e27 has been fostering a supportive environment for entrepreneurs since the beginning. The Contributor Programme provides a platform for sharing unique insights.
As part of our ‘Contributor Spotlight’, we highlight exceptional contributors and explore their vast knowledge and expertise.
In this installment, we take a closer look at the journey of Darryl Han, CEO and co-founder of LFG, a novel travel discovery engine. Drawing on his extensive global experience, Han leads the startup through its early phases.
With more than seven years of leadership experience, he has effectively led teams, managed operations, and implemented innovative solutions in multinational corporations and tech giants like BHP, Grab, and Quqo, spanning Australia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Thoughts, goals, and journey
Han began his career in Australia, progressing from a mining engineer to a production supervisor and coordinator. Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, he made a pivotal career shift from mining to the tech sector in Asia, inspired by Grab’s transformative influence on the economy.
After relocating to Singapore, he pursued a Master’s degree in Management of Technology (MOT, similar to an MBA with a tech emphasis) while also securing a position at Grab. While completing his studies, he contributed to strategic operations for GrabPay and GrabFood, marking his entry into the tech industry.
“I’ve always been fascinated by startups, so I took an extended leave from my Master’s program to immerse myself in them. I joined a Vietnamese startup as an intern through the NUS Overseas College program and quickly became one of the CEO’s key aides. This journey taught me a great deal about building a startup from the ground up,” Han said.
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Meanwhile, he co-founded LFG with a partner, dedicating nights and weekends to its development. In 2024, they transitioned to working on LFG full-time, launching on Product Hunt and joining Antler Vietnam. They are currently focused on developing the next versions of LFG, guided by user feedback and their vision to revolutionize how next-generation travelers discover and plan trips.
Looking ahead, Han’s professional goal is to successfully launch and grow his own venture. Personally, he aims to share his experiences through writing, contribute to thought leadership, and even explore writing fictional short stories.
The driving force
Han’s motivation to contribute stemmed from a desire to share industry insights and thought leadership from his time at a Vietnamese eB2B business, which focused on digitizing traditional trade channels in Southeast Asia. His first article revolved around that experience.
He joined the e27 contributor community in December last year and has written articles on various topics such as recent market trends, the travel sector, entrepreneurship, and more.
“As I continued writing, it became a way to exercise my mind and find clarity in my thoughts and ideas. I found some of these insights quite intriguing, so I thought, why not share them with others who might be facing similar challenges? That’s what motivated me to become an e27 contributor — to connect, inspire, and hopefully have a positive impact on others in the startup community,” he candidly stated.
Advice for aspiring thought leaders
Han emphasizes the importance of starting to write without hesitation. “Just start writing. Get your thoughts out there, even if they’re rough at first. Tools like ChatGPT and Meta AI can assist in refining your initial thoughts, but don’t rely on them too heavily. Use them to jumpstart ideas, then refine your points in your own voice,” he advises.
Also Read: Travel revival: Asia-Pacific on the rise!
“Personally, I find it effective to write as if I’m telling a story, as it makes my writing more engaging and relatable. As an engineer, I always support my ideas with data and quotes from experts, which adds credibility and strength to what you have to say.”
Juggling multiple responsibilities?
Han believes that balancing work, contributing, and personal life is all about doing what you love each day, focusing on the crucial 20% that yields 80% of the results, and making time for what truly matters. “Many have heard this advice before, but it truly works,” Han comments.
“Self-reflection is essential for personal and professional growth. At the end of each year, I assess my life as if they were chapters in a book, learning from past experiences to shape the next chapter. I manage my time using tools like iPhone reminders, Google Calendar, and Monday.com for work and life admin tasks. When it comes to leisure, I take it day by day, keeping things flexible and spontaneous (in LFG fashion, of course).”
Staying informed
Han stays informed by utilizing LinkedIn for news and announcements. Additionally, he subscribes to articles from e27, Skift, and Phocuswright, as well as Techzi, Strategy Breakdown, Tech in Asia, and TechCrunch. These resources provide him with general tech industry updates, trends, and thought leadership columns. For general news, he follows stories from the New York Times and Bloomberg.
To stay abreast of the travel industry, he recommends checking out Travel Massive, Skift, and Phocuswright for the latest updates, insights, and community engagement.
As a lover of movies, Han finds films about finding passion, self-discovery, and personal growth particularly inspiring for entrepreneurs. Movies like Whisper of the Heart, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, and The Pursuit of Happyness are his go-to choices for motivation on this challenging journey.
“Finding passion isn’t hard. The hard part is having the courage to follow it,” he concludes.
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The post From mining engineer to travel tech visionary: Darryl Han transforms trip discovery appeared first on e27.