Three guys and a nail parlor—that’s a little unconventional. Whose idea was it?
Yijin runs Portrait International, a distribution company representing BioSculpture Gel, as well as other skincare and lifestyle brands supplied to salons and spas. He was the one who turned the integration of nail art with fashion into a business idea.

What was it like starting up?
Aside from the usual problems like finance and managing manpower in an industry we’re clearly unfamiliar with, the biggest challenge was being uncertain about the public’s response. Thankfully, things have worked out considerably well but we still have a long way to go in improving ourselves.

Have you done anything radical in the name of research?
In Singapore, you hardly see guys with buffed nails, much less guys wearing nail polish. Most guys we’ve asked about this immediately shy away, as if doing your nails is a sign you’ve lost your manhood. In that sense, everything we’ve done in the name of research—from learning about nail polish and gel manicures to experimenting with cutesy nail art—has been radical.

What do you think of the startup scene in Singapore?
It’s blooming, thanks to admirable efforts by government bodies in encouraging startups without intervening directly in them. Aside from the well-marketed funding programmes by SPRING Singapore, there are also underlying advantages that startups enjoy sometimes without even realizing, such as the country’s political stability and consistent economic growth. Singapore is a startup haven, and its people are just beginning to realize that.

iN988 
If it’s the cheery banter that draws you to the radio, this is worth a listen. Launched only at the end of last month but this multilingual station already has over 10,000 likes on Facebook. It features topical talk shows hosted by renowned and rising personalities such as Abigail of Under One Roof fame and Craig Teo round the clock.
What’s on air: Music and video variety programs on beauty, dining, food and gadgets in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil.
Find it: in988.com

Last.fm
Unlike other stations whose playlists are based on DJ preferences, this intuitive jukebox (like Grooveshark) recommends music related to your favorite artistes. If you chose “Coldplay” as one of your favorites when you log in, it’ll show playlists featuring similar bands like Keane, Snow Patrol, The Killers, The Fray and Kings of Leon. Like what you hear? There’s an option to buy the album on Amazon. It’ll even tell you who’s on tour so you can plan which gigs to catch and its music page will show you what tunes are popular in Singapore.
What’s on air: Any music you want to hear and other stuff they think you’ll like.
Find it: last.fm/home, Android, iPhone and iPad.

Live365
If it’s variety you seek, you’ll need an entire directory of internet radio stations like this. Popular among local audiophiles, this massive network lets you search music by song type and genre. It also provides support for anyone who wants to create their own internet radio station at little cost.
What’s on air: Everything from classical, country to hip-hop and Latin music—there are even stations that play Disney movie tracks.
Find it: last.fm/home, Android, iPhone and iPad

Sonar  
Started by Singapore’s best known voiceover Andrew Cothers (Drew) and former radio DJ Aloysius Tan, Sonar gives airtime to local beat makers like Vanessa Fernandez, Good Times, and X’Ho. “The only music criteria Drew told me about when I took the job was if I liked it, I should play it,” said Fernandez, who recently left her presenter job at 98.7FM to pursue music in LA. “Everyone on the station is allowed to play whatever they like. The station plays new music that doesn’t get featured on commercial stations because it doesn’t fit their ‘formula’.”
What’s on air: Drum and bass, house, indie, techno, jazz from both local and international acts, and K-pop—it even streams live gigs by Midnight Shift and Syndicate.
Find it: facebook.sonar.sg and Android

I-S ASKS:
Is traditional radio in or out?
“Because we’re governed by strict laws and codes, traditional radio will always be viewed as a more legitimate and trustworthy source. We’re held to a certain standard, while on the Internet anyone can say whatever they want. Most importantly, traditional radio still speaks to our local sensibilities. Sure, I could listen to some funny guy in South Africa but I’ll never connect with him because he doesn’t live where I live and doesn’t share my experiences. Also, Internet radio is more about self-expression as opposed to traditional radio, which is ultimately about the listener—we’re a service,” says Mister Young, radio DJ and assistant program director of Power 98 FM.

What was the first thing you ever drew?
The first things I remember drawing were monsters. I used to draw really brightly colored monsters!

