To Entrepreneurs in Singapore: Meet People, Explore Asia

Singapore is small. And sometimes for entrepreneurs, if you don’t make an effort to speak to people outside out of this little island, it can result in a somewhat limited mindset. At last weekend’s tech event in Fukuoka, Japan, I was fortunate enough to meet up with two Singapore-based start-ups which had taken branched outward, taking the opportunity to pitch their companies to a group of Japanese geeks, media people, and investors.

Rick Tan from Innova Technologies is building an ‘anti-lost’ device, while George Chen and Bryan Chia from Sageby are building an application that helps users monetize their idle time. Both start-ups have great dreams, but we’re not covering them at length yet since their products aren’t ready. But we will soon if all goes well.

Anyways, both start-ups are from Singapore Management University (SMU), and as some might know that’s where I recently graduated from too. The school actually sent out emails to invite start-ups from SMU — with all expenses paid — to participate in the event. Unfortunately, there were only two slots available.

Some of my friends asked me why would I want to spend a weekend in Fukuoka for work (I haven’t been back in Singapore for three consecutive weekends). Well for me, meeting entrepreneurs and investors across the world is always a worthwhile experience.

Whether or not there’s a story to be blogged or a business collaboration to be established, every overseas trip keeps my mind sharp and aware of what’s happening outside of Singapore. And for lack of a better word, it ‘globalizes’ my thinking which I hope will serve me well for many years as an entrepreneur or as an employee.

So what did Rick, George, and Bryan think about their time in Fukuoka? It’s the first time they had pitched their start-ups to a large group of foreigners and they remarked that the trip was indeed worthwhile. The feedback about their business ideas, media attention, and new connections they established in Japan are priceless.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is also doing some great work to help their students gain a more globalized mindset. Some of my NUS friends in Beijing are interning at some amazing Chinese start-ups (Hi Van, Den, Grace, and Jason!).

All of them say that they are learning a great deal, and that the one-year study/internship program has helped them understand a lot about the largest market in the world. If I knew NUS has this program, I would likely have gone to NUS rather than SMU.

It’s a good sign seeing fellow Singaporeans exploring Asia. While we marvel at the greatness of Silicon Valley, such events are always a great reminder of Asia’s promising future and the role Singaporeans might play.