Startup-O was created with ‘Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs’ community ethos at the core of its design. We believe this has allowed Startup-O to become one of the leading platforms for startup assessments, investments, and venture building over the last 3 years.
Our integrated platform-fund approach to systematic investing in high traction tech startups, which are selected after rigorous diligence through a multi-stage evaluation process, helps build a diversified portfolio of ‘in-revenue’ startups for the fund/s investors. The startups are chosen from across South/South East Asia region although the platform has a global footprint. We have 1000+ startups from 40+ countries registered on the platform and we have assessed 500+ over the last 2 years. This was done with the help of 15+ institutional partners and 90+ global experts in our community. 12 companies have been funded so far through the effort of platform-fund partnerships.
This institutional & transparent approach to discovery of fast-growing startups helps mitigate risk for investors. It helps them build a well-diversified portfolio while our networks provide opportunities for potential exits. Further, these high ranked companies benefit from the involvement of our expert networks to unlock the revenue building opportunities which is the core of the venture building program.
Please also find attached the article published late last year by a leading business weekly The Edge Singapore about the evolving vision of Startup-O.
Essentially, we have an integrated platform that combines various products to enable founders and serve institutional investors. We have founders’ interests at heart, a toolkit for investors and a venture building DNA. Nothing gives us more fulfilment than spending time with an entrepreneur who is walking his talk authentically and working with them to build their venture.
Each modular product on the platform has its own business model but works seamlessly through the lifecycle of creation and scaling of a venture. The revenue models for each product are purely based on success without any upfront dilution or fees.
Essentially, we have an integrated platform that combines various products to enable founders and serve institutional investors. We have founders’ interests at heart, a toolkit for investors and a venture building DNA. Nothing gives us more fulfilment than spending time with an entrepreneur who is walking his talk authentically and working with them to build their venture.
Each modular product on the platform has its own business model but works seamlessly through the lifecycle of creation and scaling of a venture. The revenue models for each product are purely based on success without any upfront dilution or fees.
The platform has various offerings viz:
Discovery and curation of high traction startups
Success based only. No equity dilution with a fee of $1 for participating startups. Aims to provide a fair chance to all entrepreneurs to prove themselves to other seasoned entrepreneurs and domain experts. Results in an objective and data-driven ranking of startups for consideration by fund/fund partners. Typically, 60-70 companies are selected to participate every quarter out of 150-200 recommendations through networks across 15 countries.
Who are we serving:
Skin in the game authentic founders who have built a product and are showing early signs of a product-market fit either through revenues or high traction.
Fund Partnerships
Capital funneled via MAS-regulated funds that act as a scalable capital base for the companies. Serve investors who wish to access this asset class in a transparent and objective manner from across multiple geographies. Incorporates due diligence, governance, and venture building program offerings.
Who are we serving:
HNIs, UHNW investors, Family Offices, MFos, Asset Managers, Micro VCs & Institutions.
Venture Building Program
Revenue share of new revenues and contracts introduced to startups by ecosystem experts through our structured ‘Venture Building’ program. This is a transparent attempt to match entrepreneurs and domain experts who leverage their expertise and networks to get involved with promising ventures with ‘needle moving’ mentoring. The most important metric is to add value to a founder by enabling traction before success-based sharing happens. There are some instances where founders need specialist services delivered for a cost through specialist firms in legal, development, marketing domains.
Who are we serving:
High ranked companies on the Startup-O platform process that have concrete plans to expand in SEA countries.
Deep Tech Commercialisation
We incubate deep technology startups in partnership with A*star (Singapore Government’s Deep Tech Research Agency). Please see the coverage in Business Times about the announcement.
Who are we serving:
PHDs, Government Agency, Aspiring & Failed Entrepreneurs
Corporate Innovation Program
We have launched a “curation-as-a-service” business offering for large corporations with open innovation ecosystem engagement plans- where we effectively manage the discovery & curation for their innovation teams and assist with startup matching to their business problems. This is akin to ‘Intel Inside’ for corporate innovation programs.
Who are we serving:
Mid to large size Corporates with intent to engage with open innovation ecosystem but don't know how to go about it.
'First Stop' for aspiring entrepreneurs
While small, we also run educational online and ‘Insider Secrets’ workshops for first-time entrepreneurs on a paid basis via a program called “FirstStop”. This is accredited by Govt. Of Singapore agency ‘Enterprise Singapore’ and provides grants up to SGD 30,000 for recommended promising entrepreneurs.
Who are we serving:
Aspiring Entrepreneurs at idea or MVP stage.
Community Recognition
We have completed 3 years of operation. Team Startup-O is delighted to have been voted No.1 in Asia recently and we are very grateful for this vote of confidence for our platform and the community. We were selected from among 247 nominations and votes were cast across 32 countries.
More details here – Outstanding Contribution to the Asian Startup Ecosystem Award 2019
We are proud to have gained the trust of founders even from the ones who were not invested and who continue to remain part of the community. However, we feel that we have failed to do justice to many deserving companies that ranked high due to lack of adequate capital & bandwidth to help them at various levels. We are launching an Alumni Program in late March that aims to fill these gaps. We hope to serve this vibrant community of entrepreneurs in a more robust way with our increasing resources and capabilities.
We believe we are democratizing innovation. What do you think?
Help our story reach as many founders across this fragmented geography. Help us build collaborative partnerships across the value chain thus created.