NOC launches into the “best kept secret in North America”
Do you know which country gave the world some of its best inventions – the light bulb; the zipper; insulin; the electric wheelchair; Java programming language; even Basketball and the Wonderbra just to name a few? Or which city now houses the “Godfather of Deep Learning", Geoffrey Hinton; and a company working on the Hyperloop, a revolutionary transport system that could save about 80% traveling time? Yes, Canada, and Toronto to be exact, that’s who!
Toronto, a city simmering with entrepreneurial talent, opportunity and a strong entrepreneurship foundation. It is no surprise that Google, Uber and Amazon have considered Toronto for their newest outposts and there are at least 4,000 tech start-ups just in the city working on ground-breaking innovations ready to launch into the world.
Now known as a global “Artificial Intelligence Powerhouse”, Toronto is also ranked one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, with half the population being foreign-born. In addition to making for a diverse and interesting population, it sets a good precedent for the birth of start-up businesses, as there has always been a strong correlation between immigrants with the sense of adventure to relocate and entrepreneurial activity.
NOC Toronto-Waterloo is a year-long programme and its pioneer batch was from July 2018. With the success of our year-long programme, we are opening NOC Toronto-Waterloo to NUS Medicine students for their electives annually from March to June.
Apply now and if you need further reading, please take a look at the following articles and links:
Toronto Global Business Case for NUS
Toronto Takes on Silicon Valley to Become AI Startup Hub
Toronto would like to be seen as the nice person’s Silicon Valley, if that’s not too much trouble
Tech Workers And Global Companies Are Choosing Canada
Why Toronto is the new Silicon Valley
How Toronto Became a Global Powerhouse for Artificial Intelligence Startups and Giants
Who Just Beat the Bay Area in Tech Jobs? Toronto
Toronto is emerging as a tech superpower as immigrants choose Canada over the US
Best Communities for Healthcare
Alumni Voices
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Eshani Gautam
NOC Toronto Alumna | Jul 2023 Intake
College of Design & Engineering | Electrical Engineering
How does one decision change your entire perspective on life? For me, it was applying to NOC Toronto.
When I applied for NOC Toronto, I had no idea the journey that would be in store for me. That simple decision exposed me to the vibrant start-up and entrepreneurial culture which helped me gain confidence in myself, develop a unique thought process and become generally more creative and innovative when it came to problem-solving. The unique structure of the programme exposed me to what adult life felt like: going to work, buying groceries, settling bills, balancing it all with general self care and rest (which is very important). Because I was also a student at the University of Toronto, I experienced the different studying and class culture there, and working with UofT students also exhibited to me unique ways of approaching a task which I had not pursued before.
Beyond that, it’s the small experiences such as learning to live with new people, immersing yourself in a completely new work environment, a culture that you maybe haven’t experienced before, which really brings out parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. The independence I had when I was in Toronto gave me the flexibility to explore things which existed within my interests, and those that weren’t necessarily my interests, but I gained a new appreciation for. The countless networking events where I was fortunate enough to meet industrious people passionate about what they did, taught me how to present myself with a confidence I did not possess before. Conversations such as these were also very evocative for me, prompting me to think about societal issues that others dedicated their careers to solving, and that pushed me to reflect on the impact I wanted to leave with my own future career.
Balance is crucial when you’re in a programme such as NOC. I was living the life of an adult, and in the beginning there was the high of being free and making my own decisions. That quickly becomes overwhelming, especially when you get busier, or when you adapt to a new climate, or interact with people of various personalities. You’re not going to school and studying 24/7, you’re working the 9 to 5, attending networking events and workshops, having important meetings at work, and also experiencing the city you’re in. My time in Toronto made me more perceptive, self-reflective, and responsible for managing my life and relationships. These are things that are bettered through experience, and I will proudly say that I returned to Singapore as someone who was far more self-assured than when I left.
A year can be whatever you make it. To me, it felt like simultaneously the longest and shortest time of my life. Longest, because I came back and so many things had changed. Shortest, because leaving Toronto was one of the toughest things I had to do. There’s something about building a completely new life in a place where nobody knows you, leaving you free to be whoever you want to be. And at the end of the day, your experience is going to be defined by the kind of impact you want to leave on the people around you, a key takeaway of mine from my own NOC experience. I am proud of the journey I embarked on over a year ago, because these memories and experiences are ones that I will treasure and which will in turn, influence my life in the years to come.
So, my #whyNOC: Why not?
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Zaw Hein Aung
NOC Toronto Alumnus | Jul 2023 Intake
College of Design & Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
"Life Changing" would be how I would describe my NOC Toronto experience, as I can work in a startup, live overseas, and travel around North America. As a Mechanical Engineering student, I had to discover my own niche in Robotics to be adaptable and relevant to the current industry needs. NOC Toronto has been nothing short of amazing and I am always grateful for having this opportunity.
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Wit Yee Htet Oo
NOC Toronto Alumna | Jul 2023 Intake
NUS Business School | Business Administration
Choosing Toronto for my NOC experience was driven by my desire to immerse myself in an environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and a risk-taking mindset. I wanted to be where ideas are nurtured, and Toronto was the perfect city for that.
During my time in Toronto, I worked as a Growth Marketing Intern at PolicyMe, an insurance tech company. My role allowed me to sit across the marketing team, taking on tasks from various departments within the growth marketing team.
This past year in Toronto has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, which broadened my perspective on social and economic issues that I hadn't encountered in Singapore. As someone passionate about culture and human behavior, I found it incredibly rewarding to engage with people from around the world, learning from their diverse experiences.
This humbling experience has motivated me to take more risks and approach life with a continual growth mindset. My time in Toronto taught me that there is always more than meets the eye, and I am excited to keep pushing my boundaries and seeking new opportunities for personal and professional growth.
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Wu Yongxin
NOC Toronto Alumnus | Jan 2023 Intake
College of Design and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
Even as an intern at CERT Systems, I was responsible for key projects and milestones. I also had the privilege of fortnightly conversations with CERT's founders, to learn from their experiences and thoughts. Outside the internship, I had a plethora of unforgettable experiences, from the beautiful vistas of Banff National Park to the 4am caffeine fuelled hackathons. These experiences have allowed me to develop my technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit, and has made NOC Toronto a once in a lifetime experience.
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Cheng Zhibin, Nicholas
NOC Toronto Alumnus | Jan 2023 Intake
NUS Business School | Business Administration
NOC has been transformative, not just in the past but continues to influence my life today through an invaluable network, a reshaped perspective, and a strengthened entrepreneurial spirit. It’s easy to say something like "it broadened my horizons," but living it—immersing myself in a new country’s startup ecosystem, brainstorming ideas with housemates, and taking initiative in a startup—truly defines the experience.
NOC is often described as a place to "fail faster", offering a sandbox for experimenting with projects surrounded by high-caliber peers, enriched by mentors, program managers, and even regular guidance from my internship boss — ready to provide instant feedback.
NOC Toronto was exceptionally close-knit. It wasn't just like family—it was more akin to a soccer team, pushing and celebrating each other in equal measure. Highly recommend this program for anyone serious about growth.
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Clara Khoo Hui Xin
NOC Toronto Alumna | Jul 2022 Intake
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences | Communications & New Media
At TRIYO, I work hand in hand with my CEO to create impact for our clients. I am privileged to have a mentor who entrusts me to lead projects and manage teams. Our company is based within OneEleven, a hive of start-up activity in downtown Toronto, so I get to meet founders and like-minded entrepreneurs every day.