Law and Code: Two Students Pivot from Jiu-Jitsu to AI Consulting

Lim, a computer science student at the National University of Singapore, and Teng, a final-year law student at Singapore Management University, founded their consultancy in November 2024. Their entry into the market followed a second-place finish at a collegiate hackathon, which highlighted a lucrative gap for AI implementation services within law firms. Operating on a lean budget of roughly $1,950 from a university incubation grant, they lead a team of 10 students, charging up to SG$3,000 for workshops on AI tool optimization.

The founders acknowledge the tension between the rigorous demands of Singaporean academia and their real-world entrepreneurial commitments. When technical failures strike during exam periods, the business takes priority, often at the expense of their social lives and academic standing. Despite the burnout and the loss of traditional college experiences, both view the startup as a low-stakes laboratory. They maintain that the insights gained from navigating real-world client needs outweigh the theoretical focus of their degree programs, though both intend to pursue traditional corporate roles after graduation.