What is Startup SG Founder?
Startup SG Founder is a mentorship and startup capital scheme that provides S$20,000–S$50,000 in matched funding for eligible first-time founders. You must first obtain an Accredited Mentor Partner (AMP) recommendation, then provide co-matching capital at a 1:1 ratio — a S$20,000 grant requires S$20,000, a S$50,000 grant requires S$50,000. At least 50% of that co-matching capital must be recorded as paid-up capital when you apply to Enterprise Singapore. The capital may include qualifying third-party or AMP investment, subject to the current programme rules.
Who is Startup SG Founder for?
- First-time entrepreneurs with innovative ideas
- Aspiring founders with tech-enabled solutions
- Early-stage startups seeking seed funding and mentorship
- Entrepreneurs willing to commit full-time and work with a mentor
Eligibility
To be eligible for Startup SG Founder, you must meet all of the following criteria.
Founder Requirements
- First-time founder: No prior experience incorporating a Private Limited company with ACRA
- Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Full-time commitment: Must play a key role in decision-making and work full-time on the business
- No external CPF employment: Cannot receive CPF contributions from other employers
- Not a full-time student: Ongoing academic commitments disqualify you (National Service counts as employment)
- Entrepreneurship training: Must have completed training covering venture creation, lean methodology, market analysis, financials, and pitching
Second Applicant (Updated April 2024)
Since April 2024, the second applicant can be a non-first-time founder. This allows experienced entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, and engineers to join the team without disqualifying the application. The main applicant must still be a first-time founder.
Company Requirements
- Registered as a Private Limited Company in Singapore
- Incorporated for less than 6 months at time of application
- At least 51% of shares held by Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents
- At least 2 Singaporean or PR founders holding a minimum of 30% equity collectively
- Must not have received funding from another government organisation for the same business idea
Not Eligible
Applications from the following will be rejected:
- Experienced entrepreneurs as the main applicant (not first-time founders)
- Companies incorporated more than 6 months ago
- Projects without AMP endorsement
- Recipients of other government grants for the same idea
- Excluded business types: cafes/restaurants, nightclubs/bars, reflexology/massage, gambling, social escort services, employment agencies, and geomancy businesses
How It Works
1. Find an Accredited Mentor Partner (AMP)
You must first approach an AMP to pitch your idea. AMPs are experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders who evaluate and mentor startups. Visit the official list of Accredited Mentor Partners to find AMPs aligned with your industry. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our Quick-Start Checklist.
2. Get Endorsed
If your idea is promising, the AMP will endorse your application and agree to mentor you through the program.
3. Invest Paid-Up Capital
You invest S$10,000 to S$25,000 as paid-up capital registered on ACRA. You must have at least S$10,000 as paid-up capital at the point of application to ESG.
4. Receive Matching Grant
Enterprise Singapore matches your contribution 1:1. Total funding ranges from S$20,000 to S$50,000. The grant is disbursed in 2 tranches based on agreed project milestones.
5. Mentorship
Work with your AMP mentor for up to 12 months to develop your business and meet agreed milestones.
Funding Structure (Updated April 2024)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Founder’s paid-up capital | S$10,000 - S$25,000 |
| ESG 1:1 matching grant | S$10,000 - S$25,000 |
| Total funding | S$20,000 - S$50,000 |
You have up to 12 months from the Letter of Offer to meet milestones and draw down on the grant.
Funding Calculation Example
Here is a worked example showing how the 1:1 matching works in practice:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Founder invests paid-up capital | S$15,000 |
| ESG matches 1:1 | S$15,000 |
| Total available funding | S$30,000 |
The S$30,000 is disbursed in 2 tranches tied to milestones agreed with your AMP:
- Tranche 1 (at project start): S$15,000 — for initial setup, product development, and early operations
- Tranche 2 (at milestone review): S$15,000 — released after demonstrating progress on agreed milestones
Key point: This is NOT a reimbursement grant — the matched funds are disbursed directly based on milestones, not on expense claims. However, you must invest your own capital first as registered paid-up capital on ACRA.
What Startup SG Founder Covers vs Does NOT Cover
| Covered | Not Covered |
|---|---|
| Staff salaries (including founder salary) | Personal expenses unrelated to the business |
| Marketing and customer acquisition | Purchase of fixed assets above agreed limits |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, IP) | Expenses incurred before Letter of Offer |
| Product development and prototyping | Activities outside the agreed milestone scope |
| Office rental and operational costs | Investments in other companies or subsidiaries |
| Technology infrastructure (cloud, tools) | Entertainment and social activities |
| Market research and customer validation | Dividends or shareholder distributions |
Important Limitations
- Must work with assigned AMP mentor
- Funding is milestone-based, disbursed in 2 tranches
- Cannot combine with other Startup SG grants for the same idea
- Must maintain active business operations and full-time commitment
How Applications Are Evaluated
Enterprise Singapore assesses applications on three criteria:
- Innovation: How novel is the idea, product, service, or business model compared to what is available in the market?
- Sustainability: Is the revenue model sustainable and scalable?
- Team: Does the founding team demonstrate passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and relevant technical and business skills?
