S'pore needs to do more to remain as startups' top gateway to SE Asia

Singapore

SINGAPORE in 2017 cemented its place as a key player on the global startup map, having emerged as the preferred gateway to South-east Asia, a base from which global startups and investors venture into the rest of the region's burgeoning markets and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

But the Republic will need to take on an even more dynamic regional role this year, to ensure the competitiveness and vibrancy of its startup ecosystem, industry players told The Business Times.

Katarina Hasbani, board member of non-profit advocacy group Female Founders, said a "noteworthy" trend last year was the rise in global en…