PwC Singapore launches scheme to help foreign startups enter South-east Asia
The Scale Programme will include hands-on masterclasses, mentorship and networking sessions
Singapore
PWC Singapore has launched a five-day programme to help foreign startups expand into South-east Asia.
The Scale Programme will include hands-on masterclasses, mentorship and networking sessions, said PwC in a statement on Friday.
Patrick Yeo, PwC Singapore's venture hub leader, said: "Against the backdrop of matured markets getting increasingly saturated, South-east Asia's rapid growth makes it an attractive market for startups looking to scale up.
"Singapore being a global wealth management hub with strong regional connectivity and a business-friendly environment will be attractive as a regional hub for startups to expand into South-east Asia."
Through the in-house programme by its venture hub, startups can also gain access to a pipeline of new customers, new marketing channels and its professional network, said PwC.
"Participants will get the opportunity to build the right relationships in the ecosystem, such as potential investors, customers or key government agencies to drive commercial opportunities," it added.
The programme also aims to get startups pitch-ready, with mentors from the professional services firm "providing insights ranging from growth strategy, sales and marketing to fundraising such as the investment process and valuation".
Other top professional service firms in Singapore too, said they have similar programmes in place to help startups scale-up in South-East Asia. These come in the form of networking sessions, collaborations with government agencies and in-house workshops and piloting sessions.
For example, the EY Foundrystartup incubator programme combines tailored workshops with piloting sessions for early-stage tech startups. Here, they would be able to iron out kinks in their products with guidance from industry professionals,
Most of these programmes require startups to have received some validation in their product - be it through funding or having a working prototype. For example, Deloitte's Venture Hour requires startups to have raised a round of funding, which could be seed funding or pre-series A.
PwC's programme also requires startups to have a validated product or service; and are approaching Series A and beyond
Market potential in South-east Asia will be also be considered, it said.