What’s the most memorable mural you’ve ever worked on? 
I was lucky enough to paint a mural in the Palace of Versailles outside Paris. It was a crazy setting to make a big, sloppy painting! Good fun. It was all gold and chandeliers and there was my dirty spray paint mural in the middle of it all.

What do you do when you’re stuck in a creative rut?
I don't force it. I'll eat, read, watch a movie, or most importantly, move on to a project that is working for me. The good energy of another project will sometimes jump start the one I'm stuck on.

One of your major starting works was a toy design for Fisher Price. We’re curious—what toy was it?
Ha! It was Smokey the Fire Dog for the Rescue Heroes series. I had done many rough designs before that, but they weren't actually produced.

You were commissioned some work for Barack Obama. Tell us about that.
It was a major honor. I was hired to design three posters for Obama's voteforchange.com campaign. I was able to attend a Presidential Ball and see D.C. politics up close. It was really valuable for me. It also made my mother very proud!

What are some of your favorite design books?
I love Chris Ware, Ashley Wood and James Jean. I buy all the books they put out. Every single one!

What is it about New York City that made you decide to focus your design work there?
It's such a harsh place to live. Only the best survive, so I wanted to see if I was one of the best! I always like a challenge and that was the biggest I could imagine. After five hard years, things started to go well for me.

Is this your first time at STGCC? What do you think of the creative scene in Asia?
Yes, it's my first time! I'm very excited! My work has always been inspired by anime and manga, so I always love visiting Asia. I also love the new modern artists that are coming out of Asia like Takashi Murakami, Ai Weiwei and Chiho Aoshima.

What advice would you give to a designer or artist who wants to show the world his work?
Just be honest with yourself. Make art you love that is original to you and who you are. No one can ever take that away from you.
 

The Singapore Toy, Games, Comic Convention 2012 happens on September 1-2, 10am at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center. Tickets are $15-50 from the STGCC website.

Ballpark figure—how many toys and toy collections do you have?
To be honest, I stopped counting after around 4,000 pieces, and that was six years ago! I have actually slowed down my toy buying and focused on key pieces I need to complete certain vintage parts of my collection.

What inspired you to get into collecting toys?
I think the inspiration came to me in the early '90s when I found a box of my old Japanese toys and displayed them on a shelf. I also started going to local antique and toy shows, and realized that there were many more of these types of toys than I knew of. From there, I started trading online with fellow collectors and once eBay started, it was "game on" for me!

As a commercial illustrator, you’ve worked with almost every important publishing and production house there is. Which project stood out for you the most?
The times I spent painting children's horror books like the Give Yourself Goosebumps and Graveyard School series really were my favorite. For the most part, I was given free range to come up with images that would fit the content of the books. So as an artist, I was able to come up designs that were fun to paint and also scary for the kids!

You seem to be doing something you really love right now with Max Toy Company. How’s that going?
Max Toys is really the nexus of all the abilities and experiences I've had to this point in my life. I use my art skills everyday, whether it's designing a toy, painting art for the packaging of my toys or hand painting the toys themselves. I constantly refer to my toy collection for inspiration and insight into how toys are made and painted. I know I am very lucky to have this career plus a very supportive wife who doesn't mind my crazy toy collections!

Is your son Max, whom you've named your toy company after, into Kaiju?
Max is actually more into video games like Halo and MindCraft, and also Yu Gi Oh cards. He enjoys the Kaiju and toys, but I think since he grew up with so much of it around him, it's not as special as it would be to someone who does not see it so much.

Is there a particular Japanese toy maker—dead or alive—you admire?
Without a doubt, the person that has influenced me the most is Yuji Nishimura of M1Go in Japan. Mr. Nishimura not only has a world class Japanese toy, art and prop collection, he also has his own toy company and in my opinion, produces the finest retro style soft vinyl toys. Many years before I started my toy company, I visited Mr Nishimura and watched him sit on the floor for hours hand painting eyes on the hundreds of toys he was making. This meeting made me realize that no matter what, toys are a result of a handmade process. So you really should appreciate any toy for the amount of work that goes into its creation—even if the end result is not great, at least you know that people were involved in the process. Nishimura also taught me that even the way you staple a bag is important. Fans may not be aware of such things, but subliminally the close attention to detail will influence their feelings for the toy.

