AI generated
TMTPOST -- In Singapore, “there are endless AI meetups to attend,” says Huang Lin, founder of Linkda. A seasoned entrepreneur who has lived in Singapore for over a decade, Huang has helped hundreds of Chinese companies expand into the city-state—one-third of them AI startups.
A recent AI salon held at Google’s Singapore office confirmed the momentum. What began as a 100-seat event quickly overflowed, prompting organizers to open an additional livestream room. Most attendees were Chinese AI entrepreneurs, underscoring a wave of migration and ambition. “There are just so many Chinese entrepreneurs,” remarked Emily from the incubator platform XNode. Notably, the event was held entirely in Chinese—still a rarity in Singapore’s tech scene.
As the global race for AI dominance intensifies—with industry estimates putting the sector’s value at $10 trillion—Singapore is increasingly positioning itself as a key regional hub.
Singapore: A Strategic Springboard for Chinese AI Entrepreneurs
Singapore is one of the world’s most AI-sensitive markets. According to the 2024 Southeast Asia Digital Economy Report, it ranks among the top 10 globally in AI-related search interest and app downloads. Data from data.ai shows 1.6% of all app downloads in Singapore are AI-related—the 10th highest share globally.
It’s not just consumer enthusiasm. A joint report by MIT Technology Review Insights and Databricks found that Singapore is among the fastest adopters of generative AI at the enterprise level. From 2019 to 2023, the country attracted S$7 billion in AI investment—1.5% of its 2022 GDP—making it the global leader in AI capital inflow relative to economic size.
In 2024 alone, Singapore accounted for over 60% of AI financing across Southeast Asia, with major backers like Sequoia, Temasek, and Openspace Ventures investing heavily in application-layer AI startups.
But entrepreneurs aren't just eyeing Singapore’s domestic market. Many view it as a gateway to the broader Southeast Asian region—home to 680 million people and a combined GDP of $3.6 trillion.
Bruce Yang, founder of Sapiens AI, exemplifies this outlook. His startup, Agnes AI, aims to become the “DeepSeek of Southeast Asia,” focusing on multilingual and multicultural AI applications that better understand local work habits and cultural nuances—gaps often ignored by Silicon Valley giants like OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Microsoft.
Yang believes that most AI infrastructure is already mature, and sectors like e-commerce and search are dominated by incumbents. Social networking, however, remains a "blue ocean." That’s why Sapiens is evolving from a productivity tool into a platform focused on human connection and digital communities.
Other AI entrepreneurs echo the sentiment. Luo Hui, CEO of AI education hardware firm Yunxigu, initially considered entering the U.S. market. But geopolitical concerns and cultural alignment have steered his focus toward Southeast and East Asia. He sees more emotional and cultural resonance in the region for education-focused AI products, particularly in Japan and South Korea.
“Singapore offers a third-level neutrality,” says Jason Liang, General Manager of Master Concept. With no U.S. chip restrictions, a leading global data center footprint, and open regulatory policies, Singapore has become the preferred launchpad for AI ventures aiming to go global.
This strategy has already attracted players like Manus (which recently moved its headquarters to Singapore), AI voice firm WIZ.AI (founded by a former 360 executive), and TikTok e-commerce analytics platform Tabcut.
Wu Wei, CEO of Feifan Research, notes that while China accounts for 43.8% of global AI application usage, its global market penetration remains low. “The global AI market is far larger than any single country,” Wu says, adding that Singapore is the ideal pivot for Chinese AI startups seeking global scale.
But for all its advantages, entering Singapore is just the beginning.
AC Ventures’ Helen Wong—a veteran of GGV and Qiming—says investors have become more cautious. She warns that while many AI startups mirror SaaS models, their valuations often far exceed those justified by current revenues or proof points.
Openspace Ventures’ Zhao Yiliang agrees. “The biggest challenge for generative AI companies today is proving business value,” he says. Unlike traditional machine learning, which has clear KPIs like repeat purchase rates or user retention, generative AI output quality is harder to quantify—particularly in B2B settings.
Wu Wei believes the AI industry is shifting “from selling tools to selling outcomes.” This places pressure on startups to deliver tangible value and sustainable business models—especially in competitive global markets.
Singapore may be a launchpad, but its domestic market is small. To scale, startups must expand regionally or globally—a process requiring strong marketing, sales, and operational capabilities. Many Chinese founders, especially those with deep tech backgrounds, often fall short in this area.
Huang Peihua, who has worked extensively with Chinese founders, observes that many lack the English communication and localized sales skills to effectively compete in international markets. "Compared to Indian SaaS founders, there’s a noticeable gap," he says.
This is why many Singapore-based investors are now focused on helping startups recruit local talent to fill these gaps and drive revenue growth.
Startups like Notellect.ai illustrate what this new generation of AI startups must look like. CEO David Liu, a former Grab executive, is building a “context-aware” AI assistant that simplifies data analysis across fragmented IT systems. Despite fierce competition in analytics, Liu is targeting underserved “super users” who need greater personalization and integration than legacy systems can offer.
For Liu, deep local knowledge and technical expertise are only part of the formula. Success also depends on understanding pain points unique to regional enterprises—and crafting solutions that fit seamlessly into their workflows.
From favorable policy environments and global capital inflows to rising Chinese entrepreneurial communities and strategic geography, Singapore is fast becoming one of the world’s most important AI innovation hubs.
As Bruce Yang of Sapiens AI puts it: “The AI era is a singularity for wealth redistribution—and Singapore gives every entrepreneur a seat at the table.”
For startups, the challenge now is to translate vision into commercial execution—balancing technical innovation with business pragmatism. For investors, the task is to distinguish sustainable opportunities from hype-driven ones. But one thing is certain: the Singapore AI story is only getting started.
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