Founded in Taiwan, FunNow is an on-demand lifestyle and entertaining booking platform (Photo: FunNow Malaysia)
Options: Congratulations on the recent launch of GastroMonth Kuala Lumpur and Penang! What was the inspiration behind getting Malaysia’s best chefs together for a whole month of special menus?
Philip Ting: Thank you so much. It would not have happened without a myriad of people from different industries getting together and making it work. In 2020, during the pandemic, FunNow participated in and sponsored the Kita Festival led by Darren Teoh of Dewakan and a group of notable people in the dining scene. It was a small way to help revive our F&B industry, which was devastated by Covid-19. The festival went great and it sparked a sense of camaraderie, hope and sharing within the KL foodie community. As a tech company, just being able to be a part of facilitating and creating the framework for a community of local talents to display their creativity one whole month in the year goes beyond our job scope as a reservation booking platform. Essentially, we want to help the F&B industry in Malaysia grow as there is so much potential and talent locally, as well as to nurture and elevate it to international levels.
Tell us a little about FunNow.
FunNow was founded in Taiwan in 2015 by four overseas graduates who saw an opportunity for an on-demand lifestyle and entertainment booking platform. My wife and I met the founding team serendipitously during Rise Conference 2017 and we saw the opportunity to venture into tech, as there wasn’t any lifestyle reservation app in Malaysia at the time. Since then, FunNow’s notable investors include Alibaba Group, CIDB Capital, Wistron and NEC. It is currently available and operating in 12 cities, Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Tokyo, Kansai, Sapporo, KL, Penang, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
How does GastroMonth KL and Penang tie in with FunNow?
It began with FunNow Taiwan being a supporting partner of GastroMonth Taipei from 2018 to 2021, an event organised by Michelin Guide Taipei. For GastroMonth KL and Penang, however, FunNow is the main organiser. We are responsible for signing up participating restaurants recommended in the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2023, discussing specially curated menus with participating restaurants and planning marketing support.
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Was there a special reason to launch GastroMonth in June?
Based on the data, June is a low month for the majority of restaurants. We purposefully designated GastroMonth so that, with the support of corporates and diners, there would be more dining-out activity. Additionally, this low period also marks a good time for the chefs to cultivate their creativity and create a special menu for that duration.
Your background is in finance and investment advisory. What prompted you to venture into tech via FunNow?
My actual background is in law, having graduated with a Master of Law from the London School of Economics and taken the New York Bar. Finance and investment advisory came later as an extension of my work experience. Tech is my real passion, as I enjoy connecting and problem-solving. FunNow is a platform that connects users to merchants, which not only serves the on-demand needs of the former but also the challenges of the latter. Merchants come across a lot of challenges these days, not only in the digitalisation of services and data but also simple operational issues that may affect profit. For example, a customer would call in and book a service, then cancel at the last minute. FunNow resolves this by collecting a booking deposit made at a specific time. The rate of cancellations is thus lower. That, over time, creates a behavioural change in our culture.
Other than F&B and dining, what services does FunNow cover?
We cover a whole range of lifestyle services, such as spa and wellness, beauty services, activities, hotels and lodging, and cinema tickets. For example, if you are a working professional at the end of a long workday in the city and have some time to kill before a dinner appointment, just open your FunNow app. It will show you all the activities you can enjoy by geolocation before dinnertime, such as a quick hair wash or even a massage.
What is your personal idea of fun?
I like cooking for my kids. It’s therapeutic! I also love exploring new bars and eateries in Malaysia, usually recommended by friends. It is also doubly exciting for me because I can then onboard some of my favourite places on the FunNow App.
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Given FunNow’s regional outlook and audience, where will you most likely expand to?
We have expanded to Bangkok and Chiang Mai this year, and we are still planning to delve deeper into more Southeast Asian cities where we can plant strong roots. Singapore will be next, as it is a city that attracts people from all walks of life and from all over the world and is condensed with so much lifestyle. Additionally, on-demand booking would certainly prove attractive to global citizens of such an efficient country.
You must travel extensively for work. What’s on your agenda for the next few months?
Definitely more locally focused in the next few months, as we have some exciting partnerships, new segments, events and news that we will share in due course. There is a lot of work to be done in Southeast Asia and we are also fundraising for the new series of deeper segment expansion and team growth.
Do you have an all-time preferred destination, though?
It varies between Taipei and Tokyo! Both cities have a cool vibe and culture that are distinct and special. Tokyo can be pretty expensive, so I would say Taipei is always the better holiday option, as an array of activities and really good food can still be enjoyed while keeping to a budget. Plus, FunNow is in both cities and operating at full capacity in Taipei. So, if you are travelling there soon, it might be worth your while to download our app.
What are you reading right now?
I read mainly leadership and business-type books but, recently, my wife shared Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist with me and this quote — ‘When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to get it’ — has become my favourite.
What are you listening to?
Chris Brown and good old school R&B. I would love to go to his concert one day!
Describe your idea of a perfect weekend.
Spending time with my family, golfing and cooking a good steak dinner for my kids.
This article first appeared on May 22, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
