‘Startup in the Spotlight' - Interview with HighSpark

We spoke with HighSpark’s Eugene Cheng and Koh Kai Xin, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Alumni and former startup incubatee.

Eugene and Kai Xin both graduated from the School of Business & Accountancy, Business Studies at NP in 2013. Eugene is also an Adjunct Lecturer at NP, while Kai Xin regularly holds workshops for NP students and staff.?

About The Company

HighSpark is known for their ability to transform complex messages into memorable stories, while developing visual presentations that align with end goal(s).

Interview Questions

1.????Congrats on winning the Spirit of Enterprise Award (2020/2021)! Tell us about your business and what is unique about HighSpark?

HighSpark often comes as a surprise to many - "I didn't know there are firms that do this." Our claim to fame early on was when we specialised in high-stakes presentations. CEOs would leverage us to help tell their brand's story at public conferences, events and in the boardroom. Startups would work with us to refine their pitch and raise millions in funding. To date, we've delivered more than $100M in value to our clients.

2.????How did HighSpark start, and how has it pivoted over the years?

HighSpark was conceived as an idea after we participated in a business competition representing NP. We didn't win the top prize, but came back to school after the holidays realising we had a unique skill that could give us an edge at the workplace - storytelling. This was our ability to make complex concepts simple, and using visuals to impress and sell.

We have since added hundreds of clients, including some of the most admired brands in the world to our list. We initially started as a 'design agency'. Over the years, we pivoted into powerful 'narratives' for corporations and startups. These transcend mediums and help clients like Prudential, DBS and Mastercard connect with their customers with less friction, convincing them to say 'yes'.?

We also began to offer training services - educating client teams on the science and art behind what we do. We conduct courses on storytelling, presenting, data visualisation and more to help executives communicate more powerfully for clients like BD, Medtronic, PayPal and more.?

As our world accelerates into the digital age, soft skills will become more desirable which will help executives differentiate themselves. We want to provide the ultimate communication and persuasion support to the firms that have ideas worth talking about, to be heard and secure resources they need to thrive.

3.????Could you share about the startup experience in NP, and how that helped HighSpark to grow into what it is today?

NP's The Sandbox is one-of-a-kind in its tier of tertiary education. They provide advisory and funding to new and aspiring entrepreneurs. We have been major beneficiaries of their generosity and passion.?

We were offered a kickstart fund of SGD $3,000 that gave us the courage to start. The Sandbox also offered us an incubation space to work in for a couple of years at affordable rates. This provided the right environment for us to grow at a faster pace without burning too much cash upfront. One of our happiest periods of running the business was when we were working out of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.?

We would use vacant cafeteria tables and take client calls, with the aroma of cooked food filling the space. It taught us to be frugal, humble and to work, regardless of location.?

NP has been one of our biggest cheerleaders. When we needed support in network or funding - NP personnel would move mountains to help us find these opportunities. They also kept a lookout for potential referrals and press opportunities that helped us to grow our profile. Both of us are extremely thankful for the unconditional and unwavering faith and support NP has offered to our team for close to a decade. They believed in us before we experienced any form of success. They also invested time and resources at the right time.?

4.????Please leave a quote or piece of advice for young and aspiring entrepreneurs.?

1. You're never too young to start. Many successful people are generous and enjoy mentoring/helping younger startups unconditionally.
2. Don't get overly fixated on appearances. Work on the fundamentals, build and recognition will come when you succeed.
3. Invest in education for yourself, because that pays dividends for the rest of your life.
4. Avoid having too many partners making big decisions together - these can cause a standstill in growth due to tension.
5. Seek to add value, not just extract value.
6. Soft-skills are difficult to master, but highly valuable in a world where automation will replace the technical skills of most.

?Read about other startups here:

Tink Singapore:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/startup-spotlight-interview-tink-singapore-npthesandbox/

KatoKato:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/startup-spotlight-interview-katokato-npthesandbox/