SMU School of Accountancy alumnus Eric Chean was featured in an article where he shared the challenges he faced in his entrepreneurial journey and the genesis of his company, Marine Nexus, an online maritime platform to connect maritime companies and professionals with their customers and suppliers, last year. Within a few months of its launch, it was awarded a S$20,000 grant sponsored by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) at the SICC-SMU Eureka Prize competition organised by SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. In January this year, the portal won the Singapore round of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, and will represent Singapore at the regional finals in Jakarta in March, and the world finals in Frankfurt in May.

Looking back, Mr Chean is convinced that the journey as an entrepreneur is the way for him. He recognises his can-do attitude, restless personality and his need for freedom to explore new ideas as entrepreneurial attributes.