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Singapore. The government seems hell bent on kick starting the startup scene. http://www.e27.sg/2010/07/26/singapore-startup-government-funding-chart/ http://w

Singapore. The government seems hell bent on kick starting the startup scene. http://www.e27.sg/2010/07/26/singapore-startup-government-funding-chart/ http://www.e27.sg/2010/07/26/singapore-startup-government-fu... http://www.spring.gov.sg/Entrepreneurship/FS/FS/Pages/young-entrepreneurs-scheme-start-ups.aspx http://www.spring.gov.sg/Entrepreneurship/FS/FS/Pages/young-... "This scheme provides funding support of up to S$50,000 for youths to set up their innovative startup." However, the startup culture and network is not as vibrant as it is in Silicon Valley/Bay Area. Also, I hear top quality developers are difficult to hire. That being said, no strings attached seed grants are bound to help to some extent.

bearwithclaws 16y ago
Seconded Singapore. Been there once for the Barcamp. The community is awesome and their HackerSpace is happening as well.
shadowsun7 16y ago
Singapore is great for startups looking for little-strings-attached funding (the government there is very liberal with its money) but not so good if you're talking about startup culture. Things to look out for: a very myopic startup community (people there tend to have an unnatural focus on the tiny Singaporean market, particularly with me-too product ideas) and prominent members of the community who are not themselves entrepreneurs, but who spend a lot of time talking about it to the masses. Singapore can and will be better. Just give it one or two more years. But in the meantime - funding alone does not a startup hub make.
- andycroll 16y ago
  I'm gonna say that's a slightly over-negative view. I've worked in and around startups in SG for the past three years and am now starting my own. Sure there are blowhards in every community but there is a real sense of a movement happening here in SG. The Hackerspace, good user groups for multiple languages, Pivotal Labs are setting up out here, Joi Ito's Neoteny Labs incubator, a founders institute class has just finished and universities that are churning out an increasingly startup friendly work force. Plus the weather is great, you're in a regional hub for bringing in wider SE Asian talent, or hitting a beach (cheaply) for a couple of days to get some vitamin D. There are negatives: if you are a pure idea person rather than technical founder you'll struggle to hire a good developer out here, not because there aren't any but because the community of good devs are sharp enough to smell bullshit a mile off and would be happy plowing their own furrow or joining a startup in which they had more stake. You can't outsource to here. Broadband and wireless are cheap and plentiful, nationwide free wifi in most coffee establishments. As an Brit entrepreneur bootstrapping out here there is a lot to recommend the place. For interest you might want to check our 'startup experience' blog, http://nakedstartup.com http://nakedstartup.com. Or hit me up on twitter (@andycroll) for a more detailed chat. In short, I like it, perhaps others might.
  - startuprules 16y ago
    How about the cost of living/cost of hiring? Can you elaborate a little on that?
    - andycroll 16y ago
      Rents are highish, but if you're looking out of the city a room in a 2bed is about 1k SGD. Food is as expensive or cheap as you make it. From $4 a meal. The cheap hawker food is generally excellent. Sadly booze is a bit expensive. Dev hires from 3k / month for grads full time. Possibly a bit less.
lzw 16y ago
Lots to recommend singapore, but getting a work pass looks like it will be fairly difficult.
- andycroll 16y ago
  Getting a work pass is bureaucratic but not difficult. Working in the tech industry plus degree is a shoo in for a work pass. If you can fill out a straightforward form and photocopy a certificate...
- andycroll 16y ago
  I've had work passes of three different types since I've been here and had little trouble. Gimme a shout if you want a fuller run down.
csomar 16y ago
I need to be a Singaporean or a permanent resident to be eligible for the grant. Anyone have an ideas how much hard is it to get permanent residency?
- elai 16y ago
  6 months with degree and a startup plan. Work visa while you wait. Revenue not made in Singapore and not banked/kept in Singapore is tax free.

bearwithclaws 16y ago

Seconded Singapore. Been there once for the Barcamp. The community is awesome and their HackerSpace is happening as well.

shadowsun7 16y ago

Singapore is great for startups looking for little-strings-attached funding (the government there is very liberal with its money) but not so good if you're talking about startup culture. Things to look out for: a very myopic startup community (people there tend to have an unnatural focus on the tiny Singaporean market, particularly with me-too product ideas) and prominent members of the community who are not themselves entrepreneurs, but who spend a lot of time talking about it to the masses. Singapore can and will be better. Just give it one or two more years. But in the meantime - funding alone does not a startup hub make.

andycroll 16y ago
I'm gonna say that's a slightly over-negative view. I've worked in and around startups in SG for the past three years and am now starting my own. Sure there are blowhards in every community but there is a real sense of a movement happening here in SG. The Hackerspace, good user groups for multiple languages, Pivotal Labs are setting up out here, Joi Ito's Neoteny Labs incubator, a founders institute class has just finished and universities that are churning out an increasingly startup friendly work force. Plus the weather is great, you're in a regional hub for bringing in wider SE Asian talent, or hitting a beach (cheaply) for a couple of days to get some vitamin D. There are negatives: if you are a pure idea person rather than technical founder you'll struggle to hire a good developer out here, not because there aren't any but because the community of good devs are sharp enough to smell bullshit a mile off and would be happy plowing their own furrow or joining a startup in which they had more stake. You can't outsource to here. Broadband and wireless are cheap and plentiful, nationwide free wifi in most coffee establishments. As an Brit entrepreneur bootstrapping out here there is a lot to recommend the place. For interest you might want to check our 'startup experience' blog, http://nakedstartup.com http://nakedstartup.com. Or hit me up on twitter (@andycroll) for a more detailed chat. In short, I like it, perhaps others might.
- startuprules 16y ago
  How about the cost of living/cost of hiring? Can you elaborate a little on that?
  - andycroll 16y ago
    Rents are highish, but if you're looking out of the city a room in a 2bed is about 1k SGD. Food is as expensive or cheap as you make it. From $4 a meal. The cheap hawker food is generally excellent. Sadly booze is a bit expensive. Dev hires from 3k / month for grads full time. Possibly a bit less.

lzw 16y ago

Lots to recommend singapore, but getting a work pass looks like it will be fairly difficult.

andycroll 16y ago
Getting a work pass is bureaucratic but not difficult. Working in the tech industry plus degree is a shoo in for a work pass. If you can fill out a straightforward form and photocopy a certificate...
andycroll 16y ago
I've had work passes of three different types since I've been here and had little trouble. Gimme a shout if you want a fuller run down.

csomar 16y ago

I need to be a Singaporean or a permanent resident to be eligible for the grant. Anyone have an ideas how much hard is it to get permanent residency?

elai 16y ago
6 months with degree and a startup plan. Work visa while you wait. Revenue not made in Singapore and not banked/kept in Singapore is tax free.