Stories

Singapore Management University

‘MUI-Robotics’ the Thai Team From Mahidol Reached the Final 60 Teams at the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition, Reiterating the Potential of AI Innovation on the World Stage

Published on

Singapore Management University (SMU) has announced the 60 finalists from over 1,500 applicants worldwide for the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), which will be held from 29 September to 2 October 2025 at the Singapore City Campus. Thai team 'MUI-Robotics' is one of the finalists.

Read More
Valley of death

Powering Climate Progress By Piloting Innovation Through Collaboration

Published on

A prototype does not save the planet. A working pilot might. This stark truth underlies one of the great challenges in the fight against climate change: it’s not enough to invent a clever new climate solution in a lab – we must prove it works in the real world, at scale, and fast. As global temperatures rise and climate impacts accelerate, we have no time or capital to waste on innovations that never leave the drawing board. Every year, governments and companies announce bold sustainability targets, yet the gap between ambition and action yawns wide. Bridging that gap means turning prototypes into pilots, because only then can promising ideas translate into tangible emissions cuts.

Read More
Contributing Writer: Koh Yi Xuan | LKYGBPC Student Leader

Global Collaboration That Brings Together Green Innovation and Urban Solutions

Published on

Asia’s approach to sustainability can be traced to a unique interplay of strategic policy continuity, high-impact demonstration projects, and robust supply chains. Beyond progressive policies, Asia’s integrated manufacturing ecosystems and surging green finance industry, such as China’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and Singapore and Hong Kong–based climate bonds, have accelerated clean innovation, from lab-based prototypes to mass-market deployment. For sustainability-focused startups, this confluence of regulatory clarity, industrial depth, and investment exuberance positions Asia as the launchpad for globally relevant solutions.

Read More
By Vishal Menon, Contributing Writer

Singapore as a Living Lab: How Venture Capital Unlocks Southeast Asia's Sustainable Future

Published on

The climate shifts have unveiled extraordinary opportunities for positive change, with a new generation of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors collaborating on new solutions and approaches that can reshape Southeast Asia’s sustainable, urban future. At the core of this momentum stands Singapore. With its transparent governance, global outlook, and willingness to adopt emerging technologies on a national scale, Singapore is naturally the frontrunner to be the region’s test bed – where it can be a “living laboratory” for pioneer approaches to urban planning and a sustainable future.

Read More
raISE

A Shared Purpose That Powers Greater Possibilities: LKYGBPC and raiSE

Published on

LKYGBPC’s commitment to fostering social ventures through technology and urban innovation has been further amplified for its 2025 edition through our collaboration with the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, raiSE, a national ecosystem builder that looks to seed and nurture new and existing Social Enterprises in Singapore. The partnership aims to equip participants with essential resources and expertise to unlock new, innovative ways to further develop the Social Enterprise sector.

Read More
zhang fan

Empowering Meaningful Change Through Young Innovators

Published on

Spotlight on the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) Visionary Partner: Mr. Zhang Fan, Co-Founder, Sequoia Capital China | Four-Time Forbes “Midas List” Honoree - on Empowering Future Innovators

Read More
Leonard Lin

Rewind 18 Years: Competition Alumnus Leonard Lin Remembers Overnighters

Published on

We track down a Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition alumnus from 2006. Games developer extraordinaire Leonard Lin reflects on how the competition has evolved.

Read More
On a sunset-chasing weekend mission, SMU intern Claire Soh witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets she has ever seen at the Øresund Bridge which links Sweden to Denmark.

Ripple Effect: How a Startup Competition Led to a Swedish Internship

Published on

The very first intern under SMU’s Global Innovation Immersion programme to go to Sweden was SMU 3rd year Business Management student, Claire Soh – all thanks to the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition.

Read More
LKYGBPC partnerships

Hear from our Partners

Published on

Four of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition partners tell us why they believe in the competition.

Read More
Fireside Chat with Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Mr. Heng Swee Keat and Mr David Su, Founding Managing Partner of Matrix Partners moderated by Prof Lim Sun Sun, SMU’s Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement, at the 11th edition of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition in 2023

Shaping Tomorrow's Cities: LKYGBPC Launches Global Hunt for Sustainable Urban Innovations

Published on

Press release: Launch of the 12th edition of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition.

Read More