This press release was issued by EnterpriseSG.
Enterprise Singapore’s marquee deep tech startup pitching competition saw over 20% surge in entries, with nearly 7,000 applicants worldwide
Goldilock Secure was crowned the grand winner of SLINGSHOT 2025 and also walked away with the Transformative Digital Technologies domain prize today. The UK-based startup made a strong impression with its extensive Intellectual Property (IP) catalogue and innovative cybersecurity solution Goldilock Firebreak. The technology minimises cyber exposure by enabling secure, on-demand connection or disconnection of data and systems, effectively eliminating the vulnerabilities associated with always-connected infrastructure. Organised by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), global deep tech startup pitching competition SLINGSHOT brings startups at the cutting edge of innovation to Singapore, where they can tap innovation resources and scale into the region and beyond. The competition was held during the 10th edition of the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), EnterpriseSG’s flagship startup event.
A total of twelve winners emerged across four domains: i) Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity, ii) Health and Biomedical, iii) Environment, Energy and Green Technologies, and iv) Transformative Digital Technologies. Alongside Goldilock Secure, Spain-based Loop Diagnostics was the first runner-up, providing rapid diagnostic solutions to detect sepsis and immune dysfunction; while second runner-up Nalagenetics from Singapore provides advanced predictive genetic testing solution.
SLINGSHOT 2025 saw an all-time high of nearly 7,000 applications from over 150 markets. Competition was stiff this year, with the Top 60 comprising startups at the forefront of emerging areas such as quantum computing, computational imaging, precision medicine, and more. Many had already set themselves apart in their respective fields, with multiple patents spanning major innovation hubs including Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Ms Emily Liew, Assistant Managing Director, Innovation, EnterpriseSG, said, “Nine years on, SLINGSHOT marks a milestone this year with its highest participation ever – a strong signal of the global confidence in Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. The quality of the deep tech pitches on the SLINGSHOT stage shows how ideas can be turned into reality with strong commitment from founders and support from the right ecosystem. With initiatives like SLINGSHOT and the new Stage One, Singapore aims to become a global hub for innovative startups to grow and commercialise breakthrough solutions.”
Providing a platform for global startups to plug into Singapore’s ecosystem
The Top 60, chosen after two rounds of judging by over 200 international judges, participated in a three-day in-person programme that provided an exclusive immersion experience in Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. The programme was organised in partnership with the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE.SG), and featured mentors from established innovators, workshops and networking sessions. Ecosystem partners such as Elev8.vc, Insignia, and SG Growth Capital provided insights into fundraising in Singapore, opportunities in the wider Southeast Asia region, as well as how to leverage Singapore as a springboard to scale.
At the grand finals, the Top 12 global startups pitched to a judging panel from renowned international venture firms and corporates, including Mr Foo Jixun, Senior Managing Partner from Granite Asia, Mr Magnus Grimeland, Founder and CEO of Antler, and Mr Rajesh Swaminathan, Partner at Khosla Ventures.
Said Grand Finals Judge Mr Russell Tham, Head of Emerging Technologies, Temasek, “Singapore's ability to nurture and become a home to globally competitive deep tech enterprises will be crucial in securing its position as a trusted global node for frontier tech translation. SLINGSHOT is a key platform to bring such innovations to our shores. At Temasek, we are committed to investing in promising deep tech companies and helping to build a vibrant deep tech ecosystem in Singapore.”
Past winners have leveraged SLINGSHOT and the wider Singapore innovation ecosystem to reach new heights. 2024 grand winner Matwerkz Technologies credits the competition with helping to expand its network and boost the company’s profile on the global stage. “SLINGSHOT provided much-needed validation on the importance and impact of our work on society, enabling both Matwerkz and Thermorphous to achieve significant brand recognition from new customers, investors, and partners,” said Dr Leong Yew Wei, Founder and CEO of Matwerkz Technologies. The heightened visibility from the competition has propelled the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) spin-off to new heights. Matwerkz has since gone on to develop and launch three additional versions of its Thermorphous thermal management solution to meet new demand. The deep tech startup is also collaborating with a local engineering plastics manufacturer and a Chinese energy storage conglomerate on a joint venture to produce safer and more fire-resistant battery pack enclosures.
Over S$2 million in grant prizes were awarded to the twelve domain winners of SLINGSHOT 2025, including:
• Grand winner grant prize of S$400,000
• First runner-up grant prize of S$300,000
• Second runner-up grant prize of $200,000
• Domain winner grant prizes (three per domain) of S$60,000 each
To give them a leg up to establish presence in Singapore and scale further, the top three winners also received up to 18 months of rent-free space at either of JTC’s LaunchPads at One-North or Jurong Innovation District. They will also receive support through the Entrepass, which allows foreign founders to enter and establish their innovative and venture-backed startups here. Additionally, the winners will receive a complimentary 12-month international membership with ACE.SG, which offers key resources and information to help them anchor in Singapore, including mentorship as well as exclusive access to ACE’s programmes and events.
In addition, to help these startups leverage their IP for growth from Singapore, the Top 3 startups will undergo a complimentary 8-week Intangible Asset Audit1 & Strategy Sprint. The other Domain Winners will receive a complimentary 4-week programme on Intangible Asset Identification. These programmes will be run by IPOS International, the capability-building arm of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).
For more information on SLINGSHOT, please visit http://www.switchsg.org/slingshot/2025-edition/.
1Intangible Assets are assets that are non-physical in nature, including both intellectual property (IP), such as patents, trademarks, and registered designs, as well as other non-registrable assets, like know-how, data and key relationships.