Malaysian Startup PurelyB Closes $500k Seed Round To Build Marketplace

PurelyB, a Malaysian startup pioneering the wellness movement in South East Asia, has closed a $500k seed round led by 500 Startups.

The one-stop online health and wellness portal, which aggregates information on healthy living in both English and Chinese, plans to use the investment to launch Asia’s first integrated marketplace for wellness.

Founded by Raja Jesrina Raja Arshad, PurelyB has grown a strong audience in Malaysia and Hong Kong where it has leveraged a first mover advantage. As a result, it was selected earlier this year for the Stanford Technology Ventures Programme in Silicon Valley, where Raja Jesrina solidified her idea.

Starting out, Raja Jesrina gathered a few experts and friends in the wellness industry and began to create a website offering lifestyle tips, a directory for healthy eating destinations in the Asia Pacific region and a number of wellness programs which subscribers can purchase online.

And with such a strong background in web development and digital media, Raja Jesrina was able to build a platform that would end up reaching developing markets outside of Malaysia.

These same skills, combined with a strong understanding of local markets, sees PurelyB well placed to provide a powerful marketplace for wellness merchants and consumers.

“We are targeting regional from the get-go with Malaysia and Singapore first, before opening it to the US, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Indonesia,” Raja Jesrina told The Malaysian Reserve, regarding plans to launch the online marketplace.  

“The goal of PurelyB is partly to build relationships and help traditional businesses while increasing awareness on health and wellness,” she said.

The recent seed funding round, which was led by US venture capital firm 500 startups and participation from Brunsfield Ventures Sdn Bhd and an angel investor, will enable the platform to continue creating convenience around healthy lifestyle choices.