1920T2 NewYorkCity/Participant Information/Ong Yan Kai

About Yan Kai

SMU email: yankai.ong.2016@sis.smu.edu.sg
Instagram: @yankai364
LinkedIn: Ong Yan Kai
Academic Year: 4
Degree: BSc. Information Systems
2nd Major: Advanced Technology for Analytics
One random fact: I like horror shows :)
Applying for Subsidy: Yes

Why TSM New York City?

• What motivates you to join TSM?
  

I have always been in favour of experiential learning. When we immerse ourselves in a different environment, we can learn so much more in such a short time as we engage all of our senses. TSMs provide such learning opportunities for students like us to have a closer look at successful companies and their business culture, which is something that is probably less accessible to on a holiday trip.

• Why pick New York City?
  

This will be my first ever trip to the US. I would absolutely love to visit some of the tech giants and startups there, and experience the tech scene and culture of the World's Best Tech City (Bloomberg, 2019).

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?
  

Web & mobile applications involving the use of analytics/machine learning/computer vision to solve both business and social issues.

• What plan do you have in starting a business?
  

Currently, I am working on a side business involving education with a few of my friends. I'm also on the lookout for new business ideas and opportunities.

My previous ventures:

Carlour is an automotive e-Commerce platform that operates with a bricks and clicks business model to bridge the gap between car workshops and consumers. It addresses the issues of price and product ambiguity in the industry and provides support for consumers with little knowledge on automobiles by matching products and services that are tailored to their needs and vehicle specifications. Carlour was co-founded by me and 4 other friends in 2015. Unfortunately, the company ceased operations in 2017 due to a number of reasons. However, the experience helped me understand myself better in terms of what role I seek to play in future ventures, and what I lacked in order to achieve success in that role. From then on, I found a direction to pursue within the field of technology to gain the relevant and necessary skill sets before I hop onto the next business opportunity.

aWear is a social entrepreneurship startup that was initiated by me and my polytechnic friends under the Junior Achievement Company of the Year program in 2012. aWear's mission was to increase awareness and raise money in support of social causes. We collaborated with SPCA Singapore in an effort to create public awareness on the problems of pet abandonment. Together with 21 other employees, we handcrafted merchandise such as T-shirts and tote bags and sold them to the public. Upon liquidation, the shares of the startup achieved significant returns, and we donated $500 of our profits to SPCA to support their purchases of additional kennels and shelters for the abandoned pets.

Past Experiences (optional)

• JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  

Summer Analyst (Software Engineering), May 2019 - Aug 2019

• Accenture
  

Software Developer, Apr 2018 - Aug 2018

• TAIGER
  

Product Developer, Dec 2017 - Mar 2018

• GIC
  

Technology Intern, Sept 2013 - Feb 2014

What keeps you ticking?

• Music, movies and karaoke
• Experimenting with new technologies and identifying use cases for these technologies to solve real life issues