{"id":2562,"date":"2025-03-13T09:27:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T09:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-alumn-nus.pantheonsite.io\/alumnus\/?p=2562"},"modified":"2025-07-15T16:07:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:07:38","slug":"turning-loss-into-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2025\/03\/13\/turning-loss-into-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Loss into Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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WHO SHE IS:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Ms Paige Yang, co-founder of M.I. Cloud Tech, has dedicated over 15 years to researching Magnetic Interference Cloud technology alongside the late Dr Richard Chua. Together, they developed innovative solutions in healthcare, food technology, and green technology sectors. Ms Yang holds a Master of Science degree and was instrumental in the company’s inception in 2021.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When NUS alumna Ms Paige Yang lost her husband to cancer in 2016, her world changed overnight. \u201cI felt utterly alone,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI wasn\u2019t just grieving him. I was grieving the life we had planned, the work we had started, the future we imagined. Everything we had built together felt like it had come crashing down.\u201d<\/p>

Unable to find her footing, Ms Yang stopped working. For the better part of the next two years, she travelled extensively, visiting 30 countries, while searching for answers and purpose. But the emptiness followed her. \u201cI thought being on the move would keep me from falling apart, but eventually I realised I couldn\u2019t keep running. I had to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,\u201d recalled Ms Yang, now the co-founder and technology lead of M. I. Cloud Tech.<\/p>

This decision led her back to the very work that her late husband, Dr Richard Chua, had dedicated his life to. An accomplished scientist, he had spent more than a decade researching rare-earth materials and their potential to improve everyday life. As his co-researcher, Ms Yang played a key role in refining and developing his ideas into practical applications. \u201cI couldn\u2019t let his ideas end with him,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to find a way to honour him and \u2014 in the process \u2014 rebuild myself.\u201d

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO BOLD AMBITIONS<\/strong><\/p>

Born in a small village in northeast China, Ms Yang grew up with big dreams but limited opportunities. \u201cI always wanted to study at a top university,\u201d she said. \u201cBut growing up, it felt like a pipe dream.\u201d Determined to forge her own path, she worked tirelessly, securing career opportunities in Shanghai before eventually making her way to Singapore. Here, she met Dr Chua, and their shared passion for science became the foundation of their work and life together. \u201cI never thought that I would be an entrepreneur,\u201d she confessed with a laugh. \u201cBut life is unpredictable, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>

Encouraged by friends and mentors, she joined the inaugural cohort of\u00a0NUS\u2019 Master of Science (Venture Creation)<\/a>\u00a0programme in 2021 \u2014 the first step in rebuilding her life after her loss. At 40, she found herself surrounded by younger, more confident classmates. \u201cI felt like an imposter at first,\u201d said Ms Yang. \u201cI had no business experience. I was just someone trying to keep a dream alive.\u201d<\/p>

But she persevered. The programme, which nurtures entrepreneurial and innovative talents, equipped her with business knowledge and gave her the confidence to lead. It also introduced her to her co-founder,\u00a0Mr Zaid Ahmed Khan<\/a>, a fellow student from Pakistan, who shared her belief in the commercial potential of magnetic interference technology.<\/p>

Through the\u00a0NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP)<\/a>, which provides hands-on mentorship and structured guidance for deep tech start-ups, they secured S$100,000 in seed capital \u2014 a crucial milestone that allowed them to register the business in early 2022. Within a year, they went from a business idea and prototype to market entry in Singapore\u2019s healthcare sector, with plans to expand into the region. \u201cThe connections I made through NUS proved invaluable,\u201d said Ms Yang. \u201cI didn\u2019t just learn to build a business. I learnt that it\u2019s never too late to start over.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Paige Yang with her co-founder Mr Zaid Ahmed Khan (right) and NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (centre). Prof Tan is holding M.I. Cloud Tech\u2019s flagship product. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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INNOVATING FOR BETTER LIVING\u00a0

<\/strong>M. I. Cloud Tech\u2019s\u00a0flagship product<\/a>\u00a0addresses a problem that affects millions \u2014 sleep disorders. Using restructured rare-earth materials, the device generates a unique magnetic interference field that improves blood circulation and muscle tone, reducing snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea.<\/p>

But sleep wasn\u2019t the technology\u2019s original purpose. It was first developed for food preservation, helping fishermen keep seafood fresh. The breakthrough came when one fisherman, by chance, placed the device inside his sleeping bag and woke up feeling unusually well-rested. That accidental discovery led to further testing, revealing the device\u2019s potential to improve sleep quality. \u201cIt\u2019s simple \u2014 just place the device under your pillow,\u201d Ms Yang explained. \u201cNo wires, no batteries, no set-up.\u201d<\/p>

According to Ms Yang, clinical trials have shown a 70 per cent reduction in snoring and significant improvements in sleep quality. The device has undergone extensive testing, including a year-long study with Swedish bedding giant Hilding Anders. M. I. Cloud Tech is also working with the SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory and exploring partnerships with SnoreLab, the world\u2019s leading snoring analysis app.<\/p>

The team\u2019s ambitions go beyond sleep. Trials at Flinders University in Australia have shown that the technology also has applications in sports recovery, helping athletes improve circulation and reduce fatigue.\u00a0

THE ROAD AHEAD<\/strong><\/p>

Through it all, Ms Yang has found a second chance at love. A connection with a classmate from Bible school led to her second marriage a year ago, something she never expected. \u201cI thought I\u2019d spend the rest of my life alone,\u201d she said. \u201cBut meeting my current husband reminded me that new beginnings are possible.\u201d Still, the memory of Dr Chua remains a guiding force and source of inspiration. \u201cHe poured his heart into this work,\u201d she said. \u201cContinuing it is about keeping his legacy alive.\u201d<\/p>

While M. I. Cloud Tech is still in its early stages, Ms Yang has a clear vision of its future. Beyond sleep and sports recovery, she hopes to expand into chronic pain management and stress relief. Ultimately, it\u2019s about helping people live better. \u201cThere\u2019s so much potential,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ms Paige Yang in Australia<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Ms Yang said: \u201cLosing my husband was the hardest thing I\u2019ve ever been through. But it forced me to find strength I didn\u2019t know I had.\u201d<\/p>

Grief, she has learnt, is not something to be overcome. \u201cThe pain never really goes away,\u201d she confessed. \u201cBut you find ways to move forward with it, instead of letting it hold you back.\u201d She has also learnt the importance of self-care. \u201cIn the beginning, I pushed myself to the limit, working late nights, trying to prove I could do it all. But I\u2019ve realised that burnout doesn\u2019t serve anyone.\u201d<\/p>

When asked about her guidance for others facing setbacks\u2014whether in business or life\u2014she recalled a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, one of her favourite writers, that she ran across while in Australia: \u201cNot all who wander are lost.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The death of a loved one shattered the world of Ms Paige Yang (MSc VC \u201921), but it also set her on an unexpected path to entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startups"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2562"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3134,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562\/revisions\/3134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}