It’s official. The runway for deep tech founders in Singapore just got significantly longer.
For years, the Startup SG Tech grant was capped at S250,000forProof−of−Concept(POC)andS500,000 for Proof-of-Value (POV). While generous, many deep tech founders found these amounts barely covered the cost of specialized equipment and talent in an inflation-heavy market.
The caps have now been raised.
We have verified across multiple new 2025 application guidelines that the funding limits have increased by 60%:
- Proof-of-Concept (POC): Now up to **S400,000∗∗(previouslyS250,000)
- Proof-of-Value (POV): Now up to **S800,000∗∗(previouslyS500,000)
What This Means for Founders
This isn’t just an “inflation adjustment.” It is a strategic signal that Enterprise Singapore wants to back higher-risk, higher-CAPEX technologies.
- The “Valley of Death” Bridge: The jump to S800kforPOVismassive.ThatadditionalS300k is effectively a pre-seed round without the dilution. It allows you to build a robust pilot, secure your first commercial trial, and walk into a Series A investor meeting with real data, not just a pitch deck.
- Higher Barriers to Entry: With higher amounts comes higher scrutiny. We expect the technical evaluation panel (TEP) to be even more rigorous on the “proprietary” aspect of the tech. If you are building a wrapper around ChatGPT, you likely won’t qualify. This money is for hard tech.
The Fine Print (Read This)
The grant remains a competitive, milestone-based scheme. It is not an entitlement.
- Equity Component: Remember that for Startup SG Tech, the government (or its nominee) typically reserves the right to exercise a share subscription of roughly 50% of the grant value during your next equity round.
- Capital Matching: You still need to show “skin in the game.”
- POC: Requires ~10% paid-up capital.
- POV: Requires ~20% paid-up capital.
- Example: To unlock the full S800kPOVgrant,youlikelyneedtoshowS160k in paid-up capital on your ACRA BizFile.
DeepTechSG Verdict
This is the best non-dilutive deal in Southeast Asia right now. If you have a patentable technology and haven’t applied yet, update your deck and move fast.
DeepTechSG Resources
- Check Eligibility (Enterprise Singapore): https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/financial-support/startup-sg-tech
- Find Grant Consultants (DeepTechSG App): https://app.deeptech.sg
- DeepTechSG Main Site: https://www.deeptech.sg
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