Singapore hubs

Charmaine Teo

Founder

SingaporeEnglish (English)$ SGD

Charmaine is a tech founder navigating the fast-paced Singapore startup ecosystem, balancing high-growth ambitions with regulatory compliance. This hub covers the essential national schemes, grants, and portals she interacts with to keep her venture compliant and competitive.

Fueling the growth of my venture

Securing non-dilutive funding or co-investment is critical for R&D and scaling operations.

Startup SG Founder

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
First-time entrepreneurs with an innovative business concept.
What you get
Up to $50,000 in startup capital grant.
What it actually costs you
Requires a 1:3 co-matching commitment; requires an Accredited Mentor Partner.
Common gotcha
The mentorship requirement is strict; you must be vetted by an AMP before applying.

Startup SG Tech

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Startups with proprietary technology and a scalable business model.
What you get
Grant support for Proof-of-Concept or Proof-of-Value projects.
What it actually costs you
Requires significant technical documentation and business plan validation.
Common gotcha
The technology must be truly proprietary; simple software integration rarely qualifies.

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Singapore-registered companies with at least 30% local equity.
What you get
Co-funding of up to 50% of qualifying project costs.
What it actually costs you
Requires detailed project proposals and audited financial statements.
Common gotcha
You cannot claim for projects that have already commenced.

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
SMEs looking to expand into overseas markets.
What you get
Up to 50% funding for market entry activities.
What it actually costs you
Requires proof of overseas business development activities.
Common gotcha
Capped at $100,000 per company per new market.

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Businesses adopting pre-approved IT solutions or equipment.
What you get
Up to 50% funding for pre-approved software/hardware.
What it actually costs you
Must use pre-approved vendors listed on the portal.
Common gotcha
Only works for specific pre-approved packages, not custom builds.

Venture Debt Programme

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
High-growth startups with strong intellectual property.
What you get
Risk-sharing for bank loans to support growth.
What it actually costs you
Interest payments to the participating financial institution.
Common gotcha
Not a grant; you must be able to service the debt.

Keeping the ACRA and IRAS files clean

Staying on the right side of corporate law is non-negotiable for a founder.

BizFile+

national · ACRA

Who qualifies
All registered business entities in Singapore.
What you get
Platform for filing annual returns and company changes.
What it actually costs you
Annual filing fees and potential late penalties.
Common gotcha
Missing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) deadline leads to automatic fines.

myTax Portal

national · IRAS

Who qualifies
All corporate entities and business owners.
What you get
Central hub for corporate tax filing and GST registration.
What it actually costs you
Time for accurate bookkeeping and tax computation.
Common gotcha
GST registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds $1 million.

Corporate Income Tax Rebate

national · IRAS

Who qualifies
All tax-paying companies in Singapore.
What you get
Annual percentage rebate on corporate income tax payable.
What it actually costs you
Automatic application upon tax filing.
Common gotcha
The rebate percentage changes annually based on the Budget.

InvoiceNow

national · IMDA

Who qualifies
All businesses using digital invoicing.
What you get
Direct transmission of e-invoices across the Peppol network.
What it actually costs you
Subscription to a Peppol-ready accounting software.
Common gotcha
It is not just a PDF; it must be a structured XML file.

CPF EZPay

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
Employers with Singaporean or PR employees.
What you get
Platform to calculate and pay mandatory CPF contributions.
What it actually costs you
Monthly administrative time and employer contribution costs.
Common gotcha
Late payments incur interest charges and potential prosecution.

EP Online

national · Ministry of Manpower

Who qualifies
Employers hiring foreign talent.
What you get
Portal to apply for Employment Passes and S Passes.
What it actually costs you
Application fees and strict adherence to COMPASS framework.
Common gotcha
The COMPASS points system is dynamic; check your score before applying.

Building the team and my own skills

Scaling a business requires constant upskilling and access to a local talent pool.

SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
Companies that have contributed to workforce transformation.
What you get
Up to $10,000 credit to offset training costs.
What it actually costs you
Must meet specific eligibility criteria regarding CPF contributions.
Common gotcha
The credit is automatically granted; check your eligibility on the portal.

Career Conversion Programmes (CCP)

national · Workforce Singapore

Who qualifies
Companies hiring mid-career switchers.
What you get
Salary support for training mid-career hires.
What it actually costs you
Must provide a structured training plan.
Common gotcha
The hire must be a Singaporean or PR.

