Co-founder of Plurk.com Alvin Woon said Plurk.com has consider to invest in Malaysia to expand 3 years ago. However, due to lack of talent and incentive from government, he has give up Malaysia and invest in Taiwan eventually.
Great potential in internet Startup
He said, in fact, there is great potential for Start up in Malaysia. Standard of product launch here are on bar with product in US. Unfortnately, investment environment here not condusive to nurture such industry.
Whether government would give tax incentive and availability of talent, are important consideration on whether or not to set up a base here. As there is no such advantage at that point. We have to give up Malaysia.
Alvin Woon is responding to a question on whether Plurk.com would set up a branch here after a conference on Entrepreneurship at University Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said frankly that , as a Malaysian, he would like to set up a base in Malaysia so that he able to "go home" very often. But he has to face reality eventualy : " I can't told other co-founder, I am a Malaysian, so we have to choose Malaysia (to set up company) " (Translator note: Alvin Woon split shares equally among 3 co-founder before Angel investor come in)
Alvin still observing government effort in attracting investment and talent
As to Malaysia current transformation in attracting foreign investment and talent. Alvin said he will observed.
In restrospect, 90% of internet startup are by Chinese. But they rarely get funding from government.
"In fact, we can't expect to attract overseas talent to come back just by slogan. Some has come back, but unable to find neccessary manpower talent to complete the task, mission required. You have to fill up a lot of form if need funding and been through a lot of challenge.......
"Some people do come back 10 years ago, Maybe they find it difficult to stay ( in Malaysia ), have to leave and never come back again. I don't want my first experience back to Malaysia to be like this. I never give up Malaysia from the beginning until now, hope able to lend a hand to Malaysia, especially in internet startup."
He know deeply government effort in attracting overseas talent. and understand someone must make the first move " I just hope this is not a difficult first step"
Youth must venture into business earlier
Alvin Woon advised young people to venture into business earlier as youth has advantage. Not afraid to fail and can fail early. If not, you will lack time and energy when you grow older and just regret.
He has few wisdom on his journey in entrepreneurship startup. first is "Don't care about copy or compare, don't waste your time in care about what other people doing. What you did on yourself is more important.
In order to venture Plurk.com. Alvin Woon when to Toronto from US alone to set up a base. Just give up his existing job and girl friend. It is tough initially, but base on determination, he able to venture his own success.
Plurk.com launch on November 2007, have more than 20 language version and expand quickly in Asia country like Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. It has 6 million to 7 million member now. with 50% of it member in Taiwan.
Venture Capital important in internet Startup
Alvin Woon said he has to understand internet business in Malaysia market first before deciding to contribute in which area.
On how to incubate & nurture internet startup. He said funding is important. Many Malaysia have programming capability, but they unable to move next step, if lack working capital. You need money in marketing and networking. It is difficult to consider your next move if lack capital.
He stress, startup capital requirment are lower in Malaysia compare to US, plus you get higher return on capital. Many people don't understand internet startup, They don't invest even they have capital. They rather invest in property or gold. This required change in mindset.
Excerpt and translated from Nanyang dated 16 March 2012
Co-founder of Plurk.com Alvin Woon said Plurk.com has consider to invest in Malaysia to expand 3 years ago. However, due to lack of talent and incentive from government, he has give up Malaysia and invest in Taiwan eventually.
Great potential in internet Startup
He said, in fact, there is great potential for Start up in Malaysia. Standard of product launch here are on bar with product in US. Unfortnately, investment environment here not condusive to nurture such industry.
Whether government would give tax incentive and availability of talent, are important consideration on whether or not to set up a base here. As there is no such advantage at that point. We have to give up Malaysia.
Alvin Woon is responding to a question on whether Plurk.com would set up a branch here after a conference on Entrepreneurship at University Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said frankly that , as a Malaysian, he would like to set up a base in Malaysia so that he able to "go home" very often. But he has to face reality eventualy : " I can't told other co-founder, I am a Malaysian, so we have to choose Malaysia (to set up company) " (Translator note: Alvin Woon split shares equally among 3 co-founder before Angel investor come in)
Alvin still observing government effort in attracting investment and talent
Whether government would give tax incentive and availability of talent, are important consideration on whether or not to set up a base here. As there is no such advantage at that point. We have to give up Malaysia.
