Talent Stories: Un Kuan Che & AskGrant

Welcome to the highlights of Herizon Internship Program! ✨

We interviewed Un Kuan Che, a student at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, who shared her journey in the program with us.

Un Kuan collaborated with AskGrant, an AI-powered platform that simplifies access to environmental funding by consolidating information from hundreds of schemes and translating bureaucratic language into clear, actionable advice.

Here’s a highlight of Un Kuan’s experience:

✨ This internship is about learning how to work in the real world with real-life projects. You don’t just follow a step-by-step guide; you must figure things out, adapt, and take ownership of your work. That’s what makes it such a valuable experience.

My journey in Herizon HIP Program with AskGrant

Working with my matching company AskGrant was a mix of exploration, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. Since it’s a remote-first company and has also been in the process of discovering how AI-powered automation could be integrated into their operations, I wasn’t just following an existing roadmap - I was part of shaping it.

In the beginning, my role was quite open-ended, I had a lot of autonomy to research, test, and build solutions independently. To navigate this, I explored different AI automation platforms and worked through their technical modules, evaluating their capabilities for real-world integration. This process was more than just testing tools - it involved understanding data structures, cross-platform integration, and optimizing workflow logic, all of which are essential software development skills.

Of course, working with an evolving AI platform wasn’t always smooth - there were technical limitations, unstable modules, and system crashes - but that’s what made it such a valuable experience. I had to think critically, debug issues, and adjust strategies to find workarounds and get things running efficiently.

What I really appreciated about AskGrant was their trust in my ability to explore, test, and refine solutions. The CEO and CTO were supportive, giving me space to experiment while also checking in regularly for updates. The biggest takeaway? In software development, adaptability is key, technologies are constantly evolving, and being open to exploration, iteration, and structured problem-solving is just as important as technical skills. Even though my workflows are still evolving, this experience reinforced my ability to navigate AI-driven automation, work with real-world system constraints, and apply programming logic in a dynamic, tech-driven environment.

What was the project scope and what have you achieved?

One of my biggest contributions was the development of an AI-powered news scraping workflow using an AI automation platform. The goal was to automate the process of collecting and summarizing grant-related news, making it easier for AskGrant to send monthly newsletters to its customers.

However, this wasn’t a straightforward success - the platform’s limitations meant that I had to break down the automation into smaller, separate workflows to avoid crashes. Even then, the modules were still evolving, so there’s room for further fine-tuning in the future. While it wasn’t a ‘perfect’ implementation, the progress I made provided a strong foundation for AskGrant to continue refining the process.

Another big takeaway from this project was learning how to navigate AI automation limitations in real-world applications. It wasn’t just about getting a tool to work - it was about understanding how businesses can use automation effectively while staying flexible with evolving technologies.

Beyond my work at AskGrant, this internship directly inspired me to create my own AI project. While researching AI workflow automation, I got the idea to build a personal AI-generated resume tool using Google Gemini AI, helping students automatically generate structured CVs based on their job titles and experience, and to share and download from the website. I never expected that my internship research would lead to this, but it really proved to me that every learning experience can open new doors.

How has the collaboration been with Herizon?

Herizon was a great support system throughout my internship. The Monday Reports and structured OKRs helped me track my progress, but what stood out the most were the bi-weekly intern sessions. These were spaces where we could openly discuss challenges, share wins, and get guidance on everything from company communication to overcoming technical roadblocks.

Even though I couldn’t always attend live sessions, I made sure to review the recordings and reflect on how to apply the insights to my work. The IT track alumni sessions were also incredibly valuable, hearing how past interns navigated their internships (and how some even landed jobs through HIP connections) was both motivating and reassuring.

A highlight for me was the mentorship program, where I had the chance to have a one-on-one session with my mentor, Bilal Tabassam. In that session, we discussed topics that really helped me gain clarity, including how to set clear goals, measure impact in my work, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and grow my software development skills through project-based learning. One piece of advice that stuck with me was:

💡 "Every step counts, you just need to be patient."

At that point, I was feeling a bit lost about how to demonstrate my progress and technical skills, and that conversation helped me reset my perspective and move forward with more confidence.

Herizon also fostered a sense of community - I never felt like I was doing this internship alone. Even though I was working independently at AskGrant, knowing there were other interns facing similar challenges made the experience feel more connected.

What was the most rewarding moment of your internship — something that made you think, "I actually did that!"?

The most rewarding moment wasn’t a single breakthrough but rather the entire process leading up to it - the overwhelming amount of research, trial and error, and problem-solving that eventually came together into a working AI automation workflow.

