Capturing moments and keeping promises. Peter draw has been driven by a promise he made to a little girl who lost her mother. He has set up a business which helps people capture memories and share them.
What’s your story?
While helping the children in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan, I travelled to meet children who survived earthquakes and the tsunami across China, Indonesia, Taiwan and Costa Rica. uring this time, I met a little girl who lost her mother. To her, home became an empty place and birthdays became an empty date. I made her a promise, one day, I’ll show her a world where our memories of our loved ones don’t go away even if our loved ones go away. That promise became today’s Present and every video someone takes is a promise that those memories will be available.
I am driven by 3 objectives.
1) As CEO
I’m a CEO whose objective is to put the Present app into the hands of as many people as possible, especially mums to protect their children’s childhood memories for their future.
Time is the most precious thing we can give to someone and we can never take it back.
2) As Artist
In my mind, I’m an artist whose objective is to encourage people to question their existence and acceptance in society through life and death. This is why we focus on helping mothers to keep their children’s first moments in life and the elderly to leave behind their last memories for their loved ones.
There is a Russian philosopher who asks three questions: When is the most important time? Who is the most important person? and What is the most important thing to do?
The most important time is now. The most important person is you right beside me now. And the most important thing to do is to care, for you, now.
3) As Peter Draw
In my heart, I’m a man who just wants to keep a promise I made to a little girl who lost her mother.
What excites you most about your industry?
With all the technology that’s coming out, we can bring Hollywood science fiction to the everyday lives of ordinary people. For Present, we have been called “Harry Potter’s Pensieve” by the media and that is just the beginning. Pensieve is a magic used by Dumbledore to remember and resurface memories in the movie franchise, Harry Potter.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I’m a Singaporean who has done community and philanthropy works through drawing across cities in Asia.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Singapore. Small is beautiful.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Sometimes we don’t realize the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
Who inspires you?
My late-grandfather
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Dr Derek Goh’s perseverance.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I never had the chance to keep my promise to my late-grandfather while he was still alive. Unfortunately I can’t turn back time.
How do you unwind?
Draw with children, have coffee with friends.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Japan. My definition of relaxation is to experience culture at my own pace, and Japan is my favourite destination for it’s rich culture.
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Story of Xiaomi, by Xiaomi’s cofounder Li Wanqiang
Shameless plug for your business:
Try Present on your mobile today. Present is a video diary platform that resurfaces memories. We love to think about what happens to your memory once it’s on Present’s platform the same way a mail is mailed. Just like a mail, your memories on Present are stored safely, and get delivered to the right person at the right place in time.
How can people connect with you?
You can reach me at [email protected] or see my memories at presentapp.co/peter
Twitter handle?
@presentappco
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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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