Singapore, Nov 23 (PTI) – The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Singapore Chapter is intensifying its efforts to bolster early-stage startups from both India and Singapore with crucial resources including capital, mentorship, networks, and access to global platforms, according to chairperson Anuradha Shroff. This initiative coincides with the celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, adding special significance to the collaborative endeavor.
"As we are working in a global business community, we are promoting India-Singapore startup community for long-term prosperity of the youth-led innovative businesses," Shroff told PTI on Saturday after hosting a demo-day innovation demonstration and investor pitching sessions here.
Shroff emphasized the synergistic potential of the two nations, stating, "When two nations innovate together, innovation doubles," highlighting the cross-border nature of the program designed to connect startups from both countries. India boasts a thriving ecosystem of over 100,000 startups, while Singapore's startup community is rapidly growing, with an estimated 50,000 ventures.
The ICAI Singapore Chapter, in collaboration with BeyondSeed, an Indian-origin investor group based in Singapore, is running “The NEXTLEAP Accelerator Program” to support early-stage innovations. This initiative is further supported by the Committee on MSME & Start-ups of ICAI. Twenty startups participated in the intensive eight-week program that included masterclasses, one-on-one mentorship, and multi-layer evaluations by external juries. The top 10 startups were given the opportunity to pitch directly to an investor panel on Demo Day.
Kuldeep Mirani, Founder & CEO of BeyondSeed, underscored the significance of the India-Singapore opportunity, emphasizing the purpose behind The NEXTLEAP collaboration. Speakers at the sessions on November 20 highlighted India's thriving startup ecosystem and discussed methods to unlock collaborative pathways.
The NEXTLEAP program champions the journey from idea to action to impact, nurturing early-stage startups across both nations. By empowering founders through mentorship, support, and investment, the initiative aims to enable sustainable innovation and long-term growth. The program fosters knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships, and community building between the Indian and Singaporean ecosystems.
The ICAI Singapore Chapter is a well-regarded professional body that serves as a platform for the professional and personal development of its members based in Singapore. It operates under the Overseas Chapter Network of ICAI India and plays a pivotal role for Indian Chartered Accountants in Singapore by hosting professional events, webinars, and knowledge series events. The chapter also facilitates social events to foster camaraderie among members.
