Prepare a compelling investment pitch for EDBI. Unlike grants, EDBI makes equity investments in high-growth companies—expect rigorous due diligence.

Is EDBI Right for Your Company?

Answer these questions honestly before applying:

Business Stage

Not completed
Series A or later (or equivalent traction for pre-Series A)
Not completed
Annual revenue of S$1M+ OR clear path to revenue
Not completed
Product-market fit demonstrated with paying customers

Growth Potential

Not completed
Total addressable market (TAM) exceeds S$1 billion
Not completed
Business model is scalable beyond Singapore
Not completed
Clear competitive moat or differentiation

Singapore Connection

Not completed
Headquarters or regional HQ in Singapore, OR plan to establish significant operations
Not completed
Commitment to create jobs locally

Funding Need

Not completed
Seeking S$500K to S$50M+ in equity investment
Not completed
Willing to give up equity stake
Not completed
Open to board representation

Not all boxes checked? Consider Startup SG Founder or Venture Capital Fund Incentive instead.

Documents to Prepare

Pitch Deck (15-20 slides)

Problem and solution
Market size and opportunity
Business model and unit economics
Traction and key metrics
Competitive landscape
Go-to-market strategy
Team overview
Financial projections (3-5 years)
Funding ask and use of proceeds

Business Plan

Executive summary
Detailed market analysis
Operational plan for Singapore
Risk assessment and mitigation
Exit strategy considerations

Financial Documents

Audited financial statements (past 3 years if available)
Monthly management accounts (past 12-24 months)
Financial model with assumptions
Cap table showing current ownership
Projected P&L, balance sheet, cash flow

Team Documentation

Founder CVs and LinkedIn profiles
Key management team bios
Board and advisor details
Domain expertise evidence
Previous startup or relevant experience

Product/Technology

Product demo or prototype
Technology architecture overview
IP documentation (patents, trademarks)
Development roadmap

Traction Evidence

Customer list and case studies
Revenue and growth metrics
User engagement data
Partnership agreements
Press coverage and awards

Market Analysis

TAM/SAM/SOM breakdown
Competitive analysis matrix
Industry reports and validation
Customer research findings

What EDBI Looks For

Factor	What They Assess	How to Demonstrate
Team	Domain expertise, execution ability, complementary skills	Track record, prior exits, industry experience
Market	Large, growing, accessible market	Third-party reports, bottom-up analysis
Product	Differentiation, defensibility	Customer testimonials, IP, technical moat
Traction	Revenue growth, customer retention	MRR/ARR trends, cohort analysis
Singapore Value	Jobs, HQ, R&D commitment	Concrete headcount and investment plans

Investment Criteria

EDBI typically invests in companies that meet these thresholds:

Stage: Series A to pre-IPO
Typical check size: S$500K - S$50M+
Sectors: Deep tech, fintech, healthtech, sustainability, enterprise software
Geography: Singapore-based or significant Singapore operations planned

Investment Process Overview

Phase 1: Initial Screening (2-4 weeks)

Submit pitch deck and executive summary
Initial call with investment team
Preliminary assessment

Phase 2: Due Diligence (4-8 weeks)

Management presentations
Financial and legal due diligence
Customer and reference calls
Technical assessment (if applicable)
Site visits

Phase 3: Investment Committee (2-4 weeks)

Internal investment committee review
Term sheet negotiation
Board approval

Phase 4: Closing (4-8 weeks)

Legal documentation
Conditions precedent
Funds disbursement

Total timeline: 3-6 months (longer for larger investments)

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Positioning Mistakes

Treating EDBI like a grant application
Underestimating the due diligence process
Unclear Singapore value proposition
Vague use of funds

Documentation Issues

Inconsistent numbers across documents
Unrealistic financial projections
Missing historical financials
Incomplete cap table

Pitch Errors

Focusing on product features over business metrics
Underestimating competitors
No clear path to profitability
Weak team story

Process Missteps

Not preparing for multiple meetings
Slow to respond to information requests
Unwilling to negotiate terms
No alternative funding options

EDB Investment Overview
EDBI vs VC Fund Incentive
Venture Capital Fund Incentive
Startup SG Founder Guide
Startup SG Decision Matrix
Grant Pitfalls Guide
Singapore Grants Glossary — key terms and definitions

Official Links

EDBI Portfolio - View current investments
EDBI Contact - Submit inquiries
EDB Singapore - Economic Development Board
Startup SG - Government startup ecosystem

EDBI Application Checklist: Pitch-Ready