2324T1 Tokyo/Participant Information/Nicholas Tan

Express Yourself

About Yourself

SMU email: zrtan.2021@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholastanzr/
Academic Year: Year 2 (AY22/23)
Degree: BSc Information Systems (Dual-Track - Digitalisation and Cloud Solutions & FinTech), Second Major in Digital Business

Why Virtual TSM?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

I first heard about TSM last semester when the faculty sent an email out for AY2022/2023 Term 1's TSM to San Francisco. I was extremely interested in the idea of attending an international business study mission because it would allow me the opportunity to meet other like-minded business founders, and access the deep wealth of knowledge and experiences that these individuals possess. I am also very keen on joining this module is not like other IS modules as it promotes the development of soft skills through its learning objectives, and provides students a special opportunity to expand their network beyond just Singapore business and start-up culture. There are a few companies in Japan that I would particularly love to visit and I believe this TSM is the perfect avenue to achieve that wish. Additionally, I think it would be fun to work together in a team to plan a itinerary for the TSM together that caters to everyone's needs, and diversifies the industries/companies that we visit together!

• Where would you like to visit?

Tokyo (Companies):

• Cover Corp - https://cover-corp.com/en - Media
• AnyColor Inc - https://www.anycolor.co.jp - Media
• Bandai Namco - https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/ - Media/Games
• Sony - https://www.sony.co.jp/ - Consumer Electronics
• Cluster - https://cluster.mu/en/ - Games/Events/Virtual Worlds (Metaverse)
• Mercari - https://jp.mercari.com/ - Online Marketplace
• Parallel - https://www.parallelcorp.com/ - Social Media Service

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

There is no specific industry that I am targeting right now, but I specified companies from the media/gaming industry in Japan as these are the companies creating content that I am particularly interested in, especially in the case of Cover Corp/AnyColor which are the key players in the upcoming VTuber space that is gaining traction globally.

• What plans do you have in starting a business?

I eventually aim to start/co-found a business in the future. Right now, together with a couple of friends from JC, we are currently working on our new startup, Kobae. We are currently in the market research/prototype planning phase, with plans to start building our prototype later this year.

Past Experiences (optional)

Startup:

• Kobae - Role: Co-founder/Technical Lead

Currently in the planning/prototyping stage - social networking application.

Internships:

• Pints - Role: Software Development Intern - Years May '22 - Aug '22

(https://www.linkedin.com/company/pints-app/) Finance and Trading Application, blended with financial education and community features.

• Singapore Heavy Engineering - Role: Product Development Intern - Years Jan '21 - Jul '21

(https://www.linkedin.com/company/singapore-heavy-engineering/) Engineering, Sciences and Tech - Worked on prototyping, code development and some 3D printing.

CCA:

• SMU Japanese Cultural Club - Member
• SMU Golf - Member
• SMU FinTech Club - Member

Academic Achievements and Others

• Lee Kong Chian Scholars' Programme
• Dean's List AY2021-22
• Ellipsis x Heicoders Python Workshop 2022 - TA
• Coders Assembly AY2022-2023 Term 1 - Mentor