ASEAN Entrepreneurship is much alive!

A week away from work. Considering that we’ve just received the grant and there’s work to be done. This isn’t the best time to take leave. But no choice! I applied, got selected and have paid for the seminars.
So I went to jakarta for 8 days. Lugging my lap top (a.k.a my lifeline) praying that there will be time to sort out some work.

I was set on meeting like-minded people like myself, to expand my network and scout for business opportunities at Jakarta.
In the end, the deal was much sweeter.

I made friends (read: not merely potential business mates), toured to places not normally open to public and learn much about culture from different countries! There were 45 participants from ASEAN countries. Most of them are undergraduates. And most of them are entrepreneurs.

Striking a standard 'ASEAN' handshake pose

Founders of consultancy firms, shoe retailers, modern cultural coffeeshops, web designers, fashion houses and much more.
Impressive, inspiring and brilliant bunch of people. I feel fortunate to be amongst them.

Our days were filled with seminars. Speakers after speakers. Every speaker is unique, with wealth of experience to share.
Just to name a few:
Wahyu Aditya, founder of Hellomotion and HelloFest (Indonesia’s only animation festival).

Aditya looking fun and animated in this picture

Yoris Sebastian, founder of OMG Consultancy & 2006 International Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year

Yoris shared a great deal of creative tips, perking us up even at 10pm!

Iim Fahima, founder of Virus communications and director of Virtual Consultancy, one of Indonesia’s top firm

I wish, I wish to become as capable as her in a few years time:)

However, because most of us did not have enough sleep due to the packed schedule, staying focused was difficult.
Even I, someone who can proudly proclaim to have not skipped a single lecture in school, had to sneak off for a short nap!
*sorry honoured guests*

Towards the end of the trip, we all exchanged gifts. I bought a notebook with woodcarved merlion (I tried my best to be creative in gifts!) .Others brought their countries’ specialty snacks to share. As the food was distributed, my Filippino friend, Krizanne, broadcasted ‘If it tastes good, tell me, I can export it to your country!’
Haha! well, that’s her. Staying true to the wild entreprenuerial spirit!

3rd December ain’t just any day!

3rd December may just be another day for you.
It’s a week after term exams, 3 weeks to christmas.
Yet for Shannon and I, it marked one of our major, super major milestones

Spring has granted us $50,000!

The crumpled letter of offer came after nearly 3 months of gruelling wait
Nevertheless, it is, to-date, the most important letter we’ve received

And the best part is, it felt better then getting an A+ for another module at SMU!
Come’on, this is a life changing opportunity and it’s not like every module you take is gonna make a difference in your life!

For those who are lost in my cheerful chatter, allow me to gladly reiterate what has happened
Shannon and I, friends from an entrepreneur class, have join forces to begin our first business. Which is formally, Artyii Private Limited. Wow, to become a private limited adds a whole new spin to our venture; it’s formal and real!
6 months before, Artyii was merely a sketch. Filling no more than 10 pages in the business plan.

Back to the real stuff. So there were few criteria to be met in order to receive the grant.
1. Incorporate the company as a private limited
2. Set up a bank account reflecting $12,500 balance

Excitedly, we logon to ACRA’s page and incorporated our company within 3 hours.
To be exact, the process was seamless and quick, at most only 15 min. *applause for ACRA*
The rest of 2h 45min was spent deciding on our share/capital structure…Well, we aren’t exactly gifted CFOs!

Upon confirmation, we were presented with an option to purchase a business profile (short for consolidation of the forms we’ve filled online earlier) at S$3. Wow, ACRA stays true to the Singapore spirit of capitalising on the slightest opportunity!

Shannon hesitated while i pounced on the offer.
‘Buy lah! $3 only, who knows if we need it later?’ that’s me.
‘But I have saved all the previous pages, can print it ourselves!’ that’s Shannon

In the end, we paid that $3. Afterall I argued that $3 isn’t alot. A bowl of char kway tiao?  Just pay and save us the trouble. He relented. We received a nicely put-together business profile. Hmmm..at least it looks professional, i further justified myself.

The entire process cost S$318 ($300 to register a private limited+$15 for name registration+$3 for a business profile). It’s quick and easy! & That’s why I love Singapore!