Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

The Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Mentoring Programme

The ACE Mentoring Programme was set up as part of ACE’s goal to provide startups with access to funding, networks and mentors to help them grow into sustainable businesses. The Programme aims to match all startups supported under ACE with a personal mentor, who will guide them on a one-to-one basis during the early stages of starting up, for up to one year. The mentors, who are experienced entrepreneurs, angel investors and professionals familiar with the startup sector, volunteer their time in the programme on a pro bono basis. 27 mentors have signed up to date.

ACE Mentoring Sub-Committee

The Mentoring Programme is led by the ACE Mentoring Sub-Committee. The members are:

• Dr Steven Fang, Founder & Group CEO, Cordlife (Chairperson) • Donny Soh, Chief Data Officer, Tactica Labs • Jackie Lee, Managing Partner, Kyosei Ventures • John Khong, Founder & Chairman, Niche Medical • Ken Koh, Director, Talentpreneur Hub • Manoj Sharma, Founder, DifferWorld • Pamela Phua, Founder, DifferWorld • Lee Soo Chye, Partner, Aequitas • Chow U-Jin, Group Media Affairs Director, Cordlife

Mentoring Process

1) Upon grant offer, startups will be required to identify their own mentoring needs, which could be functional (e.g. marketing, financing, sales) or industry-specific (e.g. technical skills, industry knowledge, market access). 2) A networking session will be held for startups and the mentors to facilitate matching between them. Startups are to proactively contact the mentor(s) of their choice and confirm the mentor’s interest within a month. Both parties will inform the ACE secretariat once the mentor is agreeable. The secretariat will assist startups who are unable to find a mentor. 3) The secretariat will seek periodic feedback from the startups and mentors on their progress and provide support where required.

Selected ACE mentor profiles

Mr Adrin Loi, Executive Chairman, Ya Kun International

Adrin took over the business of Ya Kun Kaya Toast in 1998. In 2000, he set up Ya Kun (S) Pte Ltd. As the Managing Director, he oversaw the entire food manufacturing facility, and was integral to the company’s expansion through franchising. He established Ya Kun International Pte Ltd in 2001 and grew it from just one outlet at Far East Square to 39 outlets island-wide. Today, Ya Kun is in countries such as , Korea, , and . Now, as Executive Chairman of Ya Kun International, Adrin is still involved in every aspect of the business.

Adrin received the inaugural Spirit of Enterprise (SOE) Entrepreneurship Award in 2010. He is currently a member on the SOE Board of Governors 2012. Adrin is also a member of the Prestige Brand Awards (SPBA) 2012’s Awards Organising Committee.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Boyd Au, Executive Chairman, 7 Notes Capital Pte Ltd

In 1984, Boyd and started Enzer with a partner and just S$10,000. As the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Boyd grew Enzer into a world renowned brand, with Enzer products sold in 33 countries. It won the Superbrands award for three consecutive years. The company was listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2001. Sales turnover reached S$80 million in 2006. In mid- 2007, Boyd decided to retire and sold his shares in the company.

Being a passionate entrepreneur at heart, Boyd started 7 Notes Capital Pte Ltd to provide private equity investment as well as training, coaching and mentoring on entrepreneurship to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Boyd has trained and mentored over 300 business owners in a variety of industries— from fashion & design to construction, media, telecommunication, and education.

With over 25 years of successful business experience, Boyd hopes to leave a legacy through mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Mr Charlie Sim, Co-founder, Renovell Pte Ltd & Allied Intuit Pte Ltd

Charlie has co-founded a number of companies - Renovell Pte Ltd (a business growth services firm), Allied Intuit Pte Ltd (an intellectual property management consulting firm) and Axis Intellectual Capital Ltd (a regional IP brokerage firm). He has helped many organisations at various stages of growth, from establishing the business to innovation, expansion, and risk management strategies. His clients include government agencies, private institutions and individuals across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.

Charlie plays the role of mentor and confidant to local and overseas startups, lending his professional and business experience and networks to help them grow and succeed. Charlie is a qualified patent attorney and certified practising management consultant. Charlie is also known as an inventor with a strong technology background, having developed voice recognition technologies, proton-exchange membranes, and co-developing “the world’s first robot brain surgeon” (Herald Tribune).

