2122T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/Justin Cheu

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About Justin

SMU email: justin.cheu.2020@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: LinkedIn
Academic Year: Year 2
Degree: BSc Information Systems (Digitalisation and Cloud Solutions Track/ Cybersecurity Track)

Why Virtual TSM?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

Ever since I entered IS, I knew I wanted to take on the DCS track because of the TSM experience opportunity. The amazing opportunity to visit Silicon Valley has been one of my wildest dreams as a tech enthusiast. The innovative atmosphere and strong startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley has bred and homed many successful tech companies. Having had the opportunity to participate in a mini startup competition by NTU Ideasinc has taught me that innovation never dies and especially so in the current tech generation. I am a strong advocate and lover of the future of Web 3.0, a different universe, the Metaverse. I believe TSM is a rare opportunity that I must cease as it will open my eyes up to and learn from the best of the best in our current tech industry in Silicon Valley. I am extremely excited to hop on this journey with my friends (Shen Jie, Hein Htet Oo, Amelia and Trisha). I live by the motto that to start anything great, you need a team and never walk alone, as building a startup is a marathon, not a race. ("If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want walk far, walk together.")

• Where would you like to visit?

USA - Silicon Valley, Boston, LA
China - Zhongguancun, Shenzhen (China Silicon Valley)

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

Businesses that will change the world and impact our daily lives. I love the concept of Metaverse but I am also a huge fan of Climate Tech. The digital metaverse world is an inevitable future and it will change how the world functions. Ten years ago, people lived without smartphones and computers. Ten years later, now, we live and breathe these gadgets. Ten years in the future, I believe virtualization, robotics and AI will lead the next generation of innovations. Beyond these digital concepts, I hope that in my lifetime, I am able to start a company that will help to protect our nature and mother earth. All the above futuristic technologies consume extremely large amount of electricity and power which is ultimately destroying our environment. To protect our future generations, something must be done to protect our climate which is why I am big fan of Elon Musk.

• What plan do you have in starting a business?

Currently working with Hein Htet Oo, Shen Jie & Trisha Tan on pivoting our IS216 Web Application Development II project idea (Auxion) - originally an online auction platform made for charitable organisations to organise live bidding sessions in real time, towards a NFT marketplace suited for the Metaverse. (Click here for more info)

Past Experiences

Work

• Product Management Intern, ZhongAn Tech Pte Ltd
• Business Development Intern, AppeDine Pte Ltd

Competition

• Bot Detection on Online Auction Platform (Kaggle Competition by Heicoders Academy)

1. 1st place on Heicoders Leaderboard
2. Top 100 on Global Kaggle Leaderboard

• NTU Ideasinc 2020

CCA

• Ellipsis, Public Relations Executive
• SMU Handball
• Asia-Pacific Private Equity Club (APECS)

What keeps you ticking?

"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds aren't in your favor" -Elon Musk
"Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." - Sherman Finesilver