Opening Address by Min(EST) Tan See Leng at the launch of Stage One’s physical campus

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1.             Good morning! I am delighted to be here at the official opening of Stage One’s physical campus. I am also pleased to see so many of our local and global partners gathered here today - your steadfast support will be critical to Stage One’s success.

2.             Singapore stands as a Global-Asia node for technology, innovation and enterprise. We are committed to nurturing an ecosystem that serves not only our region, but the global community.

a.    Today, Singapore is home to more than 4,500 tech startups and over 700 venture capitalists, incubators and accelerators. This is thanks to the collective effort of our startups, community partners like ACE.SG and many other innovation intermediaries here with us today.

b.    This thriving ecosystem has earned us recognition as the fourth best global startup ecosystem in the 2025 StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index.

Singapore Global Homeground for Startups to Succeed

3.             Building upon this momentum, we are determined to do more to strengthen Singapore as a homeground for startups to achieve global success.

4.             Singapore is in a strong position for this, due to our trusted and well-connected innovation ecosystem.

a.    First, our strategic location makes Singapore a natural gateway and launchpad for overseas startups looking to scale across Asia and beyond.

b.    Second, we offer a stable regulatory and business environment that supports innovation, backed by strong government commitment – around 1% of our GDP is committed to our research and innovation ecosystem, which many global founders are keen to tap on.

c.     Third, we attract global tech talent and founders, and have an established pool of researchers and engineers who can support the commercialisation of research and bring emerging technologies to market.

5.             To truly become a global homeground for startups, we will make it even more seamless for startups to leverage our robust ecosystem and become global enterprises.

6.             That is why we have launched Stage One - a one-stop startup focal point to bring local and global startup communities together.

a.    Stage One was announced at last year’s Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), with ACE.SG as the appointed operator. 

b.    To date, ACE.SG has already engaged close to 700 local and foreign startups. Through these engagements, ACE.SG has gathered valuable insights into the diverse needs of startups - from incorporation to partnerships for capability development, and to access market opportunities.

c.     We will continuously enhance Stage One’s offerings based on this feedback and evolving market demands.

7.             Today, I am pleased to unveil Stage One’s physical campus. It is strategically located within JTC LaunchPad at One-North, the heart of Singapore’s startup community.

a.    Since 2015, JTC LaunchPad has supported more than 2,400 tech startups across 15 sectors.

b.    The Stage One physical campus builds on this vibrant network - providing startups direct access to the community, resources and partnerships to start and scale their ventures. It offers a shared space where startups can learn, co-innovate and grow together.

8.             Here at the Stage One physical campus, startups will be able to access services to Start, Build and Grow their businesses.

a.    For Start, Stage One will provide advisory services and connect startups with relevant partners, who can provide support in areas such as talent recruitment, financing, and corporate services. This will help both newly incorporated and foreign startups navigate the ecosystem and seamlessly set up in Singapore.

b.    For Build, Stage One will support capability building for growth. This includes facilitating access to fundraising opportunities, business-matching, R&D collaborations and talent recruitment.

c.     For Grow, Stage One will provide access to resources to help startups understand new markets and develop their go-to-market strategy.

Global Partners Approach

9.              Beyond the infrastructure needed to Start, Build and Grow, Singapore’s global network of partners has also played a critical role in the growth journey of startups in Singapore.

a.    Our partners provide invaluable market knowledge and domain expertise, as well as access to opportunities and networks that would otherwise be out of reach, if we were to venture out on our own.

b.    This is why we are continuously expanding our global networks and innovation partnerships.

10.          I am happy to share that ACE.SG will be signing two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) today with new partners from Finland and Switzerland - Maria 01, one of Europe’s leading startup communities based in Helsinki, and Innovaud, the innovation and economic promotion agency for the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

a.    These markets share common interests with Singapore, especially in deep tech sectors like life sciences, clean technology and food tech.

b.    The MOUs further expand ACE.SG’s current partnerships across Asia and Europe.

c.     Through enhancing awareness of market opportunities and easing market entry, these partnerships will open more doors for startups in both directions – to help Singapore startups access these markets, and also enabling international startups to grow and scale from Singapore.

Building our Glo-Cal Community

11.           Before I conclude, let me take this opportunity to thank all our partners for being a part of and helping to build our integrated startup community in Singapore.

a.    We know that successful ecosystems are built through collective effort. Each of our partners - including local and international startups, venture capital firms, corporate venture arms, government agencies, research institutions and more - bring unique strengths and capabilities that strengthen the overall ecosystem.

b.    We deeply value these contributions, and we look forward to working even more closely with all of you.

12.          To the startups here today - whether local or international, whether just starting out or scaling globally - Singapore stands ready to be your homeground.

13.          I encourage you to fully utilise the resources and networks available to you. Stage One is here to support your journey at every stage.

14.          Thank you.