A group of secondary students from GIIS SMART Campus has achieved an outstanding feat by clinching second position at the Junior Achievement Singapore's Company Of the Year (COY) competition. Their innovative product, InfoAir, is a compact device designed to measure air quality in the user’s personal radius.

Unlike government-issued AQI readings, which provide values for a large radius, InfoAir fills the gap by offering insights into an individual's personal airspace. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with asthma and respiratory issues, enabling them to take preemptive measures against poor air quality.

The GIIS COY team of 2023 demonstrated exceptional prowess, competing against teams representing several schools including; Cedar Girls Secondary School, CHIJ Toa Payoh Secondary School, Hwa Chong International School, Nanyang Junior College, Nexus International School, Singapore American School, and Victoria Junior College. Mentored by Maggie Gorse and Subin Joseph, the team navigated through 12 sessions of the COY programme, involving the creation and management of the company.

The journey began with internal interviews and department assignments, followed by elections for various leadership roles. After 1.5 months of ideation, the team settled on addressing air quality issues, driven by a member's allergy to pollen.

Despite initial uncertainty, the team managed to iterate their product prototype and commence production before the final prototype was completed. The pitch day featured a display of the commercial video, pitches, a trade booth, and an interview with judges. While initially disappointed during prize announcements, the team's spirits soared upon securing the second position.

The success was a result of collective effort, including the COY team members, CEO Abhay Ganti, teacher-in-charge Sonal Khobragade, and the invaluable support from Junior Achievement Singapore and mentors Subin Joseph and Maggie Gorse. Looking ahead, the team is optimistic about future opportunities and remains grateful for the collaborative effort that led to their achievement.

GIIS, through its 9 GEMS pedagogy, emphasises holistic student development, focusing equally on academics, sports, arts, entrepreneurial excellence, and other extracurriculars. Competitions like COY provide students with opportunities to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios while honing leadership, technological, and entrepreneurial skills.