When will the business grow?

Will I ever reach break-even?

Will I ever have a team?

Some questions echo in your head. Others come from people who doubt you.

How long do you plan to keep doing this?

Entrepreneurship is often painted as daring and glamorous. But behind the scenes, especially for solopreneurs, it can be brutally lonely. In a world obsessed with hustle, the emotional cost of building something from scratch is rarely spoken about.

This is the story of Fumiko Inada, founder of Bee Informatica, a Malaysia-based financial services firm built on speed, transparency, and social good, that supports small businesses. A story of resilience, grit, and the quiet bravery it takes to carry a vision alone until others finally see it.

Southeast Asian Reboot

Fumiko wasn’t a stranger to Southeast Asia. She’d spent time in Bangladesh, managing offshore IT operations and meeting a partner who also wanted a new beginning. Together, they chose Malaysia—a country they believed held promise.

After a few visits and conversations with local entrepreneurs, Fumiko made her leap. What she didn’t expect was launching her startup in the middle of a global pandemic.

Entrepreneur’s Loneliness: Pandemic Launch, Zero Map

Starting a company is always hard. Starting it in a foreign land, with zero brand recognition, during COVID-19? That’s a stress test that very few survive.

Her co-founder remained in Bangladesh. Every decision, big or small, was hers alone.

“I didn’t know how to find clients. No marketing background. And I was a foreigner offering financial services—something people tend to be extra cautious about,” she recalls.

Then came a lifeline. Through a business contact, she joined BNI, a local networking group. There, she met a Malaysian woman whose referrals became her startup’s earliest and strongest support system.

“For the first two years, everything was introduction and word-of-mouth through her. Without that connection, I don’t know if we’d still be here.”

Solopreneur’s Mental Battles Beneath the Grind

Fumiko’s hardest chapter wasn’t the launch. It was the long silence after.

Even with several million yen in lending capital, operations were costly. The business model wasn’t sustainable without external funding. And it took five years before a VC came onboard.

She hired early, thinking momentum was picking up—but when funding didn’t arrive, she had to let her team go.

“That crushed me. Just when things started looking up, they spiralled down, like a roller coaster. If funding isn’t stable or able to grow, the business won’t work. That made me feel powerless.”

Anchored by Purpose

Despite everything, Fumiko never walked away. Her north star remained steady.
She never doubted the business. In every presentation—whether for sales or fundraising—the social value was clear to everyone.

As a teenager in Japan, she dreamed of building social enterprises in developing countries—not through donations, but sustainable business. Her time with NGOs revealed the limits of charity. Her time in Bangladesh revealed the power of startups.

“I saw that business can be a force for good. That profit and purpose don’t have to live in separate worlds.”

That belief became her fuel. She kept building—quietly, patiently. And eventually, investors came.

Lessons Beyond Loneliness

Fumiko’s journey isn’t just a tale of loneliness—it’s a masterclass in conviction, vulnerability, and growth.

“If you hit a wall, it doesn’t mean your idea is wrong. It just means your approach isn’t mature yet.”
“Find your people. Keep showing up. You’ll grow—and your business will too.”

Fumiko Inada is a Japanese entrepreneur who has called Malaysia home for the past six years. As the founder and CEO of FundingBee, a digital financing platform launched in 2019, she is committed to empowering Malaysian SMEs and entrepreneurs through fair and timely access to funding.‍

Let us fund your next dream.Get in touch with our group of experts at www.fundingbee.my or whatsapp us at +60 17-509 267