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I'm curious if anyone has worked for a company in Singapore, done lots of business with one, or better yet started one. By these rankings and the stereotypes I'

I'm curious if anyone has worked for a company in Singapore, done lots of business with one, or better yet started one. By these rankings and the stereotypes I've learned it basically seems like a capitalist's paradise, with practically the whole society being pro-business and a gigantic minority of the population (42% according to Wikipedia) being foreign workers/students.

abi 16y ago
Except there's no startup ecosystem and the culture is very traditional.
- donaq 16y ago
  What do you mean by "ecosystem"? I'm Singaporean and AFAIK there's a shitload of people doing startups here, though of course not as much as in Silicon Valley. You're probably right, though, about the culture being traditional if you're referring to funding. Please note, though, that these are just opinions based on personal experience.
albahk 16y ago
Check out this blog by a couple of HN'ers doing a startup in Singapore: http://nakedstartup.com/2010/04/singapore-is-nice-but-its-not-enough/ http://nakedstartup.com/2010/04/singapore-is-nice-but-its-no... The Startup: http://www.gameplanapp.com http://www.gameplanapp.com I have no affiliation with them, just been reading their blog
metamemetics 16y ago
My impression was it used to be a haven for large business. But due to rising costs they are moving nearby to Malaysia and Indonesia and just keeping management offices in Singapore (ex. memc.com). I haven't heard of it attracting young international people looking to do startups primarily because it's not a very liberal society. Chewing gum is illegal and cannabis possession carries a penalty of execution. A sharp contrast to Silicon Valley\California.
- kirvyteo 16y ago
  Why do you bother about chewing gum and having cannabis if you are looking for a place to start or run a business? Doesn't factors like low corruption, safety or market size matters more?
  - hga 16y ago
    "Disneyland with the death penalty" may be a unique selling proposition but I well believe it when metamemetics says it's bad at "attracting young international people looking to do startups". There's a lot more than that, e.g. you have to be careful about what you write and perhaps say about the government.
    - kirvyteo 16y ago
      That is being paranoid. I don't understand the downvoting. Is US a "Disneyland with guns" then? How many people have been killed by guns versus death penalty in Singapore? (Before you downvote me again, hear me out) I live here. I see lots of curses in facebook and websites about the government and I mean really really mean curses, personal attacks and so on. I complain lots about the government. And to clarify, there is a line which you don't cross, which is the religious line and accusing the govt of corruption without proof. It is rather simple. I don't really see how young people doing startups care about that? Just respect your neighbours and their religion, is it hard to do? If you have proof that someone is corrupted, just report it. (Btw, some govt guy just got charged for a huge corruption case.) Having a death penalty doesn't mean the whole country is one brainwashed crazed population looking to execute anyone. In fact there are so many foreigners here at any startup event that the locals are beginning to seem like the minority. Yes, this small place(market) has lots of problems and it is definitely not disneyland. But to say it is a bad place just because of death penalty or lack of freedom to insult other religion is just ridiculous. Just look beyond political nonsense and journalistic opinions.

abi 16y ago

Except there's no startup ecosystem and the culture is very traditional.

donaq 16y ago
What do you mean by "ecosystem"? I'm Singaporean and AFAIK there's a shitload of people doing startups here, though of course not as much as in Silicon Valley. You're probably right, though, about the culture being traditional if you're referring to funding. Please note, though, that these are just opinions based on personal experience.

albahk 16y ago

Check out this blog by a couple of HN'ers doing a startup in Singapore: http://nakedstartup.com/2010/04/singapore-is-nice-but-its-not-enough/ http://nakedstartup.com/2010/04/singapore-is-nice-but-its-no... The Startup: http://www.gameplanapp.com http://www.gameplanapp.com I have no affiliation with them, just been reading their blog

metamemetics 16y ago

My impression was it used to be a haven for large business. But due to rising costs they are moving nearby to Malaysia and Indonesia and just keeping management offices in Singapore (ex. memc.com). I haven't heard of it attracting young international people looking to do startups primarily because it's not a very liberal society. Chewing gum is illegal and cannabis possession carries a penalty of execution. A sharp contrast to Silicon Valley\California.

kirvyteo 16y ago
Why do you bother about chewing gum and having cannabis if you are looking for a place to start or run a business? Doesn't factors like low corruption, safety or market size matters more?
- hga 16y ago
  "Disneyland with the death penalty" may be a unique selling proposition but I well believe it when metamemetics says it's bad at "attracting young international people looking to do startups". There's a lot more than that, e.g. you have to be careful about what you write and perhaps say about the government.
  - kirvyteo 16y ago
    That is being paranoid. I don't understand the downvoting. Is US a "Disneyland with guns" then? How many people have been killed by guns versus death penalty in Singapore? (Before you downvote me again, hear me out) I live here. I see lots of curses in facebook and websites about the government and I mean really really mean curses, personal attacks and so on. I complain lots about the government. And to clarify, there is a line which you don't cross, which is the religious line and accusing the govt of corruption without proof. It is rather simple. I don't really see how young people doing startups care about that? Just respect your neighbours and their religion, is it hard to do? If you have proof that someone is corrupted, just report it. (Btw, some govt guy just got charged for a huge corruption case.) Having a death penalty doesn't mean the whole country is one brainwashed crazed population looking to execute anyone. In fact there are so many foreigners here at any startup event that the locals are beginning to seem like the minority. Yes, this small place(market) has lots of problems and it is definitely not disneyland. But to say it is a bad place just because of death penalty or lack of freedom to insult other religion is just ridiculous. Just look beyond political nonsense and journalistic opinions.