Alumni Entrepreneurs
More and more of our alumni are embracing their entrepreneurial instincts. Accountant-entrepreneurs are like a hand in glove as they make use of their accounting knowledge to identify opportunities, to measure risks and seek solutions to problems. We share some success stories here.
Desmond Lim
Class of 2010
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
Desmond Lim is a serial entrepreneur. His latest venture is Workstream - an automated hiring platform to help streamline the process of hiring hourly workers and empower the blue-collar workers' economy. Desmond started a blog series in LinkedIn – "The Hourly Worker", and in his first article, Desmond recounted his parents' and his own experience as an hourly worker growing up and in university. He hoped to use this avenue to highlight and appreciate people in the hourly workers industry. Desmond was recognised as an honouree in the 2020 Silicon Valley Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Awards. In 2023, Workstream was named to the Embedded Fintech 50, a list launched by GGV Capital in partnership with Crunchbase, to recognize the most promising fintech companies in the eyes of startup investors. In the same year, Desmond was recognised as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 Bay Area program.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Desmond discussed how macroeconomics factors are impacting the labour market, and Workstream's partnership with restaurants and retail businesses on hiring and managing hourly workers.
Lai Shanru
Class of 2011
Bachelor of Accountancy
Growing from a 10-man operation to a 150-strong company
We are happy for Lai Shanru who were among the young disruptors, innovators and entrepreneurs named in the 2018 Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia”, the 2019 Prestige "40 Under 40", and the 2020 The EDGE "35 Under 35". Shanru co-founded ShopBack, Singapore’s largest e-commerce platform and cashback programme, with more than eight million registered consumers across six countries. The company averages over S$96 million in monthly online transactions from its over 2,000 partner merchants.
In an interview with Prestige, Shanru shared that while her end goal is to make ShopBack a unicorn in the ecommerce industry, she ultimately wants to be remembered as someone “who keeps it real”.
Cherilyn Tan
Class of 2008
Bachelor of Accountancy
Quest to Connect People and Businesses
Cherilyn Tan is driven by her quest to connect people and businesses across Asia and help them make better decisions and emerge stronger. She founded Asia Law Network in 2014 with the aim of making legal services accessible to people. It is Asia's largest network of lawyers and has launched various products such a legal blog, Quick Consult and Quick Contracts, to name a few.
Cherilyn's other company Tessaract.io, founded in 2018, is a platform that helps companies track and manage various workflows, such as project tasks, sales leads, customer relationships, and accounting. Cherilyn was interviewed on Money FM 89 and BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech, where she discussed the importance of empowering SMEs across Asia Pacific by digitizing their operations and introducing them to new technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Image source: LinkedIn
Joy Lim
Class of 2006
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
Breaking stereotype in an industry dominated by men
Joy Lim doesn't view the entrepreneurial world as one between men and women. Born into a family business of raw materials, Joy founded Tomal Global Pte Ltd, a company that utilises the best source materials to develop customisation in the water filtration industry. In a world dominated by men, Joy bucks the trend by embarking on an entrepreneurial journey to dispel the myth that only men can succeed in the business world.
In an interview, Joy talked about her experience as a full-time working mother and how she juggles both roles. Joy is one of the founders of SMummies, a family oriented interest group.
Clinton Zheng Guangrong
Class of 2013
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
"I've made it my life motto to choose the road less travelled, not because I have any particular point to prove, but because the process of it appeals to me. I was never someone who was content with just theory, I wanted hands-on experiences and I loved application in everything I did. I enjoy the entire process, be it conceptualisation, delivery, or support."
Spencer Li
Class of 2011
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
Financial Freedom in your 20s is not a myth
We would dream of retiring early, and lounging at a seaside terrace while on a round-the-world trip. Spencer Li did become 'financially free' by the age of 27. He trades 15 minutes a day, while travelling the world (46 countries and counting). Spencer shared how he started this journey to financial freedom.
In a video sharing, Spencer credited being a voracious reader as the secret behind his success as an entrepreneur, social influencer and trainer in investment and trading.
Benjamin Loh
Class of 2011
Bachelor of Accountancy
In the Global Peter Drucker Challenge 2015, Benjamin Loh won the 2nd Prize for his essay about being self-aware and embracing risk-taking in this noisy digital age. Benjamin blazed his own trail in a non-traditional path of an accounting graduate, and has, in 2020, been accorded the Certified Speaking Professional from the Global Speakers Federation, an industry accolade in the professional speaking world awarded to the top 12% of the speakers around the world.
"If there is anything to celebrate and acknowledge about my undergraduate education in accountancy, it has never been a waste either. It has been thoroughly relevant in maintaining my own profit and loss statements and filing my income taxes, being savvy in my conversations with my clients in the financial sectors or just sounding intelligent during conversations at networking sessions when it meanders to that of the larger economy." - extract from his blog entry "A Singaporean Graduate’s Thoughts on PM Lee’s Paper Chase Advice" posted in September 2014
Angeline Ong
Class of 2011
Bachelor of Accountancy
Couple duo Angeline Ong and husband Jeffrey Tan (SMU Information Systems graduate) who took the fish market online with DishtheFish, shared how their accountancy and technological backgrounds led them to shake up a traditional sector with digital solutions. Their innovative digital solution won them the Digital Disruptor of the Year Award at the Singapore Digital Transformation Awards 2018.
Spencer Yang
Class of 2014
Bachelor of Business Management and Accountancy
Spencer Yang is a digital leader who builds and invests in tech startups. Spencer has a broad entrepreneurial experience spanning across blockchain and cryptocurrencies. In an interview, Spencer spoke on leaving the US-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to launch a new Web3-focused company in Singapore called Gomu. Gomu provides the gateway for wallets, apps, and services based on Web3.
Joline Tang
Class of 2018
Bachelor of Accountancy
Joline Tang's passion for sustainable living began in her Polytechnic days as she would recycle and re-use whenever possible. Being part of SMU had provided Joline the relevant exposure to pursue her interests and build her confidence. Joline garnered more knowledge about environmental issues through two internships. During an exchange programme to Norway, Joline had the opportunity to conduct research into zero to low waste lifestyles, and this led to the ideation for her company, The Sustainability Project.
In a video interview, Joline believed that anyone can be a Changemaker, and encourages others to do their part.
Eric Chean Yufei
Class of 2019
Bachelor of Accountancy
Journey of a Young Entrepreneur
Eric Chean gave up his university place for a one-year attachment to Dubai in an offshore marine company where he stayed in a tiny storeroom, slept on a foldable bed, and worked six days a week for a pittance. However, it was the beginning of his journey in founding two start-up initiatives, and surviving a failed venture while at it. Eric shared how he overcame odds and bounced back stronger from the experience.
Eric was interviewed by Money FM89.3 about the marine supplies industry and how his latest maritime startup Shipp, the world's first AI-powered freight forwarding platform, allows companies to coordinate deliveries with their suppliers efficiently and easily.
Image source: LinkedIn
Clewyn Phua
Class of 2019
Bachelor of Accountancy
One's Man Trash is Another Man's Treasure
It was a sobering moment for Clewyn Phua and co-founder Jeremy Lee (SMU Information Systems graduate) when they saw first hand the extent of food wastage at wholesale centres. Determined to find a better solution, the duo began their zero-waste quest and started UglyGood—an innovative food-recycling social enterprise that transforms food waste into valuable products. Here's their story.
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Peng Bojie
Class of 2017
Bachelor of Accountancy
Breaking the Cleaning Services Stereotype
Peng Bojie started his own cleaning services business which makes use of technology to improve efficiency and manage costs. He envisions a day where his cleaning services team is efficient, proficient in the use of digital technology in their work, and skilled in customer relations, regardless of their age.
Image source: LinkedIn
Roger Yip
Class of 2017
Bachelor of Accountancy
Building a Bar Business from his Bedroom
Roger Yip, co-founder of mobile bartending startup Mixes from Mars, ran a pop-up bar service out of his home during his first year in university for a good year till his mother chased him out. Roger shared with CNA Luxury on building his business to include events management, food catering, equipment rental and live entertainment.
In an interview, Roger reflected on what he has learnt from his various business ventures, be they successful or failed ones. From his first venture to building his business Hopscotch to be named the "Best Cocktail Bar" - an award voted by the public - by SG Magazine.
Dorothy Yiu
Class of 2010
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
In the Business of People Analytics
Dorothy Yiu's venture is about using data-driven insights, known as people analytics, on human capital to reduce unwanted attrition and increase workplace productivity, instead of making decisions based on gut feelings.
Peter Oh
Class of 2014
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business Management
Peter Oh co-founded two ventures with his wife after a stint at a private bank. Peter offers to purchase existing endowment or life policies through Endowment Exchange, and his investment insights at The InvestQuest.
Peter shared in an SMU blog interview on making the career switch, and making a positive social impact part of his objectives through what he does.
Charles Chen
Class of 2017
Bachelor of Accountancy and Business of Science (Economics)
Charles Chen built his company Charles & Partners from a small team consisting of his Accountancy coursemates in his schooling days, to the full-fledged accounting firm that it is today. In a blog post, Charles charted his journey, and how the use of cloud software enabled his firm to expand its services into areas such as business process consulting, optimisation and app advisory.
Image source: LinkedIn
Adriel Ng
Class of 2021
Bachelor of Accountancy
In the Business of Water Conservation
Adriel Ng and his business partner Darren Cheng were interviewed by The Peak Magazine on how they took their love for the water polo to start Ecoflow, a water sustainability technology company that aims to make waves in water conservation. Their goal was not just to grow their business, but to foster a community of like-minded companies in this industry.
Another of Adriel Ng's startup, Fluidlytix Asia, clinched Bronze in the Student Techblazer category of the Techblazer Awards 2020 by Singapore Digital (SG:D), an IMDA-driven initiative.
Image source: LinkedIn
Tang Wee Leng
Class of 2011
Bachelor of Business Management and Accountancy
Creating a Business for Positive Impact
Having worked at Apple, Siemens, and a then-Series B Saas startup based in Berlin, Tay Wee Leng has always been passionate about Tech and the Circular economy. Wee Leng was inspired to adapt the concept of crowdfunding meaningful projects to crowdsourcing for meaningful projects. Upcircle is an environmental startup focused on bringing the circular economy to consumers, and had received a grant under the Temasek Shophouse Conversations: Youth in Action programme
Image source: LinkedIn