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From Hobby to Calling
Qi Yong’s path into software engineering began during the COVID-19 MCO period, right after completing a diploma in business. Feeling unfulfilled, he turned to online tutorials and soon built his own music player app for Android—purely to solve a personal problem: finding a clean, ad-free option on his ROG Phone 5. When the app finally ran on his device, playing his own MP3 collection, the sense of achievement sealed his decision. Software engineering was the career he wanted. He chose �㽶��Ƶfor its excellent facilities, supportive lecturers, and the strong reputation its graduates hold in the job market.

A Head Start Through Real Experience
Five months before his degree even began, Qi Yong joined a FinTech company as a web development intern, learning theory in class while applying it in real projects simultaneously. He later ventured into freelancing, building company websites, custom stock-analysis automation software for a trader, and an all-in-one event management web app for an event organiser. By his final year, he was completing his programme internship at Gamuda while running active freelance projects, gaining the clarity on what kind of career he truly wanted.

Founding Intuito Studio
 
At graduation, Qi Yong faced a straightforward choice: corporate employment or entrepreneurship. He chose the latter, founding Intuito Studio with a clear mission: making quality digital transformation accessible to SME businesses at affordable prices. He identified a gap: custom software was often overpriced and under-delivered. By leveraging AI tools strategically while retaining strong engineering fundamentals, he could ship better software faster and more affordably than traditional agencies.
His programme’s grounding in system architecture, database design, Agile methodologies, and DevOps proved directly applicable. He automated his deployment pipeline so that pushing code to Git triggers tests and deploys to production automatically—critical efficiency for a solo developer. His requirement engineering skills enable him to uncover what clients truly need, framing every conversation around goals rather than features.

Honest About the Challenges
Qi Yong is candid about the difficulties of running a business: client communication, negotiation, pricing, and managing scope creep were his biggest early challenges. There were moments of doubt. But with each project and each difficult conversation, he grew not just as a developer, but as a business owner who understands people and builds trust.
Impact on the Community

One project exemplifies his societal impact: a custom e-learning platform for a tuition centre constrained by teacher-to-student ratios. The software enables teachers to monitor and assist far more students effectively—amplifying human effort rather than replacing it. He has also built a website, over 20 campaign landing pages, an affiliate system, and an e-learning platform for long-term client JS Tradventures. Word-of-mouth referrals have since followed, a quiet confirmation that quality work speaks for itself.

Advice for the Next Generation
His message to current Sunwayians is clear: build strong fundamentals and start exploring early. In the AI era, competitive advantage belongs to engineers who understand architecture deeply enough to guide AI tools and ensure quality output. He encourages students to pursue internships, freelancing, and side projects during their university years, because real experience reveals a career path that classroom theory alone cannot. His life motto, inspired by author Chua Lam: “Any hobby, pursued with dedication, can become a profession that sustains you.” For Qi Yong, it started with a music app built during MCO and continues every day at Intuito Studio.

Tung Qi Yong
Bachelor of Software Engineering (Apr 2022 – Apr 2025)
Company: Intuito Studio
Contact: @email