Post by Jonus Ho

Winning a hackathon wasn’t exactly part of the plan, just wanted to build something cool over the break. But I left with one key takeaway: intent. (Also a dub worth $20,000… but that’s beside the point. 🏆) Over four weeks, we built Red Flags: an AI-powered tool designed to help everyday people understand complex financial documents, because hidden fees and fine print shouldn’t be a guessing game. I won’t claim that Red Flags is the most advanced tool out there, but what I am proud of is how we stayed true to its intent every step of the way. We’re not domain experts in finance, not by a long shot. But through extensive research and generous conversations with industry professionals at Endowus, the National Youth Council Singapore, mentors, and others, we were able to distill insights that helped us craft a solution that is grounded, relevant, and meaningful. As a Computer Science student, much of my past two years has followed a familiar rhythm: code, logic, and engineering, often within the echo chamber of fellow developers. I came to realise that building great products isn’t just about shipping features, it’s about understanding other perspectives that aren’t your own. What seems intuitive to me as an engineer can be completely opaque to a layperson. Bridging that gap between functionality and user empathy, between what can be built and what should be built, is something I’ll continue working on. And while the finale absolutely drained my social battery, hearing that judges, members of the public, and even Minister Josephine Teo saw the vision behind Red Flags, that was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget. To my team: Danny Lim & Jessica Olivia Pandjang: Our brilliant UI/UX designers whose ideas and feedback helped polish every page and flow. Yi Ki Teo: Our PM who anchored the team, kept us on track, and gave the product a voice. Zhou Zibo: My goated engineering partner who never missed a commit and pulled magic out of thin air when it mattered most. Aiko Klostermann: Our mentor, who helped clarify our direction and kept us focused on what was important. Thank you all for the late nights, the candid feedback, and the shared belief in what we were building. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. We’re now entering an 8-week accelerator with up to $20,000 in funding to take Red Flags further. My deepest thanks to Open Government Products and People's Association for organising Community Hackathon 2025, and everyone who made this experience possible. (Also, just to be clear: this post wasn't written by AI)