Tze Yuan graduated in 2017 and is an International Engagement Manager at GovTech (Government Technology Agency). He was previously based in New York as a CRM Marketing Manager at GroundTruth. He has also spent time in the US for three years, gaining experience in both a technology start-up and a food start up in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Q: What was a memorable moment during your exchange life?
I proposed to my wife while I was on the NOC program. I thought it was memorable because back then, as an intern in a foreign country, I did not have the same support community I had at home. Despite the modest set up, the proposal was close to heart and she said yes! Berkeley holds a special place for us, having to “grow up” and enter the next chapter of life together.
On a separate note, it was also memorable because I was completely taken out of my comfort zone. Living on a small internship stipend, I learnt how to make ends meet, juggling between school, work, paying for rent and meals all without busting the budget. There was a time where I ran out of money and washed cars on the side to earn some quick cash.
It was also the same trying circumstances that allowed me to meet amazing friends, work with incredibly smart co-workers and learn about the huge market outside of Singapore. It was beautiful as I was given a chance to redefine who I was from scratch, making new friends along the way and exploring the unknown. Looking back, it was one of the most definitive periods in my life.
Q: What was something you felt you could have done differently?
After my exchange, I came back to NUS for my final semester while my wife pursued her masters in the US. On hindsight, staying in school for honours might have given me more time to explore what I was really interested in building for a career. Back then I was in a rush to get out, to graduate on time and to make sure that I was not lagging behind. My advice would be to take as much time as you need to explore different career options while in school. Staying for that extra year may sound like a lot but I think you will appreciate spending the extra year to fine tune your compass before heading out into the wilderness of life.
Q: Did you start your own startup after being in the NOC programme?
Together with two of my NOC batch mates, we built a travel application that helps users plan their travel itineraries based off destination photos. We prototyped it, raised some money and launched it in the app store.
The idea came from one of the co founder’s personal pain point as a travel enthusiast. She realised that after doing tons of research and going through paragraphs of text, the final decision often relied on a photo. Based off photos, one should then also be able to curate their own travel itinerary, to turn the inspirations into action.
Despite having some small wins, my co-founders and I needed to be at different places. I needed to be in America, another had to service a scholarship bond while the other decided that the travel industry was not a right fit. After careful consideration, we realised it was not a suitable time and decided to end the project on a good note.
Q: What is your advice for people who are keen to start their own business?
I respect people who try. It is about execution and how much you believe in your idea. A startup requires a solid team with complimentary skill sets and trust between the co-founders. Everyone on board must be dedicated to the idea. Convincing a world of habit to learn something new is an uphill battle and requires full dedication. One can learn skills quick, but trust requires the test of time and courage.