On the international stage in Seoul, South Korea, a team of students from GIIS SMART Campus showcased innovation and entrepreneurship at the Asia-Pacific Company of the Year Competition (APCOYC) 2026, organised by Junior Achievement.

The team, representing Singapore as national champions for 2025-26, competed among a select group of finalists drawn from across the Asia-Pacific region. From over 80,000 participants in the programme, only 82 students were shortlisted for the final round, placing the GIIS team among the region’s top young entrepreneurs.

At the centre of their participation was LumaBand, an AI-powered wearable designed to detect falls and enable quicker emergency response for elderly individuals. The idea was inspired by a personal experience, which led the team to explore a widely prevalent healthcare concern.

The device combines sensor-based detection with a machine learning model to identify falls, triggering alerts through a companion mobile application. In the absence of user response, notifications along with live location details are automatically sent to emergency contacts, offering a practical and accessible safety solution.

Developed within a three-month timeline and limited startup funding, the project required the team to navigate technical and design challenges. This included rebuilding their mobile application to ensure compatibility, improving hardware reliability, and refining detection accuracy using machine learning.

User feedback during testing also led to the development of a second prototype, LumaBand 2.0, which features a more compact and wearable design suited for daily use.

During the competition, students participated in presentations, trade exhibitions, and workshops, interacting with peers from across the region. Their product attracted attention for its combination of technology and social impact.

At the Project Management Workshop conducted during the event, GIIS student Srishti Hariharan was recognised with the Best Project Management Application Award. The team also received feedback and encouragement from senior leaders within Junior Achievement, highlighting the potential of their innovation.

The experience provided students with exposure to cross-cultural collaboration, real-world problem-solving, and high-pressure decision-making. It also offered perspective on the scale and diversity of student-led enterprises across the region.

With a refined prototype and continued interest in the product, the team is exploring further development and potential expansion. Their work reflects an ongoing focus on combining innovation with practical impact.

Representing Singapore at APCOYC 2026 were Iraj Gupta (President), Arnav Rai (VP Finance), Anuraag Vombatkere (VP Technology), and Srishti Hariharan (VP Marketing), supported by a wider team that contributed to the project’s development.