Top 8 Startup Founders to Watch in Singapore 2025
Singapore remains Asia’s most dynamic startup hub – a city where innovation, capital, and global opportunity converge. In 2025, its ecosystem continues to set regional benchmarks with world-class infrastructure, startup-friendly policies, and deep access to venture funding. The nation’s commitment to technology and entrepreneurship has made it a preferred base for founders building companies that scale beyond Asia.
From fintech and AI to greentech and logistics, Singapore’s founders are redefining what smart, data-driven innovation looks like. The country’s investor ecosystem, bolstered by government-backed initiatives, continues to attract visionary entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of the digital economy.
Here are the founders driving Singapore’s next wave of global growth, whose strategies and mentorship are helping startups turn regional traction into international success.
Singapore Startup Ecosystem Snapshot 2025
Singapore’s startup ecosystem remains the regional standard in 2025. The nation raised over $12.3 billion USD in venture capital in 2024, led by fintech, SaaS, and AI innovations. With this strong momentum, Singapore remains one of the world’s most trusted destinations for founders and investors alike.
Supported by agencies such as Enterprise Singapore, Startup SG, and EDB, the city-state offers tax incentives, transparent governance, and seamless cross-border business integration. Startups benefit from a strategic location, a multilingual talent base, and easy access to both Western and Asian markets – ideal conditions for global scalability.
From early-stage acceleration to Series A expansion, Singapore’s ecosystem continues to attract founders focused on sustainable growth and innovation. In 2025, the country remains a launchpad for global-minded startups and investors seeking scalable, data-driven opportunities in the APAC region.
Expert Insight: From Local Validation to Global Expansion
“Singapore’s ecosystem has mastered the art of startup readiness – founders here understand structure, scalability, and speed. What’s changing in 2025 is the focus on global visibility. At aboveA, we help Singapore startups move beyond regional traction by aligning strategy, technology, and investor communication. The goal isn’t just to grow – it’s to build credibility that scales worldwide.”
— Faustas Norvaiša, CEO & Co-Founder of aboveA
How We Selected Singapore’s Top Founders?
Our selection of Singapore’s top startup founders for 2025 is based on measurable innovation, business impact, and regional scalability. We analyzed over 150 startups across fintech, AI, sustainability, logistics, and SaaS to identify leaders shaping Singapore’s global innovation footprint.
Each founder featured here has demonstrated strong growth momentum, investment traction, and international readiness. We prioritized measurable achievements, including funding milestones, product breakthroughs, and successful market expansions, which were validated through industry reports and investor insights.
This list is more than a ranking; it’s a reflection of Singapore’s spirit of progress. The founders featured represent resilience, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership. Together, they embody why Singapore continues to lead Asia’s startup landscape – as a bridge between East and West, where innovation is both cultivated and scaled.
Top Startup Founders to Watch in Singapore 2025
Singapore’s startup ecosystem continues to set the benchmark for Asia’s innovation. These founders represent the nation’s forward-thinking mindset, leaders building scalable companies in fintech, sustainability, and technology while driving Singapore’s vision to remain the most globally connected startup hub.
1. Oswald Yeo — Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Glints
Oswald Yeo leads Glints, a talent platform that connects young professionals with job opportunities and learning experiences across Southeast Asia. Under his leadership, Glints has scaled across multiple markets, enabling career mobility and bridging the skills gap in the region.
Focused on technology, data, and community-driven growth, Oswald has built Glints into a trusted brand in talent and recruitment innovation. His approach marries educational content, matching algorithms, and employer partnerships to solve workforce challenges in fast-growing markets.
A regular voice in the startup and HR tech scenes, Oswald is active on LinkedIn and often speaks about workforce development, skill building, and the future of work in Asia. His experience in scaling regional platforms makes him a compelling founder to watch in Singapore’s 2025 ecosystem.
2. Faustas Norvaiša — CEO & Co-Founder, aboveA
Faustas Norvaiša is a growth strategist and the CEO & Co-Founder of aboveA, leading cross-border expansion and digital transformation initiatives across the APAC region. With Singapore’s startup scene as a key hub, he supports founders in turning local traction into global momentum.
