This press release was issued by EnterpriseSG.
New partnerships with Finland and Switzerland open doors for startups in Europe
Stage One officially opened its physical campus at JTC’s LaunchPad @ One-North today, to bring together local and international startup ecosystem players under one roof. First announced at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) 2024, Stage One is a joint initiative by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) to provide a one-stop platform that connects local and global tech startups, and drives collaboration opportunities between startups, corporates and innovation partners. The opening of the campus was officiated by Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan See Leng.
Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE.SG), the operator of Stage One, has received interest and engaged close to 700 local and international startups since the initiative was first announced last year. These startups have received a wide range of support from ACE.SG – spanning incorporation, capabilities building, market access and partnerships assistance and insights – to help them start, build and grow their innovation ventures from Singapore. With the opening of the Stage One campus, startups can now look forward to wider range of activities and resources, all centrally located in the new space.
The new campus will host masterclasses, workshops, and clinic sessions that will provide advisory and insights from industry veterans, opportunities for business matching, collaboration, and fundraising. Situated within Vidacity’s newest facility at Block 69 of LaunchPad @ One-North, Stage One is located alongside event venues, co-working spaces by N9 offices, and F&B concept Venture Kitchen by Brewerkz Group. This integrated setup enables startups to access varied services and a dynamic environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and connections across Singapore’s tech community.
Beyond local startups, these efforts are also designed to support global founders: to help ease their entry into Singapore’s ecosystem and create meaningful connections with the innovation community here, to then build and scale their startups from Singapore. For instance, global founders can participate in ecosystem insight sessions and immersion programmes offered at the campus to get a deeper understanding of the Singapore startup ecosystem and connect with innovation stakeholders. Those yet to establish a presence in Singapore can also leverage Stage One’s network of co-working and office space providers to build their operations and meet like-minded entrepreneurs.
New Startup Ecosystem Partnerships with Finland and Switzerland
Besides fostering connections and collaboration among startups in Singapore, Stage One will also open doors to opportunities for startups beyond Singapore’s shores. This is taking shape through two new Memorandums of Understanding inked between ACE.SG and Finland’s Maria01 and Switzerland’s Innovaud respectively, to connect Singapore with leading startup ecosystems in Europe to drive co-innovation and mutual growth.
Through these strategic partnerships, startups will gain access to in-market insights, networks of startups, incubators, and investors, and relevant expertise. This creates pathways for Singapore startups to enter European markets, while enabling Finland and Switzerland startups to establish their presence in Singapore's startup ecosystem with the support of platforms such as Stage One.
“Innovation thrives at the intersection of diverse minds and bold ideas. Stage One is that intersection – a dynamic hub where local and global startups can access opportunities to collaborate, scale, and shape the future of technology. It represents our investment in building a future where Singapore remains at the heart of global innovation, and we encourage startups to leverage the campus and resources available to grow their business and technologies," said Emily Liew, Assistant Managing Director, Innovation, EnterpriseSG.
By providing seamless access to growth support and fostering connections between local and international startup communities, Stage One aims to drive greater innovation and cross-border collaboration and ultimately reinforce Singapore’s position as the go-to destination where startups can access support and opportunities needed for global success. This, in turn, will help attract more global startups to anchor themselves and their activities in Singapore, injecting greater vibrancy and fresh ideas to our innovation ecosystem, which today includes over 4,500 tech startups and more than 700 VCs, incubators, and accelerators.
For more information on Stage One, visit https://go.gov.sg/stageone.
About Enterprise Singapore
Enterprise Singapore is the government agency championing enterprise development.
The agency partners committed companies to build capabilities, innovate, and go global. It drives growth – empowering local businesses and shaping industries, anchoring Singapore as a trade and startup hub, and establishing trust in products through quality and standards.
Enterprise Singapore is here for wherever businesses are growing. Visit www.enterprisesg.gov.sg for more information.
