Be honest, are you ready for 2025?

These startups could help you get your sh*t together.

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Vulcan Post
December 20, 2024

How was your 2024?

Drop us a line in reply to this newsletter, we’d appreciate hearing from you!

That aside, it’s that time of the year again, where you either look forward to or dread hearing the words “2025 goals” or “new year’s resolutions.”

Whichever team you’re on, you know Vulcan Post always has your back when it comes to entrepreneurs’ tried-and-tested solutions to level up their revenue and personal skills. Hopefully, you’ll find something in our final 2024 newsletter to bring into 2025.

For you today, we have:

  • A startup that went from getting lowballed to closing US$4.2mil seed funding, and what they did to turn things around

  • Two jobless and broke men who started an F&B biz that’s on track to making RM23mil revenue this year

  • Several homegrown startups that’ll help you get your sh*t together for the new year

📢 Tony Fernandes on AirAsia’s biggest assets for growth

📈 From one airline brand to a business with seven core verticals, you can’t deny that Tony Fernandes knows how to build a company.

At the recent MRANTI I-Nation 2024 event, we had the opportunity to hear the charismatic entrepreneur speak, and speak he did, sharing some of the biggest assets for Capital A’s growth.

Our favourite quote from the session: “If you’re not ready to change, you’ll die.”

Grab a coffee, here’s your to-read list:

 👥 What are two jobless and broke blokes to do? For this duo, the answer was to start an F&B business, Belly. It began as a way for them to survive the pandemic, and today, it’s on track to hitting RM23 million in yearly revenue with five outlets under its belt.

🍾 Business in the front, party in the back? It’s the opposite for the co-founders of Party8, who made it their mission to find a wellness solution for social drinking. Spending weeks drinking daily was part of their R&D, and their hangover recovery aid might just be what you need for all the upcoming festive parties.

💰 A slightly toxic encounter with an investor didn’t stop them… from closing a US$4.2 million seed round, validating their approach and perseverance. Here’s how they found the right investor for them, and increased their success of getting funding.

So, you want to eat healthier and perhaps bulk up while you’re at it?

These founders tried a protein powder so terrible that they decided to start their own line of tasty health products.

So, you want to keep better track of your calories without distractions?

Simplifying calorie tracking, this app logs your meals through pictures and uses AI to estimate calories.

So, you want to finally build that budgeting habit from eons ago?

Bossku gotchu. Meet NajibAI, an AI financial spending tracker on WhatsApp that makes the boring task easier.

So, you want a reason to hit the gym more or try out other workouts?

This ClassPass competitor lets you access nearly 300 fitness studios in Malaysia with flexible plans.

Spotlight on founders helping founders

🎁 ’Tis the season for giving, so why not highlight five Malaysian founders who are giving back to their startup community after they’ve made it?

Monetary support is one thing, but of equal value are mentorship and education.

We’ve got names like Joel Neoh of ex-Fave fame, Eric Cheng of CARSOME, and even five-time Forbes Asia Best Under a Billion listee, ViTrox, doing what they can to uplift the next generation of talent.

Check out content marketing opportunities with us today.

If you’re planning…

Yes, we do have a TikTok too, where our articles can be watched in bite-sized videos! Click on the thumbnails to watch the videos!

🍽️ To start an F&B business easily, Mel’s Group—who’s behind CC by Mel, BAKE by Mel, and other popular brands—has opened up licensing opportunities. Hit the ground running by tapping into their existing customer base, leveraging their hands-on training, and more.

♻️ To learn how to recycle properly, this Malaysian app will pay you for your efforts. The founders felt that the recycling industry was still quite traditional, and wanted to put a tech spin on things as well as make things easier for both consumers and their green partners.

🛋️ To revamp your home furnishing, this homegrown startup has an innovative way to make furniture shopping easier. Their community showrooms take away the stress about getting measurements wrong or receiving furniture that looks different from its online listing.