Singapore: The Land of Opportunity

Despite its small size, Singapore has successfully developed into an established financial hub with first-world infrastructure and facilities. Yet, it has not ceased in its aggressive determination to continue pushing its economy to greater heights; and has now turned its focus towards nurturing young start-ups, with billions of dollars invested into government subsidised finance programmes, tax exemptions and business incubators etc.

Funding – An Essential Factor for a Start-Up’s Success

Undeniably, this generous availability of funding for young start-ups is one of the key factors that have made Singapore an ideal destination for budding entrepreneurs; and the nation-state’s long standing policy of meritocracy does not disadvantage foreign entrepreneurs either. In fact, some of Singapore’s most successful start-ups such as DocDoc, Tradegecko, Redmart and Luxola were started by foreign entrepreneurs.

Alexis-Horowitz-Burdick, founder of Luxola, experienced the difficulties of having insufficient funding first-hand when she launched her first start-up venture, SweetSpot, which was eventually sold off to a multinational company for the same amount that she invested, when she realised that the business model could not sustain itself with the limited capital she had.

Indeed, start-ups cannot remain content with an initial burst of success; and must continue to explore means to continuously grow and expand – but for start-ups to grow the level of their operations and increase business activities, they require more funding. Given that approximately 57 per cent of businesses obtain fall back on their personal savings to fund their businesses, entrepreneurs who do not have access to a healthy nest egg may find themselves in the same situation as Luxola’s founder.

Sources of Funding

Besides one’s own personal savings and investments made by close friends and relatives, entrepreneurs would typically source funding from the following:

1. Private investors / venture capitalist firms / business incubators
2. The Government
3. Banks

Private Investors / Venture Capitalist Firms / Business Incubators

There are many private investors, venture capitalist firms and business incubators that an entrepreneur can pitch their ideas to, but such funding usually comes with some form of commitment. For example, they may wish to be actively engaged in management decisions, or may request to be allotted shares. However, the advantage is that these private investment groups are usually led by experienced entrepreneurs and business savvy individuals, who may be able to give an entrepreneur sound advice and/or provide a network through which a business can expand its market reach. In fact, one of the most prominent investors in the Singapore scene is Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

Venture capitalist firms and business incubators such as Golden Gate Ventures, Block 71 and the Joyful Frog Digital Incubator provide an environment where entrepreneurs can congregate together to motivate each other towards success. Another side benefit is that facilities may also be provided to start-ups for a nominal fee.

Read More » Singapore as Third Most Competitive Economy in 2014

Government Financed Schemes

The government also has various financing schemes in place to support local businesses. A snapshot of the various financing schemes and grant schemes that entrepreneurs can apply for, from start-up to internationalisation, are depicted in the table below:

(information from table above extracted from SME Tool Kit Singapore – Financial Assistance Schemes)

As most of these schemes require companies to meet certain criteria, entrepreneurs are encouraged to either seek professional advice or do adequate research before application under any of these schemes.

Besides these government-financed schemes, there are various tax incentive schemes that business owners can benefit from, as seen in the table below:

(information from the table above extracted from SME Tool Kit Singapore – Financial Assistance Schemes  and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore – Tax exemption scheme for new start-up companies)

Read More Corporate Tax Benefits for Singapore Companies

Banks

Of the five business entities in Singapore, only two, (the limited liability partnership and private limited company) would be considered to be separate legal entities. To banks and financial institutions, the legal status of the business entity is especially important when extending banking or credit facilities. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are typically excluded, with the exception of a few term loans that require guarantors and detailed documentation to evidence that the sole proprietorship or partnership has the ability to re-pay the loan within the stipulated period.

Read More Comparison of Different Types of Business Entities in Singapore

Private limited companies can benefit from the Micro-Loan Scheme, which are offered by local banks such as DBS, OCBC and UOB. The risks associated with these loans are split between the local banks and the Standards, Productivity & Innovation Board (SPRING Singapore). By lowering the banks’ risk, banks have been more willing to provide these collateral-free loans without imposing too many obstacles to young companies, who often do not have a track record or sufficient documentation to obtain loans.

A snapshot of the business loan schemes offered by the three banks and their eligibility requirements are summarised in the table below:

Sources: DBS, UOB and OCBC

Business Friendly Environment

Another essential key attraction of the small city-state is its vibrant and dynamic business environment. As noted by Cameron and Bradley Priest, founders of Tradegecko who relocated from New Zealand to Singapore in order to start their business, while New Zealand may be a wonderful country to live in, its remoteness, slower pace and emphasis on lifestyle was not conducive to do business. Similarly, while financial hubs such as Sydney were closer to home, the Priest brothers felt that it still suffered from “a small town feel and mentality”.

Indeed, compared to its peers in the Asia-Pacific region, there are many reasons why Singapore has maintained the top rank globally for the last ten consecutive years in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, which surveys 189 economies across the globe. A snapshot of the accolades and achievements that Singapore has been recognized for is summarized in the infographic below:

Read More » 2015 Singapore Business Rankings

Ultimately, given the many benefits and incentives for entrepreneurs, it would be wise to consider Singapore as a potential destination to locate their start-up. However, as with all business decisions, entrepreneurs should carefully consider all aspects of the business and its intended market. Examples of areas that entrepreneurs may wish to consider are:-

• Using Singapore as a launchpad to reach out to the Asian markets
• Tax Planning in Singapore
• Company setup Options for Foreigners
• Statutory Compliance in Singapore

Nevertheless, with its pro-business policies, tax incentives and strong government support, entrepreneurs will find that Singapore is an ideal starting ground for a start-up to grow and expand its market reach to the region and beyond.

Related Reading » Singapore Company Setup

Suggested Readings

13 Startup Schemes and Grants in Singapore How businesses will be backed as part of the Singapore Budget 2020 Singapore Budget 2018 – Overview of Tax Changes for Businesses and Individuals 6 Startup SG Pillars You Have To Know