We Started Because Personal Finance Felt Like a Locked Door
Back in late 2022, a group of us sat around a coffee shop in Klang talking about how confusing money management had become. Not just for us—but for nearly everyone we knew. Credit cards, savings goals, retirement accounts—all these things that supposedly mattered, yet nobody really taught us how to handle them. That conversation turned into something bigger.
How We Got Here
It wasn't some grand vision at first. One of our co-founders, Raya, had been helping friends figure out their monthly budgets for years. She'd sketch things out on napkins, break down expenses, explain interest rates in plain language. People kept asking for more help.
Meanwhile, the rest of us were working in education and tech, frustrated by how inaccessible financial knowledge seemed. The tools were either too complicated or too simplistic. The advice felt generic. And most programs assumed you already knew the basics.
So we decided to build something different. Something that starts from zero and builds up gradually. We launched Evolve SparkData in early 2023, focusing specifically on the Malaysian market because that's where we live and work. We wanted to address real challenges people face here—from managing EPF contributions to understanding local investment options.
What Drives Our Work
Plain Language Always
Financial jargon exists to exclude people. We refuse to use it. If something can't be explained simply, we haven't understood it well enough ourselves. Every course we create goes through a clarity review where we cut unnecessary complexity.
Local Context Matters
Generic advice about tax-advantaged accounts doesn't help when you're trying to figure out EPF versus private retirement schemes. We focus specifically on financial tools and regulations relevant to people living and working in Malaysia.
Real Timelines
Building financial literacy takes months, not weekends. Our programs typically run six to eight months because that's how long it actually takes to develop new habits and see results. We're honest about the time commitment required.
People Behind the Programs
Our small team combines education experience with financial knowledge. We're not consultants selling services—we're educators trying to share useful skills.
Priya Chandran
Lead Curriculum Developer
Priya spent seven years teaching economics before joining us. She designs our core modules and makes sure everything actually makes sense. Her test: if her teenage nephew can't understand it, we rewrite it.
Siti Aminah
Community Learning Coordinator
Siti runs our group sessions and manages participant feedback. She worked in adult education for a decade and knows how to create spaces where people feel comfortable asking basic questions without judgment.