A year as a backpacker set him on the road to fintech venture

Waiting to change cash made him think that there had to be a better way to manage foreign currencies

- Sue-Ann Tan

Mr Kelvin Lam, YouTrip's chief operating officer, says growing up in a Chinese cultural environment in the 1990s, he developed an awareness of money early on but not always in a positive light. Backpacking made him realise he enjoyed meaningful experiences over material possessions. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

(DESMOND WEE)

Mr Kelvin Lam was an investment banking analyst in Hong Kong - a job that could have guaranteed him an early retirement as he climbed the corporate ladder.

But he chose to quit the job at age 26 to backpack around the world, as a fulfilment of one of his retirement dreams, but "way ahead of schedule", in his own words.

"While I felt deeply fortunate for the progress, recognition and promotions in what was considered a prestigious industry, it never sat very well with me that it would be a career for life," Mr Lam, 37, said.

Little did he know that backpacking around the world would eventually lead him to being the chief operating officer, or COO, at homegrown fintech startup YouTrip.

YouTrip provides users with a multi-currency digital wallet that offers good foreign currency exchange rates, making global spending more seamless and cost-effective.

Mr Lam said: "Travel has always been a passion of mine. That backpacker experience ... gave me a realisation that I had always enjoyed meaningful experiences over material possessions.

"I greatly enjoyed conversations in hostels with backpackers from completely different backgrounds, learning their stories, and even making trips together."

Mr Lam took multiple trips across Latin America, the US, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

The longest stint was a four-month backpacking trip in Latin America, going to Argentina, Brazil and Peru, which cost him less than the equivalent of $7,000.