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 Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Philippines. 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 Singapore Prestige Brand Awards (SPBA) 2012’s Awards Organising Committee. 1 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 Hong Kong 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. 2 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 India. 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 Malaysia. 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 China, 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. 3 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