Ms Elaine Teh, Executive Director, Octopus Group Pte Ltd

Elaine is a serial entrepreneur, having started 15 businesses. She has dabbled in entrepreneurship since young, with sales and marketing being her love and forte. After graduation, she worked at the largest rosewood store in Sydney, Australia, as a retail manager before starting a business offering special interest tours to Chinese government bodies. Subsequently, Elaine worked in before returning to Australia to launch two mobile phone stores before distributing the mobile phones globally. Within 10 months, sales had reached A$10 million.

In 2000, Elaine relocated to Singapore and diversified her portfolio into IT and building management systems. She started Octopus Group with her business partner, Andy Lim, and ran several entertainment outlets here with the innovative Octopus business model. She also founded Okeanos Distribution Pte Ltd, which distributes Carlsberg in Singapore. She is also the Public Relations Director of the International Business Women’s Association.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Ms Genevieve Heng, Managing Director, Chepstow Capital Advisors

Genevieve is the Managing Director of Chepstow Capital Advisors Pte Ltd. She has more than two decades of financial experience in Asian markets, of which 12 were spent as the Managing Director of CLSA Capital Partners’ mid-market Asian private equity business, managing investments and divestments of portfolio companies in Southeast Asia and .

As an equity fund manager, Genevieve has invested in eight companies across Asia and managed several other investments in food, alternative power, ICT, wellness and capital goods.

She has an MBA from the London Business School and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Computer and Information Sciences from the National University of Singapore. She is also a CFA charter holder, a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designee and a CAIA Singapore Chapter Executive.

Ms Huang Shao-Ning (Leigh), Co-Founder & Deputy CEO, JobsCentral Group

Shao-Ning is the co-founder and Deputy CEO of JobsCentral Group. Her current work scope includes strategic planning, product development, HR and finance. She helped to grow JobsCentral from a two-man team in 2000 to more than 100 staff currently, in Singapore and . JobsCentral was acquired by CareerBuilder LLB (USA) in April 2011.

Shao- Ning manages Campus eFair, JobsCentral’s Career and Learning Fair and other key events. Under her leadership, the Career & Learning Fair doubled in size, and the Campus eFairs emerged as the top destination site for polytechnic and university graduate job seekers. She is also responsible for the overall financial performance of the company and ensures that staff capabilities grow in tandem with business needs.

Shao-Ning is currently mentor to two internet startups and investor in an animation studio.

Mr Lim Song Joo (aka SJ Lim), Founder & CEO, BWG Consulting Pte Ltd

SJ is principal consultant at BWG Consulting Pte Ltd, which he founded in 2011. Prior to founding BWG, SJ Lim founded a company which was invested by SPRING SEEDS Capital. He made a profitable exit after one and a half years.

In his 18 years in the high-tech sector, SJ was with General Electric (GE Capital), Hitachi Chemical, DoVatron and Epan. He has accumulated experiences in strategic management planning, procurement, e- commerce, and green field client acquisitions. His business experience spans countries like , Korea, Taiwan and the US, in a variety of industries such as high- tech, ICT, creative media, and eldercare. His extensive networks in the supply chain industry translate to valuable opportunities for startups under his wing which are looking to expand into the region.

He has mentored four start-ups, of which he has personally invested in two.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Startups

Objective ACE Startups aims to help entrepreneurial individuals take the first step to start and build their first venture into sustainable businesses and to develop entrepreneurship so as to create more and better jobs for Singaporeans.

Support ACE will provide grant support of up to $50,000. Level

Eligibility The programme is open to Singaporeans / Permanent Residents who are first-time Criteria entrepreneurs. In addition, the applicant should meet the following requirements at the time of application:

a) The applicant(s) must not have: - registered or incorporated any business entity - received any funding for the proposed business idea from another government organisation;

b) The applicant(s) must hold or propose to hold at least 51% equity in the company; and

c) The proposed business idea should not be in the following categories: night clubs, lounges, bars, foot reflexology, massage parlours, gambling, prostitution, social escort services, employment agencies (including recruiting foreign work permit holders and workers/ support staff, relocation services, and manpower services), and geomancy.

