About Us
We are TripBuddy.sg, an online start-up aimed at bridging the gap between local students and exchange students at universities in Singapore. We do this in an attempt to provide exchange students an authentic experience that they have travelled across oceans for while allowing local students to increase their personal & professional network at a global scale without ever leaving the island. We believe that we are movement driven by a platform, a platform that creates opportunities for priceless interactions between worlds.
Our Story
In the summer of 2015, five undergrads at NTU were still stuck at school working to get their Minor in Entrepreneurship. On the first day of class, they were pleasantly surprised by the number of foreign exchange students that were enrolled in the programme with them. Trying to take advantage of the situation, they decided that this was a priceless opportunity to network with the rest of the world. Having enjoyed the company of their newly found friends from around the world, they asked themselves why other students don't have the same opportunity as they did. And thus, TripBuddy.sg was born, their answer to this untapped ocean of possibility.
Our Mission, Vision & Core Values
Mission Statement
To provide an effective medium through which individuals from different cultural backgrounds can form lifelong friendships through authentic, local experiences.
Company Vision
To be the brand every incoming exchange student in Singapore knows and acknowledges as the one-stop website to catalyze friendships and truly gain the Singapore experience.
Core Values
We believe in providing excellent customer support and maximising customer satisfaction for all services rendered.
We believe in focusing on the human element of the trips hosted on our platform rather than just the numbers involved.
We believe in providing a consistent and reliable experience for our customers.
We don't believe in the notion of invalid customer feedback.
We believe in the idea of disruption and the concept of bending the rules.
We believe that a company can become great without the need to wear a suit.
Meet the Team
Suyash Lakhotia
Chief Executive Officer
Suyash is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. An Indian by birth, he has spent his entire life in Jakarta, where he graduated from Gandhi Memorial International School in 2014. Being the youngest of the team, he loves to build things he can call his own and enjoys breaking every barrier put in front of him.
Nikhil Venkatesh
Chief Technology Officer
Nikhil is an undergraduate student at Nanyang Technological University pursuing a degree in Computer Science. He grew up in India, where he developed a keen interest in technology. Apart from computers, Nikhil loves to explore new things and travel around places. He is enthusiastic with a strong desire to pursue what he likes.
Ernest Chan
Chief Marketing Officer
Ernest is a currently pursuing a degree in Communications at the Wee Kim Wee School of Information & Communications. He graduated as valedictorian in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations. Ernest has a strong background in marketing and enjoys pushing the limits of every medium he touches.
Bobby Ranjan
Chief Financial Officer
Bobby is an undergraduate student at Nanyang Technological University pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering. He was born in the UK, grew up in India and now studies in Singapore. Bobby is inquisitive by nature, and loves trying out new dishes and traditions. He is also a football enthusiast.
Benjamin Ho
Chief Operations Officer
Benjamin is an undergraduate student at NTU who is currently pursuing a degree in Economics. He is very sociable and desires to foster a community with a strong bond. Benjamin loves travelling, having fun and meeting new people. He believes in a world of friends and not enemies, through socialising and bonding he is certain that the world would be one without barriers.