“Don’t let being the ‘only woman in the room’ hold you back.”

When asked to pose candidly for a photo during the interview, Camellia Chan threw a playful punch towards May Chng, demonstrating a move from her kickboxing class. May, unfazed, simply laughed and played along. It was a lighthearted moment, but one that captured their partnership: fearless, unshakable, and ready for any challenge.

As co-founders of Flexxon, Camellia and May are leading a revolution in cybersecurity, not just as entrepreneurs but as women thriving in a male-dominated industry.

They didn’t start as cybersecurity veterans. Their journey began in industrial storage solutions, but when cyber threats surged and storage devices became prime targets, they saw an opportunity to transform how data is protected at its core.

May recalled the moment they realised the opportunity. “Customers started asking if we had solutions to help them protect their data, and it became clear that we had a responsibility to step up.”

Instead of adding another layer of external security, they went straight to the source. Their breakthrough: X-PHY, the world’s first AI-embedded solid-state drive (SSD) that autonomously detects and neutralises cyber threats at the hardware level.

“Unlike traditional software security solutions that rely on updates and human intervention, X-PHY operates autonomously at the hardware level, detecting and neutralising threats in real time,” says Camellia.

Flexxon knew they needed to prove their innovation on the biggest stage. That meant one thing: expanding into the United States. They set up X-PHY Inc. in Silicon Valley and Maryland, positioning themselves among top industry players.

The US market moves fast and demands immediate proof of value,” says Camellia. “This pushed us to work extremely hard to showcase how X-PHY fills a critical gap in cybersecurity.”

To navigate this fast-moving landscape, Flexxon connected with B71 Silicon Valley, gaining valuable mentorship and industry insights that helped sharpen their strategy in a highly competitive market.

Still, gaining traction in such a competitive market meant proving X-PHY’s real-world impact. As they showcased its capabilities, strong interest from industry leaders followed, leading to multiple Proof-of-Concept (PoC) engagements, a testament to their persistence and belief in their vision.

With 43 patents in its IP portfolio, Flexxon is proving that hardware-layer security is not just an idea, it is the future.

Yet, despite their success, Camellia and May are aware of how few women are leading in deep-tech industries. “Since women only make up about a quarter of the world’s cybersecurity workforce, your presence in this field is already making a difference,” said Camellia. “But we need to go further.”

“The industry moves fast, but bold innovation and persistence open doors,” says May. “If you have a strong solution and a clear mission, the right opportunities will come.”

“Most importantly, don’t let being the ‘only woman in the room’ hold you back,” Camellia adds. “Your skills, ideas, and leadership are essential in shaping the future of cybersecurity.”

To support others in the community, Camellia has recently started as Board Director & Founding Mentor at the Alma Atma Network, a new social organisation that aims to help students in the US access high-quality mentorship and resources, regardless of background.

Flexxon is not slowing down. Their focus is now on expanding the X-PHY ecosystem, strengthening their US presence, and forming strategic collaborations with enterprises, PC manufacturers, and governments to drive wider adoption of AI-powered security.

They have also been selected for a pilot IP financing programme, supported by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), and a local bank, to unlock further funding based on the value of their intellectual property.

Practical Advice and know-hows on expanding to the United States

1. Know Your Unique Value Proposition: The US market is highly saturated, so it’s critical to differentiate yourself. Introducing hardware-based AI cybersecurity was a completely new approach that helped us stand out.
2. Build Strategic Partnerships: Partnering with industry leaders, tech innovators, and local experts accelerates credibility and opens doors. We’ve seen strong interest and PoC engagements by working with the right stakeholders.
3. Be Ready to Move Fast: The pace of business in the US is rapid, and companies expect immediate proof of value. So, you need to be extra proactive, show results, and adapt quickly to feedback.
4. Invest in a local office: While technology allows for global connectivity, having a physical presence in the US is invaluable. Establishing our presence here strengthens our ability to serve enterprise customers, collaborate with government and industry stakeholders, and scale our business globally.

We started our journey incubating at B71 Silicon Valley. The team, Angeline Tan and Vincent Song, have strengthened our understanding of the market and continue to provide invaluable support. We also leveraged the networking opportunities, events and support provided under BLOCK71’s global network.

5. Stay resilient and believe in your innovation: Entering a new market is always a challenge, but persistence is key. The US market is competitive, but it also rewards bold innovation and determination.

Flexxon’s innovation is transforming cybersecurity, but for Camellia and May, the mission goes beyond technology. It is about reshaping the industry itself: who gets to lead, who gets to build, and who gets to make an impact.

Flexxon is not just protecting the future of digital security, they are reshaping who gets to lead it.

Find out more about Flexxon and BLOCK71 Silicon Valley’s Market Exploration Programme for Summer 2025.

2007:

• Camellia Chan and May Chng found Flexxon in Singapore as an industrial NAND flash storage and memory solutions provider

2021:

• Launches X-PHY, the world’s first AI-embedded, autonomous, hardware-level cybersecurity SSD

2022:

• Wins the WIPO IP Enterprise Medal and the IPOS IP for Innovation Award; Camellia Chan invited to present at the White House’s Counter Ransomware Initiative; Flexxon takes part in an Enterprise Singapore-led mission to the SelectUSA Investment Summit, places 2nd in the start-up pitching competition, and is selected for Maryland’s Global Gateway Soft Landing Programme

2023:

• Wins the WIPO Global Award in Geneva (1 of 7 winners from 548 applicants across 58 countries); Camellia Chan named to Singapore’s SG100 Women in Tech list; X-PHY Inc. officially established in Silicon Valley and Maryland (September 2023)

Ongoing:

• Builds an IP portfolio of 43 patents; connects with BLOCK71 Silicon Valley for mentorship; secures multiple Proof-of-Concept engagements with industry leaders; Camellia Chan appointed Board Director & Founding Mentor at the Alma Atma Network; selected for a pilot IP financing programme with WIPO, IPOS, and a local bank