SkillsFuture Series

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
All Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get
Subsidized training in emerging tech areas.
What it actually costs you
Course fees after subsidy.
Common gotcha
Credits expire if not used; check your balance regularly.

P-Max Programme

national · Workforce Singapore

Who qualifies
SMEs hiring PMETs.
What you get
Grants for onboarding and mentoring new hires.
What it actually costs you
Must complete a workshop for the supervisor.
Common gotcha
The hire must be a permanent employee.

Tech.Pass

national · EDB

Who qualifies
Experienced tech entrepreneurs and experts.
What you get
Flexibility to work for multiple startups.
What it actually costs you
High salary and experience requirements.
Common gotcha
Very selective; not for entry-level talent.

Global Ready Internship Programme

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Companies offering overseas internships.
What you get
Funding for intern stipends and travel.
What it actually costs you
Must have a structured mentorship plan.
Common gotcha
Internship must be at least 3 months long.

Protecting my IP

My startup's value is in its code and brand; I need to lock it down.

IPOS Digital Hub

national · IPOS

Who qualifies
Any business owner with unique IP.
What you get
Portal for trademark and patent registration.
What it actually costs you
Application and renewal fees.
Common gotcha
Trademark search is essential before filing to avoid rejection.

IP Grow

national · IPOS

Who qualifies
Startups needing IP strategy advice.
What you get
Access to IP experts and strategy consultants.
What it actually costs you
Consultancy fees (often subsidized).
Common gotcha
Not a legal advice service; it is for strategy.

SG IP FAST

national · IPOS

Who qualifies
Companies with urgent IP needs.
What you get
Accelerated patent grant process.
What it actually costs you
Additional processing fees.
Common gotcha
Only for specific technology sectors.

IP Valuation Programme

national · IPOS

Who qualifies
Companies looking to monetize or finance their IP.
What you get
Subsidized professional IP valuation.
What it actually costs you
Remaining balance of valuation fees.
Common gotcha
Must use an IPOS-approved valuer.

Copyright Act Compliance

national · IPOS

Who qualifies
Software and content creators.
What you get
Automatic protection for original works.
What it actually costs you
Documentation of creation date.
Common gotcha
Copyright is automatic, but you need proof of ownership in court.

Patent Application Fund (PAF)

national · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
SMEs filing their first patent.
What you get
Reimbursement for patent application costs.
What it actually costs you
Must have a clear commercialization plan.
Common gotcha
Only covers costs after the application is filed.

State-level schemes

1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.

Singapore新加坡

Singapore offers a highly structured, grant-heavy ecosystem for founders that prioritizes deep-tech innovation and regional scaling from the heart of Southeast Asia.

Fueling my startup's growth

Startup SG Founder

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
First-time entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas
What you get
Up to $50,000 in startup capital grant
What it actually costs you
Requires a 1:3 co-matching contribution from the founder
Common gotcha
You must be accepted into an Accredited Mentor Partner (AMP) program first

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Singapore-registered businesses with at least 30% local shareholding
What you get
Co-funding of up to 50% of qualifying project costs
What it actually costs you
Requires detailed project proposal and financial audit
Common gotcha
Must be for a specific project that upgrades business capabilities

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
SMEs looking to expand into overseas markets
What you get
Up to 50% funding for market entry activities
What it actually costs you
Requires proof of overseas expansion plans
Common gotcha
Capped at $100,000 per company per new market

Tech.Pass

state · Economic Development Board

Who qualifies
High-caliber tech entrepreneurs and experts
What you get
A two-year visa allowing flexibility to switch roles or start businesses
What it actually costs you
High salary or valuation requirements for the applicant
Common gotcha
Not a permanent residency, requires renewal based on business performance

Building my dream team

Career Conversion Programme (CCP)

state · Workforce Singapore

Who qualifies
Companies hiring mid-career switchers
What you get
Salary support of up to 90% during the training period
What it actually costs you
Must provide a structured training plan for the new hire
Common gotcha
The hire must be a Singaporean or Permanent Resident

Global Ready Investment Programme

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Startups hiring interns for overseas exposure
What you get
Funding for internship stipends and travel costs
What it actually costs you
Must be a structured internship program
Common gotcha
Interns must be students from local universities

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

state · Enterprise Singapore

Who qualifies
Businesses adopting pre-approved digital solutions
What you get
Up to 50% funding for IT software and equipment
What it actually costs you
Must use vendors pre-approved by the government
Common gotcha
Only applies to specific, pre-listed software packages