Co-founder of start-up cleaned loos to understand requirements of job
The Straits Times|December 04, 2023
Mechanical engineering graduate Tuan Dung Nguyen rolled up his sleeves and took an uncommon internship as a toilet cleaner to understand the nitty-gritty of the work.
Co-founder of start-up cleaned loos to understand requirements of job

He applied for several stints to clean the loos at hospitals, hotels and the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a mission in mind: To design a robot that can clean toilets.

His first shift took place at NUS in 2023 on a January morning, when he shadowed a cleaner who showed him how to clean multiple toilets efficiently.

Mr Nguyen, 23, co-founder of HiveBotics, a start-up building a toilet cleaning robot, said: "She showed me all the tools needed, like the protective equipment and masks, and how to get the right mix of chemicals to scrub off stains properly." Soon, he worked his shifts alone.

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