Nicholas
Nie
Tak Sum Nie, or Nicholas Nie, is a curious and determined young innovator who always wonders: "How can we push the boundaries of technology to improve people's lives?" With a multicultural background that includes Hong Kong, Shanghai, Indonesia, and Malaysia, Nicholas embodies the spirit of global citizenship in his pursuits.
The Story
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Shanghai, Nicholas's diverse heritage has influenced his worldview. Studying at Shanghai American School, he brings together Eastern and Western perspectives, using this unique lens to approach global challenges. Growing up taught him the importance of adaptability and cross-cultural knowledge, which he applies to his innovative projects.
Ever since Nicholas was 8 years old, he enjoyed playing with Lego and creating different kinds of inventions. Nicholas's journey as an inventor officially began at age 14 when he developed "Habit Hack," a C++-based app to combat gaming addiction in children. He competed against 120,000+ students from 10 nations and won a Global Silver Medal at the Invention Convention World. This experience inspired his passion for using technology to address a critical health and well-being issue. Currently, Nicholas leads the Prosthetic Pioneer team, which invented a groundbreaking prosthetic arm with a torsional range 2.5 times the industry standard. This innovation led to winning the Conrad Challenge's China Ambassador Challenge and the Global Glinsky Best Expo Award, competing against 4000+ students from 50+ countries. These achievements further solidified Nicholas's commitment to developing impactful solutions that fill the gap between technology and societal needs. Outside of innovation, Nicholas has been playing squash since 8 years old.
Looking ahead, Nicholas dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, with his sights set on a college education that will provide him with the skills necessary for a successful career in technology and business. He wants to continue developing technologies that help eliminate gaps and improve lives globally. His multicultural experience and global perspective inspire him to believe innovation will drive profitable societal change.