Alvin Woon is responding to a question on whether Plurk.com would set up a branch here after a conference on Entrepreneurship at University Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said frankly that , as a Malaysian, he would like to set up a base in Malaysia so that he able to "go home" very often. But he has to face reality eventualy : " I can't told other co-founder, I am a Malaysian, so we have to choose Malaysia (to set up company) " (Translator note: Alvin Woon split shares equally among 3 co-founder before Angel investor come in)
Alvin still observing government effort in attracting investment and talent
As to Malaysia current transformation in attracting foreign investment and talent. Alvin said he will observed.
In restrospect, 90% of internet startup are by Chinese. But they rarely get funding from government.
"In fact, we can't expect to attract overseas talent to come back just by slogan. Some has come back, but unable to find neccessary manpower talent to complete the task, mission required. You have to fill up a lot of form if need funding and been through a lot of challenge.......
"Some people do come back 10 years ago, Maybe they find it difficult to stay ( in Malaysia ), have to leave and never come back again. I don't want my first experience back to Malaysia to be like this. I never give up Malaysia from the beginning until now, hope able to lend a hand to Malaysia, especially in internet startup."
He know deeply government effort in attracting overseas talent. and understand someone must make the first move " I just hope this is not a difficult first step"
Youth must venture into business earlier
Alvin Woon advised young people to venture into business earlier as youth has advantage. Not afraid to fail and can fail early. If not, you will lack time and energy when you grow older and just regret.
He has few wisdom on his journey in entrepreneurship startup. first is "Don't care about copy or compare, don't waste your time in care about what other people doing. What you did on yourself is more important.
In order to venture Plurk.com. Alvin Woon when to Toronto from US alone to set up a base. Just give up his existing job and girl friend. It is tough initially, but base on determination, he able to venture his own success.
Plurk.com launch on November 2007, have more than 20 language version and expand quickly in Asia country like Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. It has 6 million to 7 million member now. with 50% of it member in Taiwan.
Venture Capital important in internet Startup
In restrospect, 90% of internet startup are by Chinese. But they rarely get funding from government.
"In fact, we can't expect to attract overseas talent to come back just by slogan. Some has come back, but unable to find neccessary manpower talent to complete the task, mission required. You have to fill up a lot of form if need funding and been through a lot of challenge.......
"Some people do come back 10 years ago, Maybe they find it difficult to stay ( in Malaysia ), have to leave and never come back again. I don't want my first experience back to Malaysia to be like this. I never give up Malaysia from the beginning until now, hope able to lend a hand to Malaysia, especially in internet startup."
He know deeply government effort in attracting overseas talent. and understand someone must make the first move " I just hope this is not a difficult first step"
Youth must venture into business earlier
Alvin Woon advised young people to venture into business earlier as youth has advantage. Not afraid to fail and can fail early. If not, you will lack time and energy when you grow older and just regret.
He has few wisdom on his journey in entrepreneurship startup. first is "Don't care about copy or compare, don't waste your time in care about what other people doing. What you did on yourself is more important.
In order to venture Plurk.com. Alvin Woon when to Toronto from US alone to set up a base. Just give up his existing job and girl friend. It is tough initially, but base on determination, he able to venture his own success.
Plurk.com launch on November 2007, have more than 20 language version and expand quickly in Asia country like Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. It has 6 million to 7 million member now. with 50% of it member in Taiwan.
Venture Capital important in internet Startup
Alvin Woon said he has to understand internet business in Malaysia market first before deciding to contribute in which area.
On how to incubate & nurture internet startup. He said funding is important. Many Malaysia have programming capability, but they unable to move next step, if lack working capital. You need money in marketing and networking. It is difficult to consider your next move if lack capital.
He stress, startup capital requirment are lower in Malaysia compare to US, plus you get higher return on capital. Many people don't understand internet startup, They don't invest even they have capital. They rather invest in property or gold. This required change in mindset.
Excerpt and translated from Nanyang dated 16 March 2012
On how to incubate & nurture internet startup. He said funding is important. Many Malaysia have programming capability, but they unable to move next step, if lack working capital. You need money in marketing and networking. It is difficult to consider your next move if lack capital.
He stress, startup capital requirment are lower in Malaysia compare to US, plus you get higher return on capital. Many people don't understand internet startup, They don't invest even they have capital. They rather invest in property or gold. This required change in mindset.
