Applications Open for Startups in Singapore, San Francisco
500 Startups opens applications for its two accelerator programs which aims to help early and growth stage startups expand globally.
Global venture capital firm 500 Startups has launched applications for Batch 3 of the Global Launch Singapore and Global Launch San Francisco programs.
Through these programs, early stage Singapore-based startups will have the opportunity to learn about the U.S. market, while growth stage startups worldwide will have the opportunity to learn about Southeast Asia.
In addition to supporting startups develop customised, market-specific business expansion and growth strategies, the programs claim to provide access to 500 Startups’ global pool of mentors who possess extensive business experience in Southeast Asia and the United States.
According to 500 Startups Regional Director Ee Ling Lim, they will also provide networking opportunities with the venture capital firm’s startup community, corporate partners and key industry stakeholders to help guide the selected applicants’ expansion plans.
“Singapore and San Francisco are among leading startup ecosystems globally. Through our Global Launch programs, we aim to strengthen the bridge between the two hubs – leveraging Singapore’s position in Southeast Asia and San Francisco’s reputation as a technology hub. We provide international founders with the tools they need to scale their presence across the two regions,” says Lim.
Batch 3 of 500 Startups’ Global Launch programs will run concurrently and are structured in two phases. The first phase will take place from 29 March 2021 to 21 May 2021 while the second phase is scheduled to be held in Q3 and Q4 of 2021:
Global Launch Singapore (16 weeks). This consists of an eight-week virtual program focused on the fundamentals of business expansion in Southeast Asia, including discussions on local product-market-fit, best practices in conducting sales, team-building exercises and lessons on developing strategic partnerships.
This phase will also comprise virtual networking sessions, and masterclasses with mentors and industry experts. Following this, an eight-week in-person immersion program will focus on market expansion through introductions to relevant partners and access to resources. Participants will be prepped for a startup showcase at the end of the immersion program.
Global Launch San Francisco (16 weeks). This is an eight-week virtual bootcamp focused on refining business fundamentals and developing a roadmap to explore entry into the U.S. market.
Following this, there will be an eight-week immersion course in San Francisco where startups will learn to prioritize business objectives based on their go-to-market plans, with a focus on market validation. 500 Startups’ network of expert mentors will support startups over the course of the program.
The Global Launch Singapore and Global Launch San Francisco programs were first held in 2019. They are part of a two-way partnership with Enterprise Singapore that seeks to leverage the strengths and experiences of these two startup ecosystems.
Previous participants in Global Launch Singapore include BizConnect, Botbox, Cindicator, Designhubz, gini, Stride.AI, Synapsica, Vasitum and Zectr. Past and present mentors include Katrina Too, Managing Director & B2B Marketing Expert, Open Door Policy; Garry Huang, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at 500 Startups, former CEO of WeCash Vietnam; Ramesh Gopalkrishna, APAC Leader, Cloud SaaS Sales & Partnerships, Facebook; Ruomei Chua, Founder & Startup Pitch Coach, SUTW Impact Consulting; Vidit Agrawal, SEA & India Business Development Head, Stripe; and Xingyi Ho Head of Growth, Homage, and Ex-Head of International Growth, Canva.
Previous participants in Global Launch San Francisco include Affable, Cellivate Technologies, Credify, CredoLab, Envolve.ai, Frea, MO Batteries, Negobot, Shopform, SynPhNe, Tramés, uHoo, and X0PA AI. Past and present mentors include Emily Basileo, Head of Operations, GridCure; Natalie Riso, Content Marketing, 500 Startups; Roland Osborne, Corporate Innovation – Entrepreneur-in-Residence; and Richard McDonald Jr., Ecosystems – Sales and Operations Specialist (formerly of PwC).
(Ed. Applications are open until 26 February 2021. Click here for more details about Global Launch Singapore and click here for Global Launch San Francisco. 500 Startups claims to be one of the most active early stage venture capital firms worldwide. Since its inception in 2010, 500 Startups says it has invested in over 2,500 companies across 78 countries. It claims notable investments includes: Credit Karma, Canva, Talkdesk, Intercom, GitLab, Grab and Bukalapak. Featured image by Photographer Quintin Gellar.)
