🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

The fund builds on a founder-friendly accelerator model

• The Urban SustaInnovator (USI) accelerator that feeds the fund is not a typical program. It runs on a zero-fee, equity-free basis, so startups keep full ownership 1.
• It is a 12-month hybrid, non-residential program. Each startup gets a lead mentor from a public-private group. Partners include A*STAR also known as Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, ST Engineering plus investors Antler, Wavemaker Partners 1.
• That setup gives the US$10 million fund a filtered pipeline of global, competition-vetted startups working on self-healing concrete or airless tyres derived from space technology 2.

This is Singapore’s play to attract global deep-tech talent

• The program aims to bring international startups into Singapore, strengthening the city-state’s role as a gateway to Asia 1.
• The approach is already drawing companies in. Malaysia-based Qarbotech plus UK-based Mimicrete are establishing or expanding operations in Singapore 2.
• The model fits Singapore’s national strategy. It complements efforts such as the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP), which supports the commercialisation of university research 1.
• SMU is also building a teaching accelerator model. Students work on startup evaluation, market analysis, diligence plus portfolio support across the USI platform 2.