I Am Gifted, So Are You!, authored by Adam Khoo while he was still a university student, became a national bestseller in Singapore and reached international markets through translation into 12 languages. This early success established a framework for his subsequent career, which spans corporate training, financial education, and the founding of multiple pedagogical and investment-focused business entities.
Early Ventures and Education
Born in 1974, Adam Khoo attended Ping Yi Secondary School before proceeding to Victoria Junior College for his A Levels. He eventually graduated from the National University of Singapore with an honors degree in business administration. His commercial interests emerged early; during his secondary school years, he operated a mobile disco business providing entertainment for private functions. Following his national service, he collaborated with three university peers to establish Creatsoul Entertainment, an event management firm later rebranded as Event Gurus Pte Ltd.
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Khoo expanded into motivational training and instructional design, specifically focusing on neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). In 2002, he co-founded the Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group (AKLTG) with Patrick Cheo to provide corporate and personal development training. He authored Master Your Mind, Design Your Destiny in 2004 to formalize his approach to NLP. In 2003, he developed the I Am Gifted! camp, which targeted children and teenagers with motivational content and study strategies. His use of NLP and specific motivational techniques, such as instructing students to visualize the death of their parents to encourage academic effort, has been the subject of public criticism.
Financial Education and Investment
As a foreign currency trader, Khoo developed an investment methodology titled Value Momentum Investing, which integrates technical analysis with fundamental analysis. In 2009, he co-authored Profit from the Panic, a bestseller that analyzed the US bear market. He further codified his financial education efforts in 2017 by founding Piranha Profits, an online school for traders. The organization includes mentors such as Alson Chew, Bang Pham Van, and YY. He continues to co-host events, including the Black Market 2025 conference.
Public Controversies
Khoo’s public profile has been marked by instances of significant online backlash. In 2019, he published a Facebook post concerning an airport security screening experience in which he described a female security officer as being attractive and suggested she enjoyed the procedure. His remarks, which criticized a perceived double standard regarding gender and security protocols, were subsequently removed from the platform following widespread negative responses.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, Singapore
- Citizenship: Singapore
- Education: Victoria Junior College; National University of Singapore
- Co-founder: Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group
- Founder: Piranha Profits
- Key Publication: I Am Gifted, So Are You!
- Occupations: Entrepreneur, author, foreign currency trader
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Piranha Profits?
Piranha Profits is an online school for investors and traders founded by Khoo in 2017, offering financial education programs led by a team of mentors.
What is Value Momentum Investing?
It is an investment strategy created by Khoo that synthesizes fundamental analysis with technical analysis.
Achievements
- Educated at Victoria Junior College and National University of Singapore
