‘How come you’re so young?’: Gen Z couple takes on Singapore’s established bullion dealers

[SINGAPORE] In his final year as an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (NUS), 26-year-old Ian Chan took a gap semester to open a physical store for Big Bullion, the precious metals startup he first launched online with his fiancee Charmaine Chua, 25, in December 2025.

The pair pooled around half a million dollars to start the company, combining investments from family and friends, as well as savings from Chan’s earnings from his side hustle as a financial adviser.

Now, the Gen Z couple is attempting to carve a niche for themselves in an industry dominated by decades-old incumbents, where barriers to entry are high.