Lee Kuan Yew Beta Prize
The Lee Kuan Yew Beta Prize is dedicated to supporting nascent-stage startups with bold ideas that have the potential to create transformative impact. As part of the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), this prize recognizes and empowers early-stage entrepreneurs who are tackling pressing global challenges through deep-tech and innovation.
Lee Kuan Yew
Beta Prize
S$100,000 Cash Prize
Who Is It For?
This prize is designed for:
- Early-stage startups and university spin-offs that are in the ideation, prototype, or pre-commercialization phase.
- Innovators working on disruptive solutions in deep technology, sustainability, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, healthcare, and emerging fields.
- Visionaries looking for critical support to turn their groundbreaking ideas into viable businesses
Why It Matters
Many early-stage startups struggle with funding gaps, market entry barriers, and lack of mentorship. The Lee Kuan Yew Beta Prize bridges this gap by offering a launchpad for breakthrough ideas, ensuring they receive the support needed to achieve real-world impact.
Past Winners
(9th, 10th and 11th Editions)
The Lee Kuan Yew Beta Prize is not just an award—it’s a catalyst for game-changing innovation. Apply now and take your startup to the next level.
A/Professor Cher Heng Tan graduated with MBBS (Singapore) and FRCR (UK). He completed his Abdominal Imaging Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and thereafter, Executive MBA from Insead. He is presently Senior Consultant with the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he also serves as Assistant Chairman Medical Board (Clinical Research and Innovation).
Jixun Foo is a senior managing partner at Granite Asia. He leads the firm’s overall investment strategy and portfolio management.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew
First Prime Minister of Singapore
The Global Stage for Next-Gen Innovators
Inspired by one of the world’s most visionary leaders, the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) is one of Asia's most globally representative and exciting deep-tech startup challenges. Every two years, our pitch competition lights up a global stage for next-gen founders to showcase their groundbreaking innovations and connect with the world, fueling their growth.
Powered by Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE), we have fostered a global youth innovation village and launched countless successful ventures solving real-world challenges since 2002.
Why Join LKYGBPC?
- Leverage Singapore’s edge in innovation, startup-friendly policies and top talent
- Connect with leaders shaping Southeast Asia’s market of 700M consumers
- Pitch to investors in Singapore’s thriving hub of 200+ VC funds and family offices
- Join a deeptech peer learning network of founders from world's top 100 universities
- Receive 1:1 mentorship from C-suite executives
- S$2.5M+ in prizes and counting
INTRODUCING THE NEW
LKYGBPC ACCELERATOR
Singapore's Public, Private, and Philanthropic (PPP) Platform for Next-Gen
Urban Sustainability Founders | Exclusive to LKYGBPC Applicants
Focus Areas
Carbon Tech
Solutions to capture, utilize, reduce, or store carbon dioxide, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leverage data to optimize carbon management, ESG reporting and financing strategies.
Climate Tech
Climate tech utilises climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce emissions and support sustainable development.
Energy Transitions
Advancements in energy generation, storage, transmission, and distribution to facilitate the shift toward renewable sources to enhance grid resilience, optimize energy use, and ensure access to clean energy.
Food & Land Use
Innovative solutions promoting sustainable farming and alternative protein sources that enhance food security and minimise environmental impact.
Green Buildings & Constructions
Energy-efficient materials, smart technologies, and sustainable designs that reduce resource consumption and emissions.
Homeland Security
Advanced surveillance, AI, and cybersecurity solutions that strengthen national resilience and enhance rapid-response capabilities by safeguarding critical infrastructure and public spaces.
Public Health
Digital health, AI and other tech solutions that boost patient outcomes and enhance healthcare access, preventive care and overall community wellness.
Sustainable Materials & Circularity
Innovative materials and recycling technologies that promote renewable resources, extend product life cycles, and reduce waste, enabling closed-loop systems.
Transport & Logistics
Smarter transport networks based on EV infrastructure and mobility optimisation that optimise efficiency, reduce emissions and streamline logistics operations.