Evaluation Differentiated Business Criteria • How does the company differentiate itself from its competition? • How different or novel is the idea/product/service/business model/ process compared to what is already in the market?

Feasibility of the business model • Is the revenue model sustainable? • How does the company manage its cashflow? • Does the business have the potential to scale up?

Potential market opportunity • What is the target market(s)? • How sizeable is the targeted market(s)? • How does the company reach out to its targeted market(s)?

Management Team • How committed and passionate is the team to the business? • What skill sets does the team possess which are relevant to the business? • How will the applicant(s) contribute to the business development?

An evaluation panel of a team of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and angel investors will evaluate the applications based on the above criteria and decide on the funding amount.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Company Brief Business Profile Entrepreneurs’ Profile Mentor

ALL ID Asia has developed an Founder: Alfred Leong integrated Automatic Mr Lim Identification and Data Alfred graduated with a Song Joo Collection solution suite called Bachelor of Sciences (aka SJ Pesona for ID and smartcard- (Honours). He started off Lim), based tracking. Targeting as a sales executive in a Founder & 1 All ID Asia corporate clients, the Pesona tech company, moving his suite of software provides an way up to being a director CEO, BWG integrated platform for before he left his job to set Consulting identification card management, up All ID Asia. Pte Ltd visitor management, and specialised smart card Contact: personalisation systems. [email protected]

ARCSIS is collaborating with the Food Innovation & Resource Centre (FIRC) to develop healthier options for a range of Founder: Caleb Leow specialty dishes inspired by

different places around the Caleb is currently an world. Incubated undergrad student at NUS. 2 Arcsis by NUS

Through food innovation, Enterprise Contact: customer-centric design, [email protected] interesting automation and fully

customisable options, ARCSIS aims to provide every customer with a satisfying dining experience in a cosy setting.

The essential 21st century party tool for today’s fast-paced entertainment packed world. BBP tells you where the coolest Founder: Subaish s/o parties are and – more Rajamanickam importantly – which of those Ms Elaine parties your friends and Subaish is currently a final- Teh, acquaintances are at. year student at SMU. He Executive Biggest has accumulated event Director, 3 Baddest BBP is a mobile app akin to a management experience Octopus Parties Inc compass to the party world. through work and Group Pte The app will be a one-stop internship. Ltd guide for partygoers, offering information about clubs, drink Contact: specials, location based subaish@biggestbaddestp services such as where are the arties.com nearest watering holes, cover charges, and redemption of rewards.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

BBP will be a free-for-download mobile app compatible with all smartphones. It will sync with the user’s existing social media apps to procure information about social circles and preferences. In short, it’s a hybrid between Facebook and Foursquare with a party twist.

Coordsafe promotes better eldercare in a fast- paced society. Its key product, Coordsafe, is a GPS/GSM- enabled bracelet which syncs with multiple platforms such as computers and mobile phones.

The water-proof, safety lock function sends out an alarm if it Founder: Jack Li Hui Mr Hui Wing isn’t secured properly or Feh, Co- removed accidentally. Jack worked in a Founder & Coordsafe allows perimeters of government-linked Managing Safe and Danger Zones to be company for the last eight Director, 4 Coordsafe set, so once the wearer leaves years, managing key IT the Safe Zone or enters the projects. ODM Danger Zone, Coordsafe will Innovations send out an audible reminder. Contact: Pte Ltd Coordsafe also records the [email protected] routes taken in the last 24 hours, which helps in tracking the wearer in case of emergency.

Coordsafe can be further customised and the technology embedded in items which are emotionally significant to the wearer, such as bracelets.

Founder: Gim Huat Discarver aims to develop smart solutions for car owners. Gim Huat has worked in By making available up- to- the telecommunications date information on the health industry, where he Incubated of their cars and timely advice established a track record 5 Discarver by NTU when problems are detected – in developing innovative Ventures which helps mitigate the cost of solutions in the telematics repair and maintenance— space. He also has Discarver aims to give car experience with hardware owners a peace of mind. electronics projects.

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Greendot aims to bring the next generation of “green fast food” and inspire social consciousness in consumers, starting with youths.

