The largest tech conference in Asia (see video for 2012 highlights) is a dazzling and exciting showcase of the latest innovations—exhibitors flaunt their technologies at The Tech Alley, companies that have pitched at the pre-event Satellite events happening around the region go head to head for the Most Promising Startup award and big name investors sit on the panel discussing what may potentially be revolutionary ideas. The latest (and biggest) edition just passed—be sure to attend next year's, which we expect will have (and be) much more.
Founder and business networking rockstar Gina Romero says this monthly shindig is "like TED, but with beer", which it kind of is. After paying an admission fee of $25 (through online registration) that goes straight to the host bar churning out your two standard drinks, you'll get access to a captive audience of fellow business men plus presentations from industry bigwigs, Pecha Kucha style.
Started in New York by hot-favorite blogger Tina Roth Eisenberg, this free, monthly lecture series recently arrived here looking to catalyze the growth of the local creative community. The first event featured a 20-minute talk from art director and designer Felix Ng, filled with entertaining anecdotes about starting a creative business here—well worth the early start to the day for the brand managers, art directors and marketing professionals in attendance. Since then, the four-strong Creative Mornings team in Singapore has hosted the likes of multidisciplinary artist Dawn Ng, the APAC head of Trendwatching.com Tara Hirebet and kult's creative director Steve Lawler (see video). Speakers are keen to talk about their beginnings and early challenges so this is definitely the place to be if you're looking for inspiration of the "blood, sweat and tears" kind.
Since throwing open their doors, the folk at the Joyful Frog Digital Incubator have held an "open house" event every Friday, 5:30pm for entrepreneurs, investors and mentors to meet and talk about everything save for ranting about daily life. There's usually a good mix of newbies and senior people from the industry attending, making it a good chance to discuss problems, seek solutions and exchange useful contacts. Says CEO Hugh Mason, "Sometimes 20 folk show up and everyone gets to meet; sometimes we get to as many as 200 attendees and it's a different kind of party but somehow it seems to work."
You could be just about anyone interested in the startups scene—a reporter (like us), potential founder, hacker, designer, investor, adrenaline addict—and you'd stand to benefit a lot from this massive open house event held islandwide. You usually kick off the day at Blk 71 then move around the CBD area, visiting startup offices, which most likely are on standby with food, drinks and a trunkload of advice. It's organized by Thelist.sg's (our favorite Singapore website for tech events) Kristine Lauria, whose husband Vinnie Lauria is a founding partner of Golden Gate Ventures. We got to visit innovation superstars like Amazon Web Services and Airbnb at their last installment (see video for highlights shot on a GoPro)—consider this one unmissable.
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I’m a two-faced, charming, flirtatious, quick-witted scoundrel.
I’ve lived in Singapore for five years, but I’ve been visiting since the late ‘70s. It was a long distance affair that ended up in us shacking up together.
There’s been more evolution than revolution. By and large, Singapore has changed for the better.
It’s a great shame that xenophobic tendencies have been inflamed by various interest groups because I don’t believe Singaporeans are racist at all. I think it’s a media beat up designed to distract people from real issues.
Singaporeans are among the most gracious and hospitable people I have lived and worked with.
Geylang is my favorite part of town, not for the red light action (which, as it happens, is very safe and tame by world standards) or the illegal back alley dice games (all stopped at about the same time the casinos opened), but for some of the best food in Singapore and incredibly hospitable locals.
I always bring visiting comedians to Geylang. We start with handmade noodles and rice wine, and then end up dancing in an open-air dangdut bar. It’s the closest you can get to the third world without crossing the causeway.
I’ve learnt that the business side of what I do does not define me. I get much more joy from simply performing comedy and even more by helping young Singaporean comics develop their skills.
The people here don’t appreciate shock value or dark comedy. They like their humor to be positive. I do a lot of jokes about life from the point of view of the foreigner who doesn’t know what’s going on. But in doing so, I am actually demonstrating that I do get it.
Singaporeans don’t like stereotyping but they do appreciate accurate parody, as long as it’s funny.
My girlfriend is French and thinks English speakers use “love” too liberally. We say stuff like “I love pizza” and “I love your new handbag”, which when said by a woman, actually means, “You b*tch, I was saving up for that!”
I think love is selfless and giving. It is an innate human emotion that we can survive—but never truly live—without. Being in love on the other hand, is a mental disorder where you’re subsumed by another individual, whose wellbeing you place above your own and whose every whim becomes your obligation. If you’re in love, please seek professional help.
I’m a Gemini. I don’t stick around long enough for a rut to happen. When it gets boring I leave.
You only know something when it’s your time to know it.
I get really anxious in small confined spaces. If an elevator stops, I feel like my heart will explode. Flying is a nightmare for me, particularly on those sardine can budget airlines.
I only ever live in a house, with a back door and my feet touching the earth. I couldn’t stand being cooped up in a box stacked on boxes adjoining yet more boxes, even if there is a gym and a pool.
My favorite spot for having fun is my bedroom and sometimes the dining table when my flatmate is out.
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Tell us about the Bamboobee.
It’s a bicycle that’s handcrafted and made up of 70% bamboo. The bicycle itself is very basic but you have the option of customizing it with accessories. It weighs 10.6kg and costs $1,105.
What inspired you to venture into making bamboo bikes?
I wanted to make a unique bicycle that customers can be in love with and boast about. With the Bamboobee bike, art meets function and serves an eco-friendly purpose.
You’ve raised more than $50,000 on Kickstarter and passed your first stage of funding. What’s next?
We’re very thankful for the support—we’ve now been able to start on the research and processes that drive the improvement of Bamboobee. We will continue to crowdfund, with our next targets being $120,000 (for the design of accessories and eco-packaging using bamboo), $360,000 (to create a smart system that helps us communicate effectively with our customers) and $1,000,000 (to round things off).
