Southeast Asia isn’t exactly known for having a great robotics industry, so when we came across this entrepreneur, we were intrigued. Jane Wang is the CEO and Co-Founder of Roceso Technologies, which has built a soft robotic glove to help with rehabilitation.
What is soft robotics you say? Well according to the Wikipedia, it is the construction of robots using pliable materials that give it organic capabilities.
By using lighter materials that aren’t as expensive as the current products in the market, Roceso Technologies is also helping reduce medical costs. It is also the world lightest hand rehabilitation and exoskeleton device, and according to Jane offers top functionality and comfort.
Jane has always been an entrepreneur, starting her first business in university to field test the business theories she was learning. She’s also an avid F1 fan and besides her company, she has a love for singing.
When you can’t find Jane in her office, she’s likely to be learning new technical skills or indulging in her passion for cooking.
We spoke to Jane to find out her vision for the company and how she sees it growing and impacting the medical industry.
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Sell us your company/service in 300 words?
Roceso Technologies is the world leading soft robotic company with a focus on bringing independence and dignity back to people’s life. Our soft robotic solutions provide functional assistance to patients with limb motor function impairments during rehabilitation and daily living. Our first product, the EsoGlove, is the world lightest hand rehabilitation and exoskeleton device offering top functionality and comfort.
In 2016, Roceso Technologies was founded by myself, Dr. Yap Hong Kai and Dr. Raye Yeow after meeting at National University of Singapore. As a robotic engineer who was educated mainly on traditional robotics, I was immediately fascinated by the potential of soft robotics in the healthcare industry. With founders’ commitment and the team’s hard work, Roceso Technologies has progressed rapidly by successfully translating NUS lab research to a viable product that will augment people’s life. After establishing a robust quality management system, Roceso Technologies received ISO13485:2016 certification in early 2018.
To date, we have received purchase requests from potential customers worldwide before the product launch. EsoGlove is expected to receive FDA registration by November 2018 and launch in the US market soon after.
Read Li Rong’s journey to co-founding a tech company
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What is stopping you from having the largest company in the world?
My goal is to build a lean and successful business rather than the largest one.
The combination of medical device and robotics makes our business an exciting and challenging one. The regulations and standards in the medical device world require constant measures on device safety and efficacy. And robotics requires a multi-disciplinary team and strong technical skills.
We may not be the fastest industry but will be the ones affecting people’s lives with huge impact. With the advance of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and IoT technologies, we are aiming to benefit rehabilitation industry by offering portable and affordable rehab robots and reduce healthcare burden for institutions and government. What we need are people and partners with passion and skills to work with our mission: empower people with neurological disorders and disabilities with innovation and technologies.
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If you could change one thing about the tech industry in Southeast Asia, what would it be?
Southeast Asia has been traditionally the home of sales & marketing offices for high-tech multinational corporations. Corporate R&D activities are rare and product development talents are difficult to find. Many young people choose their career based on potential monetary returns rather than passion. Now it is the time for Southeast Asia to innovate and build our own technologies. More home-grown tech brands should be created and tech talents should be groomed here. At the same time, we shall see more collaborations among local tech companies so that we can support each other in the innovation and internationalisation process.
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Name one person in the region, who is making a difference in Technology?
Ma Huateng – Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Tencent, the low profile technopreneur influencing people’s behavior in APAC region
Evangeline Leong from Kobe Global Technology is redefining influence and relevance
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What would you want people to remember you for, 100 years from now?
The action taker doing good with technology.
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About Jane
Jane Wang is the CEO and Co-Founder of Roceso Technologies, a pioneering robotics startup based in Singapore, that offers wearable soft robotic solutions for rehabilitation and assistive functions with the goal to bring independence and dignity back to people’s life. It is Singapore’s first and only soft robotics company helping patients with limb motor functions impairment.
Besides managing the day-to-day functions of the business, Jane is in charge of the business strategy and growth for the company. She is also in charge of the global expansion of the brand.
Prior to co-founding the Roceso Technologies, Jane worked in several multinational companies and excelled at multiple functions including engineering, human resources, sales, and consultancy. Jane has always been an entrepreneur at heart, having started an eCommerce business at just 20 years old.
She has a Masters Degree from the National University of Singapore in Intellectual Property Management and a Bachelor’s Degree from Nanyang Technical University in Mechatronics Engineering/Robotics.