Exabytes Founder & CEO Chan Kee Siak joins fellow founders on stage to share hard-won lessons on building a business from zero.
Exabytes was honoured to be invited to Karnival Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia (KarnivalHPM) 2026, held on 26–27 September 2026 at Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang. Organised by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) with SME Corp Malaysia, TEKUN Nasional, INSKEN, SME Bank and Bank Rakyat, the two-day carnival carried the theme “Jom Support Lokal!” and brought entrepreneurs, government agencies, corporates and buyers together across more than 40 talks, panels, workshops and financing clinics.
Among the highlights was a panel featuring our Founder and CEO, Chan Kee Siak, alongside some of Malaysia’s most recognised digital entrepreneurs. The session drew aspiring founders, SME owners and business leaders looking for practical guidance on how to start, grow and sustain a business in a fast-changing economy.
For Exabytes, the invitation was a chance to give back to the entrepreneurial community that has shaped our own journey. It was also a reminder of why we do what we do: helping Malaysian businesses succeed online, from their very first website to AI and digital solutions that power their growth today.
KarnivalHPM: Cari Pelabur atau Bina Sendiri?
The panel tackled a question every founder eventually faces: Cari Pelabur atau Bina Sendiri — should you look for investors, or build it yourself? It is a decision that shapes a company’s pace, culture and long-term direction, and there is rarely a single right answer.
The session was moderated by Yeoh Chen Chow, Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Foodie Media Berhad. Chen Chow opened by sharing his own entrepreneurial path, from his early days with Groupon to building Fave, and now stepping into the role of Chairman at Foodie Media Berhad — his first time taking on a chairmanship. His journey set the tone for an honest, experience-driven conversation about what it really takes to build a company in Malaysia.
Two founders, two journeys from zero
Clarence Leong, founder of EasyParcel, shared how the idea for his company came from a very personal moment. While trying to help his wife send parcels, he ran into the frustrations of parcel delivery first-hand — and saw a problem worth solving. That problem became EasyParcel.
But EasyParcel was not his first venture. Clarence revealed that he had earlier started EziVoucher and EasyCorner, which competed head-to-head with Groupon at the time. Those earlier experiences, he explained, laid the foundation for what EasyParcel would become.
Chan Kee Siak then took the audience back to the beginnings of Exabytes. He recalled the early challenges of building an online business at a time when credit card adoption in Malaysia was still low, and many people were hesitant to pay for anything online. Convincing customers to trust digital payments was itself part of the job.
Those early hurdles shaped Exabytes’ mission to make going online simple, trusted and accessible for every business. That same commitment has carried Exabytes from its first hosting customers to becoming one of the region’s leading providers of cloud, AI and digital solutions for SMEs and enterprises.
Key takeaways on entrepreneurship
- Turn crisis into opportunity. When Covid-19 forced businesses to close their doors, Exabytes and EasyParcel stepped up to help SMEs keep operating. Exabytes helped businesses move online quickly with websites, e-commerce stores and digital tools, while EasyParcel kept goods moving to customers. The panel agreed that a crisis can reveal what businesses truly need — and founders who respond quickly can create lasting value.
- Don’t overthink — just do it. If you have a good idea and a clear direction, take action. Chan and Clarence both stressed that endless planning without execution leads nowhere. Progress comes from testing, learning and adjusting along the way.
- Everyone has to start somewhere. Both Exabytes and EasyParcel started from zero. Neither company began with a large team, big funding or a guaranteed market. Taking that first step is what turns an idea into reality and builds the journey towards success.
Building the next generation of digital businesses
Chan’s message resonated with a clear theme: success is less about waiting for the perfect conditions and more about solving real problems with persistence. Having built Exabytes from a small start-up into a trusted regional technology company, he continues to be a voice that founders and business owners turn to for practical, experience-based insight.
Today, that experience is channelled into helping businesses embrace the next wave of change. Through its AI and digital solutions — from cloud hosting and domains to e-commerce, cybersecurity and AI-powered business tools — Exabytes enables SMEs to work smarter, reach more customers and compete confidently in the digital economy.
Exabytes thanks KUSKOP and the organisers of KarnivalHPM for the invitation, and fellow panellists Yeoh Chen Chow and Clarence Leong for a candid and inspiring conversation. We came away with valuable takeaways that we will carry into our work with Malaysian businesses — and a renewed belief that the next great local success story may already be taking its first step.
To learn how Exabytes can support your business with AI and digital solutions, visit exabytes.my.
