How To Win A $1M Prize And Fixing The Global Education Crisis

"The objective of the education system is not to prepare you for a specific job, but to help you learn how to think and how to learn. That is the most important part about our education system—learning how to think and learning how to learn, even as we specialize in vocational institutions or universities." - Adam Huh Dam, co-founder of Stick 'Em

"Increase in screen time and the use of gadgets in schools has not improved, but actually made educational outcomes worse for students. For the first time in global history, we see students' academic outcomes decreasing rather than increasing as these devices are implemented at mass." - Adam Huh Dam, co-founder of Stick 'Em

"In Singapore, robotics kits were very expensive—costing about $600 to $700 each—and there were not enough teachers to teach coding in schools. We are bridging that gap with Stick 'Em to bring quality STEAM education to every child, especially the billion children globally growing up without access to these essential skills." - Adam Huh Dam, co-founder of Stick 'Em

In this episode, Adam Huh Dam, co-founder of Stick 'Em, joins Jeremy Au to discuss the evolution of STEAM education and his journey from a robotics-obsessed student in Singapore to winning a million-dollar global prize. Adam shares the "traumatic" childhood experience of being rejected from a school robotics club due to high costs and limited seats, which fueled his mission to make robotics accessible using simple sticks and connectors. They dive into the "disastrous" impact of AI on current educational outcomes, why cheating via AI is a barrier-to-entry issue, and how the founding team leveraged authenticity to win the Hult Prize in London. Adam also reflects on the future of work, emphasizing that while AI may automate coding and accounting, the core value of human education remains the ability to think independently and empathize.

00:00 The impact of AI and gadgets on declining educational outcomes.

01:50 Introduction to Stick 'Em and the mission for global STEAM access.

02:42 Adam’s first Mars Rover and the hurdle of Singapore's robotics club tests.

05:38 The student-led culture of ACSI Robotics and the value of making mistakes.

07:45 Lessons from global robotics championships and cross-border collaboration.

10:20 Transitioning from wanting to join Boston Dynamics to entrepreneurship.

12:28 Building a social enterprise and testing kits with underprivileged children.

15:48 Winning the million-dollar Hult Prize: Authenticity over the drive to win.

20:36 Why low-hanging AI applications are hurting student learning.

29:00 The future of coding, AI in professional fields, and human-centric skills.

Keywords: STEAM Education, Singapore Tech Startups, Robotics for Kids, EdTech Trends, Hult Prize Winner, AI in Education, Coding for Children, Social Entrepreneurship

How To Win A $1M Prize And Fixing The Global Education Crisis | Adam Huh Dam of Stick ‘Em - EP682

Jeremy Au: Hey Adam, I’m really excited to have you on the show. You’re the co-founder of the education tech company Stick ‘Em. I recently interviewed your co-founder about winning a million-dollar prize—congratulations on that! I thought this was a great opportunity to hear your perspective since you have a different journey as well. Could you introduce yourself quickly?

Adam Huh Dam: Hi, I’m Adam. At Stick ‘Em, we are bringing quality STEAM education to every child. Nearly a billion children are growing up without access to it. A decade ago, STEAM might have been a luxury, but today it is an absolute necessity. While many governments are trying to implement STEAM education in public schools, they are facing major hurdles. We’re trying to bridge that gap.

Jeremy Au: What got you started in robotics and education tech? What’s your story?

Adam Huh Dam: I built my first Mars Rover robotics kit when I was six years old back in Korea. That got me into tinkering—fiddling with red, black, and yellow wires to understand how solar panels and LEDs worked. When I migrated to Singapore at age seven, I tried to join the robotics club in primary school.

They actually had a selection test. Back then, clubs like chess or badminton didn't have tests, so I was confused. Years later, I understood why: robotics kits were very expensive—costing $600 to $700 each—and there weren't enough teachers. They only had seats for about five to ten students out of a hundred applicants. I didn't make the cut.

It hit me hard as a seven-year-old. My mom walked with me to the school the next day and talked to the principal for an hour and a half. She somehow convinced her to let me in. That changed my life. After that, I went to school for robotics rather than academics. I even created a robotics club in Junior College (JC) because they didn't have one.

Jeremy Au: Obviously, your mom supported your interest. Did your parents encourage you more toward robotics, academics, or sports?

Adam Huh Dam: My mom placed a lot of pressure on me regarding academics and winning awards in sports, but once she got me into that club, I flew on my own regarding robotics. I was quite a rebel early on. Secondary 2 was a defining year; I started carving my own path, figuring out what I loved and finding my character.

Jeremy Au: You attended my alma mater, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). What was the difference there? Back in my day, we were the "uncool" kids working on Lego Mindstorms and Micro Mouse. How did that environment change your approach?

Adam Huh Dam: The approach at ACSI was unique because it was a purely student-run CCA (Co-Curricular Activity). We relied on seniors teaching juniors to elevate the club every year. In other schools, external trainers or teachers were the driving force.

This approach allowed us total freedom to explore. I remember cutting an aluminum piece wrong on my first day and panicking. A senior just told me to get a new piece. In an academic system where you aren't allowed to make mistakes, that CCA taught me why failing is valuable.

Jeremy Au: What were those competitions like?

