Suggestions
Val Yap
Founder of PolicyPal - Author of "Balls Inc." - Forbes 30 under 30 - Fortune 40 under 40
Val Yap is a prominent entrepreneur and business leader known for her work in the fintech and insurtech industries. Here are some key details about her career and accomplishments:
Professional Experience
Founder & CEO of PolicyPal: Val Yap founded PolicyPal, an insurtech company that gamifies financial planning for consumers, in 2016.1 She led the company as CEO for 6 years until September 2022. PolicyPal was backed by notable investors like 500 Startups, PayPal, and Global Brain, and was eventually acquired by a NYSE-listed company in 2020.1
Other Leadership Roles:
- CEO of ValueChampion (2021-2022)1
- Executive Committee member of Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) (2021-2023)1
- Executive Committee member of Singapore FinTech Association (SFA) (2021)1
Entrepreneurship and Recognition
Val Yap is described as a serial entrepreneur, author, and community builder.1 Her achievements have earned her several accolades:
- Named in Forbes "30 Under 30 Asia" list in 20171
- Selected as one of LinkedIn's Power Profiles in Singapore 2017 in the Founders category3
- Included in Fortune's 40 Under 40 list2
Education and Teaching
Val Yap has a strong background in education and continues to contribute to the academic world:
- Adjunct Lecturer at Singapore Management University (2021-present), teaching Fintech, Insurtech, and Entrepreneurship courses1
- Fellow at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) (2018-2021)1
Author and Advocate
In 2019, Val Yap published a book titled "Balls Inc.".1 The book aims to address unconscious social bias against women in the tech industry and provides practical career advice for women in or considering careers in technology.1
Current Focus
As of 2023, Val Yap is involved with Ignite, described as an "All-in-One Platform for Knowledge and Development".1 She continues to be active in entrepreneurship and community-building, recently hosting a gathering for Singaporean founders making an impact in the US market.4
Highlights
Partnering with Women in Crypto Club (WICC), we will be exploring the next frontier of Web3 with leading voices in the space at our upcoming panel discussion. Learn how AI and Real-World Assets (RWA) are merging to transform traditional asset management through enhanced liquidity, transparency, and fractional ownership.
Highlights: Michael Heinrich, CEO of 0G Labs, will share insights into their recent $35M pre-seed funding and how their modular blockchain project aims to achieve Web2 performance and cost parity in Web3 environments. Maika Isogawa, CEO of Webacy, will discuss how their blockchain solutions enhance the safety of digital assets, making Web3 safer for all. Josh Wadinski from Optimism will discuss about their AI/ML strategy, how they bring teams and projects into the Superchain, as well as their collaborative efforts to promote retrofunding within the Superchain and Ethereum ecosystem as a whole.
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 ⏰ Time: 6pm-9pm PST 📍 Location: Modernist, 139 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA 94105 🔗 Limited spots available: https://lu.ma/lzu9vj50

I had an amazing time connecting with fellow founders recently, and the insights I gained were incredible. Arum Kang highlighted just how important authenticity is, especially for minority female founders. Despite the pressure to "be louder" and "less humble" in Silicon Valley's VC world, she made it clear that staying true to yourself and being transparent is essential.
Moses Lo shared how their time with YC played a pivotal role during the first 90 days, guiding them through a significant pivot. He also talked about company culture, emphasizing that it’s a reflection of the founder and the leadership team. He pointed out that the first 10 people you hire can define the culture, so it's crucial to lead by example.
I'm feeling truly inspired by these discussions and grateful for the wisdom shared. It’s a great reminder that building businesses with authenticity and a strong culture is the way forward.
Thanks Eddy Chan from Intudo for inviting again!
