The Building Series – A Business Podcast

What happens when a founder builds a product for a problem they personally faced?In this episode of Building Series, we sit down with Damian Chow, co-founder of Gym Pod, Singapore’s first fully automated private gym concept. Damian shares how feeling intimidated in traditional gyms led him to rethink the entire fitness experience, from crowded spaces and rigid memberships to accessibility, privacy, and pay-per-use models.We explore why Gym Pod operates without on-site staff, how underutilised spaces like parks became viable gym locations, the scrappy early days of manual bookings, the expansion of the Pod concept beyond gyms into podcast studios, and Damian’s vision for the future of automation in fitness and content creation.Follow us on our socials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DollarsAndSenseSGTelegram: https://t.me/dollarsandsenseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnssingapore/Listen to our podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6XkfHXOUXtFWfAWC7q0MwZ?si=c5ce4c58884a4fdbDon’t forget to subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest updates from us: http://bit.ly/DNSxEnewsletter

In this episode of The Building Series, we sit down with Zhang Weijia, the next-generation leader of Hi-Beau Group — Singapore’s largest NSF GMP-certified supplement manufacturer. Weijia shares her unexpected entry into the family business at 18, how she built a multimillion-dollar e-commerce arm from scratch, and what it really takes to balance the emotional weight of working with your parents.From navigating stagnant traditional channels to scaling into 15 markets and investing tens of millions into in-house manufacturing, this is a candid look at the mindset of a second-generation entrepreneur who thinks like a serial founder. A transformation story of Hi-Beau: inheriting a legacy and building new ones.Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode of The Building Series, OCBC. As Asia’s Best SME Bank, OCBC has been supporting thousands of serial entrepreneurs across Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong since 2019. If you run more than one business, OCBC is the SME bank that connects them all, offering more interest across your business balances and dedicated relationship manager for all your companies. Start your journey with OCBC: https://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/smes/serial-entrepreneur?cid=segments%3ASerial%3ATactical%3AEngagem%E2%80%A6Follow us on our socials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DollarsAndSenseSGTelegram: https://t.me/dollarsandsenseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnssingapore/Listen to our podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6XkfHXOUXtFWfAWC7q0MwZ?si=c5ce4c58884a4fdbDon’t forget to subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest updates from us: http://bit.ly/DNSxEnewsletter

In this episode of The Building Series, we sit down with Carolyn Chia, the general manager and shareholder of DreamUs, the company behind Singapore’s most iconic indoor parks: Pororo Park, Tayo Station, and SuperPark. Carolyn shares how she pivoted from a marketing career into the world of family entertainment, why she joined the business right after becoming a mother, and how she helped scale DreamUs from a single park into a regional “house of brands.”From adapting Korean and Finnish IPs for local markets to expanding into Indonesia, navigating high-capex operations, and managing teams across borders, this is a candid look at what it really takes to build immersive spaces people love — and keep them fresh in an ever-changing entertainment landscape.A transformation story of DreamUs: creating joy, scaling brands, and building a business of happiness.Special thanks to our sponsor for this episode of The Building Series, OCBC. As Asia’s Best SME Bank, OCBC has been supporting SMEs across the region along their business milestones, getting them ready since day 1, keeping their businesses steady with award-winning solutions, and helping them grow to realise their ambitions.Start a relationship with OCBC: https://www.ocbc.com/business-banking/smes/accounts/business-growth-account?cid=accounts%3ABusinessGrowth%3ATactical%3AAcquisition%3AFeb%3A2025%3Areferrer%3ADNS%3APodcast%3AFollow us on our socials:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DollarsAndSenseSGTelegram: https://t.me/dollarsandsenseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnssingapore/Listen to our podcasts on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6XkfHXOUXtFWfAWC7q0MwZ?si=c5ce4c58884a4fdbDon’t forget to subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest updates from us: http://bit.ly/DNSxEnewsletter

Singapore’s bike-sharing industry was once overcrowded and chaotic. Many companies entered the market—most of them failed. But Anywheel, founded by Htay Aung, not only survived but thrived, becoming Singapore’s largest bike-sharing operator with over 1.3 million users and 1 million trips monthly.In this episode of the Building Series Podcast, we speak to founder of Anywheel, Htay Aung.Anywheel not only survived but thrived, becoming Singapore’s largest bike-sharing operator with over 1.3 million users and 1 million trips monthly.

In this episode of The Building Series, Eric Leong, CEO of Mlion Corporation, shares how he grew the company from a two-man startup into a global leader in foundation steel. Learn about Mlion’s sustainability innovations like GoListid and GoTagID, navigating the competitive steel industry, and forming strategic partnerships like the Nippon Steel deal. A must-watch for insights on scaling, sustainability, and regional expansion.

In this episode of the Building Series podcast, we speak with Ian Leong, CEO of Tiger Brokers Singapore. He shares his career journey, the rise of Tiger Brokers, and how they’ve revolutionized brokerage services in Singapore. Learn about their innovative strategies, navigating challenges during the pandemic, and creating a customer-first fintech platform. Discover insights into leadership, the future of investing, and lessons for aspiring business leaders.

In this episode of The Building Series, discover how Didi Gan, Founder of N&E Innovations, transformed food waste into the world’s first edible antimicrobial agent and built a sustainable business recognized globally. From eco-friendly cling wraps to self-sanitizing disinfectants, learn how N&E Innovations is revolutionizing industries like F&B, agriculture, and hospitality while expanding across Asia and Europe.

Ever wonder what goes into creating a global designer toy brand? 🌍 Jackson Aw of Mighty Jaxx shares how he turned a creative vision into a multi-million-dollar business, with insights on everything from iconic designer toys to leading a team of 120+.Tune in to this episode of The Building series! 

In this episode, we speak with Serena Teo, CEO of CapitaLand Ascott Trust. Serena spent over 15 years in the property management business. Currently, she is the CEO of the Management Team behind the largest hospitality trust in Asia Pacific, SGX-listed CapitaLand Ascott Trust or CLAS for short.

In this episode, we speak to Ng Kok Song, who spent over 25 years at GIC, and held the Chief Investment Officer (CIO). Currently, he is the Founding Partner and Chairman of Avanda Investment Management – a global asset management firm.Just before the actual interview took place, Mr Ng received the good news – that he was eligible to become a presidential candidate. This provided the perfect opportunity to talk about Singapore’s evolution from a fast-growing country to a more mature and developed economy – and what we need as a country to drive further progress.