Today was an early start, especially since I was writing my blog until around 1 am last night. I work up just after 7 to go to the gym in our hotel before breakfast. It was quite convenient that I could go to the gym before going straight to the breakfast buffet for a post-workout meal.

Lynx Analytics

After breakfast, we caught the bus to Lynx Analytics which is located in a specific area of Singapore allocated to incubating startup companies called One-North. The area has cheaper rent and provides communal areas and hot desking options for small startups to come together and share innovations in the hope that people will be able to combine ideas when meeting in this area.

The company we visited in this area, Lynx Analytics is a data science company that specializes in using graph theory to solve business problems employing a kind of consultancy service. The presentation at this company was interesting providing some examples of real-world applications of the services offered by the company including a project with the largest bank in Singapore, DBS. I asked a question about how the company went from being a small start-up to being able to work with such large organizations.

After the presentation, as we were existing in the area of One-North, we had a look through the food hall where all the entrepreneurs and employees of the startups in the area come together for food and entertainment. It seemed like quite a fund environment for incubating startups and bringing founders together. They even had a stage for live music and bars that opened in the evening.

Changi Airport presentation

After this industry meeting, we proceeded to Changi Airport, the main airport in Singapore for our company visit there. Changi Airport is the company that my group will be doing our presentation on at the end of this study tour so this was a big moment for my team of 5 students. The presentation took place in JEWEL, the shopping center at Changi, and included a discussion about the innovations at Changi airport, and how they search for ideas outside the airport industry in areas such as hotels and theme parks as a way of beating their competition. Since this was my group’s focus company, I asked many questions on topics from whether Changi is also in the consultancy business assisting with innovations in other airports, who they see as their competitors, and whether there are any public figures on the average passenger value of the airport.

Changi Airport Tour

After the presentation, the guide, Lucas, took us on a tour around the airport showing many of the innovations discussed in the presentation. This tour was really interesting and also provided me with good access to Lucas to ask more questions. While transiting between locations on the tour I was constantly asking questions trying to make sure my team had all the information we needed for our presentation, and I think it is safe to say we should be now well prepared to build this presentation. The tour took us through multiple terminals and showed off innovations in making the enclosed shopping areas feel like outdoors, reduced waiting times, and displays to keep people waiting entertained, among many others. I was amazed to find out that Changi Airport is actually a popular spot for local couples to go on dates because there is just so much there to do.

At the end of the tour, we returned back to the room where we had the original presentation, and I had the privilege of thanking Lucas and handing out the gift on behalf of the study tour. We then proceeded to a nearby exhibit that had some games and other interactions to show off innovations of the airport.

After the airport tour, I was feeling really tired so I joined the bus ride back to our hotel and had some Thai barbeque for dinner with some of my peers before heading to bed.