Everyone was waiting for the IoT wave.We decided to build the ocean. When the world was busy talking about potential, we rolled up our sleeves and created it. FAVORIOT didn’t start with millions in funding or a big global name. We started with an idea... that Malaysia could build its own IoT platform and lead the way. While others waited for perfect timing, we launched training.

We never set out to build another IoT platform.We set out to solve a problem no one was fixing. Our country had talent.Brilliant engineers, students, and innovators.But every time they tried to build something, they hit a wall. Global platforms were too expensive.Too complex.Too far from our local reality. They didn’t understand our challenges.They didn’t speak our language.

The story of FAVORIOT mirrors the word in that image, FAILURE, not as an end but as a teacher. It began with a fall.When FAVORIOT was first founded, the dream was bold — to make Malaysia a producer of IoT technology, not just a consumer. But reality was harsh. Funding was scarce, and few believed that a local IoT platform could compete with global giants like AWS or Azure.

💡 Brand Strategy Brand Substance Purpose:To empower nations, universities, and innovators to build their own IoT ecosystems — achieving technological sovereignty and nurturing the next generation of IoT creators. Vision:To make FAVORIOT the world’s most trusted IoT platform that helps nations become producers, not just consumers, of technology. Mission:To simplify IoT adoption through education, local partnerships, and accessible platforms — enabling anyone, from students to enterprises, to build impactful smart solutions.

When we first built FAVORIOT, it was never just about connecting devices. It was about connecting people — the students, the dreamers, the engineers who believed that a local platform could change the world. One afternoon, Zura and I were deep in discussion about how the ecosystem had begun to bloom. Universities were adopting the platform, partners from other countries were joining, and we could feel this vibrant network of minds expanding beyond anything we’d imagined.

Born to Lead vs Appointed to Lead There’s a big difference between those born to lead… and those appointed to lead. The born ones don’t wait for a title. They’ve been leading long before anyone called them “boss.” In classrooms, in chaos, in silence — they step up without being told. Where others see problems, they see opportunities. The appointed ones come with credentials, approval, and titles.

I used to believe that supporting local products and technologies through MySTI would open the doors to the government procurement market. It made sense. National pride. National sentiment. Building trust in our own capabilities. But reality hit me hard. We lost a tender bid to a non-MySTI product. Despite playing by the rules. Despite believing the policy was our shield.

When I started my journey as a founder, I thought the breakthrough would come from the idea. That magical spark. That billion-dollar concept. But I quickly learned something humbling. Ideas are everywhere. Execution is rare. Look around. There are endless voices ready to criticize. Crowds procrastinating. Groups endlessly brainstorming. Teams stuck in planning mode. And then—there are the very few who dare to execute.

That may sound brutal, but for a founder, it’s the greatest relief you can carry. You’re not really afraid of failure. You’re afraid of the judgment that follows. The investors’ raised eyebrows. The market’s whispers. The silent verdicts from peers. But here’s the truth every founder needs to hear: Nobody is thinking about you. They’re too busy fighting their own fires.

People love to talk about success as if it’s a fixed destination. A place you arrive, plant your flag, and rest forever. But here’s the truth: success is never finished. It’s a road that keeps extending, twisting, and demanding constant repair. Every new milestone comes with new challenges. Every victory reveals the next level of difficulty. Every achievement forces you to rebuild, adapt, and upgrade yourself.

You need to be selling. Not next month. Not when you “feel ready.” Not when you finally hire a VP of Sales.Now. Whether you like it or not, you are the best salesperson your company will ever have. You may not have a sales background. You may not even like selling.But no one will ever carry the conviction you do.

Some friendships don’t make sense to the outside world. But to you, they make life worth living. They’re the ones who laugh at the same ridiculous things. Who turn ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. Who find joy in the silly, the random, the nonsense. Because it’s not about being “normal.” It’s about finding someone who matches your kind of crazy.

