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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.

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He Studied Business Analytics. Now He’s Helping Seniors Age Well.

12 Jun 2026|3 Mins Read

The most valuable thing student Thomas Yang learnt wasn't a tool or technology – it was a mindset: observe a problem, test assumptions, adapt quickly, and keep improving. Today, that mindset is helping him build a social enterprise that supports seniors across Singapore.


When Thomas Yang chose to study Business Analytics at SUSS, he wasn't thinking about swimming pools. 

He was thinking about how to tackle complex, real-world problems – the kind that require careful analysis, thoughtful solutions, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious. 

Thomas wanted to learn how data, technology, and analytical thinking could be used to improve the way people live and work. Business Analytics appealed to him because it was grounded in logic, critical thinking, and the ability to make sense of complex information to drive better decisions and outcomes. 

What he did not expect was that this journey would lead him to supporting healthier ageing among seniors. 

Today, Thomas is the founder of Swim Haven, a social enterprise that delivers aquatic programmes designed to help older adults improve their balance, mobility, and overall well-being. It is a mission rooted in a growing national challenge: as Singapore moves towards becoming a super-aged society, how can we help seniors stay healthy, independent, and socially connected for longer? 

The answer began with a simple observation. Behind every statistic about ageing are real people – individuals who want to continue living active, meaningful lives with confidence and dignity. 

That perspective shaped Thomas’ approach. 

It wasn’t enough for him to just understand the problem. He believed knowledge only becomes meaningful when it is applied to real situations – a mindset that would eventually lead him to build something of his own. 

As a Business Analytics student, Thomas learned to look beyond symptoms and understand underlying patterns. Rather than focusing solely on treatment after health issues arise, he became interested in prevention: helping seniors build strength, mobility, and social connections before problems emerge. 

Thomas (front), founder of Swim Haven, aims to help seniors stay active and connected through structured aquatic programmes.

From Data to Purpose 

The turning point came through the SUSS Venture Builder programme in 2025, where he transformed an idea into a social enterprise. Supported by mentors, industry networks, and a community of changemakers, Thomas began building Swim Haven into a solution with the potential to create lasting impact. 

Through the programme, he was exposed to founders, social enterprise leaders, and ecosystem builders who showed him that meaningful, impact-driven work was possible. More importantly, they gave him the confidence, support, and networks to pursue that mission wholeheartedly. 


In a sharing with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at SUSS Patron’s Day 2026, Thomas (left) presented the floatation devices used to help seniors swim with confidence.

Today, Swim Haven partners active ageing centres across Singapore, helping seniors stay physically active while fostering a sense of belonging and community. 

For Thomas, however, innovation is not about technology alone. 

Whether through analytics, AI, or entrepreneurship, the goal is ultimately the same: using knowledge to solve meaningful problems and improve lives. 

Along the way, he learnt that meaningful solutions rarely emerge fully formed. They are built through action, making decisions, testing assumptions, learning from mistakes, and adapting quickly when reality proves you wrong. 

His vision is a Singapore where no senior fears ageing, and where every older adult has access to the resources and community needed to remain strong, healthy, and connected. He hopes to make high-quality aquatic programmes accessible to seniors across Singapore, helping more older adults age with strength, dignity, and confidence. 

It's a reminder that behind every dataset is a human story – and that the most powerful applications of technology are often the ones that help people live better lives. 

 

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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.

Keep up-to-date by subscribing to our monthly LinkedIn newsletter.

Subscribe on LinkedIn