Coming into year 2 of the business, i was faced with a dilemma… the company was growing and i needed additional fund injection to grow the business.

The projects were coming in fast and we need to hire staff. With new headcount will require new computers and more furniture / office desk space. More desk space means i have to pay rent soon. I have to get a proper company bank account (to start write invoices payable to my company name). The company was making money - but just enough to keep us afloat, not enough to grow.

Again, i can’t over-emphasize the need to build your network. I spoke to couple of friends and eventually found 1 who could relate to what i do and wants to help. My first business partner was Melvin. He’s a good friend from my NGO activist days.

So during the course of the year, we hired 3 staff (Uzyn, Jessica and Thomson) and bought 2 computers. We expanded our office space - had to pay rent now. Our landlord has extra furniture so we took over whatever we can. Melvin gave the company a personal loan to open a bank account (which i promptly paid back in a 6 months).

Here’s my office at Hong Kong Street (June 2005). The office behind the window belongs to my landlord / friend.

Eventually Melvin wanted to move on and i got in a new business partner - Genie. Genie’s a good friend i met in my PAP days. She’s been very supportive and helpful - she used to work as an auditor, so kinda helped with the accounts.

Coming into the end of year 2, i had many things to be thankful for. However, the end of year 2 also brought with it a new crisis - and its got to do with money again…

Tune in again to find out why i sold my company in 2006.