrabPay e-wallets. They have also expressed their ambition to refine their fintech offerings to provide better user experiences.

We thank our customers for their support of GrabPay Card over the last few years, and remain committed to serving our customers and partners through other financial offerings on the platform.

Grab via their announcement on their website

As the discontinuation will only be effective from June this year, Grab has stated that users can continue to use their GrabPay Card to earn GrabRewards points on all eligible online and in-store transactions in Singapore and overseas until May 31. The number of points earned from transactions after the discontinuation will not change.

Card replacement requests can still be made until the end of April, and users who have yet to activate their physical cards may continue to do so until May 31.

Grab will also continue with ongoing transaction disputes until September 30.

The news of the GrabPay card discontinuation comes after the company’s largest round of layoffs in June last year and the winding-down of its investment arm, GrabInvest.

A look back to “Asia’s first numberless card”

GrabPay cards were launched in Singapore in 2019, with Grab touting it to be “Asia’s first numberless card”.

This came following their partnership with Mastercard, which allows users, including those without bank accounts, to pay at 53 million merchants that accept Mastercard cards.

GrabPay cards were an extension of the GrabPay e-wallets, which it was designed to “address major security concerns users associate with transacting both online and offline”.

Many Singaporean fintech players have since launched their own digital cards, notably Trust Bank with their Trust Supplementary card and GXS Bank with their line of debit cards.

It is worth noting that these two digital banks have been refining and expanding their digital finance products and services in recent months, which has increased the competition for Grab and their GrabPay cards.

Featured Image Credit: Grab

About three quarters of Singapore is a no-fly-zone. That means people who fly their drones here without applying for a permit would get fined heavily and may even go to jail. 

At the same time, empty fields or other available places are often being replaced by housing or other development.

All this paired with the high cost of drone equipment as well as the steep learning curve, the barrier to start drone-flying in Singapore is huge.

The activity becomes less and less approachable to the regular person, drones get shelved, and the number of active recreational drone pilots remains low. 

A company that seeks to address this gap is FPV (First Person View) Drone videos and photography specialists, ThrottleUp Creation (ThrottleUp).

Throttling into the industry

Deciding that he had worked enough as a business consultant, Tong (also known as Pilot Tong) decided to look for something fun and challenging to do. He ended up finding his answer in drones, obtaining his Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Licence (UAPL) before delving into FPV drones.

“I was shocked that as a licensed drone pilot I was not able to fly a FPV drone. I would crash immediately after taking off,” he recalled. “I set my mind to tame this beast and I was determine to learn flying FPV.”

After mastering the skill, Tong has been focused on FPV filming and coaching.

“I feel that in our modern world drone piloting is a life skill, just like cycling and driving,” he said. “It can be more than a hobby, a special identity as a FPV pilot, a career, and it can also save lives.”

Aside from coaching and FPV photography and videography, ThrottleUp also has offerings including The Cage (a mobile enclosure for experiential drone-flying), Drone Tours, and the Flight Club.

All these serve to let the team create more opportunities for drone-flying, given Singapore’s limited airspace. 

“Drone has been promoted by corporates and the government as the future. It is included as part of the smart nation strategy. Yet there are fewer and fewer places where the public can fly drones for recreation,” Tong pointed out.

“We hope with our initiatives we can curate more conducive places for drone-flying and gather a community of aspiring drone pilots.”

Welcome to the flight club

After curating places suitable for drone-flying, ThrottleUp launched Flight Club for drone pilots to come together as a motivation to fly more.

“We become better pilots when flying with others whom we can learn from,” Tong said.

While there other casual hobby groups who gather a few people to fly in the country, Flight Club seems to go the extra mile. They tend to provide more conducive places, such as places with toilets, shelter, electricity for charging, setting up drone gates for racing practice, a drone racing timing system, and more.

Tong added, “We also try to make arrangements to fly at exclusive places, so that we don’t need to worry about kids running into our flight path, Karens who will call the police on us, or crashing into someone walking their dogs, which are something we need to take care [with] when flying at public open fields.”

No licence or permit is needed to join them for recreational flying, as it’s not a legal requirement by CAAS (Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore).  

But of course, the Flight Club does have some criteria. For new members, they will need to pass a basic online test, and a practical assessment to ensure they can safely and legally operate their drones. 

“We will assess their competency and aptitude for safe operation, otherwise they will not be allowed to fly,” Tong explained.

And those who need help to improve their piloting skills can attend ThrottleUp’s courses, of course.

Members will need to own to fly their own drones too, which teaches them how to care for their own equipment—a requirement for being a drone pilot, Tong said.

Given all the no-fly zones in Singapore, one of the biggest challenges for Flight Club is finding conducive places to fly. As such, the team has made arrangements with a school to have exclusive usage of their space for flying sessions.

“We hope to have more of such partnerships who are supportive in growing the air-sports scene in Singapore,” Tong shared.

Flying into the tourism industry

Although the flight club just started this year, they already have about 50 members.

The registration fee to join Flight Club is S$240 per year. Flying meetups for these members go for S$50 for adults and S$25 for children (aged 12 and below).

Something else that ThrottleUp has been offering is drone tours, not just in Singapore but to countries like Japan and possibly Switzerland down the road. Tong believes ThrottleUp is probably a pioneer in terms of drone tours in the country.

“The concept is not new; it is similar to photography tour where people go around nice places to take photos. For us, we are flying the cameras,” he explained.

However, in addition to finding nice scenic places for the tour, the team also has to go through paperwork for permits and registrations to make sure the participants don’t break any laws when flying drones overseas. 

Developing the industry

Tong’s vision for ThrottleUp is to expand their business overseas by establishing franchises with business partners.

But overall, the core motivator seems to be to develop Singapore’s drone scene, evident through all the coaching services that the company provides. They’ve even collaborated with local institutes of higher learning to offer drone piloting and FPV courses to nurture new pilots.

