Stick ‘Em makes self-discovery kits for kids to learn STEAM
A Singapore startup was crowned winner of the 2025 Hult Prize last Friday (Sep 5), securing US$1 million (S$1.28 million) in seed funding.
Stick ‘Em, an education technology company founded in 2021, was co-created by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) alumnus Adam Huh Dam, Singapore Polytechnic graduate Chong Ing Kai and National University of Singapore (NUS) student Tew Jing An.
What does Stick ‘Em make?
According to its website, Stick ‘Em has one main product, a self-guided kit aimed at helping children aged nine to 16 learn Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Priced at S$100, the kit comes with chopsticks, 3D-printed parts and small electronics. There’s also an add-on sensor expansion kit priced at S$35, along with a subscription-based online learning platform that helps teachers run their own classes.
Such kits help students tap into their creativity while learning electronics, robotics and physics, especially in places where STEAM programmes are too expensive and complex to implement.
So far, over 12,000 students and more than 1,200 teachers across 11 countries have used their kits, its website showed.
The Stick ‘Em team clinched the top award at the Hult Prize Foundation’s global finals held at the Tate Modern Museum in London. According to SUTD, the prize money will go into advancing the startup’s mission of making STEAM education “more affordable and accessible” to schools worldwide.
Hult Prize recognises student entrepreneurs to solve pressing global issues
The annual Hult Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for students,” challenges for-profit student entrepreneurs to build businesses that address pressing global issues.
This is the first time a Singapore team has won the global finals, according to Hult Prize.
This year, the competition saw more than 200,000 participants from 130 countries and nearly 2,000 universities, coming up with 15,000 startup ideas.
The winner was chosen by a panel of global leaders in venture capital, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, including Piers Linney, a former investor on BBC’s reality TV show Dragons’ Den.
Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam said: “The world is facing increasingly complex challenges. Non-profits alone cannot fill the gaps left by the public sector, particularly while managing scarce resources and shifting donor priorities. The private sector—so often viewed as part of the problem—has a critical opportunity to be part of the solution.”
“Stick ‘Em is an ambitious business that stood out among 15,000 startup ideas with a clear vision for global growth. I’m thrilled to congratulate them on their win and can’t wait to see what comes next.”
SUTD cited the judging criteria of the Hult Prize to be “rigorous,” factoring in a team’s commitment and expertise, idea effectiveness and sustainability, support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and business scalability.
The Hult Prize competition comprised several rounds, starting off with the Singapore Nationals at NUS, the Digital Global Incubator Stage and then the finalist selection.
“When we first applied for the competition, I honestly thought there was no way we could win. To be crowned global champion still feels surreal,” Stick ‘Em co-founder Adam said.
“But this win isn’t just about us. It’s about every student who deserves the chance to learn, build, and innovate regardless of background. We’re excited to use this momentum to create a lasting difference in the lives of millions of students worldwide.”
SUTD president Professor Phoon Kok Kwang shared that Stick ‘Em has helped make STEAM education “more affordable and accessible to tens of thousands of students.”
The university added that their win “marks a milestone for Singapore’s innovation and startup ecosystem.”
Stick ‘Em was also named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list under the Consumer & Enterprise Technology section in 2025.
- Learn more about Stick ‘Em here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about billionaires here.
Featured Image Credit: The Hult Prize Foundation