Business Finance Resources
Please read our disclaimer.
Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE)
ACE is a collaborative project by the private and public sectors to foster entrepreneurship in Singapore. The website includes articles on, and links to, sources on finance for the entrepreneur.
Business.gov.sg
A comprehensive "one-stop" portal containing many resources on doing business in Singapore, including links to financing schemes. A government initiative, the website aims to make Singapore "the easiest place in the world to start, sustain and expand a business."
Business Angels' Network South East Asia
The website contains links to other angel investor associations, articles and recommended books.
Deal Flow Connection
Deal Flow Connection is ACE's [See under Action Community for Entrepreneurs (ACE)] initiative to connect entrepreneurs with sources of funding, and other business owners. One of the aims of this site is to "bridge the information gap in SME financing."
Deals Exchange Online for Startups
Another portal that seeks to match entrepreneurs with sources of funding. DEALS is an initiative by the Economic Development Board. One of the highlights includes a list of VC firms in Singapore, together with the contact persons and how to reach them.
Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SVCA)
The homepage of SVCA. This website contains links to similar associations in the region.
Assistance Schemes & Programmes
This site describes the various finance assistance schemes by EDB, mostly in the form of tax assistance, loans and grants.
Enterprise Investment Incentive (Technopreneur) Scheme
Similar to the EII (See under SPRING Singapore Assistance Schemes), this scheme which is administered by EDB, allows investors in qualifying technopreneur start-ups to deduct their investment loss amount against their taxable income.
Growth Financing Programme
The Programme provides early stage companies who have the potential to become globally competitive, with equity financing to support their overseas market expansion. EDB will provide S$1 for every S$2 raised by third party investors, up to a maximum of S$1,000,000. Both EDB and the third party investors will take equity stakes in the company.
Patent Application Fund PLUS
To encourage patents, the fund covers professional and official fees and other related charges of patent filing.
Startup EnterprisE Development Scheme (SEEDS)
SEEDS provides early stage equity financing. EDB will match every dollar of investment by third party investors, up to a cap of S$300,000. Both EDB and the third party investors will take equity stakes in the company.
Enterprise Investment Incentive (EII) Scheme
This tax incentive scheme, administered by Spring Singapore, allows investors in qualifying start-ups to deduct their investment loss amount against their taxable income.
Domestic Sector Productivity Fund (DSPF)
The DSPF provides funds to encourage companies within industries or across the value chain to work together on projects that will lead to significant gains in productivity and competitiveness for the industry as a whole.
Loan Insurance Scheme (LIS)
In this scheme, a portion of the loans is insured against default risks by a private credit risk insurer. The government co-shares the insurance premiums with the SMEs.
Local Enterprise Finance Scheme (LEFS)
LEFS is a fixed interest rate financing programme designed to encourage and assist local enterprises to upgrade or improve their operations.
Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS)
LETAS assists by helping SMEs offset the cost of hiring external consultants for short term projects.
Micro Loan Programme
This programme is a fixed interest rate loan scheme for very small local enterprises (not more than 10 workers).
Malaysia-Singapore Third Country Investment Feasibility Study (MSTC) Fund
The Fund covers part of the expenses for Singaporean and Malaysian companies to jointly undertake feasibility studies for joint investment or projects in "third countries", outside Singapore and Malaysia.
Regionalisation Finance Scheme
A fixed interest rate loan programme by IE Singapore designed to assist companies finance asset acquisition for overseas expansion.
Tourism Development Assistance Scheme (TDAS)
Provides assistance by covering some of the cost of tourism-related projects including professional costs, equipment and materials, and others.
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
IRAS' website deals with Singapore tax related matters.
Ministry of Finance Taxation for Business
Another resource for tax matters. Includes details of tax incentives provided by the various government organisations.