“We are exploring opportunities with government agencies on future-oriented pedagogies in the Training and Adult Education ecosystem for the UAV industry,” he said.

They’ve already engaged with local and overseas research institutions, such as SIT and Yale University, in various R&D projects, including for biodiversity studies and wireless technologies. 

From construction to surveillance, it’s clear that the application of drones is increasing across many industries.

And starting with creative and recreational offerings, it seems that ThrottleUp is one of the players at the centre of this growing landscape.  

• Learn more about ThrottleUp Creations here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about startups here.

Featured Image Credit: ThrottleUp

Back in the early 2000s, NASA-funded scientists conducted an investigation into alternative protein sources to offer astronauts more palatable options on long space journeys.

The result? Lab-grown goldfish meat that “looked and smelled” exactly like fish.

The scientists didn’t go as far as tasting it, though. The cultivated meat hadn’t yet been certified as safe to eat, and concerns lingered about potential infectious agents from the foetal bovine serum used to grow it.

Fast forward to 2013, the cultivated meat industry saw another breakthrough after years of research when Dutch scientist Mark Post announced he had created the world’s first cultivated beef burger. The cultivated patty, which was painstakingly grown strand by strand in hundreds of plastic dishes, took two years to develop and cost a whopping US$332,000.

This breakthrough sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the sector: startups emerged, making bold proclamations and laying out aggressive product timelines. Investors too, fuelled by the promise and potential of this new innovation, poured millions of dollars into cultivated meat ventures.

In 2021, investment in cultivated meat companies topped US$1.36 billion, growing by over 300 per cent from the previous year. Among these companies is Californian firm Eat Just, one of the top funded startups in the industry, having raised around US$850 million since its founding in 2011.

Eat Just was also the first company in the world to gain approval to sell its lab-grown chicken nuggets to consumers in Singapore three years ago to much fanfare.

But despite cinching regulatory approval and having millions of dollars poured into the industry, lab-grown meat has yet to make its way onto grocery store shelves.

For years, companies have promised that commercially-viable lab-grown meat was right around the corner, however, repeated missed product launches and setbacks have eroded investor confidence in the space. From 2022 to 2023, total investment in the cultivated meat industry dipped by 78 per cent, from US$807 million to US$177 million.

And as funding dries up, cracks in the industry are becoming more apparent, with MIT Technology Review dubbing lab-grown meat as one of the “worst technology failures” of 2023.

How did an industry which once held so much promise falter so quickly?

Another expensive Silicon Valley mistake

At its current state, the cultivated meat industry is propped up more by wishful thinking than science.

Sure, the most basic part of the process, which involves growing a few living cells into many, is not new—pharmaceutical companies have routinely cultured animal cells at scale for decades for antibody and vaccine production, and the first vaccine developed for human use was made from duck embryonic cells.

However, this process typically produces undifferentiated cell biomass. To turn this into something edible, you’d have to blend it with plant-based ingredients, or alternatively, you could attempt something vastly more difficult: getting the animal cells to form into muscle-like tissue.

The former will limit you to the production of “minced” products, like chicken nuggets and meatballs, while the latter will enable you to create fully-structured meat, such as fillets and steaks. But even when it comes to the creation of processed, “minced” products, many startups have faltered—none have managed to achieve affordability and scalability to date.

Take Singapore food tech darling Shiok Meats, for instance. When the company showcased its first prototype in 2019—the world’s first cell-based siew mai—it was quickly shoved into the media spotlight, heralded as one of the up and coming food tech startups in both Singapore and Southeast Asia.

The company’s offerings were scheduled for commercial launch in 2023, but there was just one problem: the five shrimp dumplings it showcased had a whopping S$8,000 to S$10,000 price tag on them.

Shiok Meats eventually did manage to lower costs by swapping some of the pharmaceutical-grade ingredients used in the production of their cultivated shrimp (which accounted for 90 per cent of its price) for plant-based and edible ingredients two years later, but even then, its products still remained relatively expensive.

A kilogram of lab-grown shrimp meat now set the company back by S$5,000, bringing down the cost of each siew mai to S$150, and the company’s co-founder, Sandhya Sriram, was so sure that this could be further reduced to a “two- to three-digit number” by the start of 2021.

But that never happened. In 2023, Sandhya came out to share on LinkedIn that Shiok Meats was “unable to scale its crustacean stem cells into production” after facing allegations that its core technology did not work and losing half its staff six months prior.

Production pauses, contaminated cell lines, and failed experiments

Shiok Meats’ struggle to scale isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a reflection of broader industry-wide shortcomings.

Earlier this month, The Straits Times (ST) reported that the production of Eat Just’s cell-based meat, sold under the label Good Meat, had been put on pause. Its S$61 million Good Meat production facility in Bedok, which was initially slated to open in the third quarter of 2023, also appeared to be shuttered.

When Vulcan Post reached out to Eat Just regarding the pause in production, an Eat Just spokeswoman was quick to clarify that the company’s production in Singapore “had never been continuous”.

Eat Just’s production has always been more campaign style—our regular cadence since we began production in 2020 has been to produce and pause, produce and pause. There’s truly no news here; we are simply in a paused phase of production as we have been in the past, and we plan to resume production and service to consumers very soon.

– An Eat Just spokeswoman on the company’s reported pause in production

Even if that may be true, the lab grown meat company has had a history of encountering setbacks in its cultivated meat experiments.

Sometime in 2018, when Eat Just was exploring cell-based duck products like foie gras and duck chorizo, scientists ran a scan on the cells being used and found mouse cells, forcing Eat Just to scrap its duck products altogether.

Temasek-backed Upside Foods also found similar contaminants—rat cells, to be precise—in their cell lines back in 2019.

