Our Team
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 PartnersLegal 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.
Ng Yi Ming
Batch 2017/18
Vijay Rajendran
Batch 2017/18
Jefrizal Zainal
Batch 2017/18
Lionell Loh
Batch 2017/18
Emily Heng
Batch 2017/18
Mitchell Tan Ming Kai
Batch 2018/19
Aloysius Ng
Batch 2018/19
Daniel Lam
Batch 2018/19
Ashley Yunyi Zhao
Batch 2019/20
Isaac Kwa
Batch 2019/20
Manoj Sandur Karnik
Batch 2019/20
Mohammed Nadirsha
Batch 2019/20
Tommy Tan
Batch 2019/20
Sendi Heng
Batch 2017/18
Goh Wei Jiang
Batch 2017/18
John Ser
Batch 2017/18
Louis Wong
Batch 2017/18
Pascal Samsoon
Batch 2018/19
Febrin Low
Batch 2018/19
Aloysius Toh
Batch 2018/19
Darien Soh
Batch 2018/19
Daniel Yuan Qiang Wong
Batch 2019/20
Joe Lee
Batch 2019/20
Ong Yao De
Batch 2019/20
Marcus Chan Chek Lam
Batch 2019/20
Tao Huang
Batch 2017/18
Ng Han Ying
Batch 2017/18
Justin Quek
Batch 2017/18
Amos Goh
Batch 2017/18
Theodora Boo
Batch 2018/19
Kelly Fong
Batch 2018/19
Badai Tanmizi
Batch 2018/19
Andrew Lee
Batch 2019/20
Ernest Tay
Batch 2019/20
Julian Chong
Batch 2019/20
Renae Pung Yun Ning
Batch 2019/20
Marcus Cheu
Batch 2019/20
Teng Yun Wei
Batch 2017/18
Grace Fun
Batch 2017/18
Kyle Tan
Batch 2017/18
Benjamin Aw
Batch 2017/18
Yong Hua Bing
Batch 2018/19
Khine Wai
Batch 2018/19
Bosen Xia
Batch 2018/19
Arcadia Ang
Batch 2019/20
Ho Yan Yi
Batch 2019/20
Laura Tang
Batch 2019/20
Tejas Pal
Batch 2019/20
Mark Lee Wei Bin
Batch 2019/20
Justin Quek
Since joining Protégé Ventures, my understanding of Venture Capital has accelerated. The industry mentors, case studies and hands-on work with student ventures have pushed me to be more critical yet collaborative. Helping student founders learn about fundraising, hiring, launch and growth strategies have been a value add for me.
Justin Quek, Former Partner Protégé Ventures
Grace Fun
It has been inspiring, meeting and working alongside some really smart people in the team, as well as passionate founders who have been courageous enough to take the first step in building something to solve problems they perceive in society.
Grace Fun, Former Partner Protégé Ventures
Gerard George
SMU is excited to partner with Kairos ASEAN on this innovative initiative. The multi-sector collaboration will enable us to share SMU IIE's knowledge with more students through the Kairos ASEAN network, and together bring more value to VCs and young entrepreneurs.
Gerard George, Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship SMU