What’s been your biggest challenge so far?
Finding the right people for the work is hard. It’s especially so here where people prefer to apply for white collar jobs. We’ve since changed our search criteria from having energy and spirit to having maturity, patience and experience. The process of getting and maintaining the quality of raw materials is also a problem.
What’s your experience of starting up in Singapore?
Starting up here is good as it’s become a hotbed for creativity and people are open about business. Knowledge is also abundant here and the transportation network is very established, so you’re able to capture the market at a low cost. I only wish that there are more places for craftsmen to display their innovation. There are too many tech businesses, and we need to promote the arts.
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What are you like when you’re working?
I often find it hard to get going but then once I'm into a song I just won't stop and hours can go by without me noticing. My problem is I start lots of things and don't always finish them.
What are some key elements to classic pop songwriting?
I think structure and interesting melodies are very important. Also knowing when not to sing is almost as important as actually singing. It's trying to do something deceptively simple very, very well.
What inspires your lyrics?
Books, people, travelling, relationships, stories, crazy nights.
What would you call your music if it was a drink?
Disco punch.
Tell us about some of the songs on Nocturnes.
The opening track "Motorway" is about escapism and adventure, and the attraction to these, but also the possibility of a darker undercurrent. It was inspired by me driving late at night to and from gigs when I was a teenager in the north of England. The final track "Satellites" is about feeling out of control and needing something or someone to bring you back down to earth, something that's easy to feel when you're touring and traveling a lot.
What are your thoughts on the hipster culture?
Hipsters are usually just geeks who've figured out how to make thick rimmed glasses look cool (although my little brother calls me a hipster!)
What do you like to do when you get a break from work?
I like to read and hang out with my friends, it's nice to stay in for a change and just watch a film and cook some food. But usually I spend most of my free time doing something music related.
What do you remember most vividly from your last trip to Singapore?
My boyfriend needed a hair cut and we ended up in this tiny barber shop in the Indian area. The staff didn't speak great English so it was difficult to explain what he wanted and let's just say he didn't end up with the best of haircuts for the rest of the trip!
Little Boots will be performing at Music Matters Live on May 23.
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I despise… anyone who wears Crocs with socks.
I will never play… a gig if someone tells me that I need to do it for exposure.
My greatest guilty pleasure… is a glass of Glenfiddich 18 years on the rocks.
Money is… not the only thing but learn to respect it.
I would never… wear a Liverpool jersey.
It’s tough… to turn away pistachios while watching a football game. They become extra addictive then.
If you step on my toes… I’d be furious because you’ve probably dirtied my shoes. I can’t have that.
I’m in love with… “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake. The album version especially is such a beautifully written and produced track.
Local music… needs to be given more airtime on radio.
Kevin Lester will be performing at the Clarke Quay Fountain Stage (May 22, 8pm), Paulaner Brauhaus (May 23, 7:40pm) and Fern & Kiwi (May 24, 8pm) for Music Matters Live.
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What: A cross training workout done atop a surfboard—commercially known as The RipSurfer X—that’s mounted on a platform. The people that endorse this go the whole nine yards—they pretend to paddle across the water, stand up on the board and then pretend to catch waves.
Hot: Just trying to maintain balance on the board will make your core and thighs burn like hell, so you can develop that lean surfer’s physique without actually having to get wet. And when you’re ready for something more intense, there are even classes—organized by US-based mastermind Surfset Fitness and video demos, which come free with your board order.
Not: It’s a well-meaning concept, but let’s face it—how many of us are going to make it for more than 10 minutes without feeling stupid?
Visit the Surfset Fitness website to find out more or order The RipSurfer X (US$450).
What: An intense system of training that makes use of nothing—not resistance bands nor medicine balls—but your bodyweight, as championed by fitness groups such as London’s Spartanfam.
Hot: You can work out anywhere and at any time, so long as you’ve mastered the right ways of doing chin-ups, handstands, pull-ups, sprint drills, wheelbarrows and all the strength training moves the routine involves. Eventually, you’ll be strong and nimble enough to demonstrate cool stunts such as the “human flag,” a bold, gravity-defying move that involves a bunch of guys hanging off a vertical pole in one row.
Not: Not everyone sees being able to perform a circus act as enough motivation for performing endless reps of painful exercises.
Parkour is available at GymKraft.
What: This next big wave in water sports—standing upright on a board and using a long paddle to move across the water surface—is now in Singapore.
Hot: The paddle’s hefty and maintaining a strong level of inertia while in the position you’re in can be quite tricky, so the whole experience is bound to give you an excellent full-body strength and resistance workout.
Not: You can do this in any body of water, including lakes and even swamps, but the Stand Up Paddling School here conducts its lessons out at sea so you’ll need to be a strong swimmer.
The SUP Stand Up Paddling School is at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa.
What: Trust the Americans to turn a passion for something so morbid into an actual sport. A zombie run is (usually) a 5km race where ghoulish-faced humans chase runners round an obstacle course. Malaysia launched its first, jungly zombie run—localized with broken walls and “abandoned huts”—in February. We suspect it won’t be long before we follow suit, especially after the success of zombie comedy Warm Bodies, which screened here in March.
Hot: Everyone who once thought running was a boring sport can now eat their words. Not only do you have to overcome stuff like inflatables and ropes, you’ll also have to run away from “zombies” bent on ripping your running tag off, rendering you disqualified.
Not: We’d rather pay to participate in an actual marathon than for a glorified version of “catch.”
Read more about the original zombie run, the US-based Run for Your Lives, here.
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