Cilisos Media
Cilisos Media is an independent Malaysian digital media company publishing editorial content across current affairs, history, culture, science, and video for Malaysian readers, monetizing through advertising and branded content partnerships with enterprise advertisers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSelangor, Malaysia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Cilisos Media does
Cilisos Media Sdn. Bhd. is an independent Malaysian digital media company headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, operating since at least 2014 under the consumer brand Cilisos.my. The company publishes editorial content across seven categories on its website — Current, History, Culture, Entertainment, Science, Video, and Infographics — and distributes that content across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and YouTube. Its content portfolio includes named video series (CiliSelasa, Like That Lor, Siapa Makan Cili) and a podcast (Garam Masalah), supporting a multi-format editorial proposition aimed at the general Malaysian public seeking accessible, locally-relevant news, explainers, and entertainment.
The underlying platform is a WordPress-based content management system, with no proprietary technology, patents, or mobile applications disclosed. The company monetizes through two advertising streams: standard digital advertising on cilisos.my and its social channels, and branded content / sponsored articles produced for enterprise advertisers. Disclosed branded content clients include Lotus's (retail, 4th anniversary campaign), Procter & Gamble Malaysia (consumer goods, co-sponsorship of charity campaign), Castrol Malaysia (automotive, workshop network coverage), and Manulife Malaysia (insurance, MultiCI Enrich product launch). The company also engages in collaborative investigative journalism through partnerships with INITIATE, The Fourth, and Reform MY Media.
Operationally, Cilisos runs as a small, bootstrapped, privately-held independent media company with no external funding, no parent company, and no disclosed headcount, described internally as a 'tight-knit' team. The Head of Business (Nabihah) and a 2026 hires for a Content Consultant – Business Development role suggest a founder-led operating model with thin management layers. The company is actively publishing as of July 2026, indicating continuous operating status.
Cilisos Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cilisos Media
- Legal name
- Cilisos Media Sdn. Bhd.
- Website
- https://cilisos.my
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cilisos Media is an independent Malaysian digital media company publishing editorial content across current affairs, history, culture, science, and video for Malaysian readers, monetizing through advertising and branded content partnerships with enterprise advertisers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cilisos Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Selangor
- HQ country
- Malaysia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cilisos Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising: Standard digital advertising model including display ads and sponsored content placements on the Cilisos.my website and social media channels.
- Branded Content / Sponsored Articles: Sponsored articles and branded content partnerships with brands such as Lotus's, where Cilisos produces promotional content (e.g., Lotus's 4th anniversary campaign).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Cilisos Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cilisos Media operates Cilisos.my, an independent Malaysian digital media platform that publishes editorial articles, video series, podcasts, and infographics across categories including Current Affairs, History, Culture, Entertainment, Science, and Video. The company monetizes its audience through standard digital advertising and branded/sponsored content partnerships with brands such as Lotus's, Castrol Malaysia, Manulife Malaysia, and Procter & Gamble Malaysia, producing native promotional campaigns.
Product overview
Cilisos Media operates Cilisos.my as an independent Malaysian digital media platform offering editorial content across multiple categories including Current Affairs, History, Culture, Entertainment, Science, and Video. The company produces content through branded video series including CiliSelasa (investigative videos), Like That Lor (entertainment videos), Siapa Makan Cili (political interviews), and Garam Masalah (podcast), alongside infographic content and branded content services for advertisers. The portfolio is distributed primarily through their website and social media channels including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CiliSelasa: Weekly video series format
- Like That Lor
- Siapa Makan Cili
Products and services
- Cilisos.my
Companies that use Cilisos Media
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cilisos Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cilisos Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- INITIATEcoreCollaborative research partnership for investigating how narratives spread on social media, specifically analyzing how the Urban Renewal Act (URA) became a racial issue. Cilisos led the journalism component of the research team.
- The FourthcoreMedia partner in collaborative research project analyzing social media narrative amplification around the Urban Renewal Act controversy.
- Reform MY MediacoreIndependent journalism organization collaborating on research into social media manipulation and narrative patterns in Malaysian discourse.
