Leon Lim is the CEO and Founder of Groundup.ai, which uses AI and IoT to minimize unplanned downtime for heavy machinery and improve workplace safety. They've recently raised a US$1.8M seed!

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

We see machines everywhere. Be it ships, construction, manufacturing, or vans. And all machines risk breaking down randomly, requiring human intervention to repair them reactively, which can be dangerous.

Either that or you create a repetitive maintenance schedule that isn't necessarily the most efficient method.

Our role is to prevent unplanned downtime so we, as humankind, can do our job predictably and consistently.

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

Our client industries power 40% of the world's GDP. That is how humungous the market is and shows how important it is for us to keep everything running smoothly. It excites us to know that our work can potentially create such a big impact on the world.

On a personal basis, I used to be the principal French Horn performer of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.

My background in music trained me to recognize the importance of sound and be sensitive to it. Connecting the dots backward gave me a deeper insight into the combination of sound signals and AI, which forms our first solution.

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

Our seed funding round. With the additional funds and the vote of confidence from our investors, we are ready to take our AI capabilities to the next level and expand our reach globally. I am excited about the future and our opportunity on hand.

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

AI, AI, AI. AI has the potential to be a game-changer for humanity, with developments such as super-intelligent chatbots, predictive maintenance systems, and enhanced safety measures.

We're witnessing a breakthrough that could take us to the next level, and it's an exciting time to be part of this revolutionary industry. If the mobile, internet, and PC industry is big, the impact AI could bring to humankind will be on another stratosphere.

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

Adopt a first principles mentality and drill deep into the problems you are attempting to solve before doing anything else.

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

The Future of AI and Strategy

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Alita: Battle Angel

🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Hazelnut