The company has made progress since the incident, opening a production factory to scale its offerings, but an article by MIT Technology Review in 2023 alleged that Upside Foods was still producing its textured chicken product by growing thin layers of chicken skin cells in laboratory flasks, which are then manually pressed into chicken pieces—versus growing the chicken breast products in their bioreactors.

Is cultivated meat truly environmentally friendly?

Looking at the state of the industry, it’s painfully obvious that the technology isn’t at all there yet—it just seems more like a story about optimism. What should’ve been left in academia has now seemingly turned into a waste of time and resources.

Yet, many of these companies still chase the idea that these cell-based meats are viable and ethical alternatives to slaughtering animals.

Beyond the ethical allure of lab-grown meat, it is often hailed as a sustainable alternative to raising livestock. Feeding animals on farms requires a lot of land and energy, both of which can produce carbon dioxide emissions. On a global average, one kilogram of beef can account for emissions roughly equivalent to 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Cultivated meat could potentially eliminate these environmental challenges as it requires less land, water and greenhouse gases. But according to researchers at the University of California, whether or not cultivated meat can deliver on its big climate promises still remains questionable.

In fact, they found the environmental impact of lab-grown meat to be “orders of magnitude” higher than retail beef based on current and near-term production methods.

This is because energy is required to run the reactors that house cultivated cells as they grow, which will likely involve the use of fossil fuels.

Sure, they could be replaced with renewables once they become widely available, but even then, the reactors, pipes, and other necessary equipment for production facilities often have associated emissions that are tough to eliminate entirely. In addition, animal cells need to be fed and cared for, and the supply chain involved in that also comes with emissions attached. 

Cultivated meat production can benefit Singapore’s economy

But be that as it may, Singapore still stands to reap significant economic benefits from lab-grown meat.

Given the nation’s land scarcity, cultivated meat could play a pivotal role in reducing the reliance on imported meat and address supply chain vulnerabilities. Presently, Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of its food from more than 180 countries and regions.

Although the government is working towards ramping up local food production to meet 30 per cent of the nation’s nutritional needs by 2030—up from less than 10 per cent currently—it falls short, especially when you consider that global demand for food is projected to increase by 50 per cent come 2050 with population growth.

Apart from this, with countries increasingly looking inwards and prioritising their needs over international trade following COVID-19, inflation and international security threats, deglobalisation poses additional challenges to Singapore’s food security, making investments in cultivated meat production even more strategically significant for the city-state’s economic resilience.

But these investments may never gain fruition, considering the current state of the industry.

Featured Image Credit: Lehigh University

In 2023 alone, many international coffee chains made their debut in Singapore, notably Indonesia’s Kenangan Coffee, Canada’s Tim Hortons and China’s Luckin Coffee, spurring the coffee craze in the city-state further.

As the industry becomes increasingly competitive and saturated, smaller coffee startups and chains need to be innovative with their product offerings to ensure long-term business sustainability.

With that, here are five homegrown coffee brands that are making waves with their one-of-a-kind coffee products.

1. Prefer

If you thought coffee could only be made with coffee beans, Singapore foodtech startup Prefer will prove you wrong.

Founded in 2022 by Jake Berber and Ding Jie Tan, Prefer aims to disrupt the coffee market by offering a new substitute: its “bean-free” coffee, which is created by fermenting excess bread, soy pulp and spent grain.

Jake Berber, co-founder and CEO of Prefer, explained that the demand and price of coffee are expected to increase exponentially over the years. However, by 2050, about 50 per cent of the land used to grow coffee will be unable to.

By leveraging food fermentation, he believes that Prefer can provide an affordable alternative to coffee that does not exacerbate climate change and food waste issues.

“We believe Prefer is the next generation of the commodity we know as coffee today,” shared Jake.

Unlike harvesting fresh coffee beans from plantations, which can take months to grow depending on the season, Ding Jie Tan, co-founder and CTO of Prefer, shared that their coffee grounds can be created within 48 hours with their fermentation technology.

Ding Jie added that Prefer’s coffee grounds are compatible with standard coffee machines. The company has since partnered with various F&B establishments, including Foreword Coffee Roasters and SaladStop!, that want to diversify their offerings for their customers.

The startup raised US$2 million in seed funding last month and plans to use the funds to expand its production facility and market reach in Southeast Asia.

2. Crown Digital

Two major ongoing issues faced by the Singapore F&B industry, especially the cafe scene, are high employee turnover rates and operating costs.

Coupled with the change in dining behaviours caused by the advent of technology and delivery apps, many establishments—including Crown Digital — have turned to automation to address these issues, hoping to increase their profit margins.

Crown Digital is an Internet of Things (IoT) startup and the brainchild of Singapore’s first robot barista, Ella.

Keith Tan, the founder of Crown Digital, shared that Ella is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to independently brew 200 cups of coffee per hour, which is about four times faster than a human barista.

In 2021, Ella made her first international appearance in Japan, serving coffee to busy commuters in Tokyo and Yokohama train stations until February 2022. The startup then launched another kiosk at Raffles Place station soon after.

Customers can order coffee through the one-stop mobile app and scan their unique QR code, which leads to a “pigeonhole” where they can collect their drinks. As of now, there are seven Ella machines in Singapore, notably at Changi Airport.

3. NO HARM DONE

We often get our kopi—the Malay word for coffee—fix at our local kopitiams or coffee shops. But Simon Lieberum, the German founder of NO HARM DONE, aims to revolutionise our kopi drinking experience with their local-flavoured coffee capsules.

Coffee capsules were first popular in Western countries and then expanded into the Asia-Pacific region, where they have become the fastest-growing market. However, most are packaged in unsustainable materials, leading to a potential extreme rise in global pod waste.

