Smart devices have taken over a lot of households – we have a few in our office as well. This makes it a growing market that has a lot of potential.
As a growing market, it also means there are a few players and the big brand names all have their own segment of smart devices. So does this leave a lot of room for the new guys to step in and carve out their market share.
At Tech Collective, one of our primary goals is to shine a light on new and exciting companies coming up in the startup and tech world in Southeast Asia. This applies to VIO, a new smart light startup based in Singapore that is aiming to make a splash in the smart devices industry.
We had a chance to speak to both co-founders Wilson Poon and Kean Chiow about their new company. Wilson handles the product side of the business, while Kean is focused more on the client and business-side of the startup.
If you can’t find Wilson or Kean in the office, they are keeping active as they both enjoy sports and keeping fits. Find out what they had to share about their startup.
Meet Zowedo, the home services brand looking to make lives easier in Singapore
Sell us your company/service in 300 words
With living spaces becoming more confined in Singapore, utilising common spaces for multiple applications or uses is quickly becoming the norm. For example, many households tend to double up their dining area as a study space. However, the dining area may not be the most favourable location for study as the lighting deployed within is often much softer and creates a relaxing environment than a productive one.
And that’s when smart lighting comes in handy.
VIO’s smart lights are designed to be multi-functional. Our series of LED smart lights enables users to create ideal lighting environments for different purposes within the same space. Through the VIO App, users can dim and tune between warm and cool whites, create scenes and set up automation by scheduling. The lights are compatible with Google/Amazon Home Assistant, which allows users to control it via voice command.
It’s also a lot easier to set up our smart lights to your home system. Our BLE-WiFi technology makes it easy for users to connect via a regular access point and remotely control their lights – even when the WiFi is down.
IOur range of architectural smart lights also includes LED strips and smart bulbs that provide over 16 million colors for ambient needs, such as parties and movies.High in lumens and true colour rendering, our smart lights are also flicker-free which reduces eye fatigue and discomfort.
VIO’s “Subscribe-to-Own” model, is the first smart home solution in Singapore to offer a low upfront cost and commitment. Under this model, users subscribe to a monthly fee to access a dedicated support helpdesk and free onsite warranty that covers repairs and replacements. Should users subscribe up to 24 months, they will receive full ownership of the product t with no add-on costs.
What is stopping you from having the largest company in the world?
To be honest, I have never thought of having the largest company in the world.
My key focus has always been on consumer needs, and how I can create value for them. I’ve frequently been sharing this sentiment with my team – consumers are our primary focus, and we should always be making a conscious effort to understand the market needs out there, as it is one of the most important factors to keep our company going.
User needs will change over time. Products have a life cycle. There will come a time when a popular app or product gets replaced by a newer service that best fits market needs at that current point in time. We all know nothing is constant except for change.
Making impactful customer experiences is what matters for us – and will help us grow in the future.
If you could change one thing about the tech industry in Southeast Asia, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the tech industry, it would be enhancing talent mobility in the region. Southeast Asia is made up of 11 markets that each has their respective economic and fiscal policies.
By opening up talent mobility in the region, collaboration and competition will intensify technological advancements and contribute to the overall development of the tech sector. Businesses will also no longer consider building operations for a single market but look at scaling across different countries instead.
Name one person in the region, who is making a difference in Technology?
I would go with Anthony Tan, CEO & Co-founder of Grab.
I strongly feel that he has made a difference in the Technology industry due to Grab’s immense scale and impact on many of us. Technology is most powerful when everyone can access it. Grab is a clear example of this. It’s also not always about how sophisticated the technology is, but the value it’s able to generate for communities.
From Grab’s early stages as a ride-hailing app to where it is now, Anthony and his team have made great strides in resolving taxi and safety issues in the region. Not only have they created a solution to tackle mobility issues, but they have also made significant contributions to the ride-hailing industry.
Today, Grab has expanded into a superapp that helps to bridge market gaps, that I hope more individuals can benefit from its services in one way or another.
What would you want people to remember you for, 100 years from now?
I would like to be remembered as someone who motivates and inspires people. It brings me great joy to help others and grow alongside them.
As the team lead, I place great emphasis on coaching and grooming each member. It’s never about how much value one can contribute, but what they stand to gain simultaneously. Mentorship is a two-way street, in my point of view.
When you start to inspire and motivate peers around you, it creates a ripple effect that affects culture – in a good way. Teamwork is crucial to getting by challenging scenarios, and it is incredibly important to develop a culture of motivation.