Urban Mobility Solutions
Urban mobility technologies such as autonomous vehicles and AI serve to optimise traffic, reduce congestion, and lower carbon emissions.
Water Solutions
Innovations in purification, harness real-time monitoring and AI-driven analytics to ensure access to clean water, optimise water usage, detect leaks, and minimise waste.
Emerging Tech
Advances in science and technologies addressing urban solutions and sustainability that ultimately have a positive impact on people, health, environment and the planet.
Meet the People
Jeremy Goon
Chief Sustainability Officer
Wilmar International
Mr Jeremy Goon, the Chief Sustainability Officer has been responsible for the Group’s Sustainability/ESG function since June 2007. His past positions include, Group Head of Plantations, Head of European Operations for Kuok Oils and Grains in Germany and the Netherlands. He has also served as Head of Brand Management and Marketing for the Group’s Vietnam operations. He holds a degree in law and management science from Keele University in the UK.
Jeremy Goon
Chief Sustainability Officer
Wilmar International
Prizes
12th LKYGBPC Advisory Committee
Shirley Wong
Entrepreneur-in-Residence, SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship & Managing Partner
TNF Ventures Pte Ltd
Shirley is a results-driven business leader and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the IT and Technology industry. She currently serves as the Managing Partner at TNF Ventures Pte Ltd, a seed and early-stage venture fund focusing on technology startups.
From 2013 to 2016, Shirley was the Chairman of Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation, now known as SGTech. In 1994, she co-founded Frontline Technologies, which was listed on the Singapore Exchange in March 2001. Under her leadership, the company grew from a team of 8 to a 5000-strong workforce spread across 11 countries in Asia Pacific, before being acquired by British Telecom Global Services in March 2008.
Since 2013, Shirley's focus has shifted to investing in and mentoring technology-based startups. She actively helps startups secure funding and gain market access while remaining passionate about entrepreneurship and innovative technology. Shirley is also the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Singapore Management University's Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where she assists in developing a world-class incubation program.
Shirley has been the Chairperson of the President’s Technology Award from 2017 to 2019, recognizing outstanding contributions to R&D in Singapore. Shirley has chaired the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition for the past three editions, a platform that empowers the next generation of innovators from universities worldwide to develop sustainable urban innovation!
In addition, Shirley serves on the boards of Assurity Trusted Solutions, DSO National Laboratories, Netlink NBN, National Kidney Foundation, and Yellow Ribbon Singapore. She is a member of the CAAS authority committee on Cybersecurity and Data Governance, PDPA Advisory, and SIA Engineering Technology Advisory Board. Shirley was recognized as one of Singapore's 100 Women in Tech 2020 for her significant contributions to the tech sector.
Shirley Wong
Entrepreneur-in-Residence, SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship & Managing Partner
TNF Ventures Pte Ltd
Jixun Foo
Senior Managing Partner
Granite Asia
Jixun Foo is a senior managing partner at Granite Asia. He leads the firm’s overall investment strategy and portfolio management.
Jixun has spent the last 20 years working with entrepreneurs in the mobility, transportation and enterprise services sectors in Asia. He is best known for his early investments into companies like Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), Grab, Xpeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV) and his critical roles in strategic mergers and acquisitions, such as those of Youku-Tudou (the first ever multi-billion-dollar tech merger in China), Baidu/Qunar, Ctrip/Qunar, and Manbang (Yunmanman/Huachebang). His portfolio includes 22 companies valued at more than $1 billion each.
Jixun was previously a Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson ePlanet Ventures, where he led investment efforts in Asian companies such as Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU). Prior to DFJ ePlanet, Jixun headed up the Investment Group under the Finance & Investment Division of the National Science & Technology Board of Singapore (NSTB) and was previously an R&D project group leader at Hewlett Packard.
Born and raised in Singapore, Jixun is highly respected in the Asia business community and serves on the boards of regional and global organisations including PSA International (Singapore) and Bombardier (Canada).
