How did you come up with the idea for Paktor?
I was spurred to create Paktor while living in the US. After suffering the heartbreak that accompanied ending a long-term relationship, I realized how hard it is to meet people and date. Dating websites certainly helped, but they were far from perfect, particularly for an Asian. If I was struggling to find a date in the US, surely those facing similar problems in Asia—where fear of rejection is much worse than it is in the US—must be going through an unbearably difficult time.

What is your target age group and why?
Paktor’s target age group spans people from 18 to 30. Singapore’s long working hours have become a hindrance to an active social life, making it difficult for them to find a suitable partner.

What’s special about the Asian market?
A reserved, simplified approach to dating is preferred by Asia’s socially conservative and introverted society.

Before Paktor, did you try any other dating services?
Yes, I’ve tried many during my time in the US: Some good, some bad. Online ones tended to be better. Part of the reason we launched Paktor was because of the lack of similar products and services in Asia. We took some things we liked in the West, then adapted them for the Asian market.

Any tips for people using the app?
Don’t be afraid to like somebody’s photo. We keep it all anonymous.

What's the big idea behind Giift?
We come from the financial industry where financial products have become more and more digitalized, monetize-able and exchangeable, so with the increasing popularity of loyalty and card programs, our first idea was to have these more digitalized, monetize-able and exchangeable. Our second idea was to connect both the beneficiaries of such loyalty and card programs, and their issuers, such as retailers, in a Network. The same way you have the social network Facebook or the professional network Linkedin, you now have the loyalty and card programs network Giift.

What were the challenges of getting it going?
From the start, we wanted Giift network to be global, so we had to build a platform that would be multi-use (points programs, vouchers, gift-cards), multi-currency and multi-language. To do so we had to build a major data base of programs. That, as a start-up, was challenging, but also very exciting.

What was it about Singapore that made it a good place to start?
We wanted to build a technology platform—Singapore is a tremendous hub for technology—and to build an international network. Singapore is a good hub for travel and offers one of the best labour forces in the world, unmatchable infrastructure and access to a market of 2.8 billion people within a short flight. It’s a place where talent embraces the world, creatively and innovatively.

How has the response been?
The Company is still very young but so far people have been very excited about the value we offer to both parties, being part of the new network and joining the next “Linkedin.”

What plans do you have for the coming months?
We believe in innovation, so our plan is to bring, every two months, significant new features, technology and monetization options. In the meantime, we’re launching (in October) our Sales force to start engaging with even more businesses in Singapore, China and the US.

What is it that makes Giift stand out from the competition?
We are a network rather than just a transaction platform, and we manage all types of loyalty and card programs. We also offer a complete set of services in 50+ countries. Our philosophy is to leverage the benefits of loyalty and card programs both for issuers and members.

Have you noticed different usage in the different markets you operate in (are loyalty programs more popular in Singapore, for example)?
Yes, for instance gift cards are very popular in the US and China, but memberships are more common in Singapore. But at the end of day, the benefits of loyalty and cards programs are always the same and this is what we enable. In addition we do it in a way that is very social.

How did you come up with the idea for Oompr!?
Previously, I worked on BookINBookOUT, an online textbook marketplace for tertiary students. I realized that users enjoy knowing to whom they are buying and selling textbooks. Oompr! is a new marketplace that fully explores how social networks can benefit these buyers and sellers.

What lessons have you learnt from your startup ventures?
There’s no point in protecting your startup idea too fiercely. Ideas can be easily copied and someone else may come up with the same idea independently. Execution and building a community who are loyal to your product should be the main focus. Also, sales and marketing is important. Users hate speaking to robots. Show them that they can reach out to the living person behind the product.

How many different ideas do you have milling around your head at any given time?
Two to three: at various different stages of development. But the number isn’t important. What makes or breaks a business idea is how thoroughly you explore it, how deeply you believe in it, and how well you can execute it.

What do you think of the startup scene in Singapore?
It is very encouraging to see all the startups sprouting up here every week. But the odds are not always in our favor. In Singapore, we have access to a much smaller market compared to our regional counterparts, there’s a lack of early stage angel investors, and an expensive operating environment.

Where do you see the business in 10 years?
Oompr! will revolutionize the ecommerce scene in the region. It’s Ebay 3.0.

The Buccaneer is a great product. How did you decide it’d be your venture?
We started out as a 3D printing service company. When Professor Neo got on board, he pointed out that the business model was unsustainable and not scalable, so he suggested we shoot for the stars and built 3D printers instead.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far?
It took us at least three months to work on a prototype and it didn’t work well. Getting this done quickly was one of our biggest challenges—we had to look for a good mechanical engineer who could get things made on top of designing it and we found one.

Seen any cool stuff being printed?
Figurines, jewelry and kitchen utensils.

Which of your stretch goals have stood out the most?
Our new print platform. We can’t reveal it yet, but it’s a first for the industry.

What would you like to make next?
A completely prosthetic hand with motorized actuators! Replacement limbs of the future would be completely customized and 3D printed.

Is Singapore a great place for those who want to make things?
It’s not so great for making physical products. The sad fact is, manufacturing has long moved overseas. Hopefully, with initiatives towards building 3D printing facilities, making things here will get easier.

Tell us about the Bamboobee.
It’s a bicycle that’s handcrafted and made up of 70% bamboo. The bicycle itself is very basic but you have the option of customizing it with accessories. It weighs 10.6kg and costs $1,105.

What inspired you to venture into making bamboo bikes?
I wanted to make a unique bicycle that customers can be in love with and boast about. With the Bamboobee bike, art meets function and serves an eco-friendly purpose.

