Dave Uygongco is the founder and CEO of Cheko, a platform that connects students to tutors for homework help. 

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I manage people and systems that connect students to tutors for homework help, develop a JARVIS for the students, and bring in more customers.

I make sure that these people are well taken care of, and that the systems are efficient. 

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

About me: I am still a college student and I love to study any type of Philosophy. Interestingly, I've found Philo to be more useful for business than actual business subjects. 

About my job: I generally work in every department. Whichever one needs me immediately. So I do not really have a fixed role. 

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

It's growing Cheko to accomplish 6K+ tasks for 2K+ students across 40 different universities (local & international). All this with little external capital and the help of our 300 subject experts. We're profitable and growing!

I started Cheko in my college dorm room, with zero outside capital, and grew it with zero marketing dollars. 

All I had was my phone and some wifi. Succeeding expansion was financed by net income. All this while pursuing a Bachelor's degree. 

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

AI. 10 years from now, the world will be very, very different. 

I believe that much of that change will be driven by AI or related developments. Cheko will be a part of that change. 

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

Study Philosophy while pursuing anything. For me, Philosophy was like the lubricant/adhesive (or both) that allowed me to connect my startup problems to other fields like science, calculus, management, accounting, normal life, etc. 

Through these connections, I came up with solutions to my problems. It taught me how to reflect, how to think, and how to innovate. 

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

Business.

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber.

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Cookies n' cream.

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FYI. We've edited this interview for clarity.