When NUS alumna Ms Paige Yang lost her husband to cancer in 2016, her world changed overnight. “I felt utterly alone,” she recalled. “I wasn’t just grieving him. I was grieving the life we had planned, the work we had started, the future we imagined. Everything we had built together felt like it had come crashing down.”
Unable to find her footing, Ms Yang stopped working. For the better part of the next two years, she travelled extensively, visiting 30 countries, while searching for answers and purpose. But the emptiness followed her. “I thought being on the move would keep me from falling apart, but eventually I realised I couldn’t keep running. I had to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” recalled Ms Yang, now the co-founder and technology lead of M. I. Cloud Tech.
This decision led her back to the very work that her late husband, Dr Richard Chua, had dedicated his life to. An accomplished scientist, he had spent more than a decade researching rare-earth materials and their potential to improve everyday life. As his co-researcher, Ms Yang played a key role in refining and developing his ideas into practical applications. “I couldn’t let his ideas end with him,” she said. “I had to find a way to honour him and — in the process — rebuild myself.”
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO BOLD AMBITIONS
Born in a small village in northeast China, Ms Yang grew up with big dreams but limited opportunities. “I always wanted to study at a top university,” she said. “But growing up, it felt like a pipe dream.” Determined to forge her own path, she worked tirelessly, securing career opportunities in Shanghai before eventually making her way to Singapore. Here, she met Dr Chua, and their shared passion for science became the foundation of their work and life together. “I never thought that I would be an entrepreneur,” she confessed with a laugh. “But life is unpredictable, isn’t it?”
Encouraged by friends and mentors, she joined the inaugural cohort of NUS’ Master of Science (Venture Creation) programme in 2021 — the first step in rebuilding her life after her loss. At 40, she found herself surrounded by younger, more confident classmates. “I felt like an imposter at first,” said Ms Yang. “I had no business experience. I was just someone trying to keep a dream alive.”
But she persevered. The programme, which nurtures entrepreneurial and innovative talents, equipped her with business knowledge and gave her the confidence to lead. It also introduced her to her co-founder, Mr Zaid Ahmed Khan, a fellow student from Pakistan, who shared her belief in the commercial potential of magnetic interference technology.
Through the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), which provides hands-on mentorship and structured guidance for deep tech start-ups, they secured S$100,000 in seed capital — a crucial milestone that allowed them to register the business in early 2022. Within a year, they went from a business idea and prototype to market entry in Singapore’s healthcare sector, with plans to expand into the region. “The connections I made through NUS proved invaluable,” said Ms Yang. “I didn’t just learn to build a business. I learnt that it’s never too late to start over.”
INNOVATING FOR BETTER LIVING
M. I. Cloud Tech’s flagship product addresses a problem that affects millions — sleep disorders. Using restructured rare-earth materials, the device generates a unique magnetic interference field that improves blood circulation and muscle tone, reducing snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea.
But sleep wasn’t the technology’s original purpose. It was first developed for food preservation, helping fishermen keep seafood fresh. The breakthrough came when one fisherman, by chance, placed the device inside his sleeping bag and woke up feeling unusually well-rested. That accidental discovery led to further testing, revealing the device’s potential to improve sleep quality. “It’s simple — just place the device under your pillow,” Ms Yang explained. “No wires, no batteries, no set-up.”
According to Ms Yang, clinical trials have shown a 70 per cent reduction in snoring and significant improvements in sleep quality. The device has undergone extensive testing, including a year-long study with Swedish bedding giant Hilding Anders. M. I. Cloud Tech is also working with the SIA-NUS Digital Aviation Corporate Laboratory and exploring partnerships with SnoreLab, the world’s leading snoring analysis app.
The team’s ambitions go beyond sleep. Trials at Flinders University in Australia have shown that the technology also has applications in sports recovery, helping athletes improve circulation and reduce fatigue.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Through it all, Ms Yang has found a second chance at love. A connection with a classmate from Bible school led to her second marriage a year ago, something she never expected. “I thought I’d spend the rest of my life alone,” she said. “But meeting my current husband reminded me that new beginnings are possible.” Still, the memory of Dr Chua remains a guiding force and source of inspiration. “He poured his heart into this work,” she said. “Continuing it is about keeping his legacy alive.”
While M. I. Cloud Tech is still in its early stages, Ms Yang has a clear vision of its future. Beyond sleep and sports recovery, she hopes to expand into chronic pain management and stress relief. Ultimately, it’s about helping people live better. “There’s so much potential,” she said. “We’re just getting started.”