Greemdot recognises that many consumers, including youths, are keen to explore plant- based e.g. vegetarian diets but lack accessible, quality alternatives. In addition, Co-founders: Justin Chou they might have some pre- Zhi Qi, Fu Yong Hong, conceived notions or Leonard Ryan Lim Shu Jie

stereotypes about such diets. Incubated Greendot The co-founders are 6 To address these gaps, by NUS Gourmet undergraduates at NUS Greendot aims to change the Enterprise and MDIS. perception of plant- based diets

by providing nutritious yet Contact: Justin Chou convenient and tasty meals in [email protected] visually- attractive packaging, targeting students in tertiary institutions.Greendot aims to achieve a triple bottom-line by pursuing a sustainable business model, making a positive impact on the environment by encouraging more consumers to go green, and giving back to society by reaching out to the less- privileged groups.

Innervative Learning believes that youths need knowledge outside the classroom to Founder: James Chia navigate our increasingly-

complex world. To reach out to James graduated from an these tech-savvy youths, Ivy League university. He platforms which they live and was working at a communicate in, such as Innervative government agency until mobile apps, have to be used. 7 Learning he founded Innervative

Learning. Innervative Learning's key

product, Econopolis, is a mobile Contact: application which shares the james@innervative- thrill of learning economics and learning.com financial management

principles to youths aged 12-18. Most games attempt to teach financial literacy concepts, but 7

Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

Econopolis goes beyond that to bring core economics principles to life in an interactive role- playing management game.

The user gets to create a city on a newly- discovered planet and make economic decisions on what to build and what policies to pursue in order to grow their economy. They are constantly challenged to steer their cities through economic crises, eventually emerging as an Economic Powerhouse.

An online B2B platform that enables deal sites to source for products on a global platform. Uberquery’s partner deal sites Founder: Yow Yong Hui will be able to schedule their deals and settle fulfilment terms Yong Hui is an Economics with the supplier or retailer major at the University of Mr Manoj quickly and efficiently on a Sydney. He is currently on Sharma, single platform. a hiatus from his studies to Founder, Uberquery 8 pursue his first business Pte. Ltd. DifferWorld This platform brings together venture. Pte Ltd deal sites and primary producers with excess goods Contact: inventory. This is similar to [email protected] marketplace sites like alibaba.com, where primary producers, suppliers and retailers convene.

Wan La is a financial portal which offers bite-sized quality trading strategies and Founder: Wilson Ong Wei techniques. Users indicate and Zheng and Maslema the type of information they Zainal Abidin wish to receive and these will

be pushed to them. Wilson is an

undergraduate at SMU, Targeted at young Incubated 9 Wan La majoring in Accounting. He professionals who are by SMU has more than five years interested in learning or of experience with trading. improving their trading skills but

do not have the time to go into Contact: in-depth research. [email protected]

The website will help amateur traders/investors avoid major pitfalls and make more profitable trades through real-

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Factsheet on ACE Mentoring Programme and ACE Startups

time information and real- life examples.

Windphony.com is an online platform that aims to breach the current convention by providing every composer an opportunity to self-publish and share their compositional talents via Windphony.com’s digital music score distribution platform. Founder: Tan Siow Wee

Windphony.com’s automated Siow Wee is a certified Mr Charlie system helps composers free regional application Sim, Co- up time to invest in creative engineer in a Taiwanese founder, Windphony output while Windphony.com MNC handling electronics Renovell 10 . manages their sales, distributes component distribution. He Pte Ltd & com their music and markets their has spent more than 20 Allied Intuit talent to the world. years with a local band. Pte Ltd

Windphony.com is also a real Contact: market assessment platform for [email protected] every composer to get om feedback and test the response of the music industry to their work. Through this platform, they can potentially jumpstart their career in the music industry.

Co-founders: Thomas Wong and Daniel Yap ZiniCat is your foodie buddy, Ms constantly learning and seeking Thomas has management Genevieve to understand your food and and strategy consulting Heng, dining preferences. Through experience in China and Managing creatively re-applying current Singapore, and business Director, 11 Zinicat technologies used in financial development experience in analytics, the app is able to the financial sector. Daniel Chepstow deliver highly- customised food has experience in financial Capital recommendations based on and social analytics and Advisors user profiles. project management. . Contact: [email protected]

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