Adam Huh Dam: In secondary school, we used the Vex Robotics System, building robots that were sometimes taller than ourselves. We competed at national and regional levels. Going to the world championships in the U.S. during my first year was a defining moment. It was my first time meeting an international pool of people. The game was designed so that you were randomly paired with a team from another country. You had to strategize through language barriers to win. It expanded my worldview.

Jeremy Au: You eventually met your co-founder, Kai. How did that happen?

Adam Huh Dam: Kai was at the School of Science and Technology (SST). Our robotics clubs had a close relationship, and we would meet for scrimmages or brainstorming sessions. My memory of Kai was this goofy kid in the corner not taking the competition seriously, but that’s where his creativity comes from. I was the one taking everything seriously and trying to lead the conversation. Years later, I saw what he was doing on Instagram and asked how I could help. Eventually, I joined as his co-founder.

Jeremy Au: Why build an education tech company focused on robotics? You could have joined a firm like Boston Dynamics or worked in manufacturing.

Adam Huh Dam: My plan was to join Boston Dynamics and become a robotics engineer. However, after National Service, I interned at a venture capital firm on the innovation side. I worked with founders building prototypes—one was changing rice genes to grow in seawater, another was making non-invasive helmets to interpret emotions. They inspired me to start my own company.

When I saw Kai’s project using sticks and connectors to build mechanisms, things aligned. My domain expertise in robotics and my knowledge of fundraising and startups were things he could use.

Jeremy Au: Selling to schools and parents isn't easy. What keeps you going?

Adam Huh Dam: My exposure to entrepreneurship was always tied to social impact. Stick ‘Em resonated with me because of that traumatic selection test I faced in primary school. By scaling this, I reduce the number of kids who are held back by a lack of resources or teacher expertise.

I also realized I wasn’t suited for corporate life. During a mandatory university internship at an SME, I would finish my work by noon and spend the rest of the day doing Stick ‘Em work. I knew I wouldn't survive a traditional corporate role.

Jeremy Au: What does a day in the life look like now?

Adam Huh Dam: It has evolved. In the beginning, it was about 3D printing new designs and conducting free workshops for underprivileged children. Then it shifted to packaging the product for schools. Now, I focus on the big picture: strategizing how to scale into different countries and identifying replicable entry strategies.

Jeremy Au: You won a million-dollar prize. What was that experience like?

Adam Huh Dam: Kai and I almost didn't go because the flights weren't sponsored. We didn't think we would win because past winners focused on things like water sanitation or sanitary pads—critical social impacts.

We decided to go for the experience of living in a castle near London and meeting world-class mentors. Our mindset was: "We have nothing to lose, so let's learn as much as possible." We pestered mentors so much they asked if we had pitched enough already! We were honest about every problem in our company.

Unexpectedly, we were shortlisted for the top eight. When we won, it was a shock. Mentors told us our authenticity and drive to improve were the differentiating factors. The judges also liked that we were more established and had proven traction.

Jeremy Au: How do you see the future of education changing with AI?

Adam Huh Dam: Currently, some ways AI is used in schools are disastrous. Low-hanging fruits—like apps that solve math problems from a photo—don’t help students learn. Ed-tech can be profitable but useless if it just increases screen time. For the first time in history, we see academic outcomes decreasing as gadgets are introduced at mass.

However, AI could be useful for extreme customization. It can analyze why a student answered a question incorrectly and identify exactly which foundational knowledge is lacking—something a teacher doesn't have time to do for every student.

Jeremy Au: What is the difference between "cheating" with AI and the age-old tradition of copying a friend's homework?

Adam Huh Dam: It’s the barrier to entry. Copying a friend requires social capital; there is a human interaction where you might actually ask how they solved it. AI makes cheating brain-dead and anonymous. If a student uses AI to understand a solution so they can replicate it, that’s great. But most students just want to get the work over with. The accessibility of "cheating without understanding" is the issue.

Jeremy Au: Is it even worth studying if robots will eventually out-think us? Should we all become plumbers or technicians?

Adam Huh Dam: Primary and secondary education isn't about preparing for a specific job; it’s about learning how to think and learn. In higher education, industries like law and accountancy will be heavily impacted. Even coding is changing; in companies like Spotify, bots do 90% of the coding and engineers just review it.

We need to focus on "human" skills: communication, creativity, independent thought, and empathy. These allow humans to be original, whereas AI is essentially regurgitating and repackaging information.

Jeremy Au: Could you share a story about a time you've been brave?

Adam Huh Dam: It’s less about being "brave" and more about being open to uncomfortable opportunities. I was a deep introvert in JC, eating alone in the canteen. A primary school friend I hadn't talked to in years randomly invited me to a lunch with "cool people." Normally, I would have said no, but I went.

That lunch led to my VC internship, which led to entrepreneurship. Looking back, unlikely opportunities happened multiple times—like my mom fighting for my spot in the robotics club or me applying to top schools like ACSI even when my teacher said it was unrealistic. Putting myself out there when I normally wouldn't has been monumental.

Jeremy Au: I’d love to summarize the takeaways. Thanks for sharing how you discovered your joy for robotics and the role your mom played. It’s an inspiring story for anyone discovering their passion.

Second, I appreciate your perspective on the shortage of resources and teachers that causes students to be disqualified from these opportunities. It shows why Stick ‘Em is so necessary. Finally, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the future of education and the spirit kids need to build skills for the future.

Adam Huh Dam: Thank you for having me.

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