Singapore Management University
The Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship anchors the SMU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Area of Excellence. IIE is a practice-oriented institute that provides support for innovation and entrepreneurship related activities across all the schools at SMU. IIE activities range from events, competitions, networking sessions, workshops, training programmes, study missions and internships for entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs, as well as a full-fledged incubation programme which helps aspiring entrepreneurs take their ideas to market.
Kairos Asean
“What if the world’s most influential leaders were friends 20 years ago, working together to tackle some of the biggest problems?”
Kairos ASEAN is a highly curated community of young entrepreneurial talents across Southeast Asia. As part of the global Kairos Society with supporters such as Bill Clinton, Richard Branson and Peter Diamandis, it challenges the next generation of entrepreneurs to solve big problems where governments and the industries have previously failed.
Launched in 2014, Kairos ASEAN has expanded to 6 countries with over 100 members and mentors. It offers a network of executives, strategic investors, advisors and fellow entrepreneurs to support young individuals who are building businesses and meaningful ventures that change the world. Regional initiatives such as the K360 Business Mission and Kairos Sharing Table offers members the opportunity to be connected both locally and beyond.
Investment Committee
Collaborating with the Best.
We work with industry leaders to provide the best startup resources.
Funding Partners
Wavemaker Partners
Wavemaker Partners is an early stage VC headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2003, it has made more than 150 investments in internet, mobile and enterprise technology companies and has consistently delivered top quartile returns with companies like MindBody (NASDAQ: MB), DigitalGlobe (NYSE: DIGI) and Viagogo. Wavemaker Partners opened its Singapore office in 2012 and is led by entrepreneurs from the region who have built and exited companies. It now has more than 50 portfolio companies in the region including Luxola (acquired by LVMH), Pie (acquired by Google) and Art of Click (acquired by Xurpas). It is a member of the Draper Venture Network, the world’s leading venture capital collective with 10 funds spread across 4 continents.
Dr. Jeffrey Chi
Dr. Jeffrey Chi is Managing Director of Vickers Venture Partners and Vice Chairman (Asia Investments) at Vickers Capital Group. Dr. Chi is concurrently Ambassador and the Former Chairman of the Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. His experience spans a variety of industries including information technology, financial services and healthcare. As a Founding member of its team, Dr Chi helped build Vickers Venture Partners to its current scale.
Strategic Partners
Legal Partner
Lee & Lee
Founded in 1955 by the late Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew together with his wife Madam Kwa Geok Choo and brother Mr Lee Kim Yew, Lee & Lee is recognised by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 as one of the most well-regarded full-service law firms in Singapore. The firm has in recent years been actively advising startup companies in seed stage and VC stage funding round deals in Singapore. Some prominent startup companies that the firm has advised include Grab and Zimplistic.
Community Partners
AngelHub
AngelHub is Hong Kong’s first SFC licensed startup investment platform for professional investors and global startups raising growth capital. AngelHub democratises fundraising: By combining the professionalism of VCs, flexibility of Angel Investing and the power of key strategic partnerships, they make highly vetted global startups accessible to professional investors.