No entrepreneurial journey is smooth. Every founder, at some point, must weather storms of uncertainty, pain, and doubt. For Cayden Chang, Founder of Mind Kinesis Investments Pte Ltd, that journey was marked by poverty, betrayal, and cancer. These chapters were not just challenges; they were catalysts that forged his resilience and gave him clarity on what truly matters: time.
Humble Beginnings, Quiet Determination
Born into a working-class family, Cayden grew up in a one-bedroom flat in Beo Crescent. His father would rise at 3 a.m. to buy fish for his stall, and his mother would join him after preparing breakfast for Cayden and his two brothers. Money was scarce, and every small comfort was a luxury.
One rainy morning stands out in his memory. As he trudged to school in thin, worn-out canvas shoes, the rain soaked through, leaving him shivering. He never asked his mother for a new pair, knowing the family simply couldn’t afford it. That moment planted a quiet but unshakable resolve: one day, he would not only be able to afford new shoes but also the freedom to choose a better life.
His mother’s grit became his guiding light. Even as she battled terminal lung cancer, she never gave up. “She never gave up,” Cayden recalls softly. “I still miss her today.” Her strength became the blueprint for how he would later face life’s toughest storms.
A Glimpse Into Another World
During his junior college years, Cayden got his first glimpse of a different reality. Visiting a friend’s bungalow, he saw not one but two gaming consoles, a personal bowling ball, and a Mercedes-Benz waiting in the driveway. It was a stark contrast to the modest flat he called home.
That moment wasn’t just envy; it was awakening. It showed him what was possible. Yet, as life would have it, the road ahead was far from easy. He lost his father during his third year at university and his mother shortly after. Grief and hardship shaped not only his worldview but also his strategy for life: work hard, work smart, and build something that matters.
Entrepreneurship, Cayden says, is not something that can be learnt in textbooks. “It’s an unknown journey, not something that can be learnt in textbooks,” he shares. “It requires self-belief, the acceptance to be misunderstood by most people, including your loved ones, and the willingness to accept that it’s a lonely journey. It’s like jumping off a cliff and building your wings on the way down and believing that it will all turn out fine.”
Taking the First Leap
Before entrepreneurship, Cayden worked as an Assistant Vice-President at SBS Transit Ltd, managing bus operations. But he felt a restlessness, a quiet voice urging him to do more. After being repeatedly rejected for departmental transfers, he decided to build his own doors instead of knocking on someone else’s.
His interest in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) soon opened a new path. Fuelled by a passion for teaching, he became a licensed trainer. But the early days were far from glamorous: unpaid talks, low turnout, irregular income, and little support. Yet Cayden pressed on.
He rented a small office and slowly built a team. To anchor the company culture, he introduced THRIVE – six core behaviours that guide how his team operates: Timely, Honest, Responsible, I Care, Value Collaboration, and Excellence. This was more than a list of values. It was the foundation for everything they built thereafter.
Betrayal and Cancer: A Breaking Point
Just when things seemed to find rhythm, life threw its harshest curveball. In 2014, Cayden was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. And while fighting for his health, another blow came: his only trainer and partner left, taking with them key staff, valuable partnerships, and trusted volunteers.
With nothing left but his name and legal ownership of the business, Cayden made a decision: if it was going to be, it had to be him. He ran the business alone, making quick, bold decisions. The pain was real, but so was his resolve. Where others might have retreated, Cayden leaned in, choosing growth over withdrawal.
He rebuilt the business with the same values his mother had modelled: grit, sincerity, and hard work. He viewed setbacks not as failures but as outcomes that simply didn’t work out based on his assumptions. He studied, adapted, and moved forward.
Building a Business with Purpose
Through illness and betrayal, Cayden emerged not just stronger, but clearer on his mission: to help people reclaim their most precious asset – time – through financial literacy.
He saw a growing threat: unplanned retirement. People were working longer, retiring later, and often with little savings to sustain their golden years. Grit and upskilling weren’t enough. What they needed was a sustainable way to make their money work for them.
