18th April 2025, Rtist HQ, GMBB, Kuala Lumpur: Rtist Creative Platform welcomed the students from Asia Pacific University's (APU) School of Media, Arts and Design for an exciting and inspiring visit filled with creativity, real-world insights, and entrepreneuiral lessons that aren't found in textbooks.
These students come from the Masters Degree of Arts In Design Innovation Management course, which helps these creatives enhance their managerial skills and develop interdisciplinary knowledge through both practical and theoretical approach.
This visit gave students a front-row seat to the inner workings of a successful creative tech startup, and more importantly, the honest, relatable story behind its growth, shared by Rtist's founder, Tony Chua.
Stepping Into The Creative World
The students were greeted with a space full of energy, ideas and collaboration as they entered Rtist office space in GMBB, KL. Tony began the session with an introduction to Rtist's mission, how the matching process works and what it takes to maintain a business that constantly balances creativity, technology and community.
The students were able to see firsthand on how Rtist empowers creative talents while solving real-world problems for brands and businesses, through creative talents sourcing.
The Startup Story of Rtist Platform
The heart of this casual yet deeply insightful sharing session by Tony Chua, who took the students through his journey of starting Rtist, not just showing the wins, but also the many challenges along the way.
Tony spoke openly about how the idea for Rtist came from his own struggles as a designer, watching talented creatives around him struggle to find visibility and work. What turned out as an idea to help others, quickly turned into the platform it is today.
“I wasn’t a tech expert, but I understood the problem well,” Tony said.
“So I built something simple first and kept learning as I went.”
He talked about how to generate funding from investors, refining the pitch decks dozens of times, and continuing to build a community even when things felt uncertain. His message to the students were clear: Entrepreneurship is tough, but also deeply rewarding if you're committed to solving a problem you care about.
Lessons That'll Stick
For most of the students in attendance, it was their first time hearing a real, behind the scenes story of building a creative based startup and hit it home.
Here’s what some of them shared after the session:
- “Tony’s story gave me the confidence to think like a founder.”
- “I never thought a designer could start a tech platform, now I know it’s possible.”
- “It made me rethink failure. It’s just part of the learning process.”
The visit gave students not only a look into the future of the creative industry, but also a clearer sense of how their own skills could evolve into business opportunities.
Turning Inspiration Into Action
This visit reflects APU’s commitment to giving students more than just academic knowledge. By connecting them with active industry players and real startup journeys, students get a better understanding of the world they’re preparing to step into.
It also aligns with Rtist’s vision, to uplift local creative talent and inspire the next generation of changemakers in the creative economy.
A Visit That Sparked Ideas
As the session wrapped up, the energy in the room had shifted. Students weren’t just observers anymore. They were thinkers, dreamers, and future entrepreneurs with a new perspective. After the conclusion of the session, the students received a tour around the entire HQ.
The team at Rtist, and especially Tony’s honest storytelling, left a lasting impression. And as the students returned to campus, they took with them more than just notes and memories. They carried ideas, inspiration, and a renewed sense of what’s possible.
We Appreciate The Visit From The APU Students to Rtist HQ, and looking forward to more student activities with APU's School of Media, Art & Design faculty!
