Singapore's Flourishing Startup Ecosystem: A Week of Recognition, Celebration, and Connection

The buzz and vibrancy in Singapore's startup ecosystem is palpable. Startup Genome, a global innovation policy advisory and research firm, has recently ranked Singapore 8th worldwide, recognizing our thriving and dynamic ecosystem. This week, a series of events have amplified this very buzz, bringing the community together in a variety of settings - from grand stages to casual networking nights.

Starting the week on a high note was the annual Echelon, organized by e27 (Optimatic) . Keep it going, Mohan Belani , Thaddeus Jit Siong Koh and Justin C. !

This event brought together the most promising startups, influential speakers, and keen investors from across Asia. The winner of the 2023 TOP100 at the Echelon Asia Summit was the FinTech company, Longan Group . Ethical and inclusive, Longan Group supports consumers and financial institutions in managing their finances efficiently. Their goal? To solve consumer indebtedness and promote financial health among two billion people across Asia. Congrats Boris Batine and Alexander Dunaev !

The TOP100 finalists also featured notable startups including

????(ALPHACIRCLE) | AYO Indonesia | Boost Capital | EkkBaz.AI | Letitu Corp. | NextPay (YC W21) | Pajak.io | Quest | Retimark

The final decision was in the hands of an esteemed panel of judges consisting of industry leaders and experts.

Weisheng Neo | Susli Lie | Martin Cu | Tanuja Rajah | Johan Surani

As the week continued, so did the celebrations. The ACE.SG (Action Community for Entrepreneurship) commemorated its 20th anniversary with a grand gala dinner and startup award ceremony. The event, a testament to our startup community's spirit and resilience, saw founders and innovators trading their day-to-day attire for elegant black-tie suits.?Was grateful for the invitation from Alvin Chiang . Glad to be part of this celebration with Minister Tan See Leng , Chairman 陈中 , CEO Florence Neo , and many of our tech ecosystem friends. Good to see you, Wong Keh Jing (KJ) , STEFFAN FUNG (ステファン?フォン) , Kee Zhong Frank CHOO , Tiang Lim Foo , Yean Cheong 张苑青 , Zhihan Yeo , Frank Lee , Eugene Goh , Zanyu Ang

As part of the festivities, ACE announced its rebranding to ACE SG, reinforcing its commitment to the Singaporean startup scene. Despite global uncertainties, Singapore has successfully maintained its reputation as a premier investment destination for startups. The evening was a celebration of our collective ambition, culminating with some of us indulging in a Singaporean treat - Durians, while still in our suits!

ACE Startup Awards: WhiteCoat Global | Glints | Endowus | Eezee | Nanolumi | Octomate by HRnet | Speedoc | Straits Interactive | Sydrogen Energy | Sustenir Group

ACE Ecosystem Enabler Award: The Sandbox - Ngee Ann Polytechnic

The festivities extended into our own quarterly tech networking drinks, a casual meetup that brings together VCs, tech companies, and ecosystem partners. Held at Hot Kitchen at 79 Anson, the gathering saw an attendance of 113 participants, all networking and engaging in insightful discussions in a relaxed, casual setting. It was indeed heartening to witness the community come together, fostering connections, and strengthening the ties that make our ecosystem thrive.

As Minister Tan See Leng aptly quoted Helen Keller at the ACE SG Gala Dinner, "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." Let's continue to work together in cultivating a robust, resilient, and globally competitive startup ecosystem.

To 20 more years of innovation, growth, and successful partnerships with ACE SG, and to many more weeks of celebrations and networking just like this one! Here's to our thriving Singaporean startup ecosystem.