He has been named as one of the Top 10 Venture Capitalists by Zero2IPO as well as "VC Professional of the Year" by the Asia Venture Capital Journal. He frequently appears on the global Forbes Midas list, including 2019-2023, and was recognised among the Top 100 Venture Capitalists by The New York Times/CBInsights in 2019.
Jixun is an alumnus of the National University of Singapore, obtained a First-Class Honours in Engineering and later, earned an M.Sc. in Management of Technology from the esteemed Graduate School of Business.
Jixun Foo
Senior Managing Partner
Granite Asia
David Golding
Head of Global Innovation Partnerships
Innovate UK
David’s role involves leading Innovate UK’s global activities working with international partners and networks to build collaborations and delivering programmes in support of innovative high growth UK businesses seeking global innovation and research and development opportunities.
Innovate UK, as UK’s national innovation agency, provides support for businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas and to grow and scale globally.
David has been with Innovate UK since it was established 2007 (as the Technology Strategy Board) and was responsible for developing ‘Connect & Catalyse’ and ‘Concept to Commercialisation’, the first two strategies of the organisation.
He has been involved in developing many of the ways it supports business including Small Business Research Initiative (Contracts for Innovation), Catapult centres, the Enterprise Europe Network and Innovate UK Business Growth, as well as its global programmes including joint programmes with Canada, USA, India, China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Brazil.
Prior to joining Innovate UK, David worked for the UK Department of Trade and Industry (now Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) covering a range of different areas including innovation policy as well as working directly for government ministers.
During 2022, David was Chair of Taftie, the Network of Leading European Innovation Agencies and remains a Board member.
David Golding
Head of Global Innovation Partnerships
Innovate UK
Lim Eng Hwee
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Mr Lim Eng Hwee is the Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) with effect from 1st September 2017. URA is Singapore’s national planning agency, responsible for the physical planning and urban development of Singapore.
Mr Lim was formerly the Chief Planner and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of URA from 2009 to 2017. He has extensive experience in urban planning, urban design, implementation of land use policies and development initiatives. He also served in the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Trade and Industry.
He served as a member in the Boards of Land Transport Authority, Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, Singapore Science Centre, International Federation for Housing and Planning and Singapore Tourism Board. He currently sits on the Board of National Environment Agency.
Mr Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Planning from the University of Auckland. He also holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard University and attended the Wharton Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lim Eng Hwee
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Lim Teck Kiat
Deputy Secretary (Resilience)
Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment
Mr Lim Teck Kiat currently serves as Deputy Secretary (Resilience) in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) of the Republic of Singapore. He oversees water and food policies, as well as the Ministry’s international relations, communications and engagement functions.
Teck Kiat also serves as a board member of Yellow Ribbon Singapore, an agency that reintegrates ex-offenders and ensures that they have a second chance in life. Prior to MSE, he has served in the Prime Minister’s Office, in the Public Service Division, and in the Ministries of Social Development, National Development, Transport and Law. He has experience in designing and implementing social policies to build a caring and inclusive society, in building human capital, in climate change negotiations and in building eco-cities. He has also worked on developing Singapore as a maritime hub and enhancing access to legal aid. Before joining the Singapore Civil Service, Teck Kiat worked with Motorola in Shanghai.
Teck Kiat is an alumni of Harvard Kennedy School, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. Teck Kiat volunteers in community programmes in his free time.
Lim Teck Kiat
Deputy Secretary (Resilience)
Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment
Prof Shlomo Magdassi
Professor of Chemistry
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Shlomo Magdassi is a professor at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Chemistry. His research centers on micro and nanomaterials, with a focus on their applications in 2D 3D and 4D printing. He is the founder of 3D printing center of the Hebrew University, was the Chair of HUJI Innovate, the entrepreneurship center of the Hebrew University, and the former Chair of the Insitute of Chemistry. Currently is is the Vice-Dean for entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, he has published more than 350 papers, edited four books, and holds approximately 300 patents and patent applications. His industrial research outcome includes creating numerous commercial activities, including start-up companies, licensing agreements, and worldwide sales. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the 2016 European Colloid and Interface Society Solvay Award, the 2022 Johann Gutenberg Prize by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology, the 2022 Israel Chemical Award for Outstanding Scientist, and the 2024 Landau Award for outstanding achievements in arts and sciences. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Webpage: https://magdassi.huji.ac.il/
Prof Shlomo Magdassi
Professor of Chemistry
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jacqueline Poh
Chief Executive Officer
JTC Corporation
Ms Poh has been CEO of JTC Corporation since 1 April 2025 and also a director on the Jurong Port Board.
