SMEs form the backbone of every economy. In Singapore, according to the Department of Statistics’ 2024 data, they account for 99 per cent of all enterprises and more than two-thirds of employment. Yet for many SMEs, while they understand the need and importance of innovation, the practicalities of balancing cash flow and meeting customer deliveries often take up most of their attention, leaving innovation as something done “on the side”. Even as they embark on this journey, they are often faced with uncertainties and wish they could have someone experienced to exchange ideas with and to guide them through the process.

Having worked alongside SMEs for over a decade at IPI Singapore, we have seen this challenge firsthand. Our focus is on making innovation practical and on being the partner that SMEs can rely on as they navigate their journey. We call this bite-sized innovation: breaking transformation into smaller, achievable steps so that SMEs can see quick wins, build confidence, and maintain the momentum to move forward sustainably.

Innovation is a bite-sized journey

A Singapore-based SME in the packaging sector sought to strengthen its product development capabilities and prepare for regional expansion. To achieve these goals, the company joined IPI Singapore’s Innovation Advisory programme, which supports innovation-driven enterprises in addressing key business challenges.

Working with experienced advisors, the company began by establishing a clear product roadmap and enhancing its standard operating procedures. With these foundations in place, it scaled up production, improved quality assurance, strengthened R&D capabilities, and refined customer engagement strategies.

Having strengthened its core processes and organic capabilities, the company then focused on sharpening its go-to-market and supply chain management strategies. These progressive enhancements enabled it to conduct proof-of-concept trials in Indonesia and Thailand, while positioning itself for future expansion into other markets, including Vietnam, Malaysia, India, China, and Europe. With projected revenue growth expected to double, the company was well placed to embark on its next phase of growth. Through TechInnovation, we further connected the company with a technical expert to develop a new product, creating an additional revenue stream.

This example shows how practical, incremental steps can help SMEs build momentum, enhance capabilities, and achieve sustainable growth.

The power of partnerships

No SME scales alone. The Singapore market is small, and international growth is necessary, even though it comes with risk, especially if not managed well. This is where open innovation can make a difference. It allows companies to collaborate beyond their boundaries, drawing on the strengths and expertise of partners in other markets.

Over the years, we have seen how platforms and partnerships can facilitate meaningful collaboration. Through initiatives such as TechInnovation, KILSA Global, and the Japanese Corporate Technology Innovation (JCTI) Launchpad, local companies have co-created with Korean startups, explored Japanese patent libraries, and connected with European partners seeking entry into ASEAN markets.

Also Read: Celebrating innovation and growth from startups, SMEs, and investors in Asia

One key lesson we have learnt is that innovation is always relative. What feels cutting-edge for one company might already be standard for another. The key is relevance. Does the technology solve a real business problem, or open a tangible new opportunity?

Careful preparation and clear understanding are essential before partners meet. We first look at the problem statements and assess whether suitable technologies exist. Both sides are then guided so that, when they meet, discussions are relevant, focused, and productive, rapidly progressing to pilots or co-developed solutions. The goal is to identify common ground for actionable collaboration, whether testing a single solution or developing a pilot together.

Collaboration requires the right chemistry

Collaboration is often spoken of as a principle, but we see it more like chemistry. When the right people meet, sparks fly. And when it is done right, the outcome is transformative, creating new compounds for growth. Just as in chemistry, a compound combines the strengths of its constituent elements to achieve better performance. Similarly, in innovation through collaboration, both parties benefit by leveraging each other’s strengths.

A case in point: a multinational company with an AI anomaly detection software was matched with a Singapore SME serving data centres. Together, they trialled a robotic inspection solution that reduced energy costs. For the SME, it was a quick and low-risk way to test advanced technology without heavy R&D. When fully commercialised, the SME anticipated that this could generate a 30 per cent increase in revenue. For the MNC, it was a chance to see their solution in action within a real-world setting. A small step, but one that unlocked immediate improvements.

