2324T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/JustinPansacola
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About Justin Pansacola
SMU email: jpansacola.2021@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinpansacola/
Academic Year: Year 3 (2021)
Degree: BSc Information Systems (Major in Digitalisation and Cloud Solutions & Business Analytics)
Why TSM?
What motivates you to join TSM?
I am very excited about Technopreneurship Study Mission (TSM) because of its unparalleled focus on technology-driven entrepreneurship and the chance to explore Silicon Valley. My participation in the Global Innovation Immersion program (GII) in Southeast Asia, under the SMU Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), was a transformative experience that ignited my passion for entrepreneurship in emerging markets.
I am eager to deepen my understanding of cutting-edge technologies and disruptive business models, thus I believe that TSM was next for me. With Silicon Valley being the heart of innovation and technology, I am excited about exploring Silicon Valley's dynamic startup ecosystem and learning from industry titans.
I am also looking forward to meeting like-minded individuals who are also interested in entrepreneurship just like I am, giving me the opportunity to share and develop ideas from individuals from different backgrounds and different experiences.
Where would you like to visit?
IDEO - Ever since I've watched IDEO's shopping cart video in classes, I have always been fascinated by the processes they use to generate ideas to improve products and experiences. I would love to see their headquarters and witness their brainstorming session first hand!
Apple - Being an Apple fanboy all my life, I am very eager to visit the Apple Park; seeing where all the innovation of the latest technologies take places. Visiting the park would certainly be a once in a lifetime experience.
Starting a business
What type of businesses interest you?
I am invested in companies who implore the use of Fintech through their innovative approaches to digital payments, peer-to-peer lending, and robo-advisory services, revolutionising how we manage finances.
Healthcare technology (health tech) firms, focusing on telemedicine, wearable health devices, and data analytics, fascinate me for their potential to enhance healthcare accessibility and outcomes. I, myself, have benefitted from health tech before; from reading health data from my Apple Watch, to choosing to have my consultation on telemedicine instead of heading down to the clinic. These are just some of the few ways how innovation in healthcare is slowly shaping the way we get help.
Lastly, and the one I am most interested in; the big world of gaming, including game development, virtual reality experiences, and esports ventures, holds my interest due to its immersive and ever-evolving nature. It's always captivating to witness the newest developments in game design and technology that bring these stories closer to life.
What plans do you have in starting a business?
My passion for collectibles, nurtured since my time in Junior College, has always driven my entrepreneurial aspirations. While my initial idea for a transaction platform in this niche market has been developed, I stay searching for possible improvements in the current processes / platforms that we already have.
My recent trip to the Philippines with GII opened my eyes to vast untapped potential. Witnessing firsthand the digital transformation opportunities small startup business had opened my eyes. The trip exposed me to many startups in Manila and presented me with technologies that they had and also lacked. Bringing over technology that we already use in order to improve their businesses is an idea that I am working on for the future.
Past Experiences
Internships:
- Telus International Digital Solutions Full Stack Developer (Under SMU GII) - May '23 to Aug '23
Activities
- SCIS Coder's Assembly Mentor
- SCIS DM Workshop Teaching Assistant
- IS111 Teaching Assistant
- Shopee Code League
- Shopee Product Challenge
Achievements
- AY '22 - '23 Dean's List
- Tic Tac Code Top 3
