A digital securities firm that is rewriting the rules of private market investing

With a mission to “enable equal access to financial markets through a regulated, transparent, and community-driven platform", ICHX Tech is a fintech company that operates a private market exchange called ADDX. Founded in 2017 by Mr Danny Toe, ICHX Tech leverages cutting-edge blockchain technology to develop an in-house trading platform. 

Regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), ICHX Tech operates a trusted platform that allows investors to invest in unicorns, pre-IPO companies, hedge funds, and private market opportunities, which traditionally require higher financial barriers to entry. Their key shareholders include SGX, Heliconia, and Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings.

As part of the team, interns were invited to ICHX’s events and team bonding sessions

Working on the cloud even before COVID

ICHX Tech was an early adopter of the flexible work arrangement even before “working-from-home" became a norm. Ms Yen Chen Yeo, the Head of Human Resources (HR) & Admin, shared that the company's infrastructure had been set up on the cloud from the get-go, allowing employees to work from anywhere and spend quality time with their loved ones.

Promoting supportive workplace culture

At ICHX Tech, a supportive workplace culture plays a role in shaping employee engagement.  Ms Xenia Ong, the HR intern, shared that she learnt a great deal about various HR functions through hands-on experience supported by guidance from her team and senior management. 

Mr Adwin Chan, a Business Development Intern, had a similar experience. He recalls that team members were always willing to give a helping hand to one another. During his first week at ICHX Tech, he met the team over Zoom calls and appreciated how they had helped him better understand the company's working processes.

Highlighting the importance of team bonding

When working-from-home became a default, the HR team organised cross-team lunches to help employees stay connected over nice meals. Ms Ong shared that one of her most memorable experiences was the joy of seeing her colleagues upon returning to the workplace after the Circuit Breaker. This is echoed by Mr Chan, who also appreciated the time spent with colleagues when they met up physically at the office for social gatherings.

"The small interactions we had left a strong impression on me. I am grateful that the team was very welcoming. The interactions, jokes, and conversations we had during lunch were beautiful memories I will never forget," recounted Mr Adwin Chan.

Making meaningful contributions as interns

As mentioned by Ms Yeo, "They are not just interns because they make a difference." The company believes in today's young talents and gives them the autonomy to work on tasks that can maximise their full potential. Guided by senior employees, Ms Ong worked with the team to curate courses for the company's learning & development (L&D) plan.

"Interns are provided autonomy to take ownership of projects. Working closely with the team on the L&D project gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing that my work contribute to the company's growth," reflected Ms Xenia Ong.

Interns at ADDX are given the opportunity to be involved in real-world projects to broaden their horizons, ranging from data analysis for webinars, organising roadshows, and preparing reader-friendly quarterly investor decks.

"Performing tasks similar to a full-time employee makes me feel valued! This is the internship I would find nowhere else,"  said Mr Adwin Chan.

Bright outlook for the future

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled ICHX Tech's growth, with more than a twofold increase in their number of employees. They also announced a USD 50 million Series A fundraising round in 2021, following their graduation from the MAS Sandbox in 2020. 

By partnering closely with SGTech's Global Ready Talent Programme (GRT) team, ICHX Tech actively seeks like-minded talents who share the same belief in their mission and dare to be the changemaker, contributing to Singapore's FinTech industry.