Startup SG Founder

Startup SG Founder

Funds first-time founders in Singapore through Startup SG Founder support paired with mentor matching.

Startup SG Founder (SSGF) is Enterprise Singapore's flagship seed grant programme for first-time entrepreneurs launching innovative businesses in Singapore, providing a startup grant of S$20,000 to S$50,000 under a 1:1 co-matching structure. For every dollar of grant received, the founder must inject an equal amount of co-matching paid-up capital: at least 50% of the co-matching commitment must already be reflected as paid-up capital on ACRA Bizfile at the time of application, while the remaining portion may come from Accredited Mentor Partner or third-party investment through convertible notes or SAFE agreements. The programme operates under the New SSGF Scheme that took effect on 1 April 2024; the previous scheme closed permanently on 30 June 2024. Applications are submitted via go.gov.sg/ssgfapril2024 on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline.

A hard prerequisite before filing any application is obtaining a Letter of Recommendation from an Accredited Mentor Partner (AMP): EnterpriseSG will not accept submissions without this letter, and there is no waiver. AMPs are organisations accredited by EnterpriseSG to provide mentorship, pitch training, investor networking, and secretarial and accounting support alongside the financial grant. Eligibility explicitly targets first-time founders but allows mixing experienced co-founders or part-time Researchers, Scientists, and Engineers in the founding team, and serial entrepreneurs may participate part-time — a deliberate change from the prior scheme's stricter founder-profile rules.

To maximise approval odds, founders should select an AMP whose sector expertise aligns with the venture's domain before requesting the Letter of Recommendation, as AMP endorsement carries evaluative weight. Founders must also confirm the company's paid-up capital position on ACRA Bizfile meets the 50% threshold before applying, as a shortfall in paid-up capital at application time is a disqualifying condition that cannot be remedied retroactively.