2324T2 Silicon Valley/Participant Information/Lauren Koek

Lauren Koek

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About Lauren

SMU email: laurenkoek.2021@scis.smu.edu.sg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenkoek/
Academic Year: Year 3 (2023)
Degree: BSc Computing and Law, Second Major in Innovation and Psychology (CIS)

Why Virtual TSM?

• What motivates you to join TSM?

I have always wanted to visit silicon valley and learn more about the culture and rigour that founders face! I also have met a few founders who are being incubated at Ycombinator and I am extremely excited to learn more about the various journeys that different founders undertake. I have also heard from seniors that TSM was what prompted them to start a startup, so I want to also get more motivated to continue my journey as a founder.

• Where would you like to visit?

Silicon Valley: Google, Meta, Netflix, Intel

Starting a business

• What types of business interest you?

I am very interested in both the edtech and legaltech industry. I am also interested in learning how social media companies sustain their businesses!

• What plans do you have in starting a business?

I actually currently have 2 different startups. (1) Future Lawyers and (2) Futuready!

(1) I founded Future Lawyers in 2019. It is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to educating and demystifying youth about the realities of the legal industry. Since starting in 2019 in Toronto, it has expanded internationally, including California, Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick) and Singapore. We have had an outreach of over 317k youths worldwide across 5 continents, worked in partnership with the Ontario Council of Technology Education to offer over 690 Highschools across Ontario with our online curriculum to learn more about the legal industry, and continue to partner with law schools such as the Toronto Metropolitan University and SMU YPHSL to provide students with the much-needed opportunities and knowledge. You can learn more about Future Lawyers at here.

(2) I also recently co-founded Futuready, the for-profit branch of Future Lawyers. It is an edtech platform dedicated to helping youth learn more about what it is like to be a lawyer through a simulation. It is currently being incubated at SMU BIG.

Past Experiences (optional)

Startup:

• Future Lawyers (www.futurelawyers.com) - Demystify the legal industry for youth through events and online resources.

Founders: Amy Li (Aug' 19 - June' 21), Lauren Koek (Aug' 19 - PRESENT)

• Futuready - Empower youth to make an informed decision about their future career through a simulation

Founders: Lauren Koek (May' 22 - Present), Eliza Yip (May' 22 - Present)

Internships:

• Intelllex - Legal Knowledge Engineer: May' 23 - June' 23
• Gradient Venture Studio (Jakarta) - Venture Builder Intern: May' 22 - Sept' 22

CCA:

• inCISive (SMU College of Integrative Studies Society) - Vice President & Honorary General Secretary: Sept' 22 - Jan' 24
• McGill Dobson Entrepreneurial Women Lean Startup Program - Startup Founder: May' 23 - June' 23
• SMU Career Champions - Business Development Executive: Aug' 21 - Jun' 22