For Zachary Wang, 39, co-founder and CEO of Neuron Mobility, the future isn’t just electric – it’s empathetic, efficient, and deeply human.
Fresh off his win as EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, Wang stands at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and urban transformation. But beneath the accolades and rapid global expansion lies a founder driven by something more fundamental: The desire to make the world not just smarter, but kinder.
“I have always believed that I wanted to build a business instead of finding a job,” he reflects. “I learn a lot faster when I am directly involved in delivering the outcome and bearing the consequences. It just feels more real to me.”
- FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
- SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
- POWERED BY PEOPLE
- LEARNING IN THE DARK
- LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
Wang’s entrepreneurial journey began long before Neuron. As an undergrad at NUS, he dove headfirst into renewable energy, building hydrogen fuel cell cars and gaining a global view of emerging tech. That early fascination with clean energy led him to co-found Rezeca Renewables, betting on solar energy before it became mainstream.
“When I started Rezeca Renewables, I had no prior industry experience,” he says. “And when I started Neuron, the industry wasn’t even there yet.”
That leap of faith laid the groundwork for Neuron Mobility, founded in 2016 in partnership with his long-time friend Harry Yu, an AI researcher. In 2019, as Singapore rolled out its car-lite master plan, the duo saw an opportunity to tackle the first-mile-last-mile problem with micro-mobility vehicles powered by smart technology.
(Related: igloo's Anthony Chow on finding the key to success)
- FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
- SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
- POWERED BY PEOPLE
- LEARNING IN THE DARK
- LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
Neuron Mobility quickly distinguished itself with its safety-first approach: Geofencing, integrated helmets, and real-time rider monitoring became its signature features. Wang is clear-eyed about the why.
“Electric cars don’t solve congestion – providing viable alternatives that get people out of cars do,” he says. “Micro-mobility right-sizes transportation and frees up urban space.”
But he’s also acutely aware that innovation alone isn’t enough to win over cities. “For e-scooters to become a true urban mobility solution, they must earn social licence,” he explains. “Safety must come first – for both riders and the wider public.”
That sense of responsibility also informs Neuron Mobility’s environmental commitments: From using recycled materials and publishing annual impact reports to tailoring operations to align with local green goals. “While we are becoming a global business, it is critical to remain as local as possible,” Wang says. “The most effective way to globalise this business is to localise it wherever we go.”
(Related: Bright Spark - Bold push for EV adoption in Singapore)
- FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
- SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
- POWERED BY PEOPLE
- LEARNING IN THE DARK
- LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
POWERED BY PEOPLE
Outfit by COS, shoes by Zegna
Ask Wang what fuels his long-term vision, and he’ll point to the people around him. At Neuron Mobility, he’s created a workplace with a relatively flat organisational structure that encourages open communication.
“We create an environment where people feel empowered to experiment and share ideas freely,” he says. “Often, people get to do things they haven’t done before, and the typical Neuron Mobility team member relishes that kind of opportunity.”
That same spirit of empowerment began at home. “Since I was young, my parents have always encouraged me to decide what I want to do,” Wang shares. He left for boarding school alone as a teenager, then moved to Singapore before finishing high school. “Their unwavering support shaped my independent decision-making, which was very useful in my entrepreneurship journey.”
“And of course,” he adds, “my wife has been my greatest supporter throughout my seemingly endless entrepreneurial pursuits over the past 15 years. Having a supportive family is probably one of the most important parts of being an entrepreneur.”
- FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
- SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
- POWERED BY PEOPLE
- LEARNING IN THE DARK
- LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
LEARNING IN THE DARK
“As entrepreneurs, we have to have contrarian views about something to be able to innovate in a space. Have strong conviction, but always challenge yourself to evolve your understanding.”
Wang is the first to admit the road hasn’t always been clear. “A lot of what we’ve been through was uncharted territory,” he says. “The only way to survive is to be intellectually honest with yourself. We need to have strong opinions, weakly held.
“As entrepreneurs, we have to have contrarian views about something to be able to innovate in a space,” he continues. “Have strong conviction, but always challenge yourself to evolve your understanding.”
It’s a mindset that extends beyond business and into his philanthropic efforts. Through Rezeca, Wang has donated off-grid solar systems to five rural villages in Laos and Thailand – sometimes powering schools that double as community centres.
“One year, on the last night of the trip, we held a lights-on ceremony – the first time the village had ever experienced electric lights and music,” he recalls. “It was incredibly emotional. Knowing how this could change their future… it’s something I’ll never forget.”
- FROM SOLAR DREAMS TO E-SCOOTER SOLUTIONS
- SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIAL LICENCE
- POWERED BY PEOPLE
- LEARNING IN THE DARK
- LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD
Outfit by COS
Now, as he prepares to represent Singapore at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year competition in June, Wang hopes to spotlight more than just Neuron’s success.
“Singapore has a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, driven by innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration,” he says. “I hope to shine a light on our incredible tech sector and how it’s rapidly becoming a hub for disruptive ideas in APAC that can positively impact industries across the globe.”
For all his achievements, Wang remains grounded. “I don’t think it really matters how I am remembered,” he says. “But if what I do helps to make the world a slightly better place, I’ll feel very fulfilled. And if I can help inspire and assist a new generation of entrepreneurs who go on to create great things, that would be fantastic.”
Whether he’s lighting up cities or rural schools, Zachary Wang is proving one thing for certain: Innovation doesn’t just move fast – it moves forward, with purpose.
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