2021T2 VirtualTSM/Participant Information/Victoria Phua
Contents
About Victoria Phua
SMU email: rqphua.2018@law.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: LinkedIn
Academic Year: 18
Degree: Bachelor of Law (LLB) [1]
Why Virtual TSM?
* What motivates you to join TSM?
I am interested in learning how to start and sustain a new business that is technology-based.
The Covid situation has really opened my eyes to the importance of technologies to power a business.
The pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of governments, businesses and homes,
- forcing the state to engage its citizens online (yes … even GE rallies),
- compelling the buyers and sellers to transact online (yay … more atas restaurants have signed up on food delivery apps), and
- driving families and friends to hustle online (hmm … virtual karaoke sessions across borders are now available).
Suddenly the bar has been raised in 2020—more services and activities are being digitized every day—and businesses have to digitize or die.
Through TSM, I hope to find out why some companies can succeed in growing their business in the face of adversity while others fail.
* Where would you like to visit virtually?
- According to the annual Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem 2020 report, Silicon Valley maintains its top rank as a startup ecosystem where early-stage startups have the best chance of success. Meanwhile, Asian cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have risen fast into the top 10, while Tokyo and Seoul have made it to the top 20 cities, that have been traditionally dominated by US and European cities.
- As homes to many successful and innovative companies, I would like to visit Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and/or Shanghai to understand how the public policymakers have worked with their home-grown corporations, universities and public research institutes to provide a very conducive environment to foster technology-based start-ups that address pressing societal needs such as food security and ageing population.
Starting a business
* What types of business interest you? technology-based business
- Singapore has a long-term plan to meet the country’s food security target of producing 30% of its own food by 2030, with the possibility of introducing plant-based protein and lab-grown meat into our future food.
- I hope to visit start-ups that apply such food technologies (e.g. soybean-based meat maker DAIZ backed by Mitsubishi corporate venture arm, cultured meat maker Integriculture backed by conglomerate NH Foods Group in Japan).
- A visit to these start-ups and hopefully their corporate investors will help us understand how they plan to address the challenge of changing the natural-meat dietary habits that are deeply entrenched in many cultures.
- Of course, being a foodie, I also hope to ensure our countrymen’s future food diet is still palatable, delectable and scrumptious.
* What plan do you have in starting a business? forming a team with like-minded individuals
Past Experiences (optional)
[London City], [Hong Kong], [Tokyo], [Australia]
What keeps you ticking?
- Learning new skills and seeing happy customers