Reapplication
If your application is unsuccessful, you can reapply through an AMP with a revised or new business proposal, provided there are substantial changes from the previous submission. The company must still be less than 6 months old at the time of reapplication.
Application Timeline (Realistic)
Most founders underestimate the end-to-end timeline. Here is what to expect realistically:
| Stage | Duration | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Find an AMP | 2–6 weeks | Research AMPs, prepare pitch deck, schedule meetings. Some AMPs have intake cycles. |
| AMP evaluation | 2–4 weeks | AMP evaluates your idea, conducts due diligence, and decides whether to endorse |
| Incorporate company | 1–2 weeks | Register Pte Ltd with ACRA (must be less than 6 months old at application time) |
| Invest paid-up capital | 1 week | Transfer at least S$10,000 as paid-up capital and register with ACRA |
| AMP submits to ESG | 1–2 weeks | AMP submits endorsed application to Enterprise Singapore |
| ESG review | 4–8 weeks | Enterprise Singapore reviews application and conducts assessment |
| Approval & LOO | — | Receive Letter of Offer; mentorship and milestone clock begins |
| Mentorship period | Up to 12 months | Work with AMP mentor, hit milestones, draw down grant in 2 tranches |
Tip: The biggest time risk is finding and securing an AMP endorsement. Start approaching AMPs before incorporating your company — but remember the company must be less than 6 months old when the application reaches ESG.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Not finding an AMP first: You cannot apply without AMP endorsement — there is no direct application to ESG
- Company age: Ensure your company is not incorporated more than 6 months ago at the point of application
- Prior entrepreneurship: The main applicant must be a first-time founder with no prior ACRA Private Limited company
- Insufficient paid-up capital: You need at least S$10,000 as paid-up capital at application
- Misaligned expectations: Be prepared for active mentorship, not just funding
- Incomplete business plan: Have a clear, innovative business proposition ready
- Excluded sectors: F&B, nightlife, massage, gambling, and several other sectors are not eligible
For more detail, see our Startup SG Founder Pitfalls Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find an Accredited Mentor Partner?
Visit the official list of Accredited Mentor Partners to find AMPs. Research their backgrounds and approach those aligned with your industry. There are currently 15 AMPs including NUS Enterprise, ACE, and BLOCK71.
What counts as “first-time entrepreneur”?
You must have no prior experience incorporating a Private Limited company with ACRA. This applies to the main applicant only — since April 2024, the second applicant can be a non-first-time founder.
What if my company is already incorporated?
You may still apply if the company was incorporated within the last 6 months at the time of application to ESG.
How long is the mentorship period?
The mentorship lasts up to 12 months from the Letter of Offer, with regular check-ins and milestone reviews.
Can a non-first-time founder be part of the team?
Yes. Since April 2024, the second applicant can be a non-first-time founder. This allows serial entrepreneurs, researchers, and engineers to join the team. However, the main applicant must still be a first-time founder.
How much of my own money do I need to invest?
You need to invest S$10,000 to S$25,000 as paid-up capital registered on ACRA, with at least S$10,000 at the point of application. ESG matches your investment 1:1, so the total grant ranges from S$20,000 to S$50,000.
Who qualifies for the Startup SG Founder grant?
The main applicant must be a first-time entrepreneur who is a Singapore Citizen or PR, works full-time on the company, and has no prior ACRA private limited company. The company must be less than 6 months old, have at least 51% local shareholding, and be endorsed by an AMP.
Can I apply directly to Enterprise Singapore?
No. Startup SG Founder applications go through an Accredited Mentor Partner first. The AMP evaluates your business idea, endorses the application if it fits, and mentors the team after approval.
What can I spend the grant money on?
Startup SG Founder funding can be used for salaries, marketing, professional services (legal, accounting), and other operating expenses. The specific eligible cost categories are set in your milestone agreement with your AMP.
What businesses are excluded from Startup SG Founder?
Cafes and restaurants, nightclubs and bars, reflexology and massage parlours, gambling businesses, social escort services, employment agencies, and geomancy businesses are not eligible.
Can I reapply if my application is rejected?
Yes. You can reapply through an AMP with a substantially revised or new business proposal. However, your company must still be incorporated for less than 6 months at the time of reapplication.
How is the grant disbursed?
The grant is disbursed in 2 tranches based on agreed project milestones. You have up to 12 months from the date of the Letter of Offer to meet milestones and draw down on the grant.
Related Schemes
- Startup SG Tech — Deep tech POC/POV funding up to S$800K
- Startup SG Accelerator — Equity-based funding through accelerator partners
- Venture Capital Fund Incentive — Co-investment with VCs
- Enterprise Innovation Scheme — Tax deductions for R&D and IP
Related Guides
- Startup SG Program Comparison — Compare startup funding options
- Startup SG Founder Quick-Start Checklist — Step-by-step application guide
- First-Time Application Checklist — Complete guide for your first grant
- Grant Pitfalls Guide — Common mistakes to avoid
- Singapore Grants Glossary — Key terms and definitions
References
Official Resources
- Startup SG Founder - Enterprise Singapore - Official program page
- Startup SG - Startup ecosystem resources
- List of Accredited Mentor Partners - Find an AMP