Tech takes centre stage at enterprise awards

Singapore

TECHNOLOGY and innovation were the two buzzwords at this year's Emerging Enterprise Award (EE 2016) - and it's no small wonder they were. Repeated references were made by Minister of State for National Development, and Trade and Industry, Koh Poh Koon, at a gala dinner on Sept 16 in the swanky St Regis Hotel. And it was evident too, in the varied and novel business models of the 16 finalists for the awards.

The black-tie event got off to a rousing start with an energetic performance by Project Superstar 2014 winner Alfred Sim and his band, with his pitch-perfect rendering of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World and a medley of pop hits, including Charlie Puth's One Call Away.

Rapturous cheers and thunderous applause then filled the gilded hall of the John Jacob Ballroom, as Dr Koh handed out trophies to the entrepreneurs behind e-commerce cashback platform ShopBack, medical technology firm Innovfusion, and menswear label Benjamin Barker.

Apart from the main award, prizes were also presented to two firms in other categories - digital film production firm CraveFX, which came up tops in the Best Innovation Award, and A*Star spin-off MiRXES, which took home the Most Promising Startup Award.

Into its ninth year, EE 2016 is organised by The Business Times and OCBC Bank, and supported by MasterCard, Acorn Marketing & Research Consultants, Insead, Spring Singapore, Singtel, Maxus and RSM.

"By celebrating the journey that they have taken to find success, the Emerging Enterprise Award provides recognition for the hard work and leadership of our companies," said Dr Koh. "Their success stories serve as inspiration for other aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders to embrace the spirit of resilience in their journey of entrepreneurship."

Photos by:

ARTHUR LEE, The Business Times;

AIDAN LOO, The Business Times;

OCBC BANK