Singtel invests in startups captained by young people with Singtel Future Makers launch
Singaporean telco Singtel has launched a programme that will see if fund startups that have young founders and the aim of impacting communities.
Singtel Future Maker Programme
The Singtel Future Makers programme will last for six months, promising to give up to seven startups a boost of S$20,000. The startup needs to have a foundation of wanting to impact social change.
Singtel vice president of group corporate social responsibility, Andrew Buay, said: “Social impact start-ups want to bring about meaningful and impactful change to society. However, roadblocks in funding support, lack of experience in commercialising business ideas sustainably, and missed partnership opportunities can often hamstring even the best idea. Through Singtel Future Makers, we want to play a part to help them turn their ideas into reality.”
He added: “Companies can play an important role in transforming the lives of the vulnerable in our community. Through Singtel Future Makers, we want to contribute to the public’s understanding and support of social entrepreneurship, and help change makers build a more inclusive society through innovative technologies.”
The partnership will also include support from Singtel via business workshops, mentoring and coaching, networking and commercialisation opportunities with Singtel and its regional mobile associates.
It’s not the first time Singtel has partnered with startups around social change as it was a partner on the Singapore Government’s Enabling Change Social Innovation Programme in 2015, the first social impact tech incubator programme that focused on persons with disabilities in the country.