From Carousell to Cyber Trust: Digipixel’s Journey of Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
At the SME 500 2024 Gala Dinner held at Marina Bay Sands, Leon, Director of Digipixel Pte Ltd, shared the inspiring story of his digital agency. The journey of Digipixel is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
Starting from Scratch: How Digipixel Got Its First Client on Carousell
Leon began by recounting how Digipixel came to life during the height of the pandemic in 2020. His father’s engineering firm, which thrived for over two decades through traditional methods like word-of-mouth and handshakes, suddenly faced a standstill. “What used to work doesn’t work now,” his father admitted, highlighting the urgent need for digitalisation.
With no team and no clients, Leon took a leap of faith and founded Digipixel. Instead of following traditional routes, he turned to Carousell, a platform known for buying and selling goods. He listed Digipixel’s web design services, and to his surprise, an SME took a chance on him. This first project became the foundation of Digipixel’s credibility, resulting in its first testimonial and creating a spark that propelled the agency forward.
This unconventional approach taught Leon a valuable lesson: when faced with challenges, think creatively and explore unconventional opportunities.
The Role of Cybersecurity in Building Trust
As Digipixel grew, Leon realised that a good website is not just about aesthetics—it’s about trust. In today’s digital age, trust begins with cybersecurity. Websites handle sensitive data like personal information and payment details, and protecting that data is critical.
This understanding shaped Digipixel’s unique niche: combining creativity and cybersecurity to offer solutions that are both innovative and secure. In 2021, Leon discovered the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore’s Cybersafe Programme, which provided Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust certifications. The process was rigorous, but Leon recognised it as a way to differentiate Digipixel in a competitive market.
By 2022, Digipixel earned the Cyber Essentials mark, boosting its credibility and ability to take on larger projects. In January 2024, the agency achieved the prestigious Cyber Trust certification. This milestone transformed Digipixel’s operations, embedding cybersecurity into every aspect of its solutions. Their tagline, Secure by Design, Creative by Nature, became a reflection of their commitment to building trustworthy and innovative solutions.
Making Digital Solutions Accessible to SMEs
Despite these achievements, Digipixel encountered a new challenge: affordability. Many SMEs recognised the value of digital transformation but were limited by tight budgets. To address this, Digipixel became a Pre-Approved Solution Provider under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) in 2024.
This designation allowed SMEs to access Digipixel’s ecommerce services with up to 50% funding support. By leveraging the PSG, Digipixel made its secure, scalable, and creative solutions more accessible to smaller businesses. This initiative not only supported SMEs in their digital transformation journey but also reinforced Digipixel’s role as a trusted partner in their growth.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
Reflecting on Digipixel’s journey, Leon shared a powerful insight: challenges don’t come with polite warnings—they disrupt plans and demand adaptability. From landing the first client on Carousell to becoming Cyber Trust certified and a PSG-approved provider, Digipixel’s story illustrates the importance of resourcefulness and resilience.
Leon closed his speech with gratitude for his team, clients, and partners who believed in Digipixel’s vision. He left the audience with an inspiring message: “Don’t fear challenges—welcome them, fight them, and laugh at them when you win. And if all else fails, call me. At the very least, I’ll build you a better website.”
The Road Ahead
Today, Digipixel continues to lead the way in delivering secure, creative, and scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes. Its journey serves as a reminder that every obstacle is an opportunity waiting to be seized.
Stay tuned as Digipixel continues to redefine digital solutions, turning challenges into stepping stones for success.
