In Conversation with Kristabel Quek of Hemeryx

As part of the Martell VSOP The Ultimate Start-Up Space challenge, 10 finalists were chosen, and only one can be the ultimate winner. We have already interviewed a few other finalists, but here’s Kristabel of Hemeryx.

(For a quick overview of the prizes the ultimate winner stands to gain, read this.)

Describe your idea and how you think it stands out from all the finalists.

Hemeryx is a customer-focused chillout location. It is envisioned to be a place where our customers can hangout with their friends and meet people of similar interest. We want to bring about a revolutionary networking experience with technology.

We place our customer first, and look forward to giving them a personalized experience when they come to Hemeryx. Using RFID technology and our online website, we can understand our customers’ likes. Using algorithm like the one used for Amazon.com, we can recommend them food and beverages based on their order history.

Unlike Facebook where you “send” your friends a digitalized drink made up of pixels, Hemeryx allows you to buy your friends real alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks through our website and multi-touch table. Personalize a message to go with your drinks offer online at a discounted price, and your lucky friend can make a trip down to Clark Quay to redeem it over our bar counter. Time and place is no longer an issue as your friend residing in New York, London, Shanghai, Sydney, Bangkok, in fact anywhere in the world, can buy you’re a drink through a website anytime they like. Here is the best part; you get to choose your own drinks!

If whatever I just described had made your heart go ‘thump, thump, thump’ and excited to see how Hemeryx is going work out, Hemeryx has stood out from all the other finalists and made you fall in love with us!

Guess what, there is more to Hemeryx than you think.

[View their 60-second video submission for TUSS.]

How did you come up with this idea? Did you already have this idea before hearing about this competition?

Frankly speaking, the idea was born out of boredom and inspiration. For those who are already on Hemeryx’s fanpage, you would have come across the Facebook note on our evolved idea that explains the birth of this baby. In fact, this idea will continue to evolve to ensure its ability to keep our customers excited.

This is where I take the opportunity to drive you, my audience, to our fanpage to find out more for yourself. Do attend BarCamp Singapore on 27th March 2010 at Singapore Polytechnic if you will like to meet me face-to-face to find out more!

Why do you think you should win the top prize for The Ultimate Start-Up Space?

Because… Hemeryx will be the one-and-only in the world. Google, Bing, Yahoo, whatever search engine you use, you will not find any Hemeryx other than us. You will also not be able to find any website or F&B locations that can allow you to meet new friends online and take it offline, or meet new friends offline and bring them online.

For investors who are looking for start-ups to park your cash, we have an interesting and unique business model that consists of multiple revenue streams.

Tell us your team’s background and what you are doing now.

Hemeryx is supported by a team of professionals from diverse background. Five of the team members are currently undergoing training in technology transfer management with the commercializing arm of Singapore’s biggest research organization.

Other than our core team, we have on board an experienced advisor, Mr. Nicholas Aaron Khoo, who co-founded Geek Terminal in Shenton Way.

Anyway, a picture speaks a thousand words. Here you go my seven thousand words to introduce my team to you.

[Editor's Note: Nicholas is also an advisor to SGE.]

If you win, tell us your plan moving forward to turn your idea into reality. And would executing on this idea be a full-time commitment on your team’s part?

Hemeryx will be executed based on the basic concepts in the business plans we proposed. However, a good business plan is a flexible plan. Some tweaking will be involved to ensure smooth execution.

We are currently in contact with Microsoft in both Singapore and United States in hope of bringing in Microsoft Surface to Singapore.

Hemeryx will definitely have the full-time commitment of my team and me.

If you don’t, what are your plans then?

If we don’t win, we plan to search for other investors who may be interested to help us make this idea a reality.

In the course of writing the business plan and approaching many people in the industry, we stir a fair share of interest and excitement. We will also be looking at government grants such as SEEDS funding from SPRING Singapore.

We have a novel, sustainable and scalable business model with multiple revenue streams. With the right strategic partners, we can definitely revolutionize networking experience.

After all, with technology, there are immense possibilities.

Do you think the space offered at Clarke Quay by Martell VSOP is a differentiating factor for your idea’s success? Why or why not?

The location is definitely a differentiating factor for our idea’s success. Hemeryx will not only be a place where people have fun and meet new people. It will also be a place where new technologies can be showcased, tested on and sold.

The space offered at Clarke Quay by Martell VSOP is in the heart of Singapore’s central business district and nightlife. It captures our target market of PMET who are into gadgets and networking.

I cannot possibly put Hemeryx in Boon Lay and beyond. After all, LOCATION is a key in a business like Hemeryx’s.

Thanks, Kristabel! All the best in the competition.

Hemeryx can be found on Facebook and Twitter. You can also check out their radio interview.

Read: 8 Tips to Setting Up Your Food and Beverage Business in Singapore

Check out all our interviews with the TUSS finalists:

Bon Soir – Dark Dining

All Things Green And Beautiful

The Chupitos Bar

Amnesia

Hemeryx

OliveScreens

YOUnique

The Chocolate Museum

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