Turning ADHD into a Blueprint for Impact
Chong Ing Kai is an inventor and social entrepreneur who has been building contraptions since childhood. Diagnosed with ADHD in primary school, he channelled his restlessness into a passion for engineering and social entrepreneurship into co-founding Stick’Em — a company making STEAM education affordable worldwide. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and Hult Prize Global finalist, Ing Kai’s journey shows how ADHD can fuel creativity, resilience, and leadership.
Quotes
“I never saw my ADHD as a disability, but as “dis”[this] ability to create better things than others.”
“Those crazy inventions and endless energy will one day become your strengths. Don’t let shame weigh you down — keep building, keep experimenting, and trust that your curiosity will take you further than you can imagine.”
“I discovered I could channel my energy into building, problem-solving, and competing. I could use ADHD’s restlessness for good.”
Growing Up With ADHD
My ADHD showed up in primary school, where sitting still for hours was torture. I was constantly being punished or suspended and sent to the principal’s office every other week. Teachers either hated me or loved me. One famously told my mother I’d either become a gang leader or a CEO.
I channelled my energy into building air cannons, flamethrowers, tasers — dangerous but exciting projects. My mom tried transferring me from a prestigious school to a neighbourhood school, but that didn’t help.
The real turning point came in Primary 5 when my dad took me to Engineering Good, a charity that connects vulnerable communities with technology and engineering solutions. I learned I could use my knack for tinkering to build assistive technologies. I realised I could use ADHD’s restlessness for good.
Struggles and Breakthroughs
Despite this, school remained a grind. I scraped through PSLE only by taking ADHD medication to stay focused, which left me burned out and weary of studying. In secondary school, I clashed with classmates and teachers, often bored and distracted.
One teacher gave me the chance to compete in engineering competitions. It changed everything. I discovered I could channel my energy into building, problem-solving, and competing. I built underwater robots, won dozens of competitions, and gained confidence that I wasn’t broken — I was different.
Outside school, I worked as a STEAM teacher in local and international schools. I saw firsthand the inequality in education: robotics kits costing hundreds of dollars meant only privileged kids could participate. Teachers were too overworked to learn new programmes, leaving gaps for those without resources. I wanted to solve that gap.
Stick’Em: From Idea to Impact
In polytechnic, I co-founded Stick’Em, a startup dedicated to making STEAM accessible for all. We designed chopstick-based kits with plug-and-play connectors and electronics that let kids build bridges, catapults, and even robots.
We paired the kits with an online platform — Stick’Em Academy — offering over 40 self-guided lessons. Teachers with zero STEAM background could now confidently conduct classes. Students could bring learning home, and the cost was ten times lower than LEGO robotics.
ADHD as a Superpower
Through this journey, I’ve reframed ADHD. As a child, classmates teased me relentlessly. But I always believed it wasn’t a disability. I never saw my ADHD as a disability, but as “dis”[this] ability to create better things than others.
ADHD still brings struggles. I dread spreadsheets. I get restless in long meetings. But it also gives me hyperfocus, letting me power through days of work. I’ve learned the trick is to build systems that strengthen my “brakes” — regulating routines, staying mindful, and using hacks to channel my energy.
Achievements and Lessons Learned
Looking back, I see how ADHD fuelled the things that define me: Winning dozens of competitions in secondary school by thinking differently, building a startup that’s reached thousands worldwide, and inspiring teachers who once had no tools for STEAM to now feel empowered.
What started as a side project has grown to reach more than 10,000 students and 1,200 teachers across 11 countries. We’ve run workshops, met former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and have been recognised globally. In 2025, Stick’Em was named a Top 8 Hult Prize Global Finalist out of 15,000 teams. In 2024, I was honoured to be listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in Consumer & Enterprise Technology. I was probably one of the youngest to make the list at age 21.
Stick’Em has shown me that innovation isn’t about privilege. “Everyone knows the benefits of 21st-century skills. Yet there’s a huge gap between those who can afford it, and those who cannot.” Closing that gap is what drives me.
Advice to My Younger Self
Those crazy inventions and endless energy will one day become your strengths. Don’t let shame weigh you down — keep building, keep experimenting, and trust that your curiosity will take you further than you can imagine.
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