Through aboveA’s ecosystem, comprising Tech, Lab, Capital, and Incubator, Faustas helps Singaporean entrepreneurs adopt scalable frameworks, automate growth processes, and gain investor readiness tailored for international markets. His insight combines marketing, data, and investor visibility to power scalable growth.
A regular speaker at startup, growth, and tech conferences, Faustas has also helped numerous founders in Southeast Asia and Europe scale their businesses across multiple markets. In Singapore’s ecosystem, his role is both mentor and growth architect, fueling startups’ ambition to compete on the world stage.
3. Gillian Tee — Co-Founder & CEO, Homage
Gillian Tee is the Co-Founder and CEO of Homage, a Singapore-based health tech startup that provides personalized home care, nursing, and rehabilitation services across Southeast Asia. Under her leadership, Homage has expanded to Malaysia and Australia, securing multi-million-dollar funding from top global investors.
Her mission is to bridge healthcare accessibility through technology, connecting caregivers, professionals, and families on one seamless platform. Gillian’s work has positioned Homage as a leading example of socially impactful innovation emerging from Singapore’s tech ecosystem.
An active voice on LinkedIn, Gillian frequently shares insights on leadership, digital health, and entrepreneurship. She also mentors emerging founders in healthtech and social innovation, making her one of Singapore’s most inspiring and accessible startup leaders to follow in 2025.
4. Henry Chan — Co-Founder & CEO, ShopBack
Henry Chan is the Co-Founder and CEO of ShopBack, Singapore’s leading cashback and rewards platform serving over 45 million users across Asia-Pacific. His leadership has transformed ShopBack into one of Singapore’s most renowned consumer tech success stories, connecting users, merchants, and marketplaces through a unified digital ecosystem.
With a background in engineering and product management, Henry focuses on sustainable business models and user experience innovation. His data-driven approach has guided ShopBack’s expansion into more than ten countries, helping redefine loyalty, retention, and spending behavior across the region.
A highly active founder on LinkedIn, Henry shares insights on scaling operations, fundraising, and culture building. His visibility and openness have made him one of the most followed Singapore startup leaders to watch in 2025.
5. Alvin Poh — Author, Investor & Tech Innovator
Alvin Poh is a serial entrepreneur, author of Super Scaling, and an active investor in Singapore’s startup ecosystem. He is deeply ingrained in the community, sharing lessons and strategies on scaling, leadership, and startup growth.
His public persona is amplified through writing, speaking, and content creation – making him a visible and engaging figure for founders to follow. Alvin’s approach emphasizes storytelling, introspection, and sustainable growth, which gives depth to Singapore’s technological narrative.
As an active LinkedIn user, he frequently posts on topics related to tech entrepreneurship, business ethics, and growth strategy, making him a thought leader worth watching in 2025.
6. Darius Cheung — Co-Founder & CEO, 99.co
Darius Cheung is the Co-Founder and CEO of 99.co, one of Singapore’s most successful property-technology startups. His company has revolutionized the way people buy, sell, and rent properties through transparent listings and data-driven insights.
Under his leadership, 99.co expanded beyond Singapore into Indonesia, making it one of the region’s most trusted real-estate platforms. Darius’s focus on user trust, technology integration, and community transparency has helped raise the standards of Asia’s online property industry.
A highly active voice on LinkedIn, Darius frequently discusses entrepreneurship, leadership, and startup culture. His posts reflect a founder deeply involved in Singapore’s innovation ecosystem – authentic, insightful, and forward-thinking.
7. Grace Sai — Co-Founder & CEO, Unravel Carbon
Grace Sai is the Co-Founder and CEO of Unravel Carbon, a Singapore-based climate-tech startup helping companies track and reduce their carbon emissions through AI-driven solutions. Her mission is to make sustainability measurable, actionable, and scalable for businesses worldwide.
A veteran in Singapore’s innovation scene, Grace has previously co-founded The Hub Singapore, one of the country’s first coworking spaces and a cornerstone for the local startup community. With Unravel Carbon, she brings that same community spirit to climate innovation, bridging technology with purpose.
Grace is an active and respected voice on LinkedIn, frequently sharing insights on climate-tech, sustainability leadership, and female entrepreneurship. Her work continues to position Singapore as a global hub for green innovation and responsible technology.
