TP Engineering graduate Edwin Yeo (right) intrigues a guest with his diving products.
BY: NURUL 'AIN RAZALI
He thought there were too many engineers and marine divers around.
Thus, Temasek Polytechnic (TP) Diploma in Mechatronics graduate, Edwin Yeo Chee Hui, now 31, decided to simply 'sit on the fence' instead. Edwin, who graduated in 2000, combined his love for engineering and diving into one entity - by forming an enterprise offering services dealing with the design and engineering of diving equipment named Opcon Pte Ltd set up in 2007.
"It's my hobby, it's my passion. The best part is, I get to do stuff that I want to. It all comes together nicely," said Edwin, who now rakes in an average of $50,000 per year through Opcon.
Edwin, along with 10 other enterprising students and graduates, were part of the Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Fair Seminar held today at the TP auditorium.
The four-hour event, held in conjunction with the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009, was also attended by more than 10 venture capitalists from the various industries, who have come to witness the creativity shown by these young, daring entrepreneurs.
According to Edwin, his diving equipment have been sold to as far as the US, Italy, Sri Lanka and neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. However right now, he hopes to penetrate the Singapore market further and globalise his business.
"When I went overseas to dive, I saw some groups wearing and using my products. Even their instructors wore them. That is where I derive my ultimate satisfaction in business," said Edwin about Opcon, which is also his family business.
Another business that had attracted the venture capitalists was StudioNorm Design Consultants Pte. Ltd, run by 2003 graduates from TP's Diploma in Product Design, Chan Kok Mun Eugene and Tham Chun Wei David, both 26.
The duo shares the company, set up last year also, with two other partners and specialises in designing lifestyle products for the two niche areas of hospitality and entertainment.
StudioNorm was even the first group from TP to be awarded the YES! Startups grant worth $50,000 by SPRING Singapore last March.
"We shared the same dream of starting this company up. All of us like to design products and service the needs of the market. Cost was a problem and we had restrictions. But the most difficult was reaching out to customers. It wasn't easy to break in.
David Tham (left, in black) looks on as an interested guest observes StudioNorm's concept, normform.
"But now, we want to build our brand locally and reach out to the mass market and be able to get them to purchase our products," said Eugene.
TP Engineering graduate, Anthony Neo, tackles a venture capitalist with his business idea.
Third-year Business student, Narelle Ong (left) explaining her products to a venture capitalist.
Besides the fair, guests and students were also treated to tips and insights to the business world through addresses and dialogues by the Director for Entrepreneurship, Commercialization and Innovation Centre of The University of Adelaide, Professor Noel Lindsay; principal of Maroon Analytics Pte. Ltd Mr Richard Ayres; and Assistant Vice-President Exploit Technologies Pte. Ltd Mr Kaspar Chong.
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