With this vision, he built Value Investing Academy (ViA) and ViA Atlas, platforms designed to teach value investing in a practical, disciplined way. Unlike speculative “get rich quick” schemes, ViA focused on financial education that could help ordinary individuals build lasting wealth.
The Academy offers online workshops, in-person training, and a supportive community of thousands across Asia. ViA Atlas, on the other hand, gives users a database of analysis on publicly listed companies in the US and Singapore, turning investing into something accessible and transparent.
But for Cayden, ViA is not just a business. It is a response to the fragility of security he experienced firsthand. His bold vision: “To build a world where anyone can invest effectively, improve their lives, and give back to society.”
Values That Set ViA Apart
What truly differentiates ViA isn’t just its curriculum or technology. It’s the culture Cayden built. He insists on honesty and realism. “It sounds simple,” he admits, “but it is very difficult to execute.”
While many businesses promise shortcuts, ViA tells the truth: that real investing requires discipline, patience, and a long-term view. This authenticity built trust. And trust built growth.
Cayden’s story mirrors that of Singapore itself, a small nation that started with nothing but thrived on values of hard work, discipline, and collective progress. Just as Singapore learned to maximise its limited resources, Cayden learned to treat time as life’s truest currency.
Giving Back to the Community
Success, for Cayden, has never been about accumulation. Having battled cancer and experienced loss, he is deeply committed to giving back. He actively supports causes such as hospice care, inspired by the compassionate support his mother received from HCA Hospice Care, and rare cancer research.
At ViA, giving back is not a side initiative but a core principle. Every year, his team organises a charity event as part of their KPIs, fostering a culture of contribution from the top down. Cayden himself leads by example, often participating personally in fundraising walks and initiatives.
He has also published four books, with proceeds donated to charities in Singapore and Japan – proof that business can be a vehicle for good.
Success Beyond Wealth
When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Cayden’s answer is not tied to revenue or awards. “Building something from nothing while battling three episodes of cancer,” he says.
Success for him is measured in lives changed, not just numbers on a balance sheet. It’s reflected in the number of customers who find financial stability and the percentage of referrals that show trust built through sincerity.
True wealth, in his view, isn’t just money; it’s freedom. Freedom to stop trading time for survival. Freedom to spend moments with loved ones. Freedom to live fully.
Lessons for the Next Generation
As Singapore marks six decades of growth, Cayden sees parallels between the country’s resilience and his own journey. Both started with little. Both relied on values. Both built something lasting through sheer perseverance.
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple but powerful:
“Work hard, stay true to your values, and be a positive force for change.”
He reminds young founders that entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous. It’s often lonely, unpredictable, and demanding. But with clarity of purpose and a strong foundation of values, it can also be deeply meaningful.
Time: The Irreplaceable Currency
Looking back, Cayden admits one regret: not spending enough time with his daughters when they were little. It’s a reminder that time, once spent, can never be earned back.
In the early years, he gave every waking hour to the business. Over time, he learned that true effectiveness isn’t about doing everything yourself, but about building a team that can share the load and carry the mission forward.
Today, as ViA and ViA Atlas continue to grow, Cayden remains focused on scaling their impact. He is also exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance productivity and deliver more value to customers. But beyond technology, his hope is simple: to inspire his children and others to “do good when they have enough.”
His legacy isn’t a monument. It’s the ripple effect of empowered lives – people who’ve learned to invest wisely, reclaim their time, and live meaningfully.
Website: https://valueinvestingacademy.com/
AUTHOR BIO
ALAN KOH
Alan Koh is the Founder and CEO of Impossible Marketing, a group of companies renowned for hyperlocal marketing strategies tailored to businesses in Singapore. His professional journey began in the banking sector, where he quickly rose through the ranks, garnering eight industry awards in just four years.
Follow us for more tips & insights
Join our email list for exclusive updates