You’ve raised more than $50,000 on Kickstarter and passed your first stage of funding. What’s next?
We’re very thankful for the support—we’ve now been able to start on the research and processes that drive the improvement of Bamboobee. We will continue to crowdfund, with our next targets being $120,000 (for the design of accessories and eco-packaging using bamboo), $360,000 (to create a smart system that helps us communicate effectively with our customers) and $1,000,000 (to round things off).

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?
Finding the right people for the work is hard. It’s especially so here where people prefer to apply for white collar jobs. We’ve since changed our search criteria from having energy and spirit to having maturity, patience and experience. The process of getting and maintaining the quality of raw materials is also a problem.

What’s your experience of starting up in Singapore?
Starting up here is good as it’s become a hotbed for creativity and people are open about business. Knowledge is also abundant here and the transportation network is very established, so you’re able to capture the market at a low cost. I only wish that there are more places for craftsmen to display their innovation. There are too many tech businesses, and we need to promote the arts.

What’s the story behind The Good Beer Company?
I’d often wondered why you couldn’t find good beers in Singapore except at pricey bars and restaurants. They certainly couldn’t be found at local hawker centers, where you can drink them as you enjoy local food. When I got retrenched in 2011, I took the plunge.

Why a hawker stall?
There’s far less financial risk in setting up a hawker stall as compared to a full-service bar. The other reason is the sheer novelty factor—bars that sell beer are a dime a dozen, but a hawker stall selling some 60 beers and ciders? We’re pretty much the first. In fact, we’re still the only one, though some kopitiams offer a wider variety of beers now.

Any unusual patrons so far?
Interestingly, we attract a lot of people who work in technology start-ups (otherwise known as geeks, which I say in the most affectionate manner). We’ve hosted a casual party for Microsoft and a regular hangout for Googlers, and even had folks from Evernote drop by when they’re in town. Singapore Redditors meet here often as well.

Do the “boutique prices” of some of your beers deter patrons?
Not everyone would pay for premium beer and we accept that. We’d rather go for a demographic who’d be happy to find a Stone IPA or Rochefort 6 going for $10, which is reasonable considering the prices out there.

What does the local beer industry lack?
Beer knowledge. Many bars and bistros have begun to sell craft beer, but they don’t know enough about it to support so many specialty beer premises.

If you could invent your own beer, what would it be like?
I love my beers, but I’m not interested in being a brewer. If I really had to do one myself though, it’d be a golden ale that incorporates chrysanthemum flowers and dried winter melon sugar. It would be a session beer—something very drinkable so you can have a few each time—with flavors the local palate is familiar with. I’d call it Yellow Gold (黄金), a play on the color and style of the beer.

Who came up with the nifty idea?

It came from a conversation I had with INSEAD Asia Campus contact Chua Seng Teong, who’s now the vice-president for strategy at Kezaar. We both had our own networks of vivacious and multi-talented friends who always made time outside of their day jobs to develop skills such as sports photography and even wine pairing. We called them “amateur-sionals”, and thought it’d be great to come up with something where they could showcase their talent.

So Kezaar is a skills-sharing platform?

It is, but it’s also a great way to give back to society—with every booking made on Kezaar, we’ll contribute 50 cents to a charity the user has selected. It adds a feel-good element to the user’s overall learning experience. Users can pick up new skills and contribute to a cause they care about—how cool is that?

Women in business—what’s your take on it?

For a start, I don’t see myself as a female CEO, just a CEO. Why should women be straitjacketed in this way? I’m “gender blind”—to me, merit speaks loud and clear, be it in pants or a skirt! I’ve never felt different from a man in terms of starting and managing a business and I’m not particularly sensitive about my gender; I focus on my expertise, experience and vision. The only circumstance where my gender gets more attention is perhaps in the technology sector, but that’s only because a tech-based business is expected to run by a roomful of software engineer-type blokes in T-shirts and jeans.

What kind of mad skills do you need to have to be an entrepreneur?

Plenty! Entrepreneurs need to be “shameless”—not take “no” for an answer—and be prepared for grueling hours. They need to have lots of stamina and tenacity.

Any role models?

I admire Olivia Lum a lot. She started building Hyflux at the age of 28, and it turned into a billion-dollar regional business. In addition to an inspiring personal background, Lum challenges the notion of women slanting towards “softer” industries, as Hyflux deals in water and chemical infiltration.

Starting a fun initiative like this must be hard—what’s been the biggest challenge so far?

We faced many skeptics from the investors’ circle, who had difficulty visualizing our product and understanding our hybrid business model that supports charities. We recognized the positive impact Kezaar could have in the social enterprise and learning space, so we went ahead without external funding.

How do you define success?

I’m very unimpressed by the clichéd definitions of success out there that are almost always related to financial achievements. Our lives are multi-faceted. There are many who have accumulated great monetary wealth but are emotionally bankrupt.  It’s not about what we own, but what we do with what we have. To me, success is about how strongly a person’s positive impact can be felt after his demise.

How did Green Messengers come about?

I talked to a childhood friend and cycling buddy of mine about it for years, but it only took off when I was back in school studying finance and got acquainted with my classmate, now my business partner. I was complaining about how bad the courier service provider was for the bank I was working in. It was then that we decided to set up Green Messengers. 

Why do you think no one thought of this before here?
Leonardo Da Vinci said, “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.” I’m very sure tons of people have thought of this, but we're the first to make it happen.

What is it with Singapore not having proper cycling paths? 
I understand that the government mentions the park connectors as cycling paths, but they don’t serve the same purpose—using the connectors for daily commute may result in much longer routes. We have plans to work with the proper authorities to construct a feasible platform for cyclists and drivers to commute on the same roads safely. 

What are the pros and cons of working as a bike messenger?
Nothing is better than doing the job you love. But the paradox is, a chore is still a chore. There’s also the possibility that the traffic can and will kill you.