Here Are 4 Hopeful Stories Of Indian Entrepreneurs To Inspire You This Deepavali
How they found ways to overcome challenges and take their businesses further.
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This Spotlight is sponsored by KUSKOP.
Starting a business is one thing, but keeping it running and finding the money to grow is a whole different challenge
Whether it's buying enough stock, investing in new equipment, or expanding into a bigger space, having access to financing can make a huge difference for entrepreneurs.
This Deepavali, let's take a look at four Malaysian Indian entrepreneurs whose businesses have grown over the years.
1. Santhy Ananthan (Kedai Gunting Rambut MyKriz)
Before becoming a salon owner, Santhy Ananthan travelled from home to home with her elder sister, providing hairstyling and make-up services for weddings and other occasions.
When she eventually opened Kedai Gunting Rambut MyKriz in Kuala Selangor, however, making ends meet wasn't easy.
She couldn't always afford enough beauty products and equipment, sometimes leaving customers unhappy when supplies ran out.
About two years into running the salon, a friend introduced her to Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).
Since then, the 48-year-old has received RM121,900 in financing across multiple rounds from AIM, allowing her to purchase enough beauty products to last up to a year instead of having to restock almost every week.
With better resources, she expanded her premises, hired more staff, and eventually opened a second MyKriz outlet.
2. Abiramee Rangasamy (Lotus Cofy House)
After losing her job during the pandemic, Abiramee Rangasamy started making ice cream at home.
Her small venture eventually grew into Lotus Cofy House, the company behind Jumboo Ice Cream. But as the business expanded, relying on imported kulfi became increasingly difficult because of inconsistent supplies and rising costs.
Rather than continue depending on imports, Abiramee decided to produce the frozen dessert locally.
With a matching grant through SME Corp Malaysia's Indian Business Accelerator Programme (I-BAP), she purchased three food-processing machines and started a local kulfi production.
Her next goal is getting her products onto major supermarket shelves and eventually exploring overseas markets.
3. Muakilan Ragunathan (Velan Trading Autopartz)
Muakilan Ragunathan wanted to continue his father's automotive parts trade, so he started selling used car parts from home using his personal savings.
But with limited working capital, keeping enough inventory was a constant challenge.
In 2011, he received RM30,000 through TEKUN Nasional's Skim Pembangunan Usahawan Masyarakat India (SPUMI), which helped him purchase more stock and grow his operations.
Today, his business, Velan Trading Autopartz, operates from its own premises in Kepala Batas, Penang, and employs 11 people.
Even more impressive, its automotive components have reached customers in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and several Middle Eastern countries.
4. Ravichandren Nagan (RV Print Enterprise)
After spending 17 years working in the printing industry, Ravichandren Nagan finally started his own business in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, in 2001.
However, having industry experience didn't mean he had the capital to match. He could initially afford to rent only half a shop.
As digital printing became more popular, Ravichandren knew he needed to upgrade his machinery to keep up with changing customer demands.
Through three rounds of SPUMI financing from TEKUN Nasional, he received RM170,000 in total to support working capital and machinery upgrades.
His business, RV Print Enterprise, now occupies a full shoplot in Brickfields, offering both digital and conventional printing services while providing jobs for 12 people.
These four stories show how access to financing can help entrepreneurs move beyond the challenges of running a small business
In 2026, the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP), led by Minister Steven Sim, allocated a record RM223 million to support the Malaysian Indian community.
More than RM150 million in financing and assistance has already been disbursed, benefiting over 6,000 Indian entrepreneurs.
You can learn more about the financing opportunities available through programmes such as TEKUN Nasional's SPUMI, SME Bank's Vanigham, and Bank Rakyat's BRIEF-i
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