Some truths sting. But here’s one worth holding onto: Complaining never changes a thing. Every excuse, every regret, every ounce of negativity you let slip out—it doesn’t fix the problem. It only feeds it. If something is within your control, act. If it isn’t, let it go. Complaining gives away your power. Action reclaims it. The next time you feel the urge to complain, ask yourself:

When I first became a founder, I thought success would come after someone else gave me the nod. I waited for validation. For investors to say yes. For partners to recognize our value. For the market to tell me it was the right time. But waiting almost killed the dream. Here’s what I learned: no one is going to hand you permission to build the life or the company you want.

Some truths hurt more than lies. Most of your friends aren’t really your friends. They show up when it’s fun. When you’re winning. When you’re useful. But when the music stops, and the room goes quiet, you suddenly see how empty it really is. Real friends are not measured by convenience. They’re measured by sacrifice. By the calls they make when you’ve gone silent.

When I co-founded FAVORIOT, I thought the most significant milestones would define me.The first product launch.The first government pitch.The first international partnership. But what I didn’t expect was how much the mistakes would shape me. We once lost a tender even though our platform was MySTI certified.We thought the badge would speak for itself.It didn’t.

Some tables are not worth sitting at. If the main dish is gossip, you will eventually be served too. I’ve learned this the hard way.The moment you join conversations built on tearing others down, you’ve already handed people permission to do the same to you. Today they whisper about someone else.Tomorrow, when you leave, it will be your name on their lips.

What if the future of technology wasn’t just controlled by a handful of giants, but built by thousands of creators everywhere? That’s the vision we carry at Favoriot. Not a future where IoT is locked away in labs, hidden behind paywalls, or restricted to enterprises with deep pockets. But a world where every student, every startup, every dreamer with an idea can create, test, and scale their own IoT solutions.

If AI progress felt like a sprint in 2023, by 2025, it looks more like a rocket launch. Models aren’t just improving year by year—they’re leaping ahead month by month. What we thought was “cutting edge” last quarter is already yesterday’s news. Here’s the reality: the global LLM market is surging toward $105.5 billion in North America by 2030. That’s not a forecast—it’s a signal.

Have you ever stood at the edge of giving up? That suffocating moment when the dream feels too heavy, the journey too long, and the silence around you too loud. I’ve been there more times than I can count. And yet, here I am, still standing, still pushing after more than eight years of building a vision that most people would have abandoned years ago.

Why Trust is the Real Product You're Selling (and How Marketing Builds I Let’s cut straight to it. You could have the best solution on the planet. The smartest AI. The most beautiful dashboard. A deal they’d be crazy to ignore. But if they don’t trust you? Game over. That’s the truth most salespeople and founders don’t want to hear. You don’t lose sales because your product lacks features.

Business opportunities are like cooking shows—you never know what’s really happening behind the kitchen door until the dish suddenly lands in front of you. Let me tell you something I’ve learned (usually after almost giving up): Just because it’s quiet… doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.Sometimes the silence is just the oven preheating. Here's how I see it: One day, someone stumbles upon your product, your service, your pitch, your random LinkedIn post.

Have you ever noticed how your eyes light up and your ears perk when someone begins a sentence with, “Let me tell you a story…”? I’ve seen this countless times — in conferences, casual chats over coffee, and even in my blog’s comment section. There’s something magical about stories. And over the years, I’ve discovered that writing in a storytelling manner doesn’t just make my articles more enjoyable to write — it makes them more impactful, relatable, and memorable to readers.

Sometimes, people still introduce us like this: “Oh, Favoriot? That IoT startup from Malaysia, right?” And I pause for a second. Yes, we were. But are we still? Let me rewind a bit. Back in 2017, when we launched Favoriot, it was exactly that — a startup. A handful of us. One platform. A dream to make IoT more accessible, especially for Southeast Asia.

“Why do you do what you do?” It’s a simple question — but one that hit me like a lightning bolt the first time I heard it posed by Simon Sinek in his book “Start With Why.” I thought I had the answer years ago when we founded FAVORIOT. We wanted to build an IoT platform. We wanted to be part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.