We also see legacy brands reinvent themselves through collaboration. Eu Yan Sang is reimagining tradition with modern innovation. Family-run companies like Kwong Cheong Thye and Scanteak are modernising to stay relevant across generations. Their stories show that no company is too old to collaborate for impact.

Also Read: How AI-ready devices are reshaping the way SMEs work with Lenovo Pro and AMD

Why bite-sized innovation matters

Bite-sized innovation is a reminder that growth does not always come from dramatic leaps. Often, it is about taking small wins in sequence, strengthening the business core, building trust within the team, then with partners and customers, and finally letting those steps compound over time.

Since 2011, we have partnered with more than 450 SMEs on their innovation journeys. From edtech trials for children with special learning needs to companies shifting from distribution to product ownership, the principle is the same: practical, actionable steps that lead to real impact.

Looking ahead, to SMEs and business founders alike, you are already taking meaningful steps forward. The real difference comes when you are supported with the right advisory, credible partners, and manageable pathways. Together, we can turn today’s small wins into tomorrow’s growth.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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Southeast Asia’s startup funding scene continued its recovery trajectory in October 2025, with total investments reaching US$287 million across 14 rounds, according to data from Tracxn. The figure marks a 24.46 per cent increase from September’s US$231 million, signalling sustained investor confidence and renewed optimism in the region’s tech ecosystem.

Although the funding volume remains 17.53 per cent lower than the same period last year, the back-to-back monthly gains underscore a strengthening sentiment after a challenging mid-year slowdown.

From August’s slump to October’s momentum

The current momentum follows a dramatic turnaround that began in September 2025, when Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem staged a robust rebound after a dismal August.

Also Read: SEA funding wiped out: Back to 2016 levels after historic slump

In August, startups in the region collectively raised just US$84 million across 22 rounds, a  65.1 per cent decline year-over-year and 76.4 per cent lower than July. That slump reflected investor caution amid macroeconomic uncertainty and slower deal cycles.

By contrast, September saw fewer but larger bets, with US$231 million secured across 10 rounds, representing a 125.6 per cent month-on-month surge and a 58.7 per cent year-on-year increase. The resurgence hinted at investors’ growing conviction in Southeast Asia’s long-term growth potential, particularly in resilient and scalable sectors such as fintech, mobility, and consumer tech.

October: Sustained recovery and steady investor activity

October built on this upward trajectory, with funding volumes climbing higher and investor participation remaining steady. Despite the region still operating below its 2024 highs, the US$287 million raised demonstrates a stabilising market environment.

Prominent venture capital (VC) firms continued to drive deal flow, led by Illuminate Financial, Alpha JWC Ventures, Mercia Ventures, and Peak XV Partners.

• Alpha JWC Ventures participated in a funding round for Endowus,
• Mercia Ventures backed Hangry, and
• Peak XV Partners supported Supabase.

These high-profile rounds indicate continued appetite for quality startups with robust fundamentals and scalable business models.

Shifting market sentiment: From caution to conviction

The sequential gains in September and October highlight a strategic recalibration in investor behaviour. Rather than a retreat, the earlier caution appears to have evolved into selective, conviction-driven funding, with capital flowing toward startups demonstrating sustainable growth and clear profitability pathways.

Also Read: Fintech funding in SEA falls 39 per cent as early-stage capital dries up

Analysts view the Q4 rebound as an encouraging sign that Southeast Asia’s innovation economy is emerging from a period of correction. The resurgence in investor activity–combined with larger ticket sizes and improved sentiment –suggests that the region may be on track to end 2025 on a note of measured recovery and renewed confidence.

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BLOCK71, the innovation arm of NUS Enterprise, has officially launched UniVentures, a new regional accelerator programme aimed at nurturing Vietnam’s next generation of university startup founders.

Developed in collaboration with Temasek Foundation and supported by the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), the initiative has already drawn close to 1,500 applications, surpassing its initial target and signalling strong demand from the country’s early-stage ecosystem.

