Scouted

As the team finalized packing their booth for the day, a tall man in his late 40s, dressed in a sleek navy-blue suit with a small BYD pin on his lapel, approached.

Matthew noticed him first, stopping mid-sentence as he recognized the BYD logo. The man extended his hand with a warm smile.

"Good evening. I'm Richard Huang, regional director for BYD Southeast Asia. Congratulations on your win."

The team exchanged surprised glances before Matthew stepped forward to shake his hand. "Thank you, sir. I'm Matthew Borja, team lead for this project. It's an honor to meet someone from BYD."

Richard chuckled lightly. "The honor is mine. You've made quite the impression today. Your electric vehicle is the talk of the expo, and for good reason. May I take a closer look?"

Samantha, ever composed, nodded and gestured toward the EV. "Of course. We'd be happy to walk you through it."

Richard circled the vehicle, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. He crouched briefly to inspect the undercarriage and tapped lightly on the body panels. He ran his fingers over the edges of the windows, noting the seamless finish.

"This is remarkable work," he said, straightening up. "For a team of students to achieve this level of craftsmanship is no small feat. What's the body material?"

"Reinforced lightweight aluminum with a polymer coating," Matthew answered. "We chose it for durability and reduced weight without compromising cost-efficiency."

Richard nodded, impressed. "And your battery management system?"

Saimon stepped in, excitedly explaining, "We designed a modular lithium-ion battery pack. It's efficient for both range and charging, and the cooling system prevents overheating in tropical climates."

Richard raised his eyebrows. "A modular design? That's ambitious—and forward-thinking. It would make maintenance easier for end users, wouldn't it?"

"Exactly," Samantha confirmed. "It's part of our strategy to make EVs more practical for the local market."

Richard folded his arms, smiling thoughtfully. "You've addressed several pain points that even large manufacturers are still grappling with. Scalability, cost, infrastructure—all major challenges in EV adoption in this region. You guys are graduating students right? Do you have plans for your career after your graduation?"

"Yes, we plan on starting a business," Matthew said confidently, glancing at his team.

Richard's interest deepened. "A bold move. Starting a business in this industry is no small feat, especially as recent graduates. Do you have a concrete plan, or is it still in the conceptual stage?"

Samantha stepped in, her voice steady and professional. "We've been discussing potential strategies."

"But still, for someone of your status, It will not be easy. You are going to need help. And perfect timing, I was sent here by BYD's Global Innovation and Partnerships Division to scout for promising talent and ideas. When I heard about your project, I knew I had to see it for myself. And I must say, I'm not disappointed."

Matthew and his team exchanged surprised glances. Samantha, ever composed, leaned in slightly. "Does this mean BYD is interested in partnering with us?"

Richard nodded thoughtfully. "Potentially, yes. BYD is always looking to collaborate with innovators who align with our vision for sustainable mobility. However, partnerships like these aren't formed overnight. There's a process, and it starts with understanding your long-term vision and what kind of support you'll need."

Saimon, visibly excited, asked, "Support? What kind of support are we talking about?"

"Funding, technical resources, mentorship, even access to BYD's manufacturing and distribution network," Richard explained. "But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's take things one step at a time. I'd like to invite you to present your project at our regional headquarters in Singapore. There, we can have a more in-depth discussion about your plans and how BYD might help."

Leo nearly dropped the cables he was coiling. "Singapore? Are you serious?"

"Very serious," Richard replied, chuckling at Leo's reaction. "This isn't a guarantee of a partnership, but it's a significant step forward. We've never seen a project quite like yours from a student team."

Matthew, sensing the gravity of the opportunity, extended his hand again. "Thank you, sir. We'd be honored to present at your headquarters."

Richard shook his hand firmly. "Excellent. My assistant will coordinate the details with you. Expect an email in the next few days. In the meantime, celebrate your win—you've earned it."

As Richard walked away, the team stood in stunned silence, the magnitude of the moment sinking in.

That evening, the team gathered in Matthew's room to decompress and strategize. The trophy from NETE sat prominently on the coffee table, a tangible reminder of their achievement.

Leo sprawled on the couch, still buzzing with excitement. "First Mitsubishi, now BYD? Guys, this is insane!"

Saimon nodded, munching on a bag of chips. "I mean, we were just trying to pass Capstone, and now we're talking about international presentations and partnerships. What a ride."

Samantha, ever the voice of reason, set her laptop on the dining table and pulled up a document. "Let's not get carried away. Singapore is a big opportunity, but we need to prepare. We can't walk in there without a clear business plan and answers to every question they might throw at us."

Matthew, seated beside her, nodded. "She's right. We need to focus on three things: refining our pitch, identifying our needs, and understanding what BYD might expect from us."

Samantha added, "We also need to consider scalability. They'll want to know if our design can evolve into a viable product line, not just remain a prototype."

Leo raised a hand. "What about infrastructure? That's always been a big question mark for EVs here."

"Good point," Matthew said. "We'll emphasize our adaptability. Our modular battery system is a selling point, but we should also propose partnerships with local governments or private companies to address the charging station gap."

Saimon leaned forward. "What about the financial side? Should we prepare projections or estimates?"

"Yes," Samantha said, already typing on her laptop. "I'll handle the financials and market analysis. We need to show them we're not just dreamers—we're practical innovators with a solid grasp of the challenges ahead."

***

In a sleek office building in Manila, Richard Huang sat at his desk, reviewing the notes and photos from his visit to NETE. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Mr. Zhao," he said when the call connected, addressing one of BYD's senior executives. "I think we've found something special at the expo. A student team with an EV prototype that could have real potential in Southeast Asia."

He paused, listening to the response on the other end.

"Yes, I've already invited them to Singapore. You'll want to see this firsthand. Their approach to modular design and local sourcing is innovative and could align well with BYD's goals in the region."

After a few more minutes of discussion, Richard ended the call, a satisfied look on his face.

"This could be the beginning of something big," he murmured to himself, setting the phone down.