Pride of Singapore: Forbes 30 Under 30 2017 - Business Insight - Canon Singapore

    Pride of Singapore: Forbes 30 Under 30 2017

    Pride of Singapore: Forbes 30 Under 30 2017

    In conjunction with Singapore’s 52nd National Day, we pay homage to home-grown businessmen and professionals that have made a name for themselves and made it to this year’s Forbes 30 under 30.

    Val Ji-Hsuan Yap, 29: Founder of PolicyPal

    In an age where consumers are over-saturated with information, selecting and managing insurance plans can betricky business. With Val’s insurance start-up, consumers are provided an alternative platform that automatically consolidates and tracks insurance coverage for a profile of savvier consumers.

    Val established PolicyPal a year ago, after a troubling experience with her parent’s insurance paperwork. “PolicyPal was created to keep everyone on top of their insurance coverage, so they don’t have to wait until it is too late,”.

    The PolicyPal app is equipped with the technological know-how to create a digital folder of one’s existing policies, just from a photo snapshot. Apart from summarising key dates and figures, the efficient Digital Insurance Manager, “Kate”, will provide an analysis of your coverage and what to improve on, with links to available insurance plans. To top it off, the service is free.

    PolicyPal secured seed funding from 500 Startups and has since worked with established clients such the Monetary Authority of Singapore and NTUC Income.
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    Oswald Yeo, 24, Qin En Looi, 23 & Ying Cong Seah, 24: Founders of Glints

    Still in their early twenties, this gifted trio created Glints, a career discovery and development platform that bridges employers and eager students or graduates.

    The recruitment website caters to inexperienced jobseekers, providing an algorithm unique to each user. Aspirants can search through potential jobs, internships or projects related to their relevant skill sets or passions.

    The trio chose to leave their scholarships and prestigious universities at Wharton, Stanford and UC Berkeley behind to pursue Glints in 2013. To date, they have assisted over 200,000 youths and secured venture capital money worth $475k.

    The team believes in doing what they love and have practiced this spirit to get where they are today.

    Pride of Singapore: Forbes 30 Under 30 2017

    Prusothman Sina Raja, 29: Founder of Privi Medical

    Entrepreneurs in the field of Medical Technology, Prusothman and his team introduced Privi, a drug-free and disposable medical device for haemorrhoid relief.

    Upon realising that current haemorrhoid treatments lack effective solutions that can be ministered from home, the team set their sights on easing the pain and everyday discomfort of Grade 1 and 2 haemorrhoid sufferers. Privi provides relief and helps stop internal bleeding, a problem that 80% of pregnant women face and about 300 million people worldwide.

    Prusothman vouches that their haemorrhoid solutions “will save millions of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs”.

    Privi Medical acquired $100k as cash funding after winning NTUC Income’s Future Starter competition. The team has started on clinical trials and aims to be available in pharmacies by late-2017.

    Christopher Hwang, 26 & Jonathan Shen, 27: Founders of The Golden Duck

    The love for food is no secret to Singaporeans. The pair started their business, The Golden Duck, which currently stands as the nation’s best retailer of “fine heritage snacks”.

    Their Signature Salted Egg Potato Crisps were conceptualised as a snack that would stand the test of time and ever-changing food trends. While the duo faced challenges during the initial stages of expanding their business, the exquisite salted egg taste, combined with pure valour, pulled them through.

    “It takes a special kind of mindset to be able to get down and dirty for the business when required, and do it with a smile on your face. Not many young entrepreneurs possess this kind of grit nowadays.”

    Their snacks are currently sold at 7-11 and several standalone outlets islandwide, and also shipped to Asia Pacific, UK, as well as the US.

    Starting your own business has its fair share of challenges, regardless of age. A myriad of factors contributes to the successes of these young enterprising individuals, but each of their breakthroughs stemmed from acting on a simple idea.

    For more local inspiration throughout this month of August, follow our LinkedIn page here at Canon Singapore.