Just like what the title described, we have a lot of discussion in relation to potential business, struggle with income and expenses and the thought of opening and running business to change for the better. Like most that tried, many failed and succumbed to failure to which some have resorted running back to existing 9to5 worklife.

Platform like dropship, food trucks and Ride-sharing businesses have given opportunity to many looking for temporary life support in our expanses while waiting for other opportunity to arise. As much as it is, its no way a long term sustainable platform anymore for those late comers and any new ideas or concepts tend not to last before being obsolete, leaving owners srtruggling to even break-even on the investment.

Although this may not be the case for all, it is to the majority. We hear Lots of vent in frustration and panic when economy aren't lively as how it used to be and discussion over job security, salary and income tend to be quite critical now.

What this can provide is for us to read, learn and understand from others in areas that have failed. Probably gives better insight to those plannning to start on the do and don't. But this can also be an opportunity for hunters looking to invest in areas that may have failed due to insufficient capital; opportunity to re-start and finding candidates and partners with streetwise capability; where in most cases... not listed on resume.

The more you share, the more we understand and the more others know your potential. Not due to the failure you've gone through, but the potential you have that could be channeled in areas that can be a success.

As for me, I'm an investor. I run several businesses and have been looking for opportunity to invest in niche areas if exist. Also, looking for candidates not from what qualification they have... but what they can contribute from the experience they have.

Do share. Thank you.

I have ventured into many investments areas and portfolio. Most of which failed before it can even return any serious ROI. To which, I would lose some and at worst (where mostly worst), 100% of the investment.

I sit with people who at first excited about what they have thought of. They explain and present beautiful ideas (beautiful is from their perspective), although some of it is something I do not encourage (e.g. F&B), but their eagerness and persistence normally led me into thinking "Ah... what the heck, why not?". Now, it's not that I do not think F&B will not work, but not from a perspective of an Investor. Let me explain further.

A Food truck, Cafe, Restaurant ....
1. There's just too many of it.
2. Too competitive.
3. Unique concept will not last unless you keep innovating. And Innovation don't last. Someone will copy and beat ahead of you.

"BUT, If you're planning to feed yourself. Then yes."
1. Food trucks can easily score 100 sells a day.
2. Fusion concepts with 5-10 bucks per meal can do 500 a day (15k a month sales)
3. 40% goes to your Cost-of-goods-sold. 10% goes to assistance salary and maybe another 10% to MICS & maintenance. Now, this is considered efficient and optimized to which your waste-management is top-notch. Those in start-ups normally failed to leverage this and their end-day income are usually 30% or less.
4. Roughly, at 15k sales. You're still able to walk away with 4-6k a month and this is self sustainable. To an individual? Yes. From an investment standpoint? No.
5. Lets not dwell much on why it's not invest-able as the risk factors are too dynamic and the single-point-of-failure can wreck the entire business down. (Single point of failure? ... Well, if the guys runs it decide to take a break or give-up, investment is screwed).

Drop Ship? Well, the market is dynamic now with online retailers are popping everywhere. Something unique today is too competitive in a month and will be obsolete in 6 months.

Investors needs something not just around the ROI, but something that they can see running even after 2-3 years in business. We need something solid. Youngsters nowadays failed to look beyond that point that is why when they just jump into a portfolio, most of them failed. They do not know how to manage their accounts, risk, diversification, use the best tools, find the best options, sit down and really dig into the business concepts and thoroughly simulate it. Their lack of patience and critical to comments, makes them a risk to the eyes of investors. The moment someone challenge their concepts, run against it, comments on it.... they get hot headed, blocking you out completely rather trying to explain and face the challenge.

Many nowadays failed when it comes to that. Challenge them, and they will give up trying to convince you. These are not the kind that investors look. We want our money to go to someone that could really stand their ground, convince and push forward. How the heck do you convince the public and keep things running when it gets hard when you can't even convince the investor?

