Kai Yuan Neo is the Founder & CEO of Rocket Academy, a Singapore-based coding bootcamp startup. Before Rocket, he was an Engineering Manager at Danacita (ErudiFi).

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I run an online school that trains software engineers.

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

Getting graduates employed as software engineers is the easiest part of my job. If you like the idea of building products and want to get into tech, join Rocket Academy!

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Raising US$1.1M for Rocket Academy from family, friends, angels and VCs. This was a big show of confidence in me, and I am determined to reward their investment. This would not be possible without the trust and hard work of Rocket's students and staff, and I am honored to work with them every day.

🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

Web3, because they are hiring many software engineers!

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Students first, teachers second, employers third. Teachers are happy when students are happy. Employers are only interested because we have good students.

🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

Politics

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Space Jam (1996)

🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Chocolate