Where are some of the most unexpected places you’ve seen your toys being displayed?
Quite a few of my toys were in a music video by a musician named OwlCity a few years ago. The song and video actually went to number one on all the American charts.

Inspiration—what do you do when you just don’t have it?
I guess I'm pretty lucky I don't seem to have a lack of inspiration, maybe just a lack of funding to make it all happen! I have many projects and collaborations with artists in process or in planning over the next two years. I'm always trying to push myself to think out of the box and not just do the same thing over and over. While not everything will be a unique project, I still strive to try a new painting technique or even work with an artist whose style is not at all like my own. In this way, the work never grows old and I continue to be interested in making toys and art.

What do you think of the creative scene in Singapore?
I think the artists in Singapore are incredibly talented and bring a fresh approach to the toy scene. My only advice is that they retain their own point of view and not change it just to fit into the American toy scene. With the internet, we are now more connected and aware of what other artists are doing or creating, which is amazing. But I worry that each culture will lose its identity, so I hope that whereever you are that you try to keep what's unique to your style or creations. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more Singaporean artists at STGCC.

Will any of your work be featured or available for sale at STGCC 2012?
I'm so honored that STGCC has asked me to be a guest, and am working on many small runs of exclusive toys to bring. I also hope to debut a very new Kaiju called Zanga at STGCC. It's the largest vinyl toy we have made to this point, and I think the fans will like it. But most of all, I'm looking forward to meeting the fans and eating really good food in Singapore!

The Singapore Toy, Games, Comic Convention 2012 happens September 1-2, 10am at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center. Tickets are $15-50 from the STGCC website.

How is your company different from other deal sites?
The soaring costs of acquiring customers have created the need for more deals and many people’s inboxes are getting flooded yet the quality of these deals isn’t great. On UrbanJourney, you won’t see more than one offer a day. We make sure we feature stuff we’ve tried and loved, with our experiences documented on our blog.

Why did you choose Singapore as a launch pad?
I moved here from New York City two years ago because I wanted to explore the tech scene in Asia. Also, the initial business model was a combination of online content, discounts and lots of food, so Singapore was a no-brainer.

How would you describe UrbanJourney if it was a friend?
He always knows the new places to eat at, as well as the hidden gems and cool activities. He keeps up with what’s going on and you never have to worry about not having fun when you’re out with him.

What makes you happy?
Happiness is having the freedom to create the life I want—to be able to dream up crazy ideas and businesses, and spend my days trying to make them come true.

Any tips on becoming a successful entrepreneur?
You need dedication, thick skin and little interest in sleep or the weekends because you have to constantly be thinking outside the box.

What do you think of the local startup scene?
The energy here is tremendous. There are many people who take it upon themselves to push Singapore to the forefront, especially when it comes to tech. With the buzz comes a lot of competition, all enclosed in a small place. This is great because it drives creativity.

Can you give us an example of what you do?
We came up with Swaytrain, a site that directs a portion of your online shopping dollars to a charity of your choice, and recently showcased a photography exhibition that discusses the meaning of poverty here.

Has it been tough starting out?
It’s not just about being able to financially sustain the business. There is the emotional side of constantly dealing with rejection, especially when your commitment and passion for a new concept is not necessarily shared by everyone.

What do you aim to achieve?
We believe “doing good is good business” and Singapore is the perfect place to pilot new concepts. Hopefully, our on-going initiative UP Singapore, which works on improving urban environments through the creative use of technology and data, will have a positive impact.

Why do you admire those who help the under-served and isolated?
Time is priceless; it’s not something you can ever get back, which is why it’s important to recognize the people who dedicate their time to helping others.

It’s interesting that your bio says you “hustle those less fortunate on the squash courts of Singapore”.
My co-founder Jason was having some fun when he wrote that. It just means that I love squash, compete a lot and am very supportive of its development here.

Any tips on sustaining a start-up?
Be very clear on what you’re out to achieve and what success looks like. This makes it easier for you to keep your feet on the ground during the good times and get through the tough times.