Meet Wenli, the founder of SGBEST Bird’s Nest. From a mother’s instinct to a thriving wellness brand, Wenli’s journey into entrepreneurship began during one of life’s most personal and transformative moments—her pregnancy. Like many expectant mothers, she wanted only the best for her unborn child.
But when it came to sourcing high-quality bird’s nest, she discovered a troubling gap in quality, safety, and consumer education. This realisation didn’t just spark concern, it ignited purpose. What started as a quest for purity soon grew into a mission-led business built on values of science, sustainability, and maternal care.
What inspired you to start SGBEST Bird’s Nest, and how did the journey begin?
The inspiration for SGBEST began with my own pregnancy. Like many mothers, I started looking into bird’s nest because it is believed that the Sialic Acid found in it is a key nutrient for foetal brain development.
It’s considered one of the most valuable active components in bird’s nest, playing a crucial role in early brain development and cognitive learning for the baby. It’s also known to help boost immunity and strengthen the baby’s resistance.
So, I started consuming it myself. However, I soon realised that truly high-quality bird’s nest was very rare, and most people had only a superficial understanding of it. Our goal then became very clear: we wanted to source and provide only the absolute best, most premium bird’s nest for expectant mothers.
SGBEST emphasises purity, ethical sourcing, and high safety standards (no additives, lab-tested, halal-certified, etc.). Why are these values important?
Our journey started with pregnant mothers and babies.
When you are serving a mother who is nourishing a developing life, there is zero room for compromise. We’re not just selling a health product. We’re contributing to a baby’s first few years of life. That’s a huge responsibility.
This is why we insist on zero additives and comprehensive lab testing for heavy metals and nitrites. We must guarantee that every jar is 100% pure, giving mothers complete peace of mind.
We believe that a product intended to promote health and well-being must come from a healthy source. Ethical sourcing is not just about being good global citizens, it ensures the long-term sustainability of the farms and the quality of the bird’s nest itself.
We want to know exactly where our product comes from, ensuring the swiftlets are cared for and the harvesting practices are responsible. We cannot compromise on the environment that provides this natural gift.
Focus on doing the right thing, and remember the philosophy: “Rather do one thing for ten years than ten things in one year.”
You offer both traditional nests and ready-to-drink bird’s nest products—bridging heritage with convenience. What was the challenge in balancing tradition and modern lifestyle needs?
The main challenge was ensuring that our convenient, ready-to-drink product did not compromise the authentic efficacy of traditional nests.
Traditional nests require time and knowledge for soaking, cleaning, and double-boiling. The benefit is the fresh, full texture and the ability to customise the sweetness. This appeals to those with time.
Modern ready-to-drink products need to be accessible, consistent, and quick. The risk is that manufacturers often use thickeners, stabilisers, or excessive sugar to achieve a long shelf life and appealing texture, which dilutes the actual bird’s nest content.
There’s often scepticism about traditional health foods and their efficacy. How do you educate and build trust with customers about real benefits versus myths?
We move beyond just claiming traditional benefits and focus on the verifiable science behind our product. Our key approach is highlighting Sialic Acid.
We explain that Sialic Acid is the active component believed to support early brain development and immunity, and we use lab reports to verify the concentration of this compound in our products.
We openly share our lab test results which confirm purity (no heavy metals or nitrites) and content. This shows customers exactly what they are consuming, grounding the traditional claims in modern safety standards.
We believe in honest, straightforward education to dispel common myths.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone wanting to build a heritage-based wellness brand in today’s market, what would it be?
Focus on doing the right thing, and remember the philosophy: “Rather do one thing for ten years than ten things in one year.”
What personal values kept you steadfast through tough times?
The brand was born out of my pregnancy, and that established an unshakeable, non-negotiable standard. When your “why” is the health and development of your baby, every challenge such as sourcing issues, quality control hurdles and financial stress becomes secondary.
The drive to provide the absolute purest, safest product for other mothers is a primal force. It means you cannot give up or compromise because the mission is far greater than the struggle of running a business.
Building a brand based on purity and safety demands meticulous, sustained dedication. The patience required to maintain high ethical standards can be exhausting.
This is where perseverance (坚忍) comes in. It is the ability to do the same careful, hard work, day after day, for years, even when the payoff isn’t immediately visible. It’s the commitment to the long, slow and right way of doing things.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
Logistics and supply chain resilience will be further enhanced through technology such as digital trade and faster customs clearance. Additionally, the total fertility rate is expected to rise.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
There is so much suffering in the world due to illness. I wish I had the superpower to cure all diseases and ensure no one has to suffer from sickness.
Connect with Wenli: SGBEST and Instagram.
Wenli is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).
Health Advice Disclaimer
The information provided on this platform is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical consultation, advice, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.
In Singapore, all health-related content is to be understood as general wellness information and not a substitute for medical consultation. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a registered medical practitioner under the Ministry of Health (MOH) before making any healthcare decisions.