Ms Poh was previously Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) from 2021 to 2025. She was the Chairperson of Design Singapore Advisory Board and board member of EDB Investments.
Prior to EDB, Ms Poh was deputy secretary in the Prime Minister's Office Strategy Group. She was also founding chief executive of the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) and managing director of the former Infocommunications Development Authority.
She also held key positions in three ministries - manpower, finance and defence.
She currently sits on the Boards of SingHealth and the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Ms Poh is an alumnus of Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD (MBA) and Stanford.
Jacqueline Poh
Chief Executive Officer
JTC Corporation
Cher Heng Tan
Group Chief Research and Innovation Officer
National Healthcare Group
A/Professor Cher Heng Tan graduated with MBBS (Singapore) and FRCR (UK). He completed his Abdominal Imaging Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and thereafter, Executive MBA from Insead. He is presently Senior Consultant with the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he also serves as Assistant Chairman Medical Board (Clinical Research and Innovation).
At the National Healthcare Group, Cher Heng is Group Chief Research and Innovation Officer and previously Executive Director, Centre for Healthcare Innovation. He is concurrently Assistant Dean (Clinical Research) for the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, and responsible for bridging clinicians to academia, facilitating the development and translation of technology into healthcare. He is involved in the setting up of the Academic Health System between NHG and LKCMedicine-NTU Singapore, as Director of the joint Academic Partnerships Office.
Cher Heng holds leadership positions in various Radiology societies locally and internationally. He was previously Senior Fellow in MOH, under the Healthcare Family Fellowship Programme for which he oversaw the formulation and implementation of guidelines for appropriateness criteria for use of imaging technology and is co-Chair for the national imaging AI platform (AimSG).
Cher Heng Tan
Group Chief Research and Innovation Officer
National Healthcare Group
12th LKYGBPC International Judging Panel
Prof. Shlomo Magdassi
Professor of Chemistry
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Prof. Paul Davidson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, US
Genevieve Soh
Chief Product & Strategy Officer
Climate Impact X, Singapore
Mario Fernandez
Head of Catalyst
Breakthrough Energy, US
Frank Levinson
Co-Founder and General Partner
Convergent Ventures, US
Joyce Ng
General Partner
iGlobe Partners, Singapore
James Tang
Partner
KPCB, China
Daniel TAY
VP, Emerging Technologies
Temasek, Singapore
12th LKYGBPC Mentors
Sugandhi Matta
Chief Impact Officer
abc IMPACT
Jeremy Goon
Chief Sustainability Officer
Wilmar International
Gary Kunis
Former Chief Science Officer
CISCO Systems
Hugh Lim
Executive Director
Centre for Liveable Cities
Ivan Ng
Chief Technology Officer
City Developments Limited
Kheng Nam Lee
Deputy Chairman
Vertex Holdings
Pauline Tay
Director
National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC)
Liu Xiao Wei
Asia Director & Senior Advisor to Secretary General
World Energy Council
12th LKYGBPC Faculty Communication Advisors
Mark Chong
Professor of Communication Management
SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Tracy Loh
Senior Lecturer of Communication Management
SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Stories
Global Collaboration That Brings Together Green Innovation and Urban Solutions
Published onAsia’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.
Singapore as a Living Lab: How Venture Capital Unlocks Southeast Asia's Sustainable Future
Published onThe 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.
11th LKYGBPC Statistics
As Featured On
Mr Wong Wai Meng is currently the Chief Executive Officer (Data Centres) of Data Centres & Networks Division in Keppel. He has more than 30 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and spearheads the company's thrust towards being one of the leading data centre developers and solution provider in Europe and Asia Pacific.
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