At the start, I had no clear roadmap - I was exploring different AI automation platforms, testing their capabilities, and figuring out which tools could work for my company's needs. There were times when it felt like too much - jumping between different platforms, testing modules that didn’t work as expected, dealing with system crashes, and constantly adjusting my approach. I remember thinking, "How am I supposed to pull all of this together?"

But what kept me going was the structured discussions with the CEO and CTO, where I received feedback, direction, and reassurance that my efforts were moving in the right direction. Instead of worrying about finding the "perfect" solution, I started focusing on iterating and improving based on insights from each test and discussion. Eventually, everything clicked, and I successfully built a functional workflow that automated content processing, making a real impact on the company's automation efforts.

Looking back, that sense of pushing through the uncertainty, breaking down the complexity, and ultimately delivering a working solution was the most rewarding part. It proved to me that even when something feels overwhelming, if you keep breaking it down, testing, and refining - it will come together in the end.

Was there a moment when you felt completely out of your comfort zone? How did you adapt, and what did you learn from the experience?

Honestly, this entire internship was a step outside of my comfort zone. I wasn’t just executing pre-defined tasks - I was navigating an evolving AI automation landscape, often having to figure things out as I went.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was not to isolate myself when facing challenges. In the beginning, I had the mindset that I needed to solve all the technical problems on my own, diving deep into troubleshooting and experimenting. But as I progressed, I realized that teamwork - communicating openly with the CEO, CTO, and the team in Slack and weekly meetings - made everything more effective.

What was the most unexpected skill or lesson you gained during your internship?

One of the most unexpected lessons I gained was that building software solutions isn't just about writing code - it's about how you structure and communicate your work.

Before this internship, I thought my main challenge would be developing AI automation workflows, but I quickly realized that documenting progress, presenting findings, and explaining technical decisions were just as important. The Monday Reports, OKRs, and meetings with leadership pushed me to think beyond just execution - how do I break down problems? How do I communicate solutions in a way that makes sense to non-technical stakeholders?

Another unexpected skill was learning how to navigate uncertainty in technology. When working with AI automation tools, I had to accept that some things wouldn’t work as expected - modules could crash, documentation could be unclear, and solutions wouldn’t always be straightforward. Instead of looking for a perfect answer, I learned to experiment, iterate, and adapt - which is something I know will be valuable in any future software development role.

What motivated you throughout the internship? Were there specific moments, people, or goals that kept you going?

A big motivator for me was the constant sense of progress - even the small wins felt meaningful. Every time I solved a technical issue, refined my workflow, or received feedback from my team, it reinforced that I was moving in the right direction.

Another major inspiration was the mentorship session with Bilal Tabassam. When I felt lost about how to showcase my skills, he reminded me that "Every step counts, and patience is key." That advice stuck with me, especially during moments of frustration. It made me focus less on immediate results and more on the learning process itself.

But what really kept me going was the realization of AI’s potential. As I worked on automating content workflows, I became fascinated with how AI could streamline tasks, generate structured data, and simplify decision-making. This curiosity led me to build my own personal project - a resume generator using Google Gemini AI - where I applied the same concepts I had learned during my internship to create something useful for students like myself. Seeing that I could take what I had learned and turn it into something real was one of the biggest motivators throughout my journey.

Would you recommend other students to join this program as well? If yes, why?

100% yes! This internship is about learning how to work in the real world with real life projects. You don’t just follow a step-by-step guide; you must figure things out, adapt, and take ownership of your work. That’s what makes it such a valuable experience.

I also love that HIP isn’t limited to just one field. Even if you’re studying software development like me, your internship might introduce you to AI automation, business processes, or marketing strategies, expanding your knowledge in ways you didn’t expect.

For me, I walked away with hands-on experience in AI automation, workflow optimization, and real-world problem-solving, and even got inspired to start my own AI project along the way. If you’re looking for an internship that challenges you to think, experiment, and grow, this is it.

Commentary by Triin Uustalu, CEO at AskGrant

We decided to join Herizon Internship Program, as were keen to support and work with diverse talent while getting additional hands-on marketing-related tasks. The program seemed like a great opportunity to bring in fresh perspectives. Both my co-founder and I have received a lot of support throughout our startup journey, so we feel it’s only right to give back and help the next wave of talent looking to enter this industry.

The program is well-structured, and Herizon provides good support throughout. It’s a great way to engage with motivated interns, though ensuring a strong mutual fit is key to making the most out of the collaboration.

A key lesson is that active collaboration from all stakeholders—the company, the intern, and Herizon—is crucial for success. Aligning expectations from the start and reinforcing them throughout the program ensures a smoother experience and more valuable outcomes for everyone involved. The most successful interns are those who see beyond short-term tasks and actively engage with the company’s mission.

Un Kuan, thank you for participating in Herizon Internship Program! We wish you progress and success in your current and upcoming projects!💜