Excerpt and translated from Nanyang dated 16 March 2012
云惟彬揭噗浪弃马投台原因 “网络市场缺奖掖人才”
（八打灵再也16日讯）“噗浪”网（Plurk.com）联合创办人云惟彬说，该公司3年前曾考虑回马设公司扩大网络创投市场，碍于本地缺乏政府奖掖优惠及人才，最后只好“放弃大马转投台湾”。
网络创业潜能大
他说，其实大马的网络创业潜能甚大，它们所推出的“产品”不输美国相关市场，只可惜大马的投资环境未能良好孕育这行业。
“政府是否给予扣税奖掖及当地有否人才，都是设立据点的重要考量，本地当时没有这些优惠，为了公司，我们只好放弃大马。”
云惟彬今日在拉曼大学主持企业座谈后，就是否考虑把噗浪网经营模式从外国搬回大马一事，这么回应。
他坦言，身为大马人，本身很想在大马设立据点，以便“多回家”，但最终仍需面对现实考量：“我总不能跟其他创办人说，我是大马人，就要选择大马（创办公司）。”
政府吸资及挽留人才 云惟彬持观望态度
对于目前大马政府制定改革措施吸引外资及要求人才回流，云惟彬指他将观望。
回顾过去，90%的大马网络创业由华人起步，他们却不曾获政府援助。
“其实不能光靠口号就要求海外人才回流，一些人已回来，却找不到足够人才；要做东西由找不到人，要钱的话又要填一大堆表格，过很多关……
“10年前也有一些人回流，也许发现真的很难留（在大马发展），只好离开，再也不回来了。我不希望自己的首次经验也如此。我由始至终未放弃大马，很希望以不同管道帮助大马，尤其是网络创业。”
他深知政府鼓励人才回流用意，也了解总需有人抛砖引玉踏出第一步：“但我希望这一步不会太难跨出去。”
年轻人创业要趁早 “做好自己最重要”
云惟彬劝勉时下年轻人，创业要趁早，因为年轻就是本钱，不怕失败也经得起失败，否则年老了连动力及时间都欠奉，只徒留遗憾。
他在创业路上有几个至理名言，其一就是“别在意模仿及比较，别把时间放在关心别人在做些什么，做好自己才最重要。”
为了发展“噗浪”网，云惟彬独自从美国到加拿大多伦多设立公司据点，把原有工作及在美国的女朋友都抛诸脑后，虽然当时很难熬，但凭着本身理念，最后还是闯出一片天。
噗浪网在2007年11月上线，拥有20多种语言界面，在台湾、大马、菲律宾、新加坡等亚洲国家迅速窜起，目前全球会员达600万至700万人，台湾用户占其中50%。
网络创投钱最重要
云惟彬表明现在要先了解大马网络创业市场，才能决定在大马为什么领域出力。
提到如何培养网络创投能力，他指足够资金不可或缺：“很多大马人会写（网络）程式，但他们走不到下一步，因为缺乏资金，市场推广及建立人脉关系都需要钱，没钱什么都不敢多想。”
他强调，大马创业资本远比美国低，投资报酬率却很高。很多人不了解网络创业，即使有资金也不敢投入，宁可投资房地产或买金，这需再教育。
第三届中小企业大会•云惟彬：强硬推销引反感 网上软销更有效
（吉隆坡15日讯）如何把社交网站当经商利器？
噗浪网（Plurk.com)创办人云惟彬“教路”，他说，使用社群媒体不能强硬推销公司的产品，而是以真诚的心慢慢接触顾客，让使用者了解你的产品。
他指出，大家使用社群媒体主要是与朋友交流，若强硬推销产品将引起使用者反感。
他举例，一些艺人使用社群媒体与粉丝交流，做的很好。
“就如许茹芸、戴佩妮就是很好的例子，她们每天都会将自己的日常生活点滴及心情贴上网，真诚与粉丝交流。
社群网打广告会被骂
“一些艺人很明显是经纪人协助管理其网页，常常会推销本身的电影及唱片，粉丝完全没有感受到艺人的亲切感。”
云惟彬今日在马来西亚中华总商会第3届中小企业大会主讲“网络时代的品牌/市场：社交媒体如何改变我们的营运方式”时强调，若使用社群媒体打广告，必须有“会被人骂”的心理准备。
做得不好传得更快
“你做得好会传出去，你做的不好会传得更快。”
他劝请业者，即使本身有道理，也不能在网络上与投诉者争论，因为不管输赢，大家都在看。
“使用社群媒体打广告可以专注你的顾客群，也可以知道顾客的回馈，再加以改善。”
他说，现在每个人都在使用社群媒体，年轻人花很多时间在网上，因此不管想不想都要经营。
“网络时代品牌/市场:社交媒体如何改变营运方式”
主讲：噗浪网（Plurk.com)创办人云惟彬
主持：中华总商会资讯与通讯工艺组主任黄哲强
主持：中华总商会资讯与通讯工艺组主任黄哲强
