Tuition agency chief living out dream of running own business

He fulfils a childhood desire and finds true pride in the impact made on children’s lives

- Sue-Ann Tan Business Correspondent

Sue-Ann Tan Business Correspondent

Mr Gary Ong, 35, has always been driven by the desire to create things, to run businesses and be an entrepreneur.

His dream as a child was to start his own business, and this was on his mind even when he was aged 15 flipping burgers at a McDonald’s outlet to earn some money.

At 16, he was already getting his first taste of business — by selling small phone accessories in his neighbourhood. It taught him daily lessons in customer service, and supply and demand, Mr Ong says.

His entrepreneurial bent continued, leading him to start a tuition agency at age 21, with the agency reaching its full-fledged form in 2022 as Genius Mind Home Tuition.

The company tries to bridge the gap between busy parents and passionate tutors by handpicking educators and matching them with children according to the student’s needs.

“I aim to not only improve grades but also foster a love for learning and giving each student the tools to succeed in life beyond school,” Mr Ong says.

Besides his tuition agency venture, he also tried his hand at the food and beverage industry.

When he was 23 years old, he turned a unit in an industrial park near Tai Seng station into a quaint, cosy cafe called 23 Jumpin.

The cafe sold all-day brunch and speciality coffee. Mr Ong says it was a rewarding but challenging experience and the business was sold in 2018.

He also ran a bar and even explored setting up a restaurant in Malaysia for a time, but both businesses failed and were hit by the pandemic.

Now, Mr Ong thinks he has finally found his footing in home tuition.

“The true pride lies in the impact we've made on children’s lives. From watching them regain confidence in subjects they once avoided to helping them achieve things they never thought possible and stories that go beyond grades - those keep me motivated,” says the bachelor.