M’sia lacks hangover recovery solutions, so this trio launched a biz to change that

It’s not often that childhood friends remain a part of each other’s lives throughout the years, and rarer yet that they would be able to come together in their adulthood to start a business.

But such is the case for Nick Lai, William Soo, and Ernest Koong.  

“The three of us have been childhood friends, knowing each other since we were young, though we pursued different career paths,” they shared. “Nick ventured into entrepreneurship and marketing, Ernest into trading and retail, while William made his mark in the nightlife industry.”

To be clear, each of them are established individuals in their own right. Nick is a serial entrepreneur who co-owns businesses in the automotive and F&B sectors. He’s the founder and managing director of Fincrew and NickMetrics.  

Meanwhile, William has been in the nightlife industry since 2010 through ventures like IdartsHex and Ipongs, and later, his own darts bar.

With a background in wellness product development, William specialises in functional beverages and supplements.

Despite their different careers, the three stayed in touch and often met up for drinks.

“After the pandemic, our drinking sessions became more frequent, and as we entered middle age, wellness became a common topic of discussion,” they said.

During these conversations, they tried various hangover remedies available internationally. That’s when they realised that Malaysia is significantly behind in terms of drinking social wellness solutions.

“This gap inspired us to create Party8, a product that combines convenience, efficacy, and wellness to enhance the social drinking experience.”

Starting the party

The trio had everything for Party8 to hit the ground running: a full-fledged marketing and production team, extensive experience in retail and ecommerce, and a strong network in the nightlife industry.

This strong foundation allowed them to move quickly. Within weeks, they were already finding manufacturers and conducting all sorts of market research.  

“Relatives in Japan and Korea, along with friends in Thailand, helped us procure hangover supplements, liver support products, and related vitamins available in their countries,” they explained. “These were sent back to us for testing.”

For weeks, the trio was practically drinking every day for weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of each product, with the help of drinking friends as testers.

They would send effective products to their manufacturer’s lab to analyse their contents and ingredients. From there, they’d determine which ingredients to include before testing the volume and pairing of each ingredient.

“At one point, a sample was so strong it caused headaches after consumption—a clear lesson in balance,” they admitted.

After rigorous testing, Party8 officially launched in April this year. Their hangover recovery aid features key ingredients such as milk thistle, ginseng extract, green tea extract, dandelion extract, inulin, curcumin, and more.

Their products are manufactured in Malaysia to maintain quality control and ensure compliance with local regulations.

In the first six months, the trio invested heavily, claiming that they burnt over six digits to establish Party8. Most of that went into hosting events, building the brand identity, and covering production and R&D costs for new products.

They shared, “This aggressive push was intentional, as we knew a strong launch would lay the groundwork for long-term success.”

This strong focus on R&D led to the introduction of a game-changer—a hangover relief vitamin stick. Touting it to be a “world’s first,” the product gained immediate traction, the team said.

By November, the Hangover Recovery Aid had gone through four restocks. They claim to have reached over 15,000 customers across Malaysia. To be frank, it’s much like a vape, but rest assured that it’s nicotine-free.

“Although profitability is on the horizon, we’re still prioritising reinvestment to expand our reach, develop new products, and strengthen our distribution channels,” they said.

Currently, Party8 products are available online through their own website as well as Shopee and Lazada.

Penetrating the market

Party8’s target market, as you might be able to guess, are partygoers.

Specifically, though, the team has found a particularly strong connection with the Chinese-speaking market. This is apparent through the Chinese content series they produce called After Hours.

“Now, here’s the funny part—none of the three of us can read Chinese,” the three shared with Vulcan Post. “We’re all English-educated, yet we’ve bravely ventured into the Chinese-speaking market, often relying on translation tools, our team, and a lot of guesswork to ensure we get the tone and context right.”

The team calls the journey “humbling and hilarious” but incredibly rewarding.

But Party8 isn’t the only hangover recovery aid offering in town. In fact, there were some active competitors in Malaysia when they launched. And since then, the number of players have only increased.

“The industry is appealing because it’s relatively easy to set up—a simple copy of ingredients and finding a manufacturer can get anyone started,” they said.

However, they believe Party8 stands out thanks to its full-fledged team that produces high-quality content, as well as their extensive network of partners and events.

Additionally, Party8 also has a unique edge through their vending machine background—Party Science Sdn Bhd was formerly known as Vendingtech Sdn Bhd. They’ve seamlessly integrated this vending background into the business, and have over eight vending machines across Klang Valley, providing a convenient sales channel that others don’t have.

Despite these advantages, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. For one, the team actually received a legal letter from a competitor because they ranked well for a certain Google search phrase.

“While we found this absurd, it unfortunately meant spending money on legal teams instead of focusing solely on growth,” they said. “It’s a reminder that success can ruffle feathers, but it also drives us to keep pushing forward.”

A stamp of approval

Building Party8, the trio knew that gaining professional credibility was essential. That’s where Dr. Denise Zhang came into the picture.

“We reached out to her with our product samples and detailed research on the ingredients,” the team explained.

Intrigued by the natural formula, Dr Denise agreed to test Party8 thoroughly, assessing its ingredients and their efficacy in supporting liver health, reducing fatigue, and aiding recovery.

“She gave us valuable feedback during the process, which we incorporated to refine the product,” the team said. “Her endorsement wasn’t just a formality; she recognised the scientific rationale and benefits behind Party8’s formulation.”

Apart from Dr. Denise, Party8’s products are also lab-tested for safety and efficacy by certified laboratories. The products meet all regulatory requirements, including certifications like MESTI, GMP, and HACCP.

Breaking through the stigmas

Promoting hangover recovery products may inadvertently encourage overconsumption of alcohol, though. The trio understands this, but assures that this isn’t their intention.

“Our mission is to promote balance and responsibility. We encourage consumers to enjoy themselves while being mindful of their health,” they emphasised.

Plus, the products aren’t exclusively for drinkers. With ingredients that support liver function, energy levels, and overall wellness, Party8 can be used as a daily supplement for those looking to maintain a healthier lifestyle, regardless of whether they consume alcohol.

That’s why the team is working on products that go beyond hangover recovery, focusing on overall wellness and lifestyle enhancement.

To support their product expansion, Party8 is looking to significantly increase their vending machine presence, focusing on high-traffic locations like malls, bars, and event venues nationwide.

“Our goal is simple: to make Party8 the go-to name for hangover recovery and party wellness, while continuously improving and growing our footprint in the market.”

Featured Image Credit: Party8