In search of the Big Spark

Year 4 College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) student Clement Ling Yeu Jye believes in defining his own career.  

 This is why Clement, who majors in Data Science and Analytics and minors in Information Systems, has taken a shine to entrepreneurship and decided to take the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme in Paris.

As a CHS student, Clement had the opportunity to delve into subjects like philosophy, social sciences, medical technology, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which “offered a valuable opportunity to learn more about the world and discover more about myself.”

It was in like spirit that he ventured to Paris. Clement’s entrepreneurial interests lie primarily in the AI space. Not only is the AI industry flourishing in Paris, but it is also the place where “where many experts in Europe gather.” His six-month sojourn there gave him opportunities to attend numerous networking events, talks and conferences, broadening his global perspective and enhancing his networking capabilities.

Clement worked at Kovalee, a startup in mobile application publishing, which enhanced his understanding of the entrepreneurial process, including ideation, funding and management and improved his technical skills in software engineering.

He says, “The experience changed my perspective on many things, particularly in understanding the effort and dedication needed to achieve entrepreneurial success – and reinforced my determination to become an entrepreneur.”

At PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres) University, Clement took courses on the building blocks of venture creation, which he found “incredibly enlightening”.

He adds, “The sessions were filled with interesting ideas and discussions with classmates. The academic rigour and practical insights from these courses helped me understand the theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship.”

Clement previously attempted to start a technology company in the user-generated content (UGC) space, and he continues to explore startups in the AI space. He is of the belief that AI has the potential to revolutionise industries and significantly improve people’s lives, and to that end, his NOC experience has proven invaluable.

“My interest in entrepreneurship has been a driving force during my studies,” he says. 

“My goal is to develop products that advance technology, enhance productivity and increase happiness. By leveraging AI, I hope to create solutions that address real-world problems and contribute positively to society and industry.”