Quick Questions with The Ultimate Start-Up Space Finalists – Part 4

To learn more about the finalists for The Ultimate Start-Up Space competition, each of the 10 finalists will answer 3 questions:

1. Why this idea?

2. Why this space? (Why do you feel like your idea best suits the shop space at 29 Boon Tat Street?)

3. Why this team? (Why do you think you’re the best person/team to realize your business idea in this space?)

In this post, we feature the answers from 3 of the finalists in random order.

Public supports plays a big part in determining the winner. If you have a favorite among the finalists, pledge your support here.

BLOZ SHOP

Why this idea?

We love all things lego as this is one wonderful simple block that allows anyone endless creation & to think out of the box. We are only exposed to the off-the-shelve products and many just follow instructions manual to create what is bought. But there are many out there who love to create something one of a kind. Eg. there are dedicated lego hobbyist who just focus on building guns, food. And also crafters who design fashion accessories with lego blocks. There are also strong interest in lego education. We hope this shop space can provide the opportunities to explore on all these interesting activities.

This is a market for talented and imaginative players for them to bring the level of creativity of the bricks out of the paradox.

Why this space?

Good location to create awareness, great shop to purchase standard lego products and to buy lego spare parts which are limited in quantities for building something unique, a great place to showcase lego artist pieces in a mini gallery as the shop is situated in a heritage site, it help to showcase the local avid Lego builders and the shop creations to both local and visitors in Singapore. And able to help to bring up the other outlook for the design industry in Singapore. And not just that, but also a place to unwind to have interestingly designed “lego” snacks and think about new creations etc.
If you want to creativity, our shop space will be come the place where designers will come look for ideas and to concentualise imagination. There’s a enomorous market we know we are strategically to be able to capture both young and adult with our appetite for learning from each other.

Why this team?

The first of its kind to be in Singapore to combine edutainment, art and design that allows lego hobbyists to display their creations. It is also a hub that provides the hobbyists for interaction and to exchange their bricks and ideas. The uniqueness that this shop is for both young and old alike who can participate in workshops, competitions fostering team building, friendship, networking and exhibits their creations, and discover talents.

We want to win this shop space and we want to let everyone there know there’s more than creatiing the imagination out from a brick, and as the best team, we know we can reach out to more audience through reinventing a brick by giving the space to the community.

To support BLOZ SHOP, pledge here.

Tools of Trade

Why this idea?

Curiosity has played a big role in my life. The irresistible urge to question, discover, marvel, improvise and create new things has always been in me since young. Whether it is through studies, work or play, my thirst for knowledge and acquiring new information always drive me to explore new grounds, seek challenges and exceed my limitations.

Even at a tender age, I exhibited this trait. Instead of adoring my brand new toys and holding onto them like most kids, I broke them apart with tools the moment I get my hands on them. My mother used to frown and wonder why she had such a strange kid while my Dad, a precision engineer, always boasted that I was following his footsteps. So when other kids were happy just playing with their toys, I was only delighted with toys which I can break apart. The more technically complexed the toy was, the more excited I got. I have always been fascinated by how little and different each individual parts look like inside and how important each part is. Without every single part, they would not make up the toy. In fact, the exciting part was analyzing the parts, bringing them together and putting them back together to get it to work again. Through this process, I am able to understand and appreciate the parts better and hence, it has helped me to understand the complex machinery I now encounter. I used to get angry and frustrated when I failed to fix a challenging toy but I was not a quitter. No matter how tough or challenging it was, I always managed to fix it back despite the duration.

I never looked back and through my life, I continued to build small projects and create innovative pieces from salvaged parts. My education in engineering and computer science later allowed me to understand the other aspects of technical work. I learned soldering, electronics, building circuits, programming and more (Those ‘exciting’ topics which girls just roll their eyes at when I talk about it and. Instant label as geek.). It really opened up new grounds for me to think like an engineer, using logic, mathematics, science and efficient design. Efficiency was the end point and I started to improve my technical skills and propelled me further in my mission to explore new gadgets, break them apart and put them back and this time, improving them.

But the lack of physical workshop has always gotten in the way of a great idea or a creation. I refused to back down and decided to search high and low for an avenue where people are able to realise their ideas and bring their blueprints to life. I have done this for many years and those close to me, will know I have been pursuing this for the longest time. I have not been successful in this quest as yet but when I got to know about The Ultimate Start Up Space, something in me light up. This was a chance to finally obtain what I always wanted. I knew I had to enter this competition, bring forward my ideas and encourage like-minded individuals out there like me to strive to fulfill our wish to have a workshop where we can mingle, enhance our skills by learning from one another and collaborate in projects.

