Meet Collin, a renowned figure in Singapore’s trading and finance circles, who is making a bold leap into the world of food and lifestyle. Known for his systematic approach to stock trading and the development of TradersGPS, Collin is now an investor in the World Food Festival—an exciting event that celebrates culinary diversity and innovation.

Far from a planned career move, his entry into the food space was driven by instinct, numbers, and trust in the right people. Backed by decades of financial experience, Collin brings a fresh perspective to the food festival, aiming to modernise its traditional format and create a vibrant platform that blends flavours, culture, and entrepreneurship.

You’ve made a name for yourself in the world of trading and finance. What inspired you to transition to the food and lifestyle space through the World Food Festival?

Actually, I didn’t plan this at all—it wasn’t something I had mapped out for the year. If you’d asked me a few months ago why I would venture into the food business, I wouldn’t have had an answer. I knew nothing about this industry.

But I believe in flowing with the universe. When the opportunity came, I looked at it not just from an intuitive standpoint but also from a dollars-and-sense perspective. I’ve always been interested in investing in companies—crypto firms, exchanges, etc.

This was something completely new. When I was approached to invest in the food show, I saw it as a fresh and exciting departure from my previous ventures. A few years ago, we invested in a crypto exchange and did well.

So when this came along, I studied the numbers, the business case, and—just as importantly—the people behind it.

As an investor, what drew you to support the World Food Festival specifically?

Aside from the Profit & Loss (P&L), it’s the people that matter. There are always people pitching for investors, but the founders of this project stood out. One had over 20 years of experience running food shows, and the other had a clear vision for growth.

I saw potential in both. The business was breaking even, and I believed I could bring in new ideas. Food shows in Singapore tend to run in a very traditional pasar malam style. I thought perhaps I could modernise some elements. That’s how I came in—as an investor.

Investing in people is far more important than just looking at spreadsheets. That’s what convinced me to be part of it.

How do you apply your systematic approach from trading—like with TradersGPS—to business and event investments such as the World Food Festival?

Over the years, I’ve built systems that help me manage my teams, most of whom don’t work in an office. We have a team of ten in the training business. While they only come into the office about three times a week, we maintain a strong workflow.

Each day, everyone shares what they’ve done in a WhatsApp group. Every week, we have a face-to-face meeting—not just for reporting, but for alignment. Same time, same day, every week. This consistency keeps the team focused.

When something goes wrong—whether in communication, partnerships, or operations—we always seek a system-based solution. What caused the problem? Can we trace it to a process? This thinking applies in trading too.

Before profit happens, certain steps must align. If something breaks, we analyse which step failed. Once you do that, you can tweak and improve. But the foundation is always the same: the people. Even with the best systems, if the people aren’t right, things will still break down.

We can’t keep blaming foreigners for taking jobs. If we’re good enough, no one can take our spot. That’s the mindset shift we need.

Your book, The Systematic Trader, details your journey out of $250,000 debt. What mindset shifts were critical in that turnaround, and how do you apply them to entrepreneurship?

Life always throws you challenges. I used to think my problems were huge. But over time, I realised that challenges never stop—they just evolve. Maybe a $10,000 problem becomes a $100,000 problem. But the stress level might remain the same, because you grow with the problem.

One major mindset shift for me was understanding that problems don’t disappear—you just get better at managing them. Be stoic. Understand that problems will always come.

The worst-case scenario is death. And everyone dies eventually. So everything else is manageable. That’s why I reference the book Die With Zero. In the end, what matters is how you live. So I treat life like a game.

The challenges are like bosses in each level of a video game. The further you go, the harder it gets—but that’s also where the fun is. Don’t be stressed over obstacles.

Ask yourself, “How can I overcome this and enjoy the process?” That’s my mindset now. It’s a balance between strength and joy. Even if it kills you, at least you played a good game.

As someone who has coached many aspiring traders, what’s one parallel between trading success and running a food event?

Whether it’s trading or business, the key is knowing exactly where you are now. Most people think they know where they’re going but aren’t clear about where they stand.

First, assess your current reality. In trading, that’s your portfolio, your metrics. In business, it’s your current operations. Second, be specific about your outcome. What is your goal? “I want to be rich” isn’t a plan. Define success: is it $10,000 a month? A $1 million portfolio? Be precise.

Lastly, plot the route from where you are now to where you want to go. Understand that challenges will come—always. But if you treat those challenges as part of the process, you’ll grow.

Whether in trading or food events, it’s about solving one problem after another. If your problems are getting smaller, not bigger, that’s a warning sign.

What’s been your biggest lesson or surprise from being involved in the food festival, compared to financial markets?

Honestly, the surprise was how many people are into food shows. I’ve never attended one before this, so it opened my eyes. But the biggest lesson? Teams.

In finance, I’ve built my teams from scratch, aligned to my systems and culture. This was different. I inherited an existing team—with its own habits and way of doing things.

So the challenge was setting a new culture, aligning values, and increasing communication. It’s a small team, but it’s growing. And with growth comes the need for more alignment.

What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?

Singapore is an amazing place to live and do business. I hope our systems and governance remain strong. But I also think we face some big challenges.

Our native population is shrinking, and we’re relying more on imported talent. The balance will be tricky. I hope Singapore continues investing in AI and innovation—but we also need to upskill our locals.

We can’t keep blaming foreigners for taking jobs. If we’re good enough, no one can take our spot. That’s the mindset shift we need.

If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?

If I had a superpower, I’d want to be the ultimate mediator. I’d get everyone in conflict to talk—whether it’s war, politics, or personal issues. I believe so many problems in the world boil down to poor communication.

If I could resolve those conflicts, even just for one day, it would have a ripple effect. No more wars, no more misunderstandings—just people truly listening to one another. That would be powerful.

Connect with Collin: CollinSeow.com, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Collin is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).