Tell us about yourself?
I am the CEO and Co-Founder of viAct. I am a graduate in building engineering by education and have worked in the construction ecosystem for years.
Before starting viAct, I had been the Managing Director of 3D leading EFI Optitex fashion technology and Senior Management of the NASDAQ business listed in Stratasys technology.
However, after years of working experience in the construction industry, I emerged as an AIpreneur and started viAct in Hong Kong in 2016.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
The biggest misconception is that “It’s an easy task!”
Startups are presumed to be easy due to growing startup economy but in true sense it is all Blood, Sweat & Tears.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
My small habits! I am a firm believer of the fact that “it is small habits that make a big difference” and therefore have always tried to incorporate some small (but crucial) habits into my day-to-day workings.
If I am to list those down, the very first one would be I love working with my team and always try to treat them with utmost respect as I truly acknowledge what each of them brings into viAct.
I strongly believe that viAct is what it is today only due to the concerted and combined efforts of each of its members, and therefore at viAct we all are equals – no one is more or less important than the other.
Secondly, my never-ending love for innovation and the urge to keep striving to use technology for the greater wellbeing of mankind, has been another factor which I must say has definitely had a meaningful impact on my life and business.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
As mentioned above, it is majorly trying to build a positive team health for viAct’s employees by appreciating everyone’s efforts without bias.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
After years of working experience in the construction industry, I could find many loopholes prevailing in the industry in terms of extremely low technological adaptation coupled with the ever-increasing safety and productivity gaps.
And it kept bothering me. And it was to bridge this divide that I emerged as an AIpreneur and started viAct in Hong Kong.
Although it took me some time to build and establish viAct, however, being a tech-geek, I knew that ConTech is the next big thing.
Having extreme trust in the novelty of the cause, I started R&D in AI in 2016 with my prime focus on building exclusive AI powered video analytics modules for scenario-based, real-time, on-site as well as remote monitoring of construction safety and productivity in just minutes.
And since then, through viAct I am into a journey to revolutionize the construction industry and spreading cognition about technology adoption.
Where do you see your business in five years?
For the upcoming 5 years, viAct is focusing to expand its reach of business from Asia to other worldwide with primary targeted destination of Singapore.
The foresight is to establish offices for local employees working in sales & marketing as well as technical departments also for the purpose of partnership alliance. viAct’s Partnership Programme also plays a crucial role in taking our product and solutions to new markets.
It is an initiative wherein we partner with various agencies & resellers (the Channel Partners) and tech solution providers (the Tech Partners) who can promote viAct’s products and solutions and in turn unlock new streams of revenue and grow their businesses, thus ultimately building an ecosystem of construction technology solutions.
Belonging to a technology oriented ecosystem, viAct is planning to persistently invest in R&D to reinforce technical stack and deep dive into various elemental issues existing in the construction site using AI powered cognitive technologies.
This will help in broadening the application research on the state-of-the-art AI, machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
Apart from this, viAct is targeting the next round of fundraising which is expected to be carried out by end of 2022.
This will mushroom the brand to achieve the aforementioned plans and help in making it a fast growing AI Company specialized in construction and engineering. viAct therefore has a mission to become the leading AI company with the aim to penetrate its video analytics services from hundreds to thousands construction projects in order to make construction industries a safer and productive place to work inside.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
I believe it is clear understanding and acceptance of what AI can actually do.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
viAct recently signed MoU and entered into a strategic partnership with Innocom Technologies Pte Ltd. in Singapore to meet the ever-increasing demand in Singapore Construction Industry for solutions that are meant to improve safety and productivity of construction jobsites, thereby making them sustainable.
Another groundbreaking fact is that viAct’s AI applications and software solutions in Singapore will run on Singtel Paragon, the industry’s first all-in-one platform for 5G, MEC and services orchestration.
With Paragon, enterprises will be able to activate network slices on demand on Singtel’s 5G network and deploy various viAct applications on Singtel’s MEC.
This enables them to get real-time situational awareness at worksites and help prevent accidents or respond to incidents promptly.
How do clients and customers find you?
Direct Sales & Partners
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
As, W. Clement Stone has rightly said, “To become an expert achiever in any human activity, it takes practice… practice… practice.”
So, I believe that anyone stepping into this startup world must have the zeal for constant practice even when they are at the pinnacle of success.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
I dream and hope that viAct stands high as an industry leader in AI powered video analytics solution for industries ranging from construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, mining, metallurgy and the like.
And personally I hope that I remain optimistic about my business and my doings for my employees, partners and the society as a whole.
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viAct is a leading ESG-focused AI company that provides “Scenario-based Vision Intelligence’ solutions for the AEC industry across Asia, Europe & Middle East. With hundreds of deployments since its inception in 2016, viAct’s proprietary AI algorithms have evolved successfully providing extremely granular insights in jobsites by transforming vision to practical actions. Our 30+ pre-built AI modules enable the stakeholders to reduce the number of accidents, optimize costs and track environmental non-compliances. As a 2020 Top 50 Global ConTech Startup, viAct’s disruptive AI navigation solution is one of a kind approach to manage man-made environments in a far smarter way than humans do!