Francis Chu had years of aviation experience before joining the MSc in Management programme. So when Boeing launched its inaugural BUILD Programme, he and teammates Nichanan Supunya and Youmin Ho saw an opportunity to put that knowledge to work on a real aerospace challenge.
From left to right: Youmin Ho, Francis Chu, Nichanan Supunya
Their effort paid off: the team was shortlisted as one of ten finalists in the programme’s inaugural cohort.
The programme provided them with valuable industry exposure, including visits to the Boeing Training Centre and an opportunity to pitch their ideas in a venture capital-style competition.
Here’s how the journey unfolded.
From touring the state-of-the-art Boeing Training Centre to participating in the competition, the team was exposed to the kind of pressure and feedback that coursework alone can’t replicate.
As Youmin described it, “Navigating the venture capital arena was entirely unique and pushed us out of our comfort zones, arming us with critical, real-world skills that you simply can’t replicate in a lecture.”
The team developed VisionGuard, an augmented reality system that uses AI built into wearable devices to help engineers identify aircraft issues during pre-flight checks.
By combining smart eyewear, computer vision, and predictive maintenance capabilities, the solution aims to improve the accuracy of aircraft inspections while supporting safer and more data-driven operations.
The team also plans to target regional low-cost carriers in Southeast Asia first, before scaling across critical infrastructure.
Francis Chu: “Participating in the inaugural BUILD Programme has been an incredible bridge between education and industry. For me, it feels like coming full circle, being able to channel years of aviation experience and passion into solving real, tangible problems for the sector. My team and I loved putting our coursework to the test, and seeing those efforts genuinely make an impact has been unforgettable.”
Nichanan Supunya: “The BUILD Programme allows for a real-world application of taught theory, with its practicality supported by mentorship, workshops, and expert guidance. The programme cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset among contestants, enabling us to come up with an innovative solution that is commercially viable and scalable, addressing the industry’s challenges.”
Youmin Ho: “The BUILD Programme gave us something that no classroom can: the experience of having your assumptions challenged by people who have spent their careers inside the exact industry you are trying to disrupt. Walking away with a clearer problem statement, a more credible go-to-market, and a network of mentors in the aerospace ecosystem was worth more than any prize.”
The journey doesn’t stop here. The team plans to continue developing and refining VisionGuard back at NUS next semester, taking the idea to the next level. As Youmin put it, “We came in with an idea. We left with a much better one.”