Designed as a “University to Unicorn” platform, UniVentures connects Vietnamese students, alumni, and researchers with regional networks in Singapore and beyond, offering mentorship, investment opportunities, and access to cross-border markets.

“We don’t just want to run a programme, we want to change the trajectory of these 1,500 young Vietnamese founders,” said Edward Lim, Vietnam Country Manager at BLOCK71 – NUS Enterprise, in a statement. “By linking them with the Singapore innovation ecosystem, we’re building more than startups. We’re building talent and lasting partnerships.”

The programme received a significant financial boost from Golden Gate Ventures, which has committed a US$250,000 fund under the newly established ‘GGV UniVentures Prize’. The funding will support up to 10 standout startups from the programme, providing crucial runway for follow-on growth.

Also Read: SEA startup investments rise for second month, totalling US$287M in Oct

“The next unicorn doesn’t come from capital alone. It comes from community, mentorship, and belief,” said Vinnie Lauria, Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures. “This prize is our way of accelerating Vietnam’s next wave of founders.”

NIC, a key national agency driving Vietnam’s innovation agenda, has been involved in the programme since inception. Director Vu Quoc Huy described UniVentures as “a platform for transformation—bringing together the public and private sectors to accelerate innovation for the next generation.”

The launch also reflects deeper strategic alignment between Singapore and Vietnam. In March 2025, both governments elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with innovation and entrepreneurship as core pillars. The initiative follows a 2023 MoU between NUS Enterprise and NIC aimed at expanding cross-border startup opportunities.

UniVentures has already engaged leading Vietnamese universities including VinUniversity, HCMC University of Technology, and Hanoi University of Industry, underscoring its intent to build grassroots innovation from academic institutions across the country.

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Image Credit: UniVentures

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Jojo Malolos, CEO of PayMongo, shared his deep background in fintech and venture capital through roles at Go Time, JG Dev Ventures, and Smart Money in this fireside chat at Echelon Singapore 2025. He discussed leading PayMongo’s turnaround after a leadership crisis, cutting the team from 245 to 120 while improving financial performance.

Strategic partnerships, notably with Stripe, have fueled innovation and new service launches. Malolos highlighted the Philippines’ growing FinTech landscape, supported by progressive regulation and pandemic-driven digital adoption.

With a stronger foundation and a focus on collaboration, PayMongo is positioning itself to expand regionally and become a leading player in Southeast Asia’s fintech ecosystem.

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In today’s rush toward automation, we talk a lot about efficiency — faster workflows, smarter systems, less friction.

But what if AI’s greatest lesson isn’t about efficiency at all, but adaptability?

Every week, I see founders and creators celebrated for moving faster, scaling bigger, and automating smarter. Platforms like e27 highlight the incredible innovation across AI and edutech, and rightfully so. Yet, beneath the headlines, something deeper is happening. AI isn’t just changing how we work; it’s changing how we learn.

The real shift: From execution to intention

AI gives us efficiency, but what it truly offers is time. Time to think, to create with intention, and to connect with others.

I remember when producing a short video used to take hours — scripting, filming, editing, and rendering. No matter how skilled you were, there was always a hard limit on what could be done in a day. Now, with AI tools, that same video might take minutes.

That shift doesn’t replace creativity; it frees it. You can spend less time executing and more time asking, “What message am I truly trying to deliver?”

But the principle remains timeless: Rubbish in, rubbish out. AI can speed up your process, but it can’t think for you. If you can’t guide it to success, it will simply amplify your confusion.

Quick tip: Treat AI like a co-worker you’re mentoring. Give it clear direction, context, and examples of what “great” looks like. The sharper your instructions, the stronger your results.

Continuous learning — From challenge to clarity

When I joined the 100 Customers Challenge, an initiative sparked within the Nas community, I wasn’t chasing numbers. I was chasing perspective.