On a mission to provide Asian consumers with a sustainable Asian alternative to Western coffee for their capsule machines, NO HARM DONE was launched in 2018 with a bootstrapped capital of S$1,000.

Simon shared that all ingredients used are sourced from Asia, and their capsules are produced in Singapore. “There is no need for us to ship coffees around the globe when we have great Asian coffees with minimal environmental footprint,” he added.

NO HARM DONE’s coffee capsules are made with compostable pods and recycled boxes—an idea that was conceptualised after consulting with environmental consultants and industry experts.

The capsules are sold based on a subscription model in limited amounts to prevent wastage, with each pod costing as low as 54 cents. Their products are also sold in supermarkets and e-commerce sites, including Shoppee and Lazada.

4. Morning

Another startup with innovative coffee products is Morning, which created a coffee tech ecosystem for businesses and consumers.

Simply put, Morning provides a marketplace of the world’s best speciality coffee capsules and launched its coffee machine, Morning Machine, which has precision-brewing features.

Leon Foo, the co-founder of Morning, shared that the team borrowed product features from professional coffee equipment to widen the machine’s brewing parameters leveraging IoT, from temperature precision to pressure profiling.

The brand has announced that it will open its first brick-and-mortar store in May 2024 as one of the tenants in hospitality company Lo & Behold Group’s new lifestyle complex, New Bahru.

5. MAD coffee

As convenience has become a selling point, many coffee chains have introduced ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee products, creating another saturated market within the industry.

Singapore foodtech startup MAD Foods decided to create its take on the RTD cold brew trend by offering a 100 per cent plant-based and dairy-free canned coffee called MAD Coffee in 2019.

Unlike many RTD coffees that contain whole milk, MAD’s coffee is entirely made with oat milk sourced from Europe across all three variations: Decaf, Single Shot, and Double Shot. Their coffee cans are also made with BPA and plastic-free aluminium, keeping in line with their image as a sustainable brand.

The startup entered an exclusive partnership with 7-Eleven for its launch in Malaysia last year. Its products are currently sold in online and offline supermarkets, such as Cold Storage and GrabMart in Singapore.

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ANEXT Bank, a Singapore-based digital bank regulated by MAS, empowers startups with easy and accessible financing to fuel their business growth and expansion.

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Featured Image Credits: Prefer, MAD Coffee, Morning, Crown Digital

While somewhat niche, tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPG) have continued to have a lasting grip on pop culture. From the 2023 movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, to popular game shows like Dropout’s Dimension 20 and Critical Role, there’s clearly a sizeable market who play these games.

And a crucial part of these games are the dice.

Compared to your usual six-face dice, tabletop games’ dice can go up to 20 faces, making them rather specialised. And with this specialisation comes many artisanal and custom options in the market.  

Among these is Sambal & Mages, a Singaporean brand that’s putting its own local twist to their dice.

Coming together as a ragtag group of D&D lovers

Behind Sambal & Mages is a group of four—Amanda Tam, Iffah Rakinah, Wan Nur Fadhillah, and Yvonne Lee. Fittingly, they met through a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign.  

“Our buy-ins to the game were all slightly different, but it can be summarised by general geekdom,” the Sambal & Mages team explained.

For those who have never played, D&D is a highly customisable game, not just from a gameplay standpoint but also the game accessories that come with it.

“Being a game that has been around for so long, there are plenty of artisanal accessories available on the market, especially dice,” they said. “Players cherish their dice and will go to large extents to get sets that they feel represent their different characters.”

Mid-2021, Yvonne and Iffah thought of creating their own dice for Amanda and Wan’s birthdays.

They turned to online tutorials, but ended up essentially learning from scratch. This was because they couldn’t find anyone in Singapore, or Southeast Asia, really making artisanal dice.

Realising a gap in the market for artisan dice in the region, they decided to start Sambal & Mages.

Most dice-makers are based in the Western hemisphere, resulting in exorbitant shipping fees. And beyond offering a more economical option, they also wanted to put a local spin to their offering.

“The dice and our brand became a medium for sharing with D&D’s predominantly Caucasian community what we had to offer,” they explained.

“From dice inspired by Singapore’s fishing village history to coming up with prompts for Hari Raya-related D&D adventures, we knew that the space we were occupying could pave the way for even more Southeast Asian representation in D&D.”

Throwing the dice

As far as they’re aware, Sambal & Mages is Singapore’s first handmade dice maker.

They started out by bootstrapping, but later met a fellow D&D player who believed in their mission, and generously provided them a bit of startup capital.

Looking at the resin dice, you might think the process is relatively simplistic—at least I did. But I was sorely mistaken.

“Making dice isn’t like those hobby resin projects you see online,” the team said. “The 3D nature of dice required a whole different approach, and different moulds to boot. We couldn’t just pour resin into an open mould and leave it to cure. “

Instead of using a generic set of moulds bought online, they created masters to cast their unique dice. And after that, they had to battle with Singapore’s humidity to ensure the dice cured properly. 

“Typically, the entire process from start to finish takes about a week or so, depending on whether or not the resin decides to behave during the curing process,” they said.

Unable to find a pressure pot in Singapore, they ended up making one, sourcing components like valves and compressors one by one. Pressure pots are used to remove air bubbles in resin, leading to a clear result.

Balance and accuracy must also be considered to ensure the dice roll fair. For one, they must make sure the sanding and polishing is done evenly.

Sambal & Mages’ handmade dice sets go for S$150, while a single 50mm D20 die is S$80.

“The profit margins are unfortunately not very high seeing that our materials and resources are expensive to begin with,” they opened up.

However, the team struggles with increasing price points as accessibility and affordability are important to them.

Finding and fostering a global community

“The TTRPG community in Singapore is small but strong,” Sambal & Mages shared. “Just like the different races and classes in D&D, it’s also very, very diverse.”