What investors need.
1. We need something that's not just break-even
2. Something that could last
3. Driven by someone that is serious and would persevere.
4. Even if the business model is similar, existing concepts, but they know how to make it work. Convince. Show data. This is where they lack.
5. We don't need someone that give up answering before it even start. (E.g. How do I know? We haven't done it yet.... kinda mentality)


Many business fail because they lack "Sustainability". And when the word sustainability comes ... all they can think of is "More Capital". From my experience, most of the youngster I've meet are just too pampered (manja). They want something. Hoping to get it done fast. Hoping to make it big fast. Hoping to get rich fast. Hoping to live the easy life fast.

(to be continued.....)

The only concepts that's tested and lasted through time is "MAMAK". Chatime, and others ... got in first and penetrated the market right. Duplicating similar concepts is not advisable in today's time. Yes, food business can work but depends on what business. How much is investor willing to throw on a new food chain business.

Everyone is "openly saying" economy is bad, people loosing job, government have no money, but failing to understand these are not important to us. We need to stop talking too much and start thinking. Regardless of economy, people still eat. People still move. People still gets sick. People will still buy. There's always opportunity even in the worst.

To give you an example. I've favored those "Seafood" restaurant and have always look into ways of making one. But you see, I don't have the expertise although I may know people. Maybe in 1-2 years time or maybe when I bumped into someone that might know how to make it work, I'll throw my money in it. Why? Look at those seaside in Melaka, NS, where seafood restaurant flourish like there's no ending. People will pay to eat and these are the kind of business that could last. But those concepts got it right because they're at seaside and even if that may be a factor, we've seen several in Port-Klang that died. So, it also depends on how we make it happened.

But trying to duplicate similar concepts in KL/Selangor Central Areas is going to be tough. Unless the location is good, niche, ... the food is similar everywhere. In the end, it's just the concepts that got it working. (Primary Factor). Getting people to talk and how social media tend to over-hype it and make the business grow with attention .... etc... these are all secondary.

So again, it depends on what kind of chain restaurant are we looking at here. If you're to challenge fast-food-chains or instant-mix, look through the concept if it's something socially lasting or not. Too many havoc at the start and the buzz just die after few months.

But then again, There are many investors here that scout for talents and ideas. If you have something you think might work. PM us.

1. Don't take too long.
2. Don't make yourself look naive asking for questions that you can get the answer easily. Call up Magic. Stop asking and start moving. This is the first sign of procrastination in the eyes of many.
3. Look at existing business that have developed through Magic. Is the output is something that match against what you favor? MaGic is not the only platform for Entrepreneurship. There are others. Learn to research and use google better. One sign of failed business is having candidates that ask too much and failed to learn by themselves.

We need to understand few things. There's no guarantee in Grant or support from Government or any agencies. I've seen many promising ideas felt on deft ears in the end. In these current times, loans are hard to get. Many promised grants have gone unanswered. Some are even abandoned halfway.


It's doable to get into magic. Unless you've tried and failed continuously, you need to start looking into why they're not taking you. But if what you have is radical and is something worth it (just the fact that the listeners are not critical enough towards you), some of us here can pull some cables and see how we can help you. But rest assured that you need to be better than convincing.

Depends on your risk appetite. Do you need an education in entrepreneurship before you can kick off? Ask yourself that. If you think MAGIC multi-months and weeks of learning seems to be able to teach a lot is something you would want, then go ahead. If you think, you can find the syllabus and learn it for yourself, sit and discuss with others so that you don't have to wait 6-12 months before you can start something. Then don't do magic. Some of us make-do what we have because it's time critical. While some, to those that's more into enterprise retail structure, self-sustainable designed business may want to slowly look into education and support platform. Like someone that have superior family secret recipe can penetrate the market slowly and do things at a pace which is monitored, these are low risk entry. Then yes, go for the education.

Normally, if they're willing to try on the ideas, they will want to have control over it in the event you failed to drive it. There are many supporting plans available, some are in the forms of grants which originally loans, some will provide loans if you have collateral. Some may insist of a controlling shareholder on the company to which they can recover the capital fast from the early profit gained. These may result in them offsetting their shares as the company progress and let you take over which they will stay at 30% or less in the end.

