In this episode of Paranoid Founders, host Kevin sits down with Craig Goonting, founding partner and COO of TROOPERS, a gig worker platform that connects employers with reliable part-time help. Craig shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his humble beginnings as a part-timer to leading a company that reshaped the part-time job market in Malaysia. Craig discusses the challenges he and his team faced while building TROOPERS, their vision to create transparency and reliability for gig workers, and how they adapted during key moments like the pandemic. He also opens up about personal lessons learned, the importance of people management, and how his passion for gaming parallels his business mindset. Learn how Craig and the TROOPERS team grew from invoicing RM7,000 for Uber to scaling their platform to a regional business, and the operational hurdles they overcame. Craig also talks about the systems and values they’ve built to ensure top-quality service for both employers and part-timers alike. Key Highlights: The inspiration behind TROOPERS and its mission to revolutionise the gig economy. How Craig’s experience as a part-timer shaped his business vision. The early challenges of launching a tech platform with minimal resources. How TROOPERS scaled its operations and overcame the hurdles of rapid growth. Craig’s insight on the importance of people management and continuous learning. The impact of TROOPERS Protect, their insurance plan for part-timers. What keeps Craig motivated and how he balances work and play as a Dota 2 enthusiast. Tune in for: Inspiring lessons on scaling a business, staying grounded in the gig economy, and balancing operations with a growth mindset. Guest: Craig Goonting, COO & Founding Partner at TroopersHost: Kevin Hoong , Host of Paranoid Founders and Insurtech Entrepreneur About TROOPERS TROOPERS is a digital HR Tech platform for flexible work that aims to grant equitable access to flexible work for all Malaysians to work and earn in a legitimate, transparent, and accountable ecosystem. Since inception in 2017, TROOPERS has grown to become Malaysia's flexible job-matching platform. TROOPERS works with a range of esteemed brands across Malaysia to meet all their flexible manpower needs in terms of on-ground activations, offline marketing, merchandising, in-store promotion, logistics, warehousing, concerts and shared services.As part of its ongoing commitment in building a flexible ecosystem, TROOPERS launched the TROOPERS App in 2021 which has since garnered over 180,000 verified users, generating over RM 20 million in income for gig workers with more than 200,000 shifts transacted on the app.For more information, visit https://www.troopers.com.my/ About Contingent | Digital Business Insurance Solutions for SMEs in Malaysia Contingent is a digital-first insurance provider, specialising in affordable and customizable business insurance solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Leveraging over 40 years of industry expertise through its partner company, Contingent is committed to simplifying the insurance experience for business owners with a focus on transparency, speed, and ease of claims. Their tailored solutions cover fire, burglary, group personal accident, public liability, and more, ensuring that businesses are protected from everyday risks. Contingent combines modern technology with deep industry knowledge to offer seamless digital insurance services that empower Malaysian businesses to grow with peace of mind. For more information, visit www.contingent.com.my.