Sambal & Mages further taps into this community at in-person events like SG Comic Con.

“As a ballpark, we see around 250% more profit at the con than any launch we would have done online,” they said.

Interestingly, team has received a lot of the demand and support not just locally, but from around the world.

As the community grows, though, so might competition. While Sambal & Mages claims to be the first artisan dice maker locally, they may very well not be the last.  

The team said that there are a few suppliers locally that offer factory-made dice, but when it comes to having a premium, artisanal product at the game table, they are the go-to brand.

“On a global level, with heaps of dice makers around the world, we offer the Southeast Asian perspective to the D&D universe,” they expressed. “We offer our grandmother’s stories, the flavours at our dinner table, and the colours on our streets.”

A one-stop hobby shop

Starting with dice, Sambal & Mages has now expanded to more offerings including earrings, necklaces, stickers, T-shirts, and more.

These expansions arose out of demand from friends and followers of the brand.

“Dice are really the ‘main character’ at the table when it comes to TTRPG, but there are so many products that a player can have that enriches their game for them,” the team said.

Going forward, the team is considering the possibility of becoming a one-stop shop for adventurers everywhere looking for a Southeast Asian spin on their TTRPG experience.

They elaborated, “This could extend beyond physical products into something like lore-writing, where we expand the D&D universe as we know it to include references from the region and offer a taste of what actual dungeons and mythical dragons look like on this side of the world.”

However, obstacles that stand in their way are time and energy—or the lack thereof.  

“Our main challenge so far has been to avoid burnout honestly. We’re in very rigorous industries outside of Sambal & Mages so it can be tough trying to find balance between paying the bills, working on what we love, and sleep.”

Still, the team persists, believing in the vision of Sambal & Mages. As the business grows, they might just be able to turn it into their full-time commitments.  

• Learn more about Sambal & Mages here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Sambal & Mages

If you’ve been in the creative space long enough, you’ve probably come across month-long international challenges before. 

For writers, there’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you’re challenged to write creatively throughout November. For musicians, there’s FAWM (February Album Writing Month) where you have to write a new song every other day. 

Artists, however, had a few to choose from like Inktober and Peachtober that are hosted annually in October.

How it works is you’re given thematic prompts for each day to create something artistic. The choice of medium is up to you, but the goal is to foster creativity. 

This was exactly what Eunice Chiong needed after an 8.5-year career in marketing. And little did she know, it would be the catalyst to her namesake business that focuses on LEGO art prints.

If not now then when?

Growing up, Eunice had always been drawn to creative pursuits. She’s dabbled in scrapbooking, illustrating, paper crafting, and hand lettering. 

She learnt these through attending online workshops or from YouTube. She would also frequent the library and devour art books, gleaning insights and techniques from established artists.

By deconstructing their techniques and experimenting with their styles, she learnt to put her own spin on things. Hence, helping her develop her own artistic voice.

But naturally, reality beckoned and her career occupied most of her day. This meant she had less time to properly pursue her passion for art.

Unhappy with this, the then-30-year-old made a leap of faith and quit her job. 

“I figured it was the opportune moment to do so before life starts throwing more responsibilities my way,” she shared. “I wanted to give my artistic dreams a shot while I still had the flexibility to do it.”

A challenge that opened new doors

It was during this career break that Eunice challenged herself to take on Peachtober. 

Wanting to push herself further, she sought out new art mediums to make it more exciting. That’s when she stumbled upon a viral Instagram reel by Eric Schwarz showcasing his LEGO printmaking artworks. 

One look and she knew it was the perfect avenue to pursue her month-long artistic journey.

Having primarily focused on digital art before this, she was drawn to the tactile nature of LEGO printmaking. It offered a welcomed break from staring at a screen and provided a refreshing hands-on experience.

Determining the medium was the easy part. By the time she had all the supplies, she only had three days left before Peachtober started. So you could say she was jumping in at the deep end.

But they say practice makes perfect, which was exactly what Eunice was banking on. 

Making use of good opportunities

For 31 days straight, she worked on her LEGO printmaking skills. 

Her process became refined, and her techniques significantly improved in a short period of time. And before she knew it, she had somewhat mastered the craft by the end of Peachtober.

At the same time, she noticed that this art form hadn’t been widely explored locally. 

Motivated and confident in her new crafts, Eunice began selling all the LEGO prints she made for the challenge. It helped to cover the cost of materials and allowed her to build a stronger bond with her community of followers.

Thus, marking the debut of her online art shop. Her artwork sells for SG$40 to SG$45, and customers can order them from her website.

Initially, the first batches were produced in limited pieces of up to six art prints per design. But she’s since shifted to making it upon order in 2024. 

For each month, she’s creating a new LEGO printmaking artwork to keep things fresh. Among the prints released so far, ‘You Are My Lobster’ that was introduced last month, has garnered significant attention. 

It’s all about putting your own spin

Having stalked her profile, I found that Eunice also shares Instagram reels of her LEGO printmaking process. Which led me to wonder if it impacted her sales.

It doesn’t look too hard to replicate and the materials can be found both online and offline. So what’s stopping someone from using the reels as DIY tutorials?

To this, she explained that it’s similar to other art forms. Some people like to try it for themselves, while others might just want to buy the end product as it’s less tedious.

“LEGO printmaking is just another avenue for creativity. Many artists have explored this medium before me, and it’s all about how you put your own spin on it,” Eunice shared.

“Rather than hindering me, sharing my process has proven to be beneficial. It fosters a stronger connection with my audience and reinforces their support for my work, plus I love that it helps people explore their creativity.”

Having learnt the craft through videos herself, though, she can attest that it’s not as easy as it seems at first glance.

Taking it one step at a time

Having only started less than a year ago, Eunice’s art shop is still in its infancy. 

