From Facing Depression to Starting an Audio Company
By Joshua Emmanuel Wong profile image Joshua Emmanuel Wong
5 min read

From Facing Depression to Starting an Audio Company

Before launching his audio company Zerest Audio with his co-founder Melissa two years ago, Jeremy faced numerous challenges, the most significant of which was depression. He overcame his depression and all the other obstacles life threw at him with grit and perseverance. He is now happily focused on building Zerest

Before launching his audio company Zerest Audio with his co-founder Melissa two years ago, Jeremy faced numerous challenges, the most significant of which was depression. He overcame his depression and all the other obstacles life threw at him with grit and perseverance. He is now happily focused on building Zerest Audio, which he is extremely passionate about.

What prompted you to start a business in the audio industry?

My journey began five years ago as a sales intern at COURTS. I was in charge of selling the store's audio products. I knew nothing about sales at the time. It didn't help that the other salespeople weren't interested in selling audio products, so I didn't get much advice or direction.

It wasn't until a few helpful promoters from another audio company approached me and taught me how to sell that everything changed. I joined the audio company where these promoters worked shortly after leaving COURTS. I began selling a lot and realized that I have a lot of sales potential. After selling audio products for a while, I became interested in the industry. I was given numerous opportunities to learn more about other audio brands and to study the competition. I have the belief that:

You have to be knowledgeable on at least 5 things about your product. But if you're knowledgeable on 5 things about your product, you need to be knowledgeable on at least 10 things about your competitors' products.

With that conviction, I began delving deeper into the world of audio and other fantastic products manufactured by other companies. I gradually became an audiophile over time, which is why I knew I had to start an audio company with my co-founder Melissa.


How did you come to meet your co-founder in a psychiatric ward?

I had a history of depression before being officially diagnosed in 2019. In 2021, I met my co-founder Melissa in a psychiatric ward. Melissa had a hobby of making handmade IEMs (In-Ear Monitors), which she sold a lot of. We decided to start Zerest Audio together two months later because we both had a similar interest and enthusiasm for audio.


How do you balance running the business and studying?

As a full-time CEO and a full-time student, I can confidently say that juggling both is difficult. The main reason is that I have very high expectations of myself and my team. I wanted to excel in school while expanding my business. When I first started university, I took three to four modules per trimester. I also spent at least three nights a week studying at the airport. Juggling all of those modules as well as my business frequently left me exhausted and overwhelmed.

Because I hold my team members to a higher standard, I had to set a good example and do my part. So, after my first year of university, I decided to limit myself to only 1-2 modules per trimester. This allows me to better balance my business and my studies while also reducing burnout.

My advice to people who want to be student entrepreneurs is to strongly consider your options and the sacrifices that you have to make. It is important to make sure that you have some free time to rest in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

We need to learn how to differentiate between a hobby and a business. A hobby can be a business, but a business cannot stay a hobby.


What is the best piece of advice you have received?

The best piece of advice comes from my father when we had drinks at a bar. "Even if you're confident, and I believe in you," he said. "At some point in life, you will fail. But, no matter what, you must always stand back up."

That gave me a lot of confidence because I needed that type of support from my father. After hearing that advice at the bar, I knew that I will make Zerest Audio great and that I will always stand up after every failure.


What are the 3 values that you live by?

First is hard work. Nothing is given, and nothing is free in life. Hard work is required if you want to succeed.

The second is sincerity. In business and in life, you must always be sincere with people. When you are sincere with others, you will gradually begin to build great and honest relationships.

The third value is honesty. You have to always be honest with people and honest with yourself. Self-discovery begins when you are honest with yourself.


What advice will you give to someone who is dealing with mental health problems?

*I want to preface this by saying that I am not a professional, I'm just sharing my personal thoughts and advice.

The first is to value and love yourself. You must love yourself more than you expect others to. When it comes to self-worth and love, you cannot depend on others.

The second is to find what makes you happy. Tap into your head and ask yourself what hobbies and activities bring you joy.

Most importantly, seek help if your mental health worsens. Don't be afraid to seek professional counselling. My life changed because I chose to seek help. Make an appointment at a local polyclinic. Polyclinics are heavily subsidised so you don't have to worry much about financial costs.

I'd like to thank Jeremy for taking the time to do this interview! We had in-depth and insightful discussions about life and business. Stay tuned for the release of Zerest Audio's latest true wireless buds in June!

Joshua's Additional Notes on Mental Health

According to the WHO World Mental Health report published earlier this year, depression and anxiety rose 25% in the first year of the pandemic. It's a growing issue that I take very seriously. I strongly advise anyone suffering from Depression or Anxiety to seek professional help. I'll be including the relevant support helplines below.

Find A Helpline | Free emotional support in 130+ countries
Global vetted directory of helplines, hotlines and crisis lines. Chat, text or phone support with suicide, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, gender& sexual identity and more.
gov.sg | Call these helplines if you need emotional or psychological support
How do I help a loved one with depression? | Blog | Doctor Anywhere
It may be hard to see a loved one struggling with their mental health. Here are some things we can do to support someone with depression.
By Joshua Emmanuel Wong profile image Joshua Emmanuel Wong
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