Roceso Technologies’s Jane Wang on entrepreneurial challenges and mindfulness

As part of this year’s Women Of The Year celebration, the Her World x Singtel “Hello Possibilities” award is presented in collaboration with Singtel and recognises inspirational female game changers who have made it their business to improve the lives of women and society at large through their company’s impact, creativity and clever use of technology.

Jane Wang is all about the next challenge.

Together with co-founders Dr. Yap Hong Kai and Dr. Raye Yeow, Jane started Roceso Technologies almost nine years ago, something she knew she had to pursue after watching Dr. Yap present in one of their shared classes.

“In my life, there have been a few aha moments,” she explains. “I always get this feeling and know I have to do something about it – for example, when my teacher in high school (in China) told me to apply for a scholarship to study in Singapore. So I always recognise that ‘spark.’ When my CTO [Dr. Yap] was doing this presentation, I knew this was it.”

What interested Jane so much at the time was the soft technology that would eventually become the company’s EsoGlove, a special fabric device that aids in patient rehabilitation as well as nerve or tendon injuries. While they knew the technology had great potential in the medical field, they also interviewed people from different industries to see how else it could be implemented.

“Soft robotic technology can be utilised in automation, logistics, even agriculture,” says Jane. “So we interviewed people from different industries and looked into them before starting the business.” But at the end of the day, they chose to focus on what the technology could do for the medical industry because the potential of the product would give them the motivation to go further.

“There are always tough moments [as an entrepreneur],” says Jane. “I have seen people quit because it’s so tough. Usually they’re only in it for the money. So in my opinion, if you don’t have real passion, you won’t go far.”

The product’s ability was most evident during the Covid pandemic when rehabilitation centres were shut down under non-essential medical services.

“A lot of patients approached us then, saying they wanted to rent our device, this for us was a good time when we got to treat patients. Before that, we had to knock on the doors of hospitals. So now, finally, we are the ones dealing with patients. During the whole home rental and dealing with patients process, we learned that patients can recover after using our device.” 

For Jane, the medical industry and the good her product can do is something she is very passionate about but that doesn’t mean it’s been without its challenges, She mentions copycat products and technology that is sold at a much lower price. These products tend to function more like massagers and do not have the research and rehabilitative functions of Roceso Technology.

“These products have to be regulated as a medical device,” Jane explains. “All our devices are regulated by HSA (the Health Science Authority of Singapore). And we have global certifications in Europe, the US and Australia. Right now we’re in 50 countries.” She laughs, raising a concern most founders will identify with. “It’s a lot of money to spend. That’s why launching medical devices is very slow. If you don’t have a lot of money, it’s slow because you have to spend money on the certifications and tests. A single test is easily $10,000. And there are a lot of safety concerns. If you’re working with data, it’s worse. You have data security, cybersecurity standards etc.”

Now EsoGlove and their other product, CygniSENSE Motion (an upper limb rehab device that employs gamification) are combined into one single software, which Jane says will be the basis for integrating future products. “It’s like an ecosystem,” she explains.

“So different devices can be connected, they can share the data. And then you have a holistic view about the patients.” Using the sensors attached to the machines, the company can collect data and formulate a treatment plan with the expertise of a therapist. She hopes to eventually develop products for different parts of the body including feet and ankles.

“To us, robotic therapy is a kind of medicine,” says Jane. “So now we have created a remote therapy platform where the therapist can create a patient profile and then they can do the prescription for the patient by choosing suitable exercises. The patient can then access the treatment anywhere as long as they have the robot with them.” 

With everything on her plate, Jane makes a conscious effort to make sure she doesn’t burn out. She finds going to the gym, body building and reading some of the ways that help her regulate  – tho ironically her preferred non-fiction reading inevitably leads her back to work.

“I’m reading more psychology and spiritual-related books these days. I like to talk to my patients about meditation, being mindful and feeling your body. It’s so important, connecting your mind and body.  Also recently I read some books about sleep and how your brain continues to learn as you sleep. So I texted this to some of my patients.” She adds with a laugh, “Yeah I do end up back at work sometimes.” 

But for Jane, her philosophy on work-life balance is a bit different. Perhaps it’s necessary when you’re CEO of a fast-growing company. “Maybe it’s not a good thing, but I work all the time,” she laughs.

“Meaning that I don’t feel like I just have to work during working hours. I’m very flexible and I think everybody should have this kind of flexibility. So to me, I’m always on my phone and if I can reply, I’ll reply,and then continue with my own activities. She adds, “As long as [my employees] get their job done by the deadline, it’s fine.” 

As a CEO who still actively talks to patients who visit their Orchard Road clinic, Jane’s fluid approach is very much a part of who she is.

“I think work is a part of life, and you don’t have to totally separate the two,” she says. “It’s part of your identity, the same way we can be a daughter, a wife or a business partner all at once. We have so many responsibilities, especially women, that if we have a [company] culture that allows integration and flexibility, I think that will definitely enhance a person’s happiness.”