00:00 What's it like to launch a startup in Singapore?
00:04 We talk to founders who have done it, find out what success looks like for them
00:09 and the challenges they've overcome.
00:11 Breastfeeding is actually really hard.
00:18 If you ask any mums, they will all tell you that it's not a walk in the park.
00:22 This is Vivian Lee, the CEO of Go Mama.
00:26 Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company builds lactation pods for mothers to breastfeed or pump on the go.
00:33 What was it like during Go Mama's early days?
00:37 Raising money was a very new experience for myself.
00:41 Pitching in front of hundreds of audience and a panel of judges.
00:45 As a first-time founder, trying to drive a first-mover idea in Singapore,
00:52 every big decision is tough.
00:54 It's a huge responsibility because we don't have a lot of resource and reference to fall back on.
01:01 And we also cannot afford a lot of second chances.
01:05 So every big decision is tough.
01:08 What was the breakthrough moment for Go Mama?
01:12 It was during COVID times when we had a pod design in place, but we couldn't find someone to build our pods.
01:20 We did a lot of calls, we emailed people, but we just not getting any response and any help.
01:25 So we put on our track shoes and then I went door to door, knocking on the factory under the hot sun.
01:34 Thankfully, the effort paid off.
01:36 We managed to find someone to build our first five pods for Sentosa Island's trial.
01:40 We spent days and nights on the island, just trying to get the pods up and ready and working, have it tested.
01:48 And then when it really went live, that's when you know, it's the moment that you know that, oh, this is real.
01:55 It's happening.
01:56 When it all came alive, the five pods on Sentosa Island was, I think, the first breakthrough moment for Go Mama.
02:04 Our target is actually to put out 50 pods by the first quarter of 2024.
02:10 Recently, we've done a trial with Sengkang Community Centre, which is our first break-in to a neighbourhood space.
02:17 And also with JTC, which is our first partner in the commercial space.
02:21 We are quite hopeful that we will be able to replicate the success that we've had with Sentosa across our different trial partners.
02:30 I would advise startups to not spend too much time perfecting their version one product, whichever it may be.
02:43 Because founders usually would be very fixated on their idea and then try to perfect their first version of product
02:51 and end up finding out that it's not really what the market wants.
02:55 So don't spend too much time perfecting your version one.
02:58 Put it out there, let the market decide and then allocate the resources to perfect it.
03:09 Actually, I don't repel against the idea of going back to a 9-to-5 job.
03:13 But at this moment, I'm just very invested in Go Mama's mission.
03:18 To me, 9-to-5 is a luxury.
03:20 Even when you go to sleep, sometimes you just worry about things.
03:25 A 9-to-5 job, you can still switch off.
03:28 But as a founder, that's almost impossible.
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