Humans of Orchan | Farrell Tan | The Story Continues

Humans of Orchan | Farrell Tan | The Story Continues

 

It’s been a while since I last wrote about myself - probably because I’ve already shared the “origin story” of how I stumbled into this industry (if you missed it, you can catch it here: Humans of Orchan | Farrell Tan ("The Other Boss"). That was just before my 40th birthday. Fast forward a few years, and I find myself looking ahead - asking the inevitable “what’s next?”

Orchan will always be my first “baby.” But like any restless parent, I started toying with the idea of having another. I bounced ideas off the team, leaned on mentors, swapped notes with friends who are disrupting the status quo, and watched clients push boundaries with ridiculous creativity. Yet nothing clicked. The truth is, ideas can’t be forced. They arrive when you least expect them - sometimes from the unlikeliest places.

I guess this is where I introduce our new “baby”: The Third Degree.

The idea had been floating around for years; Craig had mentioned it more than once, but running an agency rarely gives you breathing space to stop and build something new. The lockdown changed that. Like everyone, I hated being stuck inside, watching projects stall. But silver linings matter: that pause gave us the window to turn the idea into reality.

So, what is The Third Degree? Officially, it’s a resource and academic consulting platform supporting post-graduate research students. My shorthand version: think LinkedIn for the next generation of academic researchers.

Here’s why it matters. Existing support for research students is fragmented. Some agencies help master’s students “learn the ropes.” A handful focus on PhD-level guidance, but often as individuals or tiny collectives - good for editing or stats help, but not scalable, and rarely covering the full journey. And sure, there’s free content on YouTube, but credibility is anyone’s guess.

We’re building something different: a vetted community. Research students get access not only to proven academics and experts, but also to each other. Alongside tailored resources i.e., videos, text, consultations, they’ll find real connectivity: scholarships, post-docs, job opportunities, and field experts. It’s not just advice; it’s an ecosystem designed to raise outputs and careers.

Universities should fill that gap, but resource constraints mean many fall short. That’s where we come in.

We’re still in early days, making tweaks as we go; because in tech, change isn’t optional, it’s the constant. But the end goal is clear: to give research students a network they can rely on, and to redefine how academic growth is supported.

So how does a small-town boy who built a career out of “communicating” end up venturing into tech? Some might call it gradual, but I see it as serendipity. And maybe serendipity is just intention waiting for the right moment. Either way, The Third Degree isn’t just a side project - it’s our next chapter, and one we believe can change how research students connect, learn, and grow.