Hello Mentor EP3 | How An Ex-Gaming Addict Became An Accidental Entrepreneur with Fong Wai Hong of StoreHub
In this episode of Hello Mentor, Derek and entrepreneur Wai Hong talks about his journey with StoreHub and how values triumph over passion when it comes to building a successful company.
By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM
Updated on 2025-01-23 at 5:08 AM
In this episode of Hello Mentor, Fong Wai Hong, the Chieftain and Co-founder of StoreHub shares what led him to become an accidental entrepreneur.
Fong Wai Hong’s journey is anything but conventional. From an avid gamer who once struggled with academics to becoming the co-founder of StoreHub, an omnichannel operating system for over 13,000 businesses across Southeast Asia, Wai Hong's story is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of improvement.
Wai Hong’s fascination with technology began early, inspired by his programmer mother and uncle. However, his school years were marked by academic struggles and a growing obsession with computer games like StarCraft and Dota. Despite these challenges, gaming taught him valuable lessons in strategy, teamwork, and communication—skills that would later shape his entrepreneurial journey.
His first venture into business was almost accidental. Helping his uncle sell products on eBay ignited a passion for e-commerce. By leveraging his skills in writing engaging product descriptions and optimizing listings, Wai Hong co-founded OzHut, scaling the business to $5 million in annual revenue.
In 2013, Wai Hong returned to Malaysia and founded StoreHub after identifying inefficiencies in retail POS systems. Starting with just two people in his apartment, StoreHub has since grown to a team of over 315 employees across Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok, and Shanghai. Today, it helps small and medium-sized businesses automate their operations and scale efficiently.
Fong Wai Hong is Chieftain and co-founder at StoreHub, an omnichannel operating system for over 12,000 retailers and restaurants across South East Asia.
Having grown up in Malaysia, Wai Hong would then spend 4 years in Singapore as an ASEAN Scholar before studying and living in Melbourne for the next 10 years. Upon completing his BA at the University of Melbourne, Wai Hong co-founded OZHut, a multi-niche online retailer where he was the managing director for 5 years.
Wai Hong was also named Australia’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2011 by StartupSmart and was amongst Melbourne’s top 100 most influential people by The Age Newspaper that same year. Wai Hong has since spent 1.5 years living in Shanghai where he studied Mandarin and eventually returned to Malaysia in 2013 where he founded StoreHub.
Wai Hong attributes much of his success to his "accidental entrepreneur" mindset—one that thrives on solving problems and adapting to challenges. His philosophy is rooted in what he calls "holy discontent," the frustration that fuels innovation and change. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Wai Hong emphasizes the importance of:
Surprisingly, gaming continues to influence Wai Hong’s leadership style. His ability to analyze situations, predict outcomes, and foster collaboration mirrors the tactics used in competitive gaming. These skills have helped him navigate the complexities of scaling StoreHub across culturally diverse markets in Southeast Asia.
Wai Hong’s journey offers several insights for those looking to start or grow their own businesses:
By Aqilah Naqlis on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM