intan crew — Zariah Ali (third from left) says Dapur Digital has given women like herself the chance to upskill. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR:

It’s a bustling morning at PPR Intan Baiduri in Batu Caves. Ten women wave goodbye to their families, tie on their aprons, and head off to Dapur Digital on the ground floor – a cloud kitchen with a mission, brought to life by social enterprise Pepper Labs.

Inside, the kitchen buzzes with activity. Some women scrub utensils, others prep ingredients, and the air fills with chatter about home and family. As orders for their ayam geprek dishes (taught by a professional chef) flood in from platforms like GrabFood, FoodPanda, and ShopeeFood, the women move with precision and determination, ready to fulfill all the orders.

These women from the B40 community, aged 35 to 57, come from different walks of life but share one mission: to gain new skills and earn an income to support their family.

“We get to work together, gain knowledge, and learn how to cook the dishes. We also learn how to handle the food, how to open and run a store, everything from A to Z. If we learn this outside, we would need to pay for these courses,” Zariah Ali, 57, one of the participants, shared with FMT Lifestyle.

gevi — Gevi Ananda Roe says Dapur Digital is the first entrepreneurial venture for many of its participants. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Dapur Digital isn’t Pepper Labs’ first foray into cloud kitchens. During the pandemic, they launched Kitchen Craft to support unemployed youths and B40 communities. Earlier, in 2019, they started Masala Wheels to help at-risk youths.

This initiative, which kicked off early this year, operates at five PPRs in KL, transforming underutilised spaces there into digital kitchens, equipped with everything needed to succeed.

For many of the women, this is their first step into entrepreneurship. “They were hesitant to start on their own because it requires capital, commitment, and they were afraid to take the risk,” said Pepper Labs CEO Gevi Ananda Roe.

Pepper Labs removed those barriers by covering start-up costs and providing utilities. Plus, the proximity to their workplace allows these women to pick a comfortable shift so they can still spend time with their family. And according to Gevi, this “gives them that empowerment to become entrepreneurs.”

dapur — The women at PPR Intan Baiduri work on two shifts to ensure all Dapur Digital’s orders are fulfilled. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

At PPR Intan Baiduri, the programme goes beyond the kitchen. “We also welcome our community here to dine-in and take away. That’s what’s special about our PPR. We want our community to feel happy and proud that we have a Dapur Digital here,” said Zariah.

Participants like Zariah were selected from 205 applicants at PPR Intan Baiduri through a rigorous interview process. The key requirement? Commitment.

“It’s not a one-week, one-month, or three-month programme for them to come in and leave. It is a two-year programme and they have signed a legal agreement with us so that they know their commitment is needed for two years, and that they have to give their best,” Gevi shared.

The programme design reflects lessons from a six-month pilot, which highlights the importance of hands-on mentorship and constant monitoring.

Now, participants undergo a 24-month mentorship, starting with a 12-week micro-credential course on cloud kitchen management, created in collaboration with Unitar. Classes are highly focused, with one lecturer for every 10 participants. Regular assessments ensure participants understand the material.

grab — The food from Dapur Digital can be purchased via food delivery platforms. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

For many of the women, Dapur Digital is their first entrepreneurial opportunity. “Some of them have never generated income,” said Gevi.

One participant from PPR Wangsa Sari, who lost her husband to cancer and who relied solely on government aid, now earns at least RM1,500 monthly, meaning she can care for her children, manage household expenses, and, for the first time, buy something for herself.

With ambitious goals to generate RM10,000 per month, per outlet and RM1.2 million by the programme’s end, the impact is already tangible. And there’s more to come – Pepper Labs recently secured RM5 million under Budget 2025 to expand Dapur Digital to 20 more locations.

“We plan to enhance these spaces into community hubs and economic empowerment centres. We hope to collaborate with start-ups and institutions to do more,” Gevi said.

As for the women of PPR Intan Baiduri, like Zariah, Dapur Digital is more than a workspace. It’s a chance to rebuild their lives, strengthen community bonds, and chase new dreams.

Dapur Digital is supported by the Ministry of Finance, Jabatan Wilayah Persekutuan, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, and Yayasan Hasanah.

Read more about Pepper Labs here or follow them on Instagram.

LatestHeadlines

PPR women serve up success at Dapur Digital

This community-driven cloud kitchen by Pepper Labs empowers women with skills, income, and entrepreneurial opportunities.