And she doesn’t really view it as a formal business, but rather another opportunity to share her crafts while she’s on her creative journey. 

So, financially, it’s not on the same level as her previous corporate salary. But she shared that the art sales are enough to sustain this endeavour, with her earnings continually being reinvested in it.

It also helps that she has previously accumulated savings and has the support of her husband, she shared.

In the short term, Eunice is eager to teach more people about the craft of LEGO printmaking. Whether that be through online tutorials or in-person workshops, she’s keen on spreading the art form to a larger audience.

As for the future of her career, Eunice said, “I’m not ruling out a return to the corporate world, it’s always a possibility.”

“However, for now, I’m committed to exploring the potential of my art and seeing how far I can take it. I’m keeping an open mind to whatever opportunities come my way and will adapt my plans accordingly.”

• Learn more about Eunice Chiong here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Eunice Chiong

[This is a sponsored article with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.]

Known for its technological advancements, attractive investment prospects, and skilled workforce, Japan has long been associated with major corporations and well-established industries. 

Yet, the cultural factors in the workforce such as a preference for stable employment and being risk-averse have impeded entrepreneurship and innovation in Japan, according to the same source. 

This seems to be shifting though, as there has been a noticeable trend in recent years towards fostering a more entrepreneurial and inventive atmosphere.

Did you know: Japan was reported to have over 2,107 startups in 2022. 

That same year, the country reportedly had at least 11 unicorn startups. 

StartupBlink, Statista

Recently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) set a goal to increase its number of startups, unicorns, and collaborative projects between governments and businesses by 10 times.

One way it’s doing so is by welcoming more foreign startups, such as those from Malaysia and Singapore, to seize business opportunities and expand their companies to Tokyo. 

What makes Tokyo an attractive location for startups?

Startup cities like Tokyo function as a vibrant hub for innovation, knowledge sharing, and investment opportunities.

Not only can it cultivate a sense of community, but it can also provide a platform for entrepreneurs to forge strategic partnerships, which can significantly accelerate their growth and success in Japan.

The Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) is built by TMG to foster this culture of collaboration and networking amongst startups, especially those in their early stages. 

The space is designed for hosting regular industry events, meetups, and conferences, offering valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to connect and exchange ideas.

Meanwhile, players like Invest Tokyo provide startups with access to free consulting and R&D support. 

Here, startups can be mentored in conducting market analysis, finding the right business partner for their businesses, fundraising, and more.

Invest Tokyo can also help Malaysian and Singaporean entrepreneurs expand to Japan with subsidy programmes offered by TMG, as well as regulatory concerns such as Visa and residency support.

Another thing that makes Tokyo an attractive hub for startups that should not be overlooked is the country’s availability of a skilled and talented workforce.

Renowned universities and research institutions within Japan’s cities can act as talent pipelines, supplying startups with the human resources they need to drive innovation and scale their operations.

How you can find product-market fit in Japan

TMG told Vulcan Post that startups that are abundant in Malaysia and Singapore have opportunities to find product-market fit in Tokyo. 

Japan’s emphasis on sustainable development also opens strategic avenues for APAC startups to venture into cleantech, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility.

And to connect APAC startups to business opportunities in Japan’s business network, the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 conference will be held.

An abbreviation for “Sustainable High City Tech”, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 is a one-month event from April 27 to May 26 consisting of three programs: Global Startup Programme, City Leaders Programme, and Showcase Programme.

The Global Startup Programme is scheduled to be held on May 15 and 16, 2024.

The event is aimed at collaborating with startups keen on solving social issues including environmental urban challenges in the nation. 

More specifically, the conference will host sessions that discuss the vision of a sustainable future from various perspectives, including infrastructure, environment, living, as well as culture and impact.

There will also be a pitch contest where the winner will receive a cash prize of JPY10 million (RM318,141.17). Supplementary prizes like business matching opportunities are expected to be offered to startups with promising pitches as well.

Taking place both physically and online, the conference is expected to host over 40,000 participants to connect Japan with the global ecosystem and attract investment opportunities.

Tickets to the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 conference are currently available, and online participation is free.

Ultimately, the future of Japan’s startup ecosystem is promising, particularly for APAC startups ready to take on a global market.

• Learn more about Tokyo Innovation Base here, Invest Tokyo here, and SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 here.
• Read other articles on Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Singapore carpool startup Ryde has just announced its IPO listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today (March 6).

This follows their announcement in September last year, where they expressed their goal to raise US$17 million for their IPO. In a news report by BNN, this decision represents a strategic move for the ride-hailing company in expanding its innovative transportation and delivery services to a broader market.

Ryde was founded in 2014 by Terence Zou as a carpooling app, it has raised S$1 million from a venture capital company two years since their inception. They subsequently received an additional S$2.5 million to support their service expansion efforts in 2017.

The startup has also previously entered into a partnership with ComfortDelGro in 2017, and acquired Singapore logistics provider Meili Technologies last year.

Challenges ahead for Ryde despite the IPO

But the path ahead might be extremely challenging for the homegrown startup. According to disclosed financial statements, Ryde has incurred a net loss of S$4.96 million for the 2022 financial year despite raising approximately S$8.8 million in revenue.

In their preliminary prospectus, the company has also stated in they may not be able to continue raising sufficient capital or achieve profitability as it is dependent to reduce the amount of driver partner and consumer incentives paid relative to the commissions and fees they receive for their services.

The prospectus also stated that the startup is also facing doubt from auditors, who questioned the sustainability of the business.

Amidst stiff competition from other ride-hailing applications, notably Grab, Ryde has spent almost S$2 million on marketing efforts to differentiate itself. It has managed to increase the number of unique active users by 17,000 for the 2022 financial year.

