GAME CHANGER
Sng Khai Lin
FUNDNEL PTE LTD
"A company is nothing without its people, so finding the right people is important. There is a saying that you don’t build a business, you build the people who build the business."
Founded in 2015, Fundnel is Singapore’s first fintech company to provide private equity and equity-related investment opportunities to its network of investors, using technology to facilitate transactions so that everything is more transparent, efficient and effective.
Fundnel’s private investment platform enables investors to co-invest easily alongside top financial institutions, making private investments simple, accessible and transparent for everyone. SMEs can make use of the platform to raise capital in a cost- and time-efficient manner.
The online equity fundraising platform aims to enable efficient distribution of capital that will generate employment, spur economic growth and build nations.
Growing up, Sng Khai Lin dreamt about becoming a marine biologist. But while life took her down a different path, the 30-year-old has not lost her love for the ocean and its creatures — every year, she engages in volunteer work in marine conservation, which sees her contribute to research projects focused on whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean.
Khai Lin, 30, is also the face of Fundnel Pte Ltd, an online equity fundraising platform that she co-founded with her business partner, Kelvin Lee. As the chief financial officer, she sees herself as the goalkeeper of the company, whose responsibilities mainly lie in the day-to-day running of the business. Although Fundnel is a relatively new face in the finance industry — the company was started in 2015 — it is already making great strides toward changing the way in which people in the private market invest, thanks to a talented team of partners who share a common vision.
How did the idea of starting Fundnel come about?
I used to work in an investment bank, where Kelvin and I first met. The idea of Fundnel was born when we were working there. As a private investment platform, Fundnel provides private equity and equity-related investment opportunities to our network of investors. It is unique in that it uses technology to facilitate transactions so everything is more transparent, efficient and effective. There wasn’t anyone doing this at that time. We were confident in our ability and execution, so we left our jobs for this. As with any start-up, it is not possible to do it part-time because iIf there are opportunities, people can overtake you very quickly. We toyed with the idea, did much research and finally decided to devote time and effort to build this, and make a greater change in how the financial market works.
In the face of competition, how does Fundnel distinguish itself?
It boils down to our team and execution. We believe we have one of the larger market shares in this region. And because we started ahead of everybody else, we have the first-mover advantage. From what we can see, we are ahead of the pack.
What’s the greatest challenge you face?
Finding the right people for our team. A company is nothing without its people. There is a saying that you don’t build a business, you build the people who build the business. The people we look for must have integrity, hunger and humility.
Do you have a secret to productivity?
Entrepreneurship is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Whatever you want to achieve, it is going to take time, so get plenty of exercise and rest, and maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle.
