21/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 21, 2025 theSunday Special VIII

S OME ventures begin with a spreadsheet. Others, with a spark between two people. For Billy Koh and Tan Han Yin, it was both. Their story is not just about launching beverage outlets, but about what happens when love, purpose and sheer determination collide at the right moment. As the husband-and-wife duo behind the Gong Cha franchise in Malaysia, their journey has become one of the country’s most recognisable entrepreneurial success stories. In a landscape where trends shift overnight, theirs is a quieter triumph rooted in trust, values and the slow, intentional art of building something meaningful. What began as a single store has since grown into nearly 60 outlets across the country. Yet, beyond the numbers and expansion, what makes their journey remarkable is the deeply human element running through it, a tale of entrepreneur ship built on partnership, resilience and shared vision. Long before their leap into the food and beverage industry, both Koh and Tan were steadily climbing their own career ladders. Koh’s background was in Hong Kong’s fast-moving supply chain sector, where he honed instincts for operations and trend-spotting. Tan, meanwhile, came from corporate consulting, with expertise in finance transformation and change management. “We were both hungry for something more. Not just stability, but meaning and ownership,” Tan recalled.

For Koh, the inspiration was personal. Having grown up in a family where F&B was part of daily life, he wanted to reimagine it to take a familiar drink and elevate it into an experience. When he discovered Gong Cha during a visit abroad, the potential was clear. “I could see it working back home. But I knew I couldn’t do it alone. That was where Han Yin came in. She saw the structure behind the dream and that made all the difference,” Koh added. Taking the leap Leaving behind corporate safety nets, the couple poured their energy into open ing Gong Cha’s first Malaysian outlet in Subang Jaya, a place that held sentimental value, being where they had first met as students. “It felt serendipitous, like coming full circle,” Koh said. From the very beginning, there was nothing glamorous about the work. They designed store layouts, trained staff, lugged heavy cartons and worked till midnight. At one point, a supply hiccup left them without tapioca pearls, the best-selling topping for almost two weeks. “ You never forget your first real opera tional crisis,” Tan admitted. Yet the challenges forged resilience. Their early team, mostly young and eager, often stayed overnight to help prepare stores. “Their energy carried us,” Tan said with gratitude. As the business expanded, so did the need for structure. Koh leaned into

Koh and Tan … Love isn’t just about chemistry.

Brewing love and legacy

BY AQILAH NAJWA JAMALUDDIN

strategy and innovation while Tan took charge of operations, finance and people development. “Billy’s always ten steps ahead. I’m the one saying, ‘okay, how do we actually get there?’” Tan explained.” That balance allowed them to make decisions not from ego, but from respect. “We don’t always agree. But we always ask, ‘What’s best for the business?’” she added. More than business partners Of course, blurring work with marriage came at a price. “Sometimes we didn’t even realise we were bringing work stress into our personal space,” Tan said. They eventually set boundaries, carving out work-free hours and making time to connect as a couple. “Love isn’t just about chemistry. It’s about choosing to show up, especially when things are tough,” Koh reflected. Today, with close to 60 outlets and a capable leadership team in place, they are finally able to slow their pace at least a

little. Their mornings begin with breakfast together and since welcoming their first child, their definition of success has shifted once again. “It’s no longer just about growth. It’s about being present. With our baby, with each other, with ourselves,” Tan said. For them, true sustainability lies in knowing the business can run without them, freeing up time for what matters most. To other couples considering a joint venture, Koh and Tan’s advice is straight forward: Define your roles early, respect each other’s differences and communicate, even when it’s uncomfortable. Above all, hold onto your shared purpose, the “why” that keeps you grounded when pressure mounts. “There will be days when one of you feels burnt out or doubts everything. That’s when patience and kindness matter most,” Tan said. The simplest lesson of all is never to stop laughing together. As Tan puts it with a smile, “Even at the terrible jokes, because sometimes, laughter really is the glue.”

W ith their first child, success now means being present with family and with each other.