Featured in Majoriti Newspaper: My Journey from Xoxzo to AI Innovation with LaLoka Labs

How I turned a niche opportunity in Japan’s SMS market into a multimillion-ringgit success and moved into AI, as covered by Majoriti newspaper.

My Story in Majoriti

I was recently featured in Majoriti, a Malaysian online newspaper, where I shared the story of founding my company, Xoxzo Inc., in Japan. The article highlights how I identified a niche opportunity in SMS services in Japan and built the company over 14 years before selling it for over RM8 million. It also touches on my latest venture, LaLoka Labs, an AI-based tech company focused on natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning.

The Birth of Xoxzo Inc.

In 2007, while living in Japan, I noticed that SMS services were not widely used, with email being the primary mode of communication on mobile phones. This presented a niche opportunity, and that’s where Xoxzo Inc. was born. Over the years, the company grew steadily, employing 12 people and securing six patents related to SMS technology in Japan.

Motivations and Reflections

In the interview, I also discussed my motivation for starting the company. It wasn’t driven by financial gain but by a desire to see how the world would value my skills as a software engineer. Building a business from scratch helped me understand the importance of solving everyday problems that people might not even realize exist.

Venturing into AI with LaLoka Labs

Now, I’ve ventured into artificial intelligence (AI) with my new company, LaLoka Labs, based in Tokyo. We specialize in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, helping businesses and individuals generate content more efficiently. Our latest acquisition of Kafkai.com marks a significant step forward as we continue to innovate in this exciting field.

You can read the full article here: interview

Conclusion

Being featured in Majoriti allowed me to reflect on the milestones that shaped my entrepreneurial journey. From identifying a simple need in Japan's SMS market to embracing the future with AI, I’ve learned that success often comes from solving the everyday challenges others may overlook. Now, I’m excited to continue pushing boundaries with LaLoka Labs.