Product business power panel: How to build a profitable, ethical product-based business (and stay sane)

If you’re running a product-based business, or if your clients are product-based business owners – this power panel featuring three successful product-based founders is for you.

This is an opportunity to learn from founders who have built and scaled their sustainable product-based businesses; navigating everything from pricing, inventory, manufacturing, supply chain, branding and beyond. We’ll explore what it means to create products that are high-quality in design, functionality, durability, and user experience; and have considered sustainability and circular models – and how planning for scalability is the key to accommodate growth efficiently.

Our founders will share how they lean into sustainable practices and initiatives across their business operations, what investments they make to innovate, if they are data-driven in their decision making and how they optimise their supply chain for continuous improvement.

Expect to leave this panel session inspired by the experience of our founders, and armed with key insights on how you can build a profitable business, get strategic, and still prioritise other aspects of your life which are essential to your wellbeing, in this wild ride of entrepreneurship!

About the speakers

Debby Yu

Debby Yu doesn’t just build brands; she breathes life into them. Her approach seamlessly balances creative flair with strategic thinking. At STUDIO DAM, each project delves deep into a brand’s ethos, values, and untold stories. Debby values authentic narratives over flashy jargon, believing they resonate most with audiences. This belief guides her in creating brands that speak volumes instantly.


While managing STUDIO DAM, Debby also launched Evercasa to test real-time brand and product strategies. She aims to understand the perspective of brand founders, their questions, and needs. Little did she know, Evercasa turned out to be a perfect market fit!

Rakhee Shah

Designer, entrepreneur and former banker Rakhee Shah founded Maisha Concept in 2017, a globally inspired fashion and lifestyle label aimed at the globally conscious consumer. It was launched to create awareness of various cultures and traditions in mainly Africa and India through textiles and fashion. Maisha means “giving life” in Swahili, and through Maisha’s contemporary designs, Rakhee aims to resurrect and create awareness of the various cultures, heritage and the skills of local artisans and textile manufacturers in those regions.

Maisha is best known for its rich, vibrant fabrics, which are unique Maisha prints of the highest quality. Every collection is handcrafted by their team of artisans using traditional age-old methods such as block printing, weaving and embroidery to create contemporary and unique pieces. By supporting Maisha, new jobs are created in these artisanal communities, partnerships are made, opportunities are turned into reality and quality of life of their artisans is improved. Maisha prides itself on being a sustainable and ethical brand, where they show transparency on who made their garments, how they are made and where. Behind every collection is a story, a unique journey and a rich heritage.

Rithika Gupta

Rithika Gupta is the founder and driving force behind Ollie, a plant-powered home and personal care brand that’s all about turning mundane chores into moments of joy.
 
She is also the CEO of FP Aromatics Singapore, a renowned name in the world of essential oils. With a family heritage spanning three generations in the industry, Rithika oversees distillation units, specialised labs and warehouses, and is globally recognised as one of the top suppliers in the flavour and fragrance industry.
 
Rithika’s entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with her passion for a non-toxic plant-based lifestyle, drives her mission to revolutionise the home and personal care industry, ensuring healthier and more sustainable choices for us all.