Journal

Built a working voice AI demo in 7 hours. Here's what I learned about hackathon strategy.

I ran every previous marathon for the moment the body votes to stop. This time, I ran a 17-minute PB, but the demon never came. The training worked too well, robbing me of the only moment I actually cared about.

Lost by 86 seconds. But I reached somewhere solo training never could take me.

I knew tax wasn't "the one." But I couldn't just wait for the perfect idea. So I used it as a training ground - go as far as I can, extract every lesson, then recalibrate. Eight months later, here's what I actually built. (Hint: it wasn't a tax company.)

How getting dragged to a vibe coding hackathon led to building a privacy-first Chrome extension that uses local AI to filter Twitter trash

How my brother's tax struggles led to 20+ iterations, 8 specialized AI agents, and a 90%+ accurate system that costs under $1 instead of hundreds of dollars

Personal growth is like exploring the frontier—each mountain climbed reveals new, previously invisible opportunities

Living the daily loop I've dreamt of for years—freedom, discipline, and meaning.

From prawn ramen aspirations to tech ambitions: tracing the evolution of an entrepreneurial dream against the backdrop of Singapore and the drive of a founder.

Navigating the tension between stability and ambition in the pursuit of meaningful work and financial freedom.

From an older brother's wisdom to a younger one's energy to a peer's synergy—how three different roommates at Network School taught me about connection across generations.

What started as an overnight hackathon turned into a two-week marathon. A candid exploration of feature creep, the 80/20 problem in indie development, and why finishing projects is harder than starting them.

From Shopee bans to X account suspensions, my startup journey has been a brutal cycle of build, believe, and bounce back. A raw account of facing platform bans while trying to launch AI-powered solutions.

After three months at Network School and traveling through China, I've come to recognize the real 'Matrix' - not a sinister simulation, but the comfortable pull of mediocrity that keeps us from reaching our full potential.

Building a Python application to scrape cryptocurrency data from CoinMarketCap and project websites, with Google Sheets integration

In a journey that intertwines personal discovery with cultural exploration, I reflect on my experiences in China, from the vibrant streets of Guangzhou to the familial connections in Chenghai. This post delves into how food, heritage, and the search for identity shape our understanding of who we are as Singaporean Chinese, revealing the deeper ties that bind us to our roots.

Unexpected lessons in history and civilization at the Network School challenged me to look beyond technology and finance, prompting a journey into my own heritage and the roots of global transformation.

A personal reflection on breaking through physical and mental barriers across four marathons, culminating in a transformative experience with the Network School running community.

A personal account of daily life at Network School, from structured morning routines to the energizing intellectual environment and the unique community of high-achieving individuals.

My personal journey transitioning from business owner to employee, reflecting on the challenges, unexpected growth, and maintaining entrepreneurial ambitions while navigating a new career path.

A reflection on hosting the second AI Sharing Day, from preparation challenges to community building success, highlighting lessons learned and the growth experienced.

My journey from obsessing over e-commerce optimization to seeking meaningful work that addresses real-world problems, reflecting on the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.

A transformative journey to Cambodia for a friend's wedding that evolved into a profound exploration of personal values, relationships, and cultural insights.

A year-end reflection on achievements, regrets, and lessons learned through various projects and personal challenges.

My experience and reflections on running my third marathon, with strategies, challenges, and lessons learned for future races.

The kimchi premium—higher crypto prices on South Korean exchanges—spurred arbitrage goldmines since 2017. Alameda Research, Three Arrows Capital, and BXB Capital leveraged it, with Sam Bankman-Fried’s firm fueling FTX’s rise. Explained by Investopedia and others, it’s a tale of profit amid regulation.