Start-up boss driven to create positive impact after tumour scare

He wants his battery recycling company recognised as one that champions sustainability

- Timothy Goh

When Mr Bryan Oh was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022, his perception on investing and planning for retirement changed.

"I was previously fixated on saving and investing for my retirement, but it meant that sometimes I sacrificed living in the moment," said the 30-year-old.

Mr Oh is chief executive and co-founder of Neu Battery Materials, a Singapore start-up that developed cutting-edge technology to extract lithium from old iPhones which manufacturers can then recycle for use in electric vehicle batteries.

The firm, founded in 2020, developed the world's first patented lithium battery recycling process using electrochemical separation. Its technology is less polluting and more profitable than other methods of recycling lithium from batteries, which otherwise would end up in landfills leaking toxins.

Before founding Neu, Mr Oh, who graduated with a bachelor's in business administration from the National University of Singapore, worked in traditional jobs and tried his hand at three other start-ups - two of which eventually closed down, while the third was handed over to his friends.

His approach to career and finance was more conventional at the time, but now, he feels more driven to make an impact.

"The tumour diagnosis motivated me to make a positive impact on society... I want Neu to be recognised as a battery recycling company that champions sustainability, playing a key role in returning critical materials to the world."

He added: "Going through a medical condition like that made me realise that planning for retirement is important but not as important as making sure you live life with the people who truly matter.

"In terms of my investments, building a start-up is a rather high-risk, high-return concept, which is also why I've adjusted my personal investment portfolio risk exposure."