As the saying goes, “Diligence leads to success, while playing brings no benefits”. Nevertheless, some individuals find a way to turn their passion for "play" into a successful career. Teddy Lau, an alumnus who grew up during the rapid development of internet culture in the new millennium, was deeply immersed in the world of playing and creating Flash computer games and animations since his early years. After much persuasion, he convinced his parents to let him study for the Higher Diploma in Games and Animation at IVE. After graduation, fueled by his passion for multimedia development and designing business marketing applications, Teddy co-founded 3 Rices Limited, specialising in providing innovative digital marketing solutions to enterprises. Over the course of a decade, from running a small business to becoming a prominent project supplier, Teddy successfully transformed his interest into a profession. His journey proves that by keeping up with the times and continuously learning, even “playing” can lead to business opportunities. It also demonstrates the resilience of the new generation of entrepreneurs.
Driven by Interest, Seeking Progress through "Play"
During his secondary school years, Teddy demonstrated a strong aptitude for logical thinking and disliked rote memorisation. Through a serendipitous encounter with Flash, he became deeply engrossed in creating Flash games and animations in the school computer room after classes. It felt like he had found the right path for his development. With an eager spirit, he chose the Higher Diploma in Games and Animation at IVE to pursue his dreams. Throughout his time at IVE, he was grateful for the inspirational teaching from his teacher, Mr Yuen, which opened the door to creative thinking for him. This process of speculation not only cultivated his creativity but also sharpened his communication and marketing skills, establishing a robust foundation for his future entrepreneurial pursuits.
Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges and Setbacks
With his outstanding performance, Teddy was recommended for his first job after graduating, where he participated in mobile application development. He then went on to work as a multimedia developer in multiple companies, where he accumulated valuable practical experience and gradually nurtured his entrepreneurial aspirations. Two years later, fueled by his entrepreneurial passion, Teddy co-founded 3 Rices Limited with like-minded partners. The company focuses on digital media design, web development, and mobile application development, providing clients with digital marketing solutions. During the early stage of entrepreneurship, they embarked on small-scale digital media projects such as trendy photo applications and animated games, gradually building a solid reputation. However, when competing for large-scale projects, Teddy encountered challenges due to his limited academic credentials. Realising the need for self-improvement to establish a foothold in the business world, Teddy enrolled in the BSc (Hons) Digital Media, the Top-Up Degree programme offered by the University of West of England in collaboration with the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) in 2021. While studying, he continued to manage his business. This continuous education not only enhanced his project management and market analysis skills but also made him realise the boundless opportunities for growth and learning.
Service First & Reputation Matters
Throughout a decade of trials and tribulations, the company co-founded by Teddy and his partners has grown to become a favored digital solution provider for government departments, public organisations and private companies. Among their diverse projects, the collaboration with the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited on the " Kowloon City in Transformation" program stands out as a significant milestone in the company's development. This six-year partnership exhibited the seamless integration of technology and creativity. It also carried an important mission of preserving local culture. The project team meticulously designed a series of interactive games, allowing citizens to experience the transformation of Kowloon City through augmented reality technology. With the help of extensive oral histories shared by residents, Teddy and his team transformed these precious stories into audio guides, infusing new vitality into this historical district. This innovative approach to promotion garnered enthusiastic responses from the local community and visitors, subsequently bringing in more opportunities for contracting government projects.
Another accomplishment that Teddy takes great pride in is the development of an employee mental health management application for a public sector organisation, which epitomizes his people-centric design philosophy. Recognising the substantial work pressure faced by employees, employer bears the responsibility of safeguarding their mental well-being. Teddy’s team engaged in an in-depth understanding of employees' actual needs, thus assisting client in transforming tedious and monotonous paper-based exercises into an interactive, engaging and user-friendly mobile application. The digitalisation streamlined the counselling process, enabling psychologists to follow up on employees' situations more efficiently. Incorporating gamification successfully encouraged greater employee participation. The built-in mini games added enjoyment, and offered them the opportunity to earn digital rewards or discounts vouchers upon completion of certain tasks. This not only enhanced employee engagement and activity efficiency but also effectively helped them reduce stress and anxiety, promoting mental wellness. Teddy and his team found immense satisfaction and fulfillment upon receiving strong recognition from the client and positive feedback from employees.
In the fiercely competitive business landscape, Teddy steadfastly rejects the notion of superficial redesigns to improve productivity. He insists on providing innovative and customised services to clients, with a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions. This perseverance earned him long-term trust from clients. Moreover, he willingly shares experiences and insights with industry peers, establishing a strong professional network. He believes that fellow competitors are not necessarily adversaries and future collaborations with them may bring unexpected opportunities.
Perseverance and Keeping Up with the Times
Teddy firmly believes that continuous learning is the key to establishing a foothold in the advancing digital age. To this day, he maintains a strong thirst for knowledge and continuously empowers himself with digital skills and proficiency in business English, relentlessly striving for self-improvement. Moreover, he adeptly leverages AI tools to enhance work efficiency, enabling him to concentrate on tasks that demand creative thinking and strategic planning. This propels the company's long-term development and preserves its competitive edge in the fiercely competitive market.
Teddy expresses deep gratitude for the nurturing he received from IVE and his inspiring teacher. In his leisure time, he seizes the opportunity to return to his alma mater and share his experiences with fellow students. Reflecting on his ten-year entrepreneurial journey, Teddy deeply understands that success requires not only professional skills but also unwavering determination and the courage to keep pace with the ever-changing times. He encourages the younger generation to maintain curiosity and a passion for learning in the rapidly evolving digital world. In particular, he stresses the significance of developing problem-solving abilities, as challenges and obstacles faithfully emerge in the professional realm. Swiftly identifying effective solutions and possessing critical thinking skills to analyse problems and devise optimal approaches are imperative. In the age of AI, these attributes highlight the advantages of human capabilities over machines.