Despite their best efforts, Ryde still has a long way to go to catch up with their competitors, as Grab reported 32.7 million unique monthly transacting users for that same year. According to an article by Tech In Asia, Ryde commands 2.5 per cent of the mobility industry, making them the fifth-largest player in the sector.

The startup has since expanded its range of services and is working towards becoming a “super mobility app.” With the proceeds from the IPO, Ryde has earmarked funds for marketing and growth beyond Singapore, as they hope to explore potential markets in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

However, in the light of many tech layoffs in recent months, the tech industry has been experiencing many uncertainties and pressure, hinting that Ryde’s IPO might not be as smooth-sailing as they thought.

Featured Image Credit: Ryde

With Ramadan fast approaching, we’re sure many of our Muslim readers are looking forward to a new month of reflection and prayer. Along with that, Ramadan is also a time to embrace community. 

And what better way to do this than to break your fast with friends, family, or colleagues? 

To ease the burden of your research, we’ve compiled a list of 10 hotels in the Klang Valley that are serving Ramadan buffets for less than RM100 per pax, to cater to those looking for more affordable options. 

1. Adamson Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Adamson Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a shariah-compliant hotel with about 90 rooms. 

For Ramadan this year, the hotel is offering a spread of more than 100 dishes as part of its “Citarasa Senandung Asli” buffet. This includes kambing golek, sup tulang kambing, bubur lambuk, and lemang.

If you’re a guest at the hotel, you’re entitled to its early bird rates where you save about RM10. If you purchase seats for nine adults, you can get one seat for free. 

Accessibility-wise, you can get there by stopping at the Chow Kit Monorail station, followed by a short 8-minute walk.

Buffet rates:

• Early Bird (book before March 15) – RM68 for adults, RM40 for children aged 6 to 12
• Normal – RM80 for adults, RM50 for children

Buffet period: March 16 to April 7, 2024, from 6:30PM to 9:30PM

How to book: Contact 012-230 9505 / 011-2855 6455 / 012-385 8583

Address: 79, Lorong Haji Hussein 2, Off Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 KL 

2. Crystal Crown Hotel Kuala Lumpur 

Established in 2007, Crystal Crown Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a 3-star hotel catering to families and business travellers. Located in the heart of the city, it’s within quick access to tourist spots such as Batu Caves.

To celebrate the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the hotel is hosting its “Tradisi Warisan Ramadan” buffet. There, you’ll find staples like rendang, ketupat, lemang, and various kuih-muih. 

As part of its promotion, you’ll gain one free seat with every purchase of 10. This purchasing offer is available between March 9 to April 8, 2024. Its early bird rates also save you about RM10.

Buffet rates:

• Early Bird (book before March 8) – RM70 for adults, RM40 for children aged 6 to 12, RM55 for senior citizens aged 60 and above
• Normal – RM80 for adults, RM50 for children aged 6 to 12, RM60 for senior citizens aged 60 and above

Buffet period: March 14 to April 8, 2024

How to book: Contact 03-6259 4422 / 016-323 8188

Address: No. 3, Jalan Jambu Mawar, Off Jalan Kepong, 52000 KL

3. Hilton Garden Inn Kuala Lumpur

As the name suggests, Hilton Garden Inn Kuala Lumpur is under the multinational Hilton Worldwide Holdings hospitality group. 

With views of the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower, it’s located in the Chow Kit district and happens to be a 5-minute walk from the monorail station.

This fasting month, the hotel’s “Merentasi Tradisi: Sajian Dulu dan Kini” buffet is serving buka puasa classics that will “tickle your nostalgia”. Combining old recipes with modern twists, you’ll find dishes like grilled lamb leg, sotong tumis sambal belacan, and sup kawah meletop.

According to its Facebook post, customers who carpool or take public transport can also get a 15% discount by providing receipts as proof.

Buffet rates:

• Monday to Thursday – RM78 for adults, RM39 for children below 12 years old
• Friday to Sunday – RM98 for adults, RM49 for children below 12 years old

Buffet period: March 10 to April 9, 2024, from 6:30PM to 10PM

How to book: Contact +603-2771 6888 / KULMY_FB@Hilton.com

Address: 452, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Chow Kit, 50100 KL.

4. Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur

An InterContinental Hotels Group accommodation, Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur is situated in the city centre’s Golden Triangle. The brand markets itself as being designed for both leisure and business.

Located in Jalan Raja Chulan, it’s a 3-minute walk from Raja Chulan Monorail Station and a 7-minute walk from Bukit Bintang MRT Station.

Holiday Inn Express KL’s Ramadan offering is available for dine-in at its in-house restaurant. The place will be serving its “Jom Singgah Iftar” Ramadan buffet that’s complete with roasted lamb and biryani.  

Buffet rates:

• Early bird price (book before March 13) – RM68 for adults
• Normal price – RM88 for adults

Buffet period: March 15 to April 7, 2024, from 6PM to 10PM

How to book: Contact 012-394 4583 / sales.kulcc@ihg.com

Address: No. 84, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 KL

5. ibis Styles Kuala Lumpur Sri Damansara 

Another international name, ibis Styles Kuala Lumpur Sri Damansara is a premium economy hotel with modern facilities. Suitable for business and leisure travellers, the hotel is within walking distance to the Sri Damansara Barat MRT station.

Celebrating the month of Ramadan, its Streats Cafe is preparing a dinner buffet called “Nostalgia Ramadan”. As the theme suggests, you can expect to find many of the dishes being locally inspired. 

Buffet rates:

• Early bird price (book before March 13) – RM58 for adults, RM38 for children aged 6 to 12, RM48 for senior citizens
• Normal price – RM68 for adults, RM48 for children aged 6 to 12, RM58 for senior citizens

Buffet period: March 13 to April 6, 2024 

How to book: Contact 03-6287 0700 / H9216-RE@accor.com

Address: No. 5, Jalan Cempaka SD12/5, Bandar Sri Damansara PJU9, 52200 KL 

6. Silka Cheras Kuala Lumpur 

A 3-star hotel, Silka Cheras Kuala Lumpur is owned by Mayland Century Sdn Bhd and managed by Dorsett Hospitality International. 

