BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  The NASA Scientist & Wall Street Trader Behind NanoSkunkWorkX

The NASA Scientist & Wall Street Trader Behind NanoSkunkWorkX

Iqbal Shamsul, Co-Founder & CEO, NanoSkunkWorkX | Dr Amani Salim, Co-Founder & CTO, NanoSkunkWorkX

16-Oct-25 10:00

The NASA Scientist & Wall Street Trader Behind NanoSkunkWorkX

How does a former NASA scientist team up with a former Wall Street trader to build a deep tech company that manipulates atoms without a multi-million-dollar clean room? For NanoSkunkWorkX (nSWX), it’s about breaking the rules of nanotechnology.

Co-founders Dr. Amani Salim and Iqbal Shamsul join us to share their incredible journey. They discuss their core technology that "stitches together" graphene to solve fundamental bottlenecks in compute, energy, and healthcare, and their ambitious strategy to achieve "technological sovereignty" for Malaysia through strategic global partnerships.

We discuss:

  • The journey from a NASA-funded research project to a deep tech startup.

  • The NASA-meets-Wall Street origin story.

  • The "Skunk Works" philosophy and their mission to build a world-class Malaysian innovator.

  • Their unique low-cost platform for manipulating graphene.

  • Their commercialization strategy, including a contract with a foreign military.

  • Their ambitious vision for "technological sovereignty."

This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologySMEentrepreneurssponsored contentenvironment

Tags:  graphenedeep technanotechnologycommercialisationventure capitalpetronassmartpay





Play / Pause

Listen now : Enterprise Explores: Malaysia is riding a record-breaking wave of RM144 billion in...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

r. Yang Zi, Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, on the China's top general military purge.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Wan Amirah Wan Usamah, Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute, unpacks the significance of the BNPL take-up.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Dato' Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi discusses the Ministry of Works’ road projects, national infrastructure, and Sarawak’s political direction, MA63, and the Sarawak Formula.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

We break down the day’s top news with expert insights.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Imran Yusof, Head of Research, MBSB Research discusses the outlook for Malaysia's oil & gas sector.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Linnet Lee, licensed financial planner at Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd talks about personal finance aspects of Valentine's Day and being in a relationship in general.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Two years ago, TTRacing was already a fast-growing gaming chair brand making its mark across Southeast Asia. Today, they’ve not only expanded their presence in various markets across SEA, but also have pivoted into creating ergonomic lifestyles. We catch up with Founder and CEO Henry Ting to unpack how TTRacing has grown since 2024.

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Meta’s recent $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore-based Manus AI has signaled a major shift: APAC is now outpacing the West in the race for autonomous agents. As geopolitical tensions rise over tech transfers, Europe is left questioning if its "safety-first" regulations are leaving it behind. We speak with AI expert Clemens Wasner to unpack the fallout of the Meta-Manus deal and what it means for global tech sovereignty. Drawing on his decade of experience in Japan and China, Clemens explores the friction between EU governance and APAC speed, the surprising overlap in robotics and chips, and how localised "Sovereign AI" is reshaping the 2026 economic map.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Malaysia is riding a record-breaking wave of RM144 billion in data centre investments, yet the "job density" remains surprisingly low. We examine the stark reality of building a digital empire when the nation faces a 90% gap in engineering talent and the looming "brain drain" to Singapore. Carlos Garcia Rodriguez joins the show to deconstruct the execution risks of this surge, from the massive strain on power and water grids to the rising costs of "project overheating." We explore whether Malaysia is destined to be a "digital landlord" for global giants or if we can truly move up the value chain by 2026.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Dato' Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi discusses the Ministry of Works’ road projects, national infrastructure, and Sarawak’s political direction, MA63, and the Sarawak Formula.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Are medical graduates entering the healthcare profession with unrealistic expectations? We look at why career regrets develop among young healthcare workers.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday