An Engineer's experience moving from an MNC to a Technology Start-up

DATE: 21st July 2017
TIME: 3pm - 5.30pm
VENUE: Think Tank 20, Building 2, Level 3

There are many challenges in growing and sustaining a technology business such as customer acquisition, recruiting the right team members and managing cash flow. Dr Tan Guan Hong, Senior Director (Smart Nation Systems & Solutions), GovTech, will be sharing his experience and wisdom in tackling these challenges to grow a technology startup.
This seminar will be useful for Engineering students who are exploring to have their own startups at a certain stage in their life.

Biography:

Dr Tan Guan Hong joined the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) as Senior Director (Smart Nation Systems & Solutions) on 1 August 2016. He has over 36 years of working experience in various roles at an MNC (Philips Electronics 1980-1993), a Technology Start-up Company (SysEng 1994- 2009) and a Listed Company (Tritech Group 2009-2012). He was the President of the Singapore Industrial Automation Association (2006 -2012) and Director for Technology in A*STAR I2R (2012-2016). He has extensive cross-domain experience in Electrical, Electronics, Civil, Water and Business Management throughout his Engineering journey.

Dr Tan founded SysEng (S) in 1994 as a Test Engineering Company. In 2002, he developed Real Time Monitoring systems for the Construction Industry in Deep Excavations, Tunnels, Bridges and High Rise Buildings. In 2008, he expanded into Real Time Water Quality & Quantity monitoring business. SysEng was acquired by the Tritech Group in 2009 to expand into China and India.

Dr Tan was the conference chair for IoT Asia 2016 and active in the IoT applications. In I2R, he was responsible for the Technology Development and Productivity Programme to help SMEs improve productivity using ICT. He was also the Cluster head for Robotics and Autonomous Vehicle Programmes.

Dr Tan graduated from the University of Sheffield with B.Eng. (1976) and Ph.D. (1980) in Electrical Machines.