Start-ups by STEPers
Since we started the STEP Programme, a number of STEPers have embarked on their entrepreneur journeys.
- Pek Yun Ning, Class of 2019 - Chairman, CEO & Founder, SGP Foods
- Sheeqal Rukirsor Sofyan, Class of 2020 - Co-Founder, The Kiap Family by Libbi
- Peng Maoyu, Class of 2020 - Co-Founder, The Kiap Family by Libbi
- Peng Maoyu, Class of 2020 - Co-Counder, Castomize
- Lee Jie Hong, Class of 2020 - Founder, CommerceHulk
- Hoo Jian Li, Class of 2020 - Co-Founder/Interaction Designer - Junction Studio
- Ong Jin Yang Brandon, Class of 2021 - Founder/Lead Engineer, The Aerie Games
- Ian Lim Li Ern, Class of 2021 - Co-Founder, NavDeck
- Neo Theng Tat, Class of 2021 - CEO, Founder, Scratchbac
- Ang You Shan, Class of 2021 - Co-Founder and CEO, HAVA LAB LLP
- Tan Jun Yong, Class of 2021 - Co-Founder / CTO, Snapee
- Dev Bahl, Class of 2022 - Founder, Galaxy Gaming
STEPers' Achievements
SUTD Team at Junction 2019
(L-R) Ong Xiang Qian (EPD Junior), Lionell Loh (ISTD Junior), Ian Lim Li Ern (EPD Junior), Tan Wai Hong (EPD Junior) and Kevin Yee Yew Wai (ISTD Junior)
Following their Grand Prize win at the inaugural JunctionX Singapore, the team of SUTD students participated at the Junction 2019 held in Helsinki, Finland, from 15 November to 17 November 2019.
They won the second place in their Track Challenge – Bring Mispurchases to an End and were also placed in the Top 3 under the Bonus Challenge – Best use of Aiven services.
The team developed a personalised virtual skincare assistant, which they named SK5, which diagnoses consumer's skin conditions through computer vision and recommends suitable skincare products. The recommendation takes into account skin conditions, product ingredients and customer reviews.
Junction 2019 brought together 1500 participants from 100 nationalities, and resulted in 350 new tech projects in just 48 hours.
Ong Xiang Qian and Ian Lim Li Ern are step students who are currently in Berkeley.
Enactus Singapore National Competition and World Cup 2019
“Project TELLO” by a team of six SUTD students (Snap Labs, formerly STACK Labs) won the Enactus Singapore National Competition held on 15 June 2019. Snap Labs triumphed over 4 other teams at the nationals and represented Singapore at the Enactus World Cup 2019, which took place in San Jose, California, USA, from 16 to 18 September 2019. Subsequently, Snap Labs also plans to start an SUTD Enactus chapter, in hopes to provide fellow promising social enterprises in SUTD with the opportunities to attend similar events in future.
Tello! is a digital communication tool that enables paralysis patients with high cognitive abilities but low communication ability to express themselves beyond mere daily necessities. It functions as a smart sentence building app that will unlock the locked-in syndrome.
The Snap Labs team comprises:
- Ku Wee Tiong, ESD Sophomore
- Lee Kai Min Frank, EPD Junior
- Lee Qian Yi Jeanette, ASD Junior
- Cheryl Low Rui Min, EPD Junior
- Neo Theng Tat, EPD Junior - STEP student
- Tang Mingzheng Paul, ISTD Junior
2019 China-ASEAN Smart City Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition
The 2019 China-ASEAN Smart City Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition semi-finals concluded on 27 August 2019 in Singapore, where three SUTD teams made it to the finals in the Open Category.
The three SUTD teams went on to win prizes at the grand finale which was held from 9 September to 12 September 2019, in Nanning, China. Team CASTomize won the Second Prize while the other two SUTD teams, LOCOMO and LIPEN, both won the Special Award.
| Second Prize – CASTomize |
CASTomize is a new system of casting procedure, introducing custom-fit 3D printed casts which allow for modular rehabilitative functional tiles. Unlike traditional casts made of plaster and fiberglass which are bulky and have up to 60% risks of misfits, CASTomize minimizes the risks of misfits and discomforts while accelerating recovery.
