Singapore Sparks Interview: Daphne Ng of MakeShake

What’s a MakeShake?It’s a customized milkshake—you can pick from ingredients like breakfast tea, chocolate fudge and cream cheese, and even throw in sweet treats like gummy bears and Hello Panda biscuits to create your own flavors.How did you get this idea?It was my friend (and co-founder) Seth’s idea. He was a bartender and had always been interested in mixing drinks. He also loves milkshakes.You switched from doing PR for local live venue TAB to realizing an enterprise. What do you like about the way you work now?I love meeting people and making my own decisions. Since I’m my own boss, I’m answerable only to myself and that allows me the flexibility to make changes quickly. It’s better to run your own ship than to be stuck in the office.What were some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face?Building a brick and mortar business is a really big first step into entrepreneurship. We’ve had this idea for two years but only managed to execute it this year. Execution’s a major challenge.What’s it like starting a business in Singapore?Tough. Budgeting can be a real issue with the rental costs being as high as they are. You really need a steady capital.How do you like the local startup scene? Most of the startups in Singapore are IT-based, but Singapore is getting better. I have many friends now who share my aspirations and are willing to take risks, but we need more people who dare to be operationally-involved in their business.