There are many structure available on how investor may wan't to participate. Some provide platform and resources which let you tap into their existing business strength to kick-off. While some don't. Yes, nothing is free.

This is the thing.

Unless they can come up with something radical that works (even on paper, simulation, conceptual), it's good enough. I've thrown in money from the smallest 5k to several businesses that demands 250k for a start. And yes, it all failed in the end. And it's getting tired listening over and over from different people with similar ideas, why they think it'll work.

They need to realized that it is not about "Why they think it'll work" ... but "What makes the investors think it'll work".

E.g. You may want to market a long-lost family recipe, pack it up and have it push to market. But they may see this as a strong platform for international export. Malaysia HALAL HUB is Globally Accepted. Heck, even CHINA is looking at our HALAL for reference. We do have something here. And investors may see things from a different perspective. Something that you may not have thought of when you presented the idea. So that is why, it's important what makes the investor think it'll work and not you.

I used to come from a mentality that the older people should no longer use the "asam-garam" story against us. Nowadays, it's no longer about how old you've lived or who have eaten salt first, but the younger are more dynamic and adapt to the current social and market demands that they should treat us as equals. It was an arrogant stand, but I was convinced by it that I knew more than my father or uncle, I'm far more superior in education and I can see ideas, risk, concepts, perspective more thoroughly then they can. And when someone that listens to our story and ideas halfway and blatantly gives a comments like .. "Trust me, It'll not work". I get pissed off very easily. I'll tell them "What do they know"....

How wrong I was ....

As I moved from a smaller investment portfolio into a more sustainable long term venture, What i realized is not about the superior of knowledge or products you have against competitor that would last. It's not about your "barang .... boleh" ... it's about "Malaysia boleh". I've seen shitty products pull through in multi-million contracts tying up in long term compared to something that is by far superior and godly. Haha....

It's no longer about what you know, or who you know. It's about how do you make everyone involved move forward with you.

Too arrogant? and die alone. It doesn't matter if the ideas are superior. Happened to many

Too lenience and bad planing?... and don't come back crawling saying "someone took-over/stole my ideas". Many business failed this way when they say their proposal went up and never returned. But someone else got the contract or the project. We've heard this many. Some of us have experienced and seen this. We need to stop making noise and find ways to work around this. Ranting doesn't help. We really need to change the way we think and start to look at these differently.

Seriously, there's corruption everywhere. We're adult enough to know that life is not about white or black. Yes or No. Clean or Dirty. It's about how you make do and make everyone around you feels important and happy. My ideas, my hard work but they're getting the rip of if? Not fair right? ... Too bad. If you wan't to make it big, grow up and stop nagging.


Critical Thinking. Complex Business Plans. Make it "Look" Big. Make it "Look" Complex. Make it "Look" tough. Make it as if you're the only one that can pull it off. Make them think they'll profit too from it (Well, some.. of it .. but not all). Make them happy as well. If they wan't your idea and they can't duplicate or replicate it. They will start opening up their facilities to you. Their friends. Their contacts. Their ways around the business. Their support.

When the business grow. They grow .... and rest assured you grow too.

(to be continue...)

Now, what you need to know is where does your project really stands in it's size and value. what kind of impact goes it gives? Is it just another entrepreneurship enterprise ideas? Or will it be ground-breaking upon going live? We got to stop becoming very-positive and be realistic. Everyone wants to make it big. But seriously, look at your business and say will pass through the benchmark beyond self-sustainable within 6 months or 12? Does it have potential for chain-reaction? Or will it have external market potential? How many export products have failed when they thought they can penetrate international market.

