University incubators key to propelling Singapore startups in the region

[JAKARTA] Benjamin Wong has always been a self-starter., having founded clubs and choirs while still in school and at university. It was thus no surprise that the 28-year-old launched an edtech startup, named Kinobi, with Hafiz Kasman and Joshua Phua in 2020.

All 3 are graduates of the Singapore Management University (SMU), where they not only received their degrees, but also plenty of knowhow on how to be successful entrepreneurs.

Kinobi, which raised US$1 million in seed funding last year, helps students draft resumes and cover letters as well as offers short online courses and job Interview practice. The firm has helped more than 400,000 students to date and works with over 60 universities across Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.