4 ms·

Ask HN: Startup scene in Singapore

2 points by raghava 15y ago

Greetings fellow HNers. Was researching on startup scene in Singapore and found that though it's a highly convenient place to setup and run a business, the numbers (of startups) are still not that large. Any comments/inputs/opinions on the trend? Do you see any reason why it has not become big yet? Thanks. Ref: http://startuplist.e27.sg/

dlf 15y ago
That's a really interesting question. Singapore has a robust economy that is heavily centered around technology. However, from the little I know about the Singaporean economy (case studies, economic development, etc.) it seems to be an economy that is still heavily centered around technology clusters that cater to foreign direct investment. One interesting point that's been raised before is that the Singaporean education does an excellent job at teaching mathematics and other technical skills, but does not necessarily lend itself to individual exploration of ideas and independent learning (Fareed Zakaria wrote a piece mentioning this phenomena as a competitive advantage of the U.S. education system a couple years back). I also wonder how Singaporeans, as a whole, view failure. Building an innovation economy is probably the single hardest problem in economic development. What seems to support such an economy is a large number of flagship technology companies, some successful local entrepreneurs to act as mentors and angels, research-focused universities (which Singapore has in spades) and a culture that welcomes failure as a key ingredient to success. I think that Singapore has taken some very important steps in moving up the value chain and is well positioned to become a center of entrepreneurship in SE Asia. A class project I had during my graduate work was to determine how Singapore could make the next step up the value chain. We ultimately settled upon focusing on building out and supporting the burgeoning bio-tech industry, but doing so is almost too obvious, as it leverages two sectors that are already quite entrenched in Singapore - medicine and tech. I'd like to see more individual entrepreneurship and think that Singapore is probably best situated to make the leap to an innovation economy of all the countries in SE Asia.
- raghava 15y ago
  Thanks for sharing your views. >> Fareed Zakaria's piece mentioning this as a competitive advantage of the U.S. education system I guess you are referring to the one where he mentions "Most of the world teaches the students how to take tests. American education teaches people how to think, how to solve problems. This is much more useful in the real world." That's true. >> wonder how Singaporeans, as a whole, view failure Though Singapore comprises of people with Asian ethnicity (where usually it's not the idea but the person that's considered a failure!), am told that people have a totally different and far-from-conservative outlook. Guess I will have to see it for myself and see. >> think that Singapore is probably best situated to make the leap to an innovation economy of all the countries in SE Asia Yes. The situation seems to be conducive, and immigration too should not be too fussy an issue.
jianxioy 15y ago
Hi raghava, I'm Singaporeans and I could connect you with some people who can help you in your research. Send me an email if you are interested. :)
- raghava 15y ago
  Thanks! Would mail! :)

2 points by raghava 15y ago

dlf 15y ago

That's a really interesting question. Singapore has a robust economy that is heavily centered around technology. However, from the little I know about the Singaporean economy (case studies, economic development, etc.) it seems to be an economy that is still heavily centered around technology clusters that cater to foreign direct investment. One interesting point that's been raised before is that the Singaporean education does an excellent job at teaching mathematics and other technical skills, but does not necessarily lend itself to individual exploration of ideas and independent learning (Fareed Zakaria wrote a piece mentioning this phenomena as a competitive advantage of the U.S. education system a couple years back). I also wonder how Singaporeans, as a whole, view failure. Building an innovation economy is probably the single hardest problem in economic development. What seems to support such an economy is a large number of flagship technology companies, some successful local entrepreneurs to act as mentors and angels, research-focused universities (which Singapore has in spades) and a culture that welcomes failure as a key ingredient to success. I think that Singapore has taken some very important steps in moving up the value chain and is well positioned to become a center of entrepreneurship in SE Asia. A class project I had during my graduate work was to determine how Singapore could make the next step up the value chain. We ultimately settled upon focusing on building out and supporting the burgeoning bio-tech industry, but doing so is almost too obvious, as it leverages two sectors that are already quite entrenched in Singapore - medicine and tech. I'd like to see more individual entrepreneurship and think that Singapore is probably best situated to make the leap to an innovation economy of all the countries in SE Asia.

raghava 15y ago
Thanks for sharing your views. >> Fareed Zakaria's piece mentioning this as a competitive advantage of the U.S. education system I guess you are referring to the one where he mentions "Most of the world teaches the students how to take tests. American education teaches people how to think, how to solve problems. This is much more useful in the real world." That's true. >> wonder how Singaporeans, as a whole, view failure Though Singapore comprises of people with Asian ethnicity (where usually it's not the idea but the person that's considered a failure!), am told that people have a totally different and far-from-conservative outlook. Guess I will have to see it for myself and see. >> think that Singapore is probably best situated to make the leap to an innovation economy of all the countries in SE Asia Yes. The situation seems to be conducive, and immigration too should not be too fussy an issue.

jianxioy 15y ago

Hi raghava, I'm Singaporeans and I could connect you with some people who can help you in your research. Send me an email if you are interested. :)

raghava 15y ago
Thanks! Would mail! :)