Being part of the Nas ecosystem, from the Academy to Nas Summit, taught me the value of community as a classroom. It’s not just about networking; it’s about osmosis through shared ambition. You learn from others’ momentum. You absorb their mindset.

The challenge just began for me, but already it’s reshaping how I view learning. The goal isn’t just to “hit” 100 customers; it’s to learn from every interaction on the way there.

Also Read: Bite-sized innovation: A practical path for SMEs to sustain growth

I’ve always believed in open-source knowledge, sharing freely, and charging only for execution. And in that spirit, I’ve realised something: The joy is in the imperfection. Growth happens when you build in public, when your community sees your process, your pivots, your progress.

Challenges push people to act because deadlines create accountability. Without that pressure, we drift. It’s the same reason AI models improve: They iterate against constraints. Human learning is no different — just with more emotion, story, and nuance layered in.

Quick tip: Design small challenges for yourself or your team. A 30-day build, 10 new customers, five daily outreach attempts — anything that injects urgency and visibility into the process.

The power of self-learning systems

When people hear “e-learning”, they often picture long modules and static slides. But the future of education, the one I’m building across platforms like People’s Inc. 360 Unify and the Speakers Society, isn’t about rigidity; it’s about responsiveness.

My latest programme combines drip learning, AI prompts, and community reflection. It’s not an experiment — I’ve done this with Royal Launch School before. What’s different now is the audience behaviour. Each community learns differently, interacts differently, and therefore demands different systems.

That’s where no-code tools like Unify shine. They allow you to customise learning paths without writing a single line of code. When the audience shifts, I can adjust in real time — not through months of redevelopment, but through a few strategic tweaks.

Every audience base is unique. At scale, that adaptability becomes an advantage.

Quick tip: If you’re building educational content or funnels, pick tools that let you adapt easily — drag-and-drop editors, conditional logic, flexible automations. Control should live with the creator, not the coder.

Community as your dataset

In AI, data is everything. For humans, our “data” comes from the community — the people who test, challenge, and refine our ideas.

I treat community feedback the same way an AI model treats new data: Filter, analyse, and integrate what’s useful. Not every suggestion needs implementation, but every voice deserves acknowledgement. The key is finding what serves most, not just one.

Also Read: Exploring the game-changing role of AI in online courses

As a founder, I’ve learned that being reactive isn’t the same as being adaptive. We serve our communities, but we also guide them. Feedback isn’t a command; it’s collaboration.

That’s why I like to say: Being real helps me help you better, being collaborative helps us grow together, being performative helps us soar to greater heights — transactional pays the bills.

It’s all part of a holistic ecosystem where every interaction feeds improvement — human or machine alike.

Quick tip: Build lightweight feedback loops. Use polls, short surveys, or community check-ins. Don’t wait for quarterly reviews — micro-feedback drives macro-growth.

Traction over perfection

Someone once told me: The only constant is change. We chase perfection, but it’s an illusion — the forever holy grail.

So, why not just do your best and improve along the way? It makes for better stories and more authentic growth.

I often say, “I wouldn’t film a TikTok video without dressing up first.” Presentation matters, but what “dressing up” means to you may differ from what it means to me. Technology has made optimisation easy; individuality keeps it interesting.

The goal isn’t to be messy for the sake of authenticity, nor polished for the sake of perception. It’s to find the balance between done and distinct.

In AI terms, perfection is a static model; traction is continuous learning.

Quick tip: Ship early, iterate often. The first version’s job is to teach you what version two should be.

The paradox of tools

There’s always a shinier object — a newer model, a faster app, a “better” integration. But as I often remind my students and team: There’s no best tool — only the one that works for you.

Chasing every new feature drains focus. Stability, not novelty, sustains progress. And if something’s working, don’t fix it for the sake of keeping up with trends.

Learning a new API takes time; rebuilding a system costs energy. Awareness is what matters most.

Human intelligence: The final edge

AI learns logic; we learn logic and emotion. That’s what keeps us irreplaceable.

Emotion turns data into a story. Awareness turns information into wisