[Profile] Kieran Tan & Sarah Lim: The Artisans Betting on Tangible Connection in a Digital World

The Profile Snapshot

In a world obsessed with digital efficiency, Kieran Tan and Sarah Lim are the defiant co-founders of Script & Grain, a boutique Malaysian brand crafting hyper-personalised, artisanal notebooks. They are not just selling stationery; they are selling a philosophy of mindful creation and tangible legacy.

• 👨‍💼 Name: Kieran Tan
• 👩‍💼 Name: Sarah Lim
• 🏷️ Role: Co-Founders & Chief Artisans, Script & Grain
• 🔑 Key Superpower: Analog Experience Architects

The Catalyst: Why It Matters

Their venture is making headlines precisely because it defies conventional tech-driven startup logic. While note-taking apps proliferate, Script & Grain has seen a 300% year-on-year growth, securing collaborations with luxury hotels and multinational corporations for bespoke corporate gifting. Their success challenges the narrative that value is solely digital, highlighting a burgeoning market for meaningful, physical objects in Malaysia's business landscape.

The Leadership Dialogue: Inside The Mindset

Reflecting on their journey, Kieran Tan emphasizes with conviction that their product is an antidote to digital noise. "We're not anti-technology," he clarifies, leaning forward. "We're pro-attention. A blank page in a book you helped design forces a different quality of thought. It's intentional. It's yours." When speaking about their clients—from CEOs to creatives—his eyes light up, describing the profound stories behind each commission.

Sarah Lim, handling the design and artisan partnerships, candidly admits the initial skepticism they faced. "Everyone asked if we were nostalgic or simply late to a dead industry," she shares. "But we saw a gap. Mass-produced diaries are functional. We build companions for people's ideas and milestones." She describes their process as a dialogue, where materials like sustainable Malaysian leather and lokta paper are chosen not just for aesthetics, but for the sensory experience and story they carry.

Together, their mindset is a blend of artisan soul and sharp business acumen. They believe the future of luxury and business tools isn't just about more features, but about deeper connection and personal identity—a belief that is resonating powerfully in the market.

Career Milestones & Achievements

• Pivoted from a successful freelance design studio to launch Script & Grain in 2019, self-funding its growth to profitability within 18 months.
• Forged a landmark partnership with a premier Southeast Asian hotel chain to create exclusive in-room writing portfolios, placing Malaysian craftsmanship on a luxury hospitality platform.
• Secured recurring corporate contracts with three Fortune 500 companies for executive onboarding kits, validating the B2B potential of personalised analog tools.
• Featured in Forbes Asia's "30 Under 30" list for Retail & Ecommerce, bringing international recognition to their Malaysia-based niche brand.
• Established a sustainable supply chain working directly with local paper mills and leather tanners, embedding ethical production into their brand core.

The Editor's Take

Kieran and Sarah represent a new wave of Malaysian entrepreneurs: the Conscious Creators. They have identified a profound human need—the desire for tangible, meaningful ownership in an intangible world—and built a scalable business around it. Their leadership is less about disruptive aggression and more about curated conviction, proving that in the age of AI, the human touch remains a premium commodity.

• 👁️ Visionary Thinking: 9/10
• ⚡ Execution Capability: 8/10
• 🌟 Industry Influence: 7/10

"The most powerful technology ever created is still the human mind. Our job is to give it a worthy canvas." — Kieran Tan & Sarah Lim