How To Win A $1M Prize And Fixing The Global Education Crisis | Adam Huh Dam of Stick ‘Em - EP682

How To Win A $1M Prize And Fixing The Global Education Crisis | Adam Huh Dam of Stick ‘Em - EP682

Author: Jeremy Au March 30, 2026 Duration: 34:19

Is AI actually making our kids smarter, or just better at cheating? In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Adam (Huh Dam), co-founder of Stick ‘Em, a Singapore-based startup bringing affordable STEAM education to the world.

From being rejected by his primary school robotics club to winning a $1 million prize in London, Adam shares his "rebel" journey through the Singapore education system (ACS Independent) and his mission to bridge the digital divide. We dive deep into the "disastrous" impact of increased screen time, the ethics of AI in homework, and why learning how to think is more important than ever in the age of autonomous agents.

Discover:

Why traditional EdTech might be "useless" for actual learning outcomes.

The $1M journey: How two student founders from Singapore beat the world’s best.

How to scale a hardware-software startup across Southeast Asia.


00:00 – The Disaster of AI in Schools

01:32 – Meet Adam Huh Dam: The $1M Prize Winner

02:20 – Building a Mars Rover at Age 6

03:22 – Rejected! The Traumatic Entry into Robotics

04:31 – The "Rebel" Years: Finding Character in ACSI

05:40 – Student-Led Learning vs. Corporate Teaching

07:22 – Competing on the Global Stage (Vex Robotics)

08:51 – Meeting Co-founder Kai: The Creative & The Strategist

10:33 – Why EdTech? Choosing Impact Over Boston Dynamics

12:22 – The Reality of Building a Social Enterprise

14:18 – Scaling STEAM Education Across Borders

15:50 – Winning the $1M Prize: Authenticity Over Perfection

20:05 – Why Modern EdTech is Failing Students

23:33 – The "Brain Dead" Era: AI and the Death of Homework

27:39 – Will AI Replace Lawyers, Accountants, and Coders?

30:05 – Being Brave: The Lunch That Changed Everything

32:20 – Closing Thoughts: The Future is Human

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/adam-stickem-steam-education 

Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz

Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea

English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

#Singapore #EdTech #Startup #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast


There’s a unique energy building across Southeast Asia, a sense of possibility that’s palpable from Singapore’s skyscrapers to the bustling streets of Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech captures that momentum by going beyond the headlines and funding announcements. Host Jeremy Au, a venture capitalist and serial founder with a background from Harvard and Berkeley, steers these conversations with a distinct perspective-one that balances the hard metrics of growth with the very human elements of leadership and personal development. Each episode feels like a candid, in-depth dialogue, whether he’s speaking with a first-time founder navigating early traction or a seasoned investor mapping regional trends. You’ll hear genuine stories about building companies, the tough lessons learned from failures, and the often-overlooked journey of staying grounded while scaling rapidly. This isn’t about presenting a polished facade of success; it’s about the real work of creating something meaningful. With over eighty thousand regular listeners, this podcast has become a key resource for anyone invested in the region’s tech ecosystem. Jeremy brings his own experiences as a sci-fi enthusiast and a father into the mix, often exploring how broader perspectives on the future and empathy shape better leaders. Tune in for practical insights on venture capital, entrepreneurship, and management, all framed within the vibrant and complex tapestry of Southeast Asia. New conversations arrive every Monday, offering a thoughtful pause to reflect on how we build what’s next.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)
Podcast Episodes
AI in Healthcare: Will it work for you? - E721 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:44
What is technology actually doing to healthcare, and what can it still not touch? Four conversations from the BRAVE archive, on the gap between what medicine can do and what a doctor actually has time to do. Dr. Thomas K…
Stop Chasing Unicorns - E719 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
Jeremy Au joins an episode of The Accidental VC podcast. Hosted by seasoned founders and VCs from ANZ and SEA, this show reveals how unlikely beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Whether you’re building, backin…
Navigating the Longevity Market | Dr. Sue-Anne Toh - E718 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
Dr. Sue-Anne Toh, CEO and co-founder of NOVI Health, joins Jeremy Au to discuss the critical intersection of metabolism, longevity, and health policy. They explore the "War on Diabetes" in Singapore, unpacking why Asian…
Spent $1.5m On One Sperm Race and It Went Viral | Eric Zhu - E715 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:47
An 18-year-old got kicked out of high school, built a data startup from a bathroom stall, and now raises millions to race human sperm on live television. In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy A…