It’s attached to Cheras Sentral shopping mall and is a short walk from the Taman Connaught MRT station. 

For Ramadan this year, the hotel’s in-house restaurant called Curz Cafe is offering a spread of traditional local cuisine. Titled “Sajian Nostalgia”, customers can expect to find dishes such as Kerabu Daging, Daging Gulai Melaka, and Nasi Kawah Briyani Daging.

Buffet rates:

• Early bird price (book before March 13) – RM75 for adults, RM50 for children aged 4 to 12, RM60 for senior citizens
• Normal price – RM85 for adults, RM60 for children aged 4 to 12, RM70 for senior citizens

Buffet period: March 13 to April 6, 2024 

How to book: Contact 03-9108 9280 / 012-662 8640 / 017-256 4437

Address: No.100, Jalan Cheras, Phoenix Business Park, 56000, KL

7. Bespoke Hotel 

For those living around Puchong, you could consider Bespoke Hotel, an award-winning boutique hotel. It features 120 rooms and is nestled within Setiawalk, a residential and entertainment establishment.

To ring in Ramadan 2024, the hotel is providing customers with a dinner buffet called “Sajian Kasih Ramadan”. Some highlights that will be available are its chili crab and kambing golek. 

Located at level 5, you’ll get to dine while enjoying views of the Puchong skyline and the hotel’s swimming pool.

Buffet rates: RM98 for adults, RM58 for children aged 5 to 12, RM78 for senior citizens aged 60 and above

Buffet period: March 13 to April 7, 2024 

How to book: Contact 012-880 8035 / 017-810 0225

Address: No 2A-G (Hotel) Block F Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47160 Puchong

8. De Palma Hotel

Located in Seksyen 19, De Palma Hotel is a local hospitality brand that’s not too far away from Uptown Shah Alam. 

The brand is currently managed by The Blanket Group, which has four other hotels in its portfolio. This includes Bahang Bay Hotel and Vouk Hotel & Suites in Penang.

The hotel came up with a Ramadan buffet called “Tradisi Warisan Nusantara”. A few staples you can find are its kambing golek, rendang ayam, and ayam kari kapitan. 

Buffet rates: 

• Early bird price (book before March 8) – RM75 for adults
• Normal price – RM90 for adults, RM50 for children aged 6 to 12, RM60 for senior citizens and OKU citizens

Buffet period: March 13 to April 7, 2024 

How to book: Contact 03-5542 8080

Address: Jalan Nelayan 19/15, Seksyen 19, 40300 Shah Alam, Selangor

9. Empire Hotel

A boutique 4-star hotel, Empire Hotel in Subang is just a short walk from the Subang Jaya LRT and KTM station. It’s situated above NU Empire (previously known as Empire Shopping Gallery).

In observance of Ramadan, its in-house restaurant is bringing a dinner buffet called “Sajian Warisan”. Some of its must-try signature dishes like asam pedas tenggiri and sup gearbox will be served alongside other delicacies. 

Buffet rates: 

• Early bird price (book before March 12) – RM78 for adults
• Normal price – RM88 for adults, RM45 for children aged 6 to 13, RM60 for senior citizens aged 60 and above

Buffet period: March 12 to April 8, 2024, from 6:30PM to 10PM

How to book: Contact 011-1299 8791 / kabmgr@empirehotel.com.my

Address: Jalan SS16/1, SS16, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

10. Summit Hotel 

Those living in the Subang area would be familiar with Summit Hotel. Located strategically near the interchange of KESAS Highway and Persiaran Kewajipan, the hotel is a short walk from the USJ 7 LRT and BRT station. 

Commemorating Ramadan 2024, the hotel is hosting close to a month-long buffet called “Lambaian Binda, Santapan Di Teratak Bonda”. It’ll be held in the Grand Ballroom on Level 5 and includes traditional dance activities.

Food-wise, customers can find 250 dishes to choose from. There will also be lucky draws up for grabs with prizes like oversea flight tickets. For every 10 seats reserved, you’ll receive one free seat.

Buffet rates: RM98 for adults, RM58 for children aged 6 to 13, RM60 for senior citizens aged 60 and above

Buffet period: March 13 to April 7, 2024, from 7PM to 10PM

How to book: Contact 03-8023 3000 / 019-279 7781

Address: Persiaran Kewajipan USJ 1, 47600 UEP Subang Jaya, Selangor

A pricing breakdown

Hotel Name	Location	Adult price (RM)	Child price (RM)	Senior citizen price (RM)
Adamson Hotel	Kuala Lumpur	80	50	–
Crystal Crown	Kuala Lumpur	80	50	60
Hilton Garden Inn	Kuala Lumpur	78 to 98	39 to 49	–
Holiday Inn Express	Kuala Lumpur	88	–	–
ibis Styles Sri Damansara	Kuala Lumpur	68	48	58
Silka Cheras	Kuala Lumpur	85	60	70
Bespoke Hotel	Puchong	98	58	78
De Palma Hotel	Shah Alam	90	50	60
Empire Hotel	Subang Jaya	88	45	60
Summit Hotel	Subang Jaya	98	58	60

Overall, there’s quite a number of Ramadan buffets to choose from. And with the rather decent price points, if you’re feeling adventurous, I’d say you could even dine at a few hotels this festive season.

Regardless of which hotel you choose though, we wish all our Muslim readers Ramadan Mubarak in advance!

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Adamson Hotel Kuala Lumpur / Hilton Garden Inn Kuala Lumpur