Carl Freer is working on an artificial intelligence platform and developing neural networks for a variety of industries including Fintech and O&G.
What’s your story?
Carl Freer is a Swedish technology entrepreneur who holds several patents. Carl has created and invested in multiple ventures including an American company, Tiger Telematics, which created the handheld game console, Gizmondo. During his tenure at Tiger, Freer broke ground for augmented reality on handheld devices by creating several AR games and co-creating games that became major franchises. He also founded Singapore-based medical instruments company, Aluminaid, which makes patented metal-based bandages to relieve pain from first- and second-degree burns.
Currently, he is working on an artificial intelligence platform and developing neural networks for a variety of industries including Fintech and O&G.
What excites you most about your industry?
Technology and artificial intelligence sits at the core of the fourth industrial revolution. Radical changes have swept through industries and across all disciplines and fields. We, humans, have to change and adapt to these powerful tools. Till this day, we are still in the process of discovering the capabilities of machines and the technology humans have created. The possibilities are endless and exciting.
What’s your connection to Asia?
For the past few years, Asia has caught up with the West at an amazing speed and made significant progresses. I see Asia’s potential and its willingness to grow and even exceed the West. This market is great to expand my business and bring it to greater heights.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore is an important hub for the financial sector. Some would say that Singapore today, is the financial capital of the SEA region. Singapore is definitely one of the most startup-friendly countries in Asia, the infrastructure here supports high tech– from infrastructure on server and connectivity, to manpower. Not only is Singapore a leading financial hub in Asia, it is also one of the most innovative countries. Singapore has always been very well positioned in incubating new companies, incubating technology and focusing on nursing that process through, from beginning to commercialisation, creating opportunities and environments that allow SMEs to go beyond, to have enough guts to explore and research.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Don’t make decisions when you’re angry. Don’t make promises when you’re happy.
Who inspires you?
My wife, my family and Elon Musk.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Thanks to the industry I work in, I learn something new every day. Yesterday I learned that most AI bots have female voices as surveys prove that 86% of people prefer the sound of a woman’s voice.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Not count the chickens before they have hatched.
How do you unwind?
Spending time with my family.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
My home in Sentosa. As soon as I pass over the bridge I feel serene and calm. But I am still only 10 min away from the office.
My close second would have to be Chiva Som in Thailand.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Sun Tzu or/and books written by Warren Buffet. Disruption still needs to remember the fundamentals.
Shameless plug for your business:
Watstock™ is an application developed in collaboration with IBM Watson that uses Artificial Intelligence and Extreme Learning Machines to predict the stock market for up to 10 days with extremely high accuracy due to its revolutionary Neural Network. The Alpha version of this ground-breaking platform is very encouraging and is tipping to have Watstock™ as one of the world’s most significant Fintech business opportunities. Our competitive advantage is in the algorithms that we have developed to make ‘sense’ of the very large amount of data to make the actual predictions. Visit us at http://www.watstock.com
How can people connect with you?
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlfreer/
Twitter handle?
https://twitter.com/WatstockTweet
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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