In recent years, more and more venture capitalists (VCs) have set foot in Singapore, coming from afar to find the next big idea to invest in. As of the end of November, there were 28 VC managers licensed or registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) — about triple the number just three years ago.
As investors become more cautious, there is greater interest in growth-stage venture capital funding, says Isaac Ho of Venturecraft Group. The number of venture capital (VC) deals globally has fallen as investors hit the brakes on their start-up investments amid volatility in China...
Unfortunately for many would-be unicorn traders, despite the influx of money, including Venturecraft Two, a $50m fund aimed at boosting medtech and ICT startups in the region, it seems to be getting harder, not easier to get financing.
TECHNOLOGY and innovation were the two buzzwords at this year's Emerging Enterprise Award (EE 2016) - and it's no small wonder they were. Repeated references were made by Minister of State for National Development, and Trade and Industry, Koh Poh Koon, at a gala dinner on Sept 16 in the swanky St Regis Hotel. And it was evident too, in the varied and novel business models of the 16 finalists for the awards.
Organised by The Business Times and OCBC Bank, EE honours promising emerging enterprises that are younger than 10 years old and with an annual sales turnover of not more than S$15 million.
Mirxes, a life science company focusing on detection kits for the early identification and management of cancer cases, was given the Most Promising Startup Award. It will receive $30,000 worth of digital consultancy services from Maxus.
Singapore-based early stage investment firm Venturecraft has launched a S$50m ($37m) second fund targeting Asian medical tech and IT deals.
TECH continues to be the top sector attracting investments this year. According to a report by global valuation firm Duff and Phelps, Singapore saw a record value of private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) investments in 2016, with 100 such deals valued at US$3.5 billion. Of these, tech accounted for the majority of deal volume (53 per cent) and deal value (34 per cent).