Raj Subramaniam came to Singapore from Chennai in 2016 on an employment pass, working at a Sim Lim Square electronics stall — Singapore's notorious electronics market where tourist guides warn visitors to be cautious. He earned SGD $2,800 per month fixing phones for the stall owner.
Sim Lim's reputation was the problem. Despite Raj's genuine skill and honest service, customers associated the location with overcharging and poor quality. He once fixed an iPhone perfectly only to have the customer leave a one-star review mentioning "Sim Lim" — not him specifically, just the location.
"I was good," he says. "But the environment defined me to customers before they even met me. I needed a new environment."
The Move to Tanjong Pagar
In 2023, Raj opened a shop in Tanjong Pagar — the CBD-adjacent neighborhood that houses Google, Amazon, and dozens of global company offices. Investment: SGD $34,000.
His first investment was RepairCoreX.
"At a Sim Lim stall, you have a notebook and a verbal estimate. A professional in Tanjong Pagar needs a digital ticket, a proper invoice, a warranty record. RepairCoreX gave me all of that from my first customer."
The First Day
His first customer was a banker from a Raffles Place office who had cracked her iPhone 15 Pro Max screen. SGD $320 for the repair. Professional ticket, WhatsApp update when done, professional invoice with his UEN business registration number and 90-day warranty.
She returned her whole team's devices over the next week. Eight phones in three days.
"One corporate client in Singapore can change your business in a week," he says.
Month by Month
Raj's annual revenue in his first full year: over SGD $1 million.
His Life Today
Raj earns SGD $50,000–$55,000 per month net. He has permanent residency in Singapore. He employs 3 technicians and a receptionist.
"Sim Lim is a great place to learn," he says. "But Singapore's money is in the CBD professional market. And that market only accepts professional service. RepairCoreX is what professional service looks like."