Example: If I'm going to introduce something that's revolutionary in the hotel & tourism industry. Do I talk to Magic and have my product launched? Or do I talk to Tune Group and Pitch the idea to them. Tune can make use of the tourism, with their hotel and air-industry. Something that they can leverage on. This is how we benchmark how starters pitch their concepts forward, how they know the market and what kind of effort they put into their ideas and work. For most that do not know where to start and still boggling with the idea of learning entrepreneurship and struggling for support, thinking seminars and attending classes would make a big difference, by all means .... take your time.

It seems like you're still unsure of where to push your ideas to. And hoping for an established platform to help start, push or maybe guide your way through. Not everyone are fast. And not everyone are risk takers. If you feel waiting for Magic is the way forward, then ... do so. But is it the only option? No.

Don't wait to form relationship. Make one. Is it hard to get to Tony Fernandez? No. Try it...and you'll know. (And this is just one example). Of course he got no time for rubbish. So make sure you're ready and realistic.

Structure your research and knowledge gathering. Do it in a form of business simulation. Start it. Simulate it. Run the simulation like a real business. Actual accounts. Cost, Profit analysis, Projections, Etc... If there is an existing model out there that is similar like (Food Truck, then pick one and use them as your case study), Throw challenges to it. Come up with contingencies, risk planing, etc... against it. Continue to push it and when the day comes you go live. You know where you are. It will put you in a much mature standings compared to those that are still hanging around asking question on where and how and what. Magic might like you more.

Elaborate further, this can help others that's reading.

Cause from where I sit, you're suggesting around "doing the right things" ... while "doing things right" is more of a theme now.

It's like how our education thought us. "Tell the truth"... "Truth will always prevail" ... -Good side karma. And we know how impossible it is to run a life without "white lies".

I have several offices. The one in KJ is currently running the critical business side which I spent most of my time at. I Live in Shah Alam.

It is tiring. I've seen a lot of these trends and when things doesn't move, items goes out in wholesale. Not to mentioned tireless amount of time pushing items through online, car booth, events, here and there ... and most of them who's looking for the additional thousand or two at months end will result to Uber/Grab.

As much as it may be sufficient for now to keep things afloat, what about long term perspective? Have you thought of anything in relation?

There are many ways to look into business. There's no one rule of thumb when it comes to it.

Let's try this ...

Many says how do I come up with radical ideas that work?

Look around us. Lowyat.net provide immense information on what's happening around us. We have people posting up news from all over the sites and hack, some of us just keep on coming here and refresh the main page just to see if anything new pops out. It's an area of congregation. A place where news, stories, ideas, suggestions, problems gather....

How do we capitalize?

Before we move forward, we need to start asking ourselves. What do we want. You want to help the country? Patriotic is your theme? Then there's platform for that. NGOs, Political groups, Etc...

You want to make your money and live life as you please, then capitalize on the events.

For those who want to challenge their thought in entrepreneurship and ideas, let do this.

Below are some of the hottest topic in the country today.

1MDB
- We can bark our way to hell, to some of us, there's bills to pay, child to care and daily life problems that we need to face. Ah, yes, it's fun Drama ... seeing how the top people making fools out of themselves, but come on ... Does it really matter when it comes to entrepreneurship and making ends meet?

Corruption
- We grow up hearing how our parents worshiping and gossips about how grand the ministers and their affiliation tends to live their life with multi-millions contracts and expenditure. We shook them off as bed-time story and hear another soon. Didn't we notice that corruption have been around and no one really care about it? We may not have realized but we do practice them sometimes. But yes, we judge ourselves as angpow or gifts since it's mere few dollars but when a multi-million/billion scandal broke lose, we go ape about it.

Jamal baju merah janji kejadian 13 May berulang
- Uhh... Yes. Racism. We go crazy over it. Telling how JUST and FAIR we are compared to those that are racist. Whether we like it or not, it exist. But one thing we failed to realized is "where it exist".