 L-R in photo:
- Ng Jian Yi Mervin, ASD alumni, Master of Engineering – Innovation by Design
- Peng Maoyu, ASD Senior - STEP student
|
| Special Award – LIPEN |
LIPEN is an authentication technology that incorporates facial recognition, lip movement analysis and liveness checks for secure and convenient logins.
 L-R in photo:
- Ng Ming Bing, ISTD Sophomore
- Ng Jia Yi, ISTD Sophomore
- Alex Wang Wei Jie, ISTD Sophomore
Not in photo:
- He Yuhang, ISTD Sophomore
- Zhang Jiazheng, ISTD Sophomore
|
| Special Award – LOCOMO |
LOCOMO is an immersive Mixed Reality working space that allows companies to create the hyper-realistic working environments of their dreams, using VR technology.
 L-R in photo:
- Neo Theng Tat, EPD Junior - STEP student
- Lee Qian Yi Jeanette, ASD Junior
- Lee Kai Min Frank, EPD Junior
Not in photo:
- Cheryl Low Rui Min, EPD Junior
- Ku Wee Tiong, ESD Sophomore
- Tang Ming Zheng Paul, ISTD Junior
|
The James Dyson Award 2019 – National Winner
A team of SUTD students won the James Dyson Award at the national level, with their project “Wheelson”. The National Winner was announced on 19 September 2019, and the team will go on to compete at the international level.
Wheelson was designed to solve the common problems in transporting groceries on bicycle – instability and discomfort. It is a highly adaptable attachment for carrying loads of up to 15kg, which can fit bicycle frames of various dimensions and with a volume capacity of 36L.
The annual James Dyson Award invites design submissions from current university students and recent graduates from countries including Singapore, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Encouraging designers to think differently, using simple principles to create sustainable solutions and products, the competition is awarded at national level and subsequently at the international level. The international winner will be announced in November 2019.
The team comprises:
- Ang Wei Jie, EPD Junior
- Glenn Chia, ISTD Junior - STEP student
- Keerthana Janmugam, ESD Junior
- Leong Kei Sheng, EPD Junior
- Lim Wei Sheng Wilson, EPD Junior
- Sarah Ong, ESD Junior
Grand Finals of the Create4Good Challenge IV
Five finalist teams comprising Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Management University (SMU) undergraduates competed for the grand prize at the Create4Good Challenge IV grand finals, which took place in May 2019.
The Create4Good Challenge, a social initiative by the late Mr Kwek Leng Joo, calls for SUTD and SMU undergraduates to work in teams to propose innovative and integrated solutions with real-world applications, for a smart and sustainable nation.
Five finalist teams were selected from 10 teams who competed in a semi-final on 23 November 2018. Each finalist team was given $10,000 proof-of-concept funds to prototype and further develop their ideas over a five-month mentorship period.
Presenting their ideas in 10-minute pitches, the finalists competed for the top three prizes:
Grand Prize Winner – TELLO
Neo Theng Tat, EPD Junior - STEP student
Cheryl Low Rui Min, EPD Junior
1st Runner Up – AMAI
Tan Jun Yong, ESD Junior - STEP student
2nd Runner Up – HAVA LAB
Ang You Shan, EPD Junior - STEP student
Tanvi Ravindra Thombre, EPD Junior
Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition 2019
10 students represented SUTD at the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition (SAFMC) 2019 held between 14 March and 23 March 2019. They participated in three categories: Category C3 - First Person View Flight (Micro Class); Category D1 - Semi-Autonomous; and Category D2 – Autonomous.
The team won the Judges’ Commendation Award with the design of their flying machine for Category D2, and ranked fourth in Category D1.
SUTD has been participating in this annual event since 2013. The SAFMC, Singapore’s premier annual flying machine competition, is jointly organised by DSO National Laboratories and Science Centre Singapore, and supported by Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
The SUTD team comprises (L to R in photo):
- Christopher Sim Seng Wee, EPD
- Tan Jin Yuan, Freshmore - STEP student
- Tan Kian Wee, Freshmore
- Glenn Chia Jin Wee, ISTD - STEP student
- Amos Sim Hong Kai, Freshmore
- Ryan Lim Jon Hui, EPD
- Tan Weiheng, Freshmore
- Malcom Neo Guang Zhi, EPD
- Kenneth Chow, EPD
- Benjamin Chay, EPD (not featured in photo)