- Tirto.idminorIndonesian news outlet providing expert commentary on AI use in Indonesian political campaigns, specifically regarding Prabowo Subianto's 'gemoy' branding strategy.
- SuaraminorIndonesian media outlet contributing insights on AI-generated political content during the 2024 Indonesian presidential election.
- PressOne.phminorPhilippine media research organization providing analysis on AI use in Philippine politics, including coverage of the Duterte ICC arrest and political narratives.
- KRA GroupminorPolitical research and strategy firm whose Strategy Director Amir Fareed provided expert commentary on AI's role in Malaysian political communication.
- Protect and Save the ChildrenminorChild protection organization whose representative Mogana Devi Nadesan provided expert commentary on online child exploitation trends in Malaysia.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cilisos Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- New Straits Times: Established Malaysian mainstream newspaper with a substantial digital news platform. Comparable as a Malaysian multi-format news publisher with advertising and digital distribution, though operating as a legacy incumbent rather than digital-native.
- The Star (Malaysia): One of Malaysia's largest mainstream English-language news groups with digital, print, and video properties. Comparable as a Malaysian multi-platform news publisher covering politics, lifestyle, and entertainment, though operating at significantly larger scale and as an incumbent.
Direct peers
- SAYS.com: Malaysian digital media platform covering news, lifestyle, and entertainment for a young Malaysian audience with similar social-media-led distribution. Directly comparable as a domestic independent digital publisher monetizing through advertising and branded content.
- World of Buzz: Malaysian digital media outlet covering trending news, lifestyle, and entertainment with viral social-driven content. Comparable as a Malaysian digital publisher targeting similar demographics through Facebook and social distribution.
- Malaysiakini: Malaysia's largest independent digital news outlet, covering politics, current affairs, and investigative journalism with subscription and advertising revenue. Closest direct competitor in the independent Malaysian digital news category, though significantly larger and subscription-funded.
Regional players
- Vulcan Post: Singapore-headquartered digital media covering startups, tech, and lifestyle across Southeast Asia, with Malaysian coverage. Comparable as a regional independent digital publisher with branded-content monetization and multi-market social distribution.
- Tirto.id: Indonesian independent digital media outlet covering politics, current affairs, and investigative reporting. Already cited as a content partner to Cilisos; comparable as a Southeast Asian independent digital publisher with similar editorial positioning and audience.
- Mothership: Singapore-based digital news and lifestyle publisher with high social-media engagement and video content. Comparable as a Southeast Asian independent digital publisher operating on a similar advertising and branded-content model with multi-platform social distribution.
- Rappler: Philippine independent digital news outlet known for investigative journalism and social-media-driven distribution. Comparable as a Southeast Asian independent digital publisher covering politics and current affairs with a similar mission-driven positioning.
Emerging players
- FreakOut Asia: Malaysia-based digital marketing and media solutions company offering branded content and social campaigns. Comparable as a Malaysian player intersecting digital content production with brand partnership monetization, though operating more as an agency.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cilisos Media social profiles
Digital presenceCilisos Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cilisos Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cilisos Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cilisos Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cilisos Media
What does Cilisos Media do?
Cilisos Media operates Cilisos.my, an independent Malaysian digital media platform that publishes editorial articles, video series, podcasts, and infographics across categories including Current Affairs, History, Culture, Entertainment, Science, and Video. The company monetizes its audience through standard digital advertising and branded/sponsored content partnerships with brands such as Lotus's, Castrol Malaysia, Manulife Malaysia, and Procter & Gamble Malaysia, producing native promotional campaigns.
Is Cilisos Media a public or private company?
Cilisos Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cilisos Media founded?
Cilisos Media was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cilisos Media based?
Cilisos Media is headquartered in Selangor, Malaysia, in the Asia region.
How does Cilisos Media make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are branded Content / Sponsored Articles.
Who are Cilisos Media's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are New Straits Times and The Star (Malaysia). Direct peers are SAYS.com, World of Buzz and Malaysiakini. Regional players are Vulcan Post, Tirto.id, Mothership and Rappler. FreakOut Asia is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cilisos Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cilisos Media.