Slides for computing science students in SIT as part of their voices of experience segment. Who plans to join a startup in Singapore as a developer.

1. Breaking into Startups
As
A
Developer
By: Max, Ong Zong Bao

2. Why Startups?

3. Who is Max?
Max is a life enhancer for technology and
entrepreneurship. Which seeks to blend both to build
innovative products or services for the world to solve hard
problems.
● Chief Data Scientist for Codesurance
● Organising team for Junior Developers Singapore (JuniorDev SG)
● Vice-President of Python User Group Singapore.

4. About Me
● 2014-2016 - Studied Computing Science in SIT/University of
Glasgow
● 2016 - Started as a Business Development Consultant in ProQod
● 2016-2017 - Work as a Growth Partner in StartupHax
● 2016-2017 - Started Python Youth Learning Circle
● 2016-2017 - Work as Startup Pitch facilitator for Startup-O
● 2017 - Internship as Full Stack Developer in MicroSec
● 2017-2019 - Join as a Full Stack Developer in Microsec
● 2017-2018 - Work as Python & Scratch instructor for Code in
Community
● 2017-2018 - Completed Udacity React Nanodegree
● 2019 - Became Vice President of Python User Group Singapore
● 2019 - Joined Codesurance as Chief Data Scientist

5. Startups Moving to SG

6. Investment to DeepTech Startups
Entrepreneur First

7. 1 in 4 Fresh Graduates Joins Startup

8. Breaking into Startups

9. Breaking Into Startups - Networking
GovTech Conference
Ask me for discount code
Google Developer Space

10. Breaking Into Startups - Internship
Global Ready Talent Programme
Summation Programme
AI Apprenticeship

11. Breaking Into Startups - Mentorship

12. Think like a Investor When Joining a Startup
● What is their burn rate?
● Who is their customers?
● What is their business model?
● What is the problem they are trying to solve?
● What is the background for the founding team?
● What is their unfair advantage or unique about their startup?
● What are the technology they are using?
● Do they have any senior engineers to mentor or guide you?
● What is their engineering or developer practices like?
● What is their compensation package?

13. Challenges
Mindset shift to welcome
ambiguity & instability
Accelerating one’s learning of
developer skills & knowledge that
challenges you on a higher level use:
https://talented.jobtech.co/sit
Being outside of your
comfort zone

14. Accomplishment
● Top 500 authors for Dev.To
● Has a 20k+ followers on Dev.To & CodeMentor
● Vice President for Python User Group Singapore
● Organising community for PyCon SG 2016, PyCon APAC 2018, PyCon SG
2019
● Mentor for 1st batch of JuniorDev SG mentoring programme
● Organising team for JuniorDev SG
● Won 1st place in MIT Hacking Medicine Robotics 2017

15. Words of Wisdom from the Startup Ecosystem
If you are motivated by gaining more knowledge yet have no idea what to explore;
startups are ideal.
Often you will find yourself taking up more responsibilities outside your core
competencies which are usually synergistic with your core.
- A Software Engineer picking up UI/UX.
- A Web Designer picking up Microservices.
- A Data Analyst picking up Server Administration.
The more fun way of saying this is: "Unless you already know what you want to
develop yourself in.. Join a startup; it will organically develop you. ;)"
Michael Li
CTO of Job Tech

16. Words of Wisdom from the Startup Ecosystem
As a developer:
- Ok with lower pay
- Know the risks involved (may fail)
- Ok with working super hard
- Belief in the startup (and hence the stocks)
- Career benefit is experience building a lot of products from scratch
- Career cons is less emphasis on good code as its about shipping fast (need balance)
Ethan
Co-founder of NodeFlair
For a Kopi session you can reach him
at ethan@nodeflair.com or telegram him @ethanajx

17. Words of Wisdom from the Startup Ecosystem
The startup life is the most
challenging career path anyone
can embark on but the learnings
you gain set you up for life. Very
rarely do you gain a front seat
view of how software and a
business model come together to
make deep impact.
Andrew Fam
CTO Straits Interactive Pte Ltd.
Not python related: Always ask if you are
unsure, do not have to worry if the higher
up will judge you. (As a lot newbie tend to
worry about getting scolded) start up is all
about learning 🙂
Nevin Vu
Software Engineering Analyst
at Accenture

18. Words of Wisdom from the Startup Ecosystem
Focus on developing specific core skills. Be
known for something - for example Python 😉
Maximilian Jackson
CTO of BeeCraft Pte Ltd
“Try out and take up different roles and
tasks in the startup. You will have a better
idea on how the business is running. From
there, suggest new ideas to the founders.
You never know, your suggested
feature/campaign might have great
results.”
Haris
Founder of Zukunf

19. Find Me
● Meetup
○ JuniorDev SG Meetup Group - https://www.meetup.com/Junior-Developers-
Singapore/
○ Python User Group events - https://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Python-User-
Group/
● Social media
○ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxongzb/
○ Dev To - @steelwolf180
○ JuniorDev SG - https://www.facebook.com/groups/juniorDevSG/
○ Python User Group Singapore - https://www.facebook.com/groups/pythonsg/
● Personal Blog - https://maxongzb.com