[e27] The journey is as enjoyable as the destination: Adrian Chng of Fintonia Group

This article was first published on e27.

Adrian Chng is the Founder and Chairman of Fintonia Group, an entrepreneurial financial services firm licensed in Singapore and Dubai. It provides funds, wealth management, and merchant banking solutions for technology and digital assets companies and entrepreneurs.

Chng was previously CEO of GoBear and jobsDB.com, which had a US$1 billion merger and exit in 2014. He has completed over U$10 billion of investments and transactions from US$20 million to US$2 billion.

He is also a Web3 subcommittee committee of the Singapore Fintech Association.

He regularly contributes articles for e27 (you can read his thought leadership articles here).

In this candid interview, he talks about his personal and professional life.

How would you explain what you do to a five-year-old?

Adrian is like a grown-up who helps other grown-ups make good choices with their money. He runs a business that helps people invest their money in other companies or projects, particularly those working with technology and digital things like computers and the internet.

He has a lot of experience doing this and has helped make many deals, like when two companies join, or one company sells its shares to others.

And he is also a part of a group of people who work together to ensure that people who use technology and the internet to do things with money are doing it reasonably and safely.

What has been the biggest highlight/challenge of your career so far?

We have successfully obtained the Capital Markets Service (CMS) License upgrade from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) amidst the crypto winter and the collapse of many crypto giants (FTX, Luna/Terra, 3AC). This further reinforces Fintonia’s position as a trusted and licensed player in the industry as we expand and provide innovative investment solutions and products to our clients.

It’s rewarding to see year on year growth for Fintonia. In 2021, we launched two institutional-grade Bitcoin funds, and in 2022, we were rewarded with the provisional Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) license in Dubai.

How do you envision the next five years of your career?

Helping Fintonia become a trusted financial services firm in the digital assets space. As a licensed player in two countries, we have a great opportunity and responsibility to help the industry grow. Investors earn attractive risk-adjusted returns within a trusted and safe, regulated environment.

What are some of your favourite work tools?

• Asana: It keeps my daily tasks organised

• My notebook: It helps me remember key points from meetings

• Zoom: I have to work with clients in various countries, and Zoom helps to keep us connected regardless of the time zones

What’s something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I was a chess player and state representative, and I had almost pursued this professionally.

Do you prefer WFH or WFO, or hybrid?

I prefer working from the office as it helps collaborate with colleagues and brainstorm new ideas.

What would you tell your younger self?

The journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Entrepreneurial, experienced, connected.

What are you most likely to be doing if not working?

Doing crossfit or yoga.

What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Ego Is The Enemy