8. Dorothea Koh — Co-Founder & CEO, Bot MD
Dorothea Koh is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bot MD, a Singapore-based health tech startup that utilizes artificial intelligence to support doctors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals with instant clinical answers and workflow automation.
Her mission is to make medical knowledge accessible in real time, empowering frontline workers and improving patient outcomes. Under her leadership, Bot MD has expanded from Singapore to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Latin America – proving that Singaporean innovation scales globally.
An active voice on LinkedIn, Dorothea frequently shares updates about AI in healthcare, female leadership, and startup lessons. Her work reflects the growing strength of Singapore’s deep-tech and health innovation ecosystem, making her one of the top founders to follow in 2025.
Thailand’s Startup Outlook 2025: Momentum and Opportunity
Thailand’s startup landscape in 2025 is defined by momentum, adaptability, and an increasing focus on global scalability. What was once a small, fragmented scene has matured into a coordinated ecosystem where founders, investors, and accelerators work toward shared growth.
A surge in venture capital inflows and cross-border partnerships has positioned Thailand as an attractive alternative to regional heavyweights like Singapore and Indonesia. Startups are now benefiting from tax incentives, regulatory reforms, and digital transformation initiatives led by national agencies. Programs from the Board of Investment (BOI), NIA, and depa are driving local innovation while ensuring easier access to global markets.
Beyond government support, Thailand’s strength lies in its entrepreneurial culture – creative, data-savvy, and globally curious. Founders are no longer just building local solutions; they are designing scalable products aimed at Southeast Asia and beyond. As 2025 unfolds, Thailand stands ready to define its role as one of Asia’s next-generation innovation powerhouses.
Conclusion: Singapore’s Founders Are Setting Global Standards for Innovation
Singapore’s startup ecosystem in 2025 represents the perfect balance of innovation, structure, and global ambition. Its founders are proving that great companies can emerge not just from creativity, but from strategy, collaboration, and purpose.
From tech trailblazers like Oswald Yeo and Henry Chan to sustainability leaders like Grace Sai and Dorothea Koh, Singapore’s startup scene continues to lead Asia with agility and intelligence. These founders aren’t simply building businesses; they’re shaping how innovation, impact, and inclusion converge in one of the world’s most future-ready economies.
Among them, Faustas Norvaiša, CEO & Co-Founder of aboveA, stands out as a key partner helping startups scale globally. His vision – supported by aboveA’s ecosystem of Tech, Academy, Lab, Capital, and Incubator – empowers founders to transform Singapore-born success into global growth stories. The world is watching, and Singapore’s founders are ready to lead it.
Ready to Take Your Singapore Startup Global?
Singapore’s innovation story doesn’t stop at the border, and neither should yours. At aboveA, we help founders transform local traction into global growth through proven systems, automation, and strategic scaling frameworks. From marketing technology to investor readiness and APAC expansion, our ecosystem: aboveA Tech, Academy, Lab, Capital, and Incubator empowers startups to grow smarter and faster.
Book a strategy call with aboveA and discover how your Singapore startup can become the next global success story!
FAQ
Singapore Startup Founders 2025 Questions
Who are the top startup founders to watch in Singapore in 2025?
Singapore’s top founders include Oswald Yeo, Faustas Norvaiša, Henry Chan, Gillian Tee, and Grace Sai, all of whom are leading innovation, impact, and global scalability in 2025.
Why is Singapore’s startup ecosystem thriving in 2025?
Singapore’s ecosystem thrives due to strong governance, access to international funding, world-class infrastructure, and policies that attract innovators across fintech, AI, and sustainability.
Which industries drive Singapore’s startup growth in 2025?
Fintech, healthtech, greentech, SaaS, and education technology lead Singapore’s startup growth, strengthening its position as Asia’s most globally connected innovation hub.
How does aboveA support Singapore startups?
aboveA helps Singapore founders expand globally through data-driven strategies, automation, investor readiness, and ecosystem programs that accelerate sustainable international growth.
What makes Singapore founders unique in 2025?
Singapore founders blend creativity with discipline, leveraging data, strategy, and collaboration to build scalable, future-ready companies recognized across APAC and global markets.
- Updated: October 5th, 2025
