Gillian Tee’s journey from a curious child in Singapore to a trailblazing tech entrepreneur and eldercare reformer is a story of vision, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. Born in 1982, Gillian was raised in a household that championed education, compassion, and self-reliance. Influenced by the caregivers in her own family, especially her mother and grandmother, she grew up with a profound appreciation for the emotional and physical labor that underpins caregiving. These early experiences planted the seeds of empathy and responsibility that would later define her life’s mission.
A high achiever with a keen interest in technology and social systems, Gillian pursued computer science at the University of Melbourne, driven by a belief that tech could solve real-world problems. Her desire to blend innovation with impact led her to Columbia Business School in New York, where she earned an MBA and further sharpened her entrepreneurial instincts.
Her first major success came as co-founder of Rocketrip, a travel tech startup that encouraged cost-saving behaviors among corporate travelers. The venture raised millions in venture capital and enjoyed commercial success. Yet despite the achievements, Gillian felt a deeper calling rooted not just in innovation but in care.
In 2016, she returned to Singapore with a renewed purpose to address the growing challenges of an aging population. Seeing firsthand the emotional and logistical strain eldercare placed on families, she launched Homage, a tech-enabled platform that connects seniors and their families with qualified caregivers and nurses. What began as a daring vision soon evolved into one of Southeast Asia’s most impactful healthtech startups.
Under Gillian’s leadership, Homage has expanded to Malaysia and Australia, raised over USD 45 million in funding, and become a model for technology-led community healthcare. But the path was far from smooth. As a woman founder in a male-dominated tech landscape, Gillian encountered skepticism, unconscious bias, and intense scrutiny, especially while building a company that prioritized both profitability and social impact. Nevertheless, her quiet determination and empathetic leadership style helped her turn adversity into opportunity.
Beyond building a business, Gillian has become a symbol of female empowerment and social entrepreneurship in the region. She is frequently featured in Forbes, Tech in Asia, and global innovation platforms, recognized as a thought leader at the intersection of aging, technology, and care. Her journey has inspired countless women to break into tech, lead with purpose, and redefine success.
Today, as CEO of Homage, Gillian Tee continues to innovate at the frontiers of eldercare, reshaping how society supports its aging members while championing women’s leadership in business. Her legacy lies not only in the lives improved through her work but in the mindset shift she has sparked: that profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive, and that women can lead both boldly and compassionately.
Gillian’s story is a roadmap for the next generation of changemakers, especially young women, who dream not just of building companies but of building a better world.