This sustainability-driven lifestyle tech brand has 600+ customers eagerly waiting for their first product

In one line, what do you do and what is your most significant achievement?

I’m building what might be the next big sustainability icon with nothing but passion and grit.

Who are you and what business did you start?

I am an undergraduate at NTU, currently pursuing my interest in Engineering. One word to describe myself would be passionate – as I deeply believe in the work I do and the things I build.

With my first startup, I’m tackling the question, "What can YOU do as an individual to bring sustainable change to this world?" This spark led me to build Flint.

Flint is a sustainability-driven lifestyle tech brand with a vision to build products that can improve people's lives and amplify the impact they can bring to this world. Our first product is a modular, wireless, snap-on power bank which is currently under production. With our entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, we believe there is potential in building a brand that puts the planet and its people first.

The profits from the product support initiatives we believe in. One of the biggest initiatives we're working on is a rechargeable battery made out of paper, magnesium, and zinc— making it completely compostable at the end of its life cycle. The benefits of this battery are vast, opening potential for foldable, custom-shaped batteries which are cheaper to manufacture and environment-friendly.

With projects like these, I envision Flint as one of the biggest impact makers in the sustainability space soon.

What's your backstory?

In the Philippines, typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions were something I had to learn to live with when I grew up. This led me to see natural disasters break communities, destroy homes, and ruin lives. As soon as I realised that these disasters result from climate change, which is something we are all responsible for, I started questioning everything.

Out of all the emotions I had regarding it, the one which hit me the most was powerlessness. I knew donating a few dollars to charities and not using plastic straws could make a difference, but how do I really help in the big picture? This question was the spark which brought me further – turning questions into actions.

By the age of 18, I had built several tech projects out of pocket money and time in an attempt to tackle every corollary of climate change I thought I could make a difference in: from air pollution to carbon capture, followed by rural electricity generation and coral reef protection initiatives. Throughout the journey, I gained national and international recognition, including funding & awards from organisations like Google, the US Embassy, the US Air Force, National Geographic, and Philippine's own Department of Science and Technology.

From all these experiences, I yearned to build something bigger that would create a more direct, significant impact on my goal. That's when I realised that the potential of every consumer's action is severely undervalued. So to bring the change we need, I started tinkering with the idea of empowering every person on this planet to make an impact with lifestyle products they can use daily. This spark of realisation led to the birth of Flint's concept & strategy towards sustainability, and it is something I deeply believe in.

What led you to specialise in your industry?

I am no specialist in my industry. I knew nothing about the manufacturing industry when I started with Flint. But, it was my drive that pushed me into this world blindly. Since then, I have experienced ups and downs in every possible way, but I can be sure to say that I have learned so much throughout this journey. Yet, at the same time, the road ahead for me in this journey is still long, and I still have a lot more exciting things to see.

How did you spend your First 100 Days of launching your business?

We got our first 100 orders for Flint Charge through crowdfunding. We simply presented the concept, and it was inspiring to know that people appreciated an idea (JUST an idea!) and were willing to support me.

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain partnerships/customers?

Our deep values in sustainability may be something which keeps people close to us. But, beyond that, I hope that our unique take on consumer gadgets (with its design and concept) will be something that will soon define Flint. I value every backer's trust and support, and it has been pushing me to strive harder every day with Flint.

What is one underrated thing in your industry that business owners should start doing/using?

In the product development cycle, circular design and green manufacturing can have an immense impact on our world if more business owners were to adapt them. However, current models and producers make it challenging to actuate. The gap in this industry for sustainable manufacturing is something we hope to address with Flint in the future too.

What were the biggest challenges you faced and how have you overcome them?

Being a student-founder is difficult. I live in two different worlds consecutively, and it gets even more complicated when the people around me don't understand what I'm going through. On one side, I am like a one-man-army managing everything from finances to design and production details in my startup. Then, on the other hand, I have to compete with my friends and classmates who get the time to study full-time for exams and projects. This balancing act can sometimes get exhausting, but I can say that at the end of the day, the feeling you get from the work you do is priceless and incomparable to anything else.

It's also one of the reasons I joined the 100 Club.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

I love working with Google's range of products. We use Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets. However, my partner likes to use AirTable, which I have been slowly trying to learn. Aside from them, Apple Keynote, Adobe Fusion 360, and Figma have greatly supported me in design applications.

How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

We are in a really exciting stage right now. Flint Charge's production will be ending within the next couple of months, and we'll be sharing our first product with the world and our first 600+ customers very soon. The company's branding and identity is also something I've worked on personally, so I'm curious to see how it will be perceived and understood when it reaches consumers.

In parallel with that, the R&D initiatives with our cellulose paper battery are also moving forward with substantial progress. At this rate, the battery is most likely looking to be ready for commercialisation within the next 2 years. And because we'll be the one producing and manufacturing the battery, our next product (to be launched) can most likely be the world's first product with a paper battery! The road ahead with Flint will be something to watch out for )