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Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick!
posted by Mohan Belani on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 4:33pm Categories: BlogSep16
It’s a hat trick for Singapore! The last few days have been really crazy. Singapore startups have been reaching heights never before seen. We first had iTwin, the first ever Singapore based startup to be featured as one of the 50 launching companies at TechCrunch50. That very evening, we reported how Pechora Technologies, another Singapore based startup, bagged the Innovation Award at the Broadband World Forum 2009. They were the only winning company from South East Asia.And just today, we hear that Socialwok, one of the pitching companies at the unConference Singapore 2009 event we organized in May, won the Demopit of TechCrunch50. Among the loads of startups there, they were picked by the Silicon Valley community to be one of the winners of the Demopit section alongside Odesk and Clynde.
That’s a hat trick for Singapore and a big boost to the fledgling startup industry here!
I recently commented how the lack of exposure to Singapore based startups have been hampering growth in general. We have a decent number of great technology companies with excellent concepts and implementations, but low users. Until there is a way for startups to get connected to a bigger ecosystem with a lot more early adopter users, who will try out products from startups, share them with their friends and provide comments to improve them, the user growth number will more or less remain stagnant, with a very low probability of the typical hockey stick growth observed by successful Silicon Valley startups.
What Can Startups Do About This?
Getting your startup exposed out there is all about leveraging the big guys. As Ming Yong from Socialwok pointed out, distribution is key! By working with platforms such as GTUG, BizSpark and a whole other range of groups, your startup will get the early exposure it needs. Events is definitely another great way to leverage on to. Although we do have a lack of events here, there are a decent number of good quality ones where startups can interact with the web technology community. The quality of the events in Singapore is definitely on par with those run in the valley.I often hear of startups complaining that it’s pointless going for events all the time. I seriously disagree with this. Events are the best way to meet people. You never know who you may meet and how introductions can happen. Events are also a great place to get feedback on your product and get inputs from potential clients. Events get your startup out there and put a face to the brand name.
Socialwok, iTwin and HomeCamera definitely made the right choices by getting into events. Kudos to them and kudos to the startups in Singapore! :)
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31 Testimonials to “Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick!”
Tweets that mention Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick! » e27 - Discovering Web Innovation in Asia -- Topsy.com said :
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by E27sg and Mohan. Mohan said: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg @e27sg [...]
mohanbelani said :
Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg @e27sg
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
E27sg said :
Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg @mohanbelani
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
E27sg said :
Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
danielgoh said :
Great news for Singapore’s startup scene! RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
youngupstarts said :
Great news for Singapore’s startup scene! RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
lucian said :
Way to represent. :) RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
James Chan said :
There are actually 2 DemoPit winners on each day, and not just one. Please verify.
Mohan Belani said :
@james: Yup I’ve ammended the post to reflect other winners like Odesk and Clynde. Thanks for point it out :)
bjornlee said :
1 small step for tiny SG, can we leap more beyond awards? :D RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
geekonomics said :
Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig (Via @E27sg)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
proteusguy said :
Nice going guys! RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
belindaang said :
RT @geekonomics: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig (Via @E27sg)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
jchowjs said :
well done guys! RT @E27sg Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
seikatsu said :
RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
marcha265bhp said :
RT @geekonomics: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/y1Fig (Via @E27sg)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
sgweb said :
[e27] Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick!: It’s a hat trick for Singapore! The last few days .. http://bit.ly/14wifD
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
sg_gtug said :
Read more about @socialwok victory at #TC50 #techcrunch – 1) http://bit.ly/AalwF . 2) #motochan http://bit.ly/4FLTrc 3) http://bit.ly/3Wj8q
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
sg_gtug said :
Read more about @socialwok victory at #TC50 #techcrunch – 1) http://bit.ly/AalwF . 2) #motochan http://bit.ly/4FLTrc 3) http://bit.ly/3Wj8q
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Sean Seah said :
Are they funded by any local VCs yet? Though I am sure ming dun need that right now, haha.
Varun said :
Thanks for the kudos, Mohan.
@bjornlee: Of course, we can, should, and are moving beyond awards. The thing about industry awards is they help establish credibility. Remember the old saying “no one ever got fired for buying IBM”? Similarly, for risk averse distribution partners like ours (ISPs, telcos), external validation makes it easier for them to get internal consensus. And, of course, from a funding perspective, these are useful too.
@Sean: dunno about the others but we’re friends-and-family funded (close to 200K) and are now going out to raise a small round (why small? because there’s no point raising a lot when you don’t need it – better to raise a lot when you’re able to put it to the right use AND are in a position to demonstrate value).
Cheers,
- Varun
Co-founder, HomeCamera.
svik88 said :
RT @mohanbelani: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg @e27sg
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Alvin_Yap said :
RT @mohanbelani: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg @e27sg
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
chiewmei said :
RT @E27sg: Singapore startup scene scores a hat trick! http://bit.ly/Z0yXg
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
bitsmedia said :
Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick! http://bit.ly/nF04S a very good news for our small Singapore, it’s startup scene, and bitsmedia
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
sgpkop said :
RT @e27sg Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick! » e27 – Discovering Web Innovation in Asia http://bit.ly/7Hmi1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
sgpkop said :
RT @e27sg Singapore Startup Scene Scores a Hat Trick! » e27 – Discovering Web Innovation in Asia http://bit.ly/7Hmi1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Daniel said :
Hi Mohan,
Thanks for sharing the success of our startups.
It’s just a shame that our local media doesn’t give a damn about such great news:
http://www.youngupstarts.com/2009/09/21/singapore-startups-kick-ass-overseas-gets-ignored-at-home-as-usual/
Mohan Belani said :
Yup it’s sad. But there’s definitely hope with the tech blogs out there. We just need more support from the startups etc. and that should be it ;)
chiewmei said :
i love salsa but how does worldsalsachampsionships (http://bit.ly/4aVZVn) have more relevance to sg than sg at tc50(http://bit.ly/Z0yXg)?
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
chiewmei said :
i love salsa but how does worldsalsachampsionships (http://bit.ly/4aVZVn) have more relevance to sg than sg at tc50(http://bit.ly/Z0yXg)?
This comment was originally posted on Twitter