Why this space?

This is a very centralized area and since it’s free, what’s not to like! But wait wait, I am not so cheapskate. Hear me out. Because of this competition, I have conducted my own research and focus group surveys. I have met up with hackers, creators, makers and approached organisations whose core businesses are in furniture or eco-friendly products. Through these, I realised that the demographics of Tools of Trade’s target audience are mostly male in their 20 to 40s and are usually creative or technically-inclined. In fact, they are just like me so it was really easy and comforting to know that there are people out there like me, also hoping for a concept like Tools of Trade to exist. And because our target audience are mostly working and doing this on a part time basis, Boon Tat is an excellent place! I can just imagine them flocking to ToT before work, during lunchtime and after work to work on their projects. This area is also peppered with so many yummy eateries so during the workshops, ToT can arrange for food to be delivered so nobody gets hungry! A hungry maker is a clueless man. Besides the availability of food and transport, the place is also a perfect quiet spot during weekends. This is perfect for those who are able to concentrate better in quiet places and for those who want to avoid crowds.

One of TOT’s unique programmes is a corporate bonding one, this area is the perfect spot to target companies especially PMEBs. Through this programme, employees’ creative juices will be tapped. They would need to think out of the box, collaborate w co-workers, pick up new skills from our TOTers and learn how to create a different item from other items. This aims to test and train their ability to adapt to change, break away from the norms, gather their resources, cooperate with their peers, creativity and ability to perform. We believe this will be an interesting and valuable programme.

In addition, this place has heritage and has a special meaning to me. It comes from an era where men worked with tools and enjoy their trade, unlike the many parts of Singapore, which has been rebuilt and transformed into a modern city without traces of Singapore’s rich and vibrant history and heritage. It is also no surprise that I appreciate old stuff – heritage, vintage items and antiques. In fact, I find it particularly heartwarming to be able to help refurbish or repair an old item because it holds great sentimental value to a particular elderly. The elderly holds onto their precious memories of the past fondly and their great sentimental value is a value which I admire very much. I believe with the great heritage around this area, ToT members will be motivated and inspired to create more innovative items while holding to the resourcefulness qualities of our previous generations.

Why this team?

I am my best captain. I know I have the technical expertise (though I certainly can improve on that), determined, possesses a never-say-die attitude, resourceful, has the fortune of having great friends out there who would do anything to help me if I ask, have the passion to see through this long-time dream of mine and creativity to innovate to succeed. I am also interested in building a team from diverse backgrounds and skill sets and develop their areas of interest through collaborating with one another.

Since my dad passed away at a tender age, I have learned to be independent and driven. I would not say that I had a tough life because I had the best family support anyone can have but I think my life could be better compared to other Singaporeans my age. I didn’t have many material things and had to work hard to achieve what I wanted. Money was not something which came to me naturally. Most of the times, I created things based on my imagination, creativity and with basic materials. I also believe that a tool can help create many beautiful and useful things if you have the knowledge, skills and ability to imagine and think out of the box. Anything is possible as long as you open your mind to it.

So I already had everything I needed to start a business like ToT but I lacked capital and did not know how to start a business (have always been an IT/engineering/Artistic guy). However through this competition, we had a chance to go through business lessons from INSEAD, which has really provided me great insights and proved that it is not altogether that difficult to start a business (though sustaining it is going to be the challenge). Therefore equipped with the business knowledge and if I win the competition, I will have the capital and shop space, there is really nothing to stop me. I don’t have an excuse anymore not to pursue this long-time dream of mine! I am confident that I have what it takes to realise my idea in this space – technical expertise, knowledge, contacts, networks, interested customers, social media marketing skills, available publicity channels, attitude, space and capital and much more.

Also, unlike some people who might treat this as an experience or business project, I have always considered this as a chance and hope to realise my life-long dream and passion of a makerspace. With so many loved ones and friends supporting me, I am all the more determined to succeed. Last but not least, I wish to thank all the generous sponsors and partners of The Ultimate Start Up Space because this is really a great opportunity for people like me to realise our dreams.

To support Tools of Trade, pledge here.

Comments