(From the Majority General Perspective) Do you think it exist among those multi-million dollar business partner where they're living their life as they like? Do you think it exist to those that stripped everything of earthly needs like monks? I don't think so. It commonly exist among those in the income earning people. Those earning and living under certain perspective of competition with eagerness for superiority (So, I can be better than you mentality). No proven education background, public equality, in respective of any form of study have proven or tested by any country out there, that racism have been eradicated. Regardless of what was implemented. It exist. Not to all... but it will continue to exist. And just like corruption, we shouldn't be wasting our time on it. So lets move on.

What can we learn from Jamal?
He may have a business that's no longer sustainable. But look at what he's diversifying into? Propaganda machine that's getting paid in the millions to mobilize distractions and support for the government. If you're put in his shoes with money that could pay off for your children and family to have the best in life, does it really matter what kind of work that you do? Or would you rather see your children stuck in these economy trap and struggling to put food on the table for some integrity and principle which you may throw at the very first sign of trouble. Because honestly, when shit hits the ceiling ... He's far gone from here. With milions stashed sufficiently to support enough for several generations, which most of us here rant on his stupidity. Honestly, is he stupid? Or is he a brilliant entrepreneur?

Long gone are the days where "promise" actually means something. So let's face the music. Lets be realistic. What is integrity? What is Principle? If you have too much time looking for these meaning and trying to look good in the eyes of others for such purpose, it's either you're happy with what you have, or rich enough that you do not bother what others really think. So then yea, have your principles.

MALAYSIANS IN A STATE OF FEAR., MY OBSERVATION FOR MALAYSIA (Local Politics)

We talk about new government and rant about GST. But What different will it make? So changing into a new government provide alternate policies that will make you save 200-300 more a month and you'll be happy with it?

Taking down JL will re-start our economy? Will the change of leadership makes your household income debt improve? We bark on the difficulties we face in events where mostly unrelated to our basic fundemental needs for long term survivability.

How you consider what is long term?

As this is affecting a lot of people, it is a problem for many. Do we have a solution that we can capitalize on? Do we have an idea crazy enough that could drive changes that would ease the burder in people's life? Simplify something? Because this "need" is no longer about targetting a selective group of people that is into your product. The penetration level matters as something this radical and big could provide overall impact in the majority of the population. Does it really matter which government implement our ideas?

Oh wait, but implementing something good while BN is ruling will only make them look good. Now, if you're still stuck in the mentality of others, then forget about this. From a business an entrepeneurship standpoint, you're not ready.

Too big?

Wanna do something smaller? That's where all the entrepeneurship platform and groups are for. You will float with the market and social demands. They move out, you die.

So, this is just a theoretical ... where do we go from here?

(to be continue .... I promise my kids Mc'D and taking them there now.)
- I didn't check if there's typo. I'll check when I return.

Hi, Interesting options you got there. Many says that you can't go wrong when going into areas like Food, Security & Medicine. You're definitely not wrong here.

I have at one point looked into a lot of agricultural failed projects throughout the country. Some from Felda, LKIM, etc... to which these agencies are willing to provide you the land if you can look into their failed projects and jump start them again. But due to several factors, these ventures tend to be very slow and we're now looking into options and technology from Taiwan to see if it's viable to have it invested for large long term perspective.

Pushing it into local market currently is just too saturated with tapes and layers of control. Having external investors to assist with jumpstart the investment and later having this raw materials exported to them is currently more viable as it will provide a lock in profit for long term perspective rather than floating our products on the local market.

Overseas country have been looking for stable temperature and environment to grow their food supply as space and cost to produce them have increased tremendously especially in countries where lands are limited. Not to mentioned not all country have the right environment for it. Malaysia, is still a very favorable options to many.

In Layman they say, .... when you get it right and when the crops turns out good. You can sell and get good returns. But the problem is, when you get good crops, everyone else gets the same and it flooded the market (supply > demand) with price that's too competitive to which profits are suppressed. Thus, working for overseas market is far safer than supplying to the local.

But what can I say, our agricultural investment is still very new and chances are you will have better understanding and experience to share.

Thank you.

You might want to look into preferential shares or options in regards to per-project basis here. This way, you can continuously get your payment with little profit and re-invest in newer projects with your friends company.

Sometimes, company may re-roll the capital for other projects as cash-flow is very critical .... some investors doesn't seem to get anything in return for a very long time while the others currently under it's payroll continue to enjoy the benefit.

If the company goes bust, you may feel sorry for him for loosing everything and may put the idea of re-payment aside. But if a preferential-options were given during your initial capital injection, every-time payment were issued to them, you get something back that would reduce your risk and re-assist them in the future.

Just my 2cents.

Stamped

Although late stamped document may have penalties applied to it, but at least it will be proof that is acceptable in the court.

But normally, we have a lawyer which overlook all transactions. It's normally around RM400 to RM800 per agreement to have them involved, which facilitates preparations, documents, stamping, etc...

It makes your life easier if anything goes wrong.

Well it depends Ministry. Security & Defense contractor can have access to up-front to which we normally negotiate up to 80%. Doesn't have to be class A contractor. These normally varies by contract.

Keep posting this up. Honestly, rather keeping it to yourself we now know you're a reasonable cook in Chinese and Western Cuisine. In most companies, we have War-Chest Accounts which is designed for unexpected investment. Who knows, someone might have the "what-the-heck" moment and invest in you.

Sometimes, investment is not just about making ROI and Profits all the time. We can have supplementary investment from the interest generated to which it allows us to diversify our portfolio in a lot of areas without causing us any form of capital or risk. If it worked, we have a bunch of new friends and a F&B shops that we can always drop by and be proud off... even if it's breaking even all the time.

When it comes to investment, there are few things you need to have in mind when asking someone if it's sustainable. Because different investors have different risk appetite. I'm sure you've run your numbers to which its around 1,000-1,500 pages per day to break even monthly. Let alone profit or repayment to initial investment during start-up.

If loosing 2k+ a month is something you're willing to try, then give it a shot. Unless there's some serious college, university or educational/offices facilities around, ... a Taman is very unlikely to provide such high demand.

High risk with high returns is something worth trying. But high-risk with low returns, It's advisable to find a few companies that's doing this in KL and run some interview with them and see if it's sustainable. My advice. No.

There's just too many supplementary issues that may come that could potentially run the business down.

But then again, any advice is as good as words. Things can turn otherwise. What you need is to minimize the risk. Look for partners. Split the risk and losses if it happens. But then again, don't just look at lost of profit due to sharing. Think big. When you run a business for "kais pagi makan pagi" style, you're planning to fail.

In most cases no. What we can do is get the lawyer to file them for winding-up in failure to adhere to the contractual agreement. Some of them may find ways to take this through arbitration to buy time, but make sure your lawyer draft the agreement that could favor such move in the first place.

Normally either things will happened
1. They pay within an agreed timeline or through term-basis
2. You let them go and forget about it.

For cases and projects under 50k, it's not worth the time of your lawyer and yourself. Seriously. It can cost you more than half the capital invested just to handle these cases. Thus, it is better handled through preferential agreement to begin with to avoid problems. That way, lawyers are involved when it comes to Account-Receivable to which you're guaranteed to minimize your risk and have your investment returns.

But technically, for serious investment ... these are the big ones. Those under 100k are normally something that you'll have to close one eye when something goes wrong. It's just not worth the trouble. Will this opens up for opportunity to abuse? Yes. That's why investors are getting very picky when it comes to the areas and control they get.

But hey .... What are investment without risk right?

MINDEF, KDN (multiple agencies), ESSCOMM, MKN/NSC, JPM, Etc...

Hi awir2core,

Well, I'm sure there are many others here with experience that we could tap their advice from, but before that ... it would be great if you can provide a little more information on the business.

1. May you share what software system and security system are you doing?
2. Who are your main customers? (Yearly breakdown if possible just to see the business direction)
3. Main income portfolio? Sales & Services? (Ratio will do, just to see if the problems that's hitting on your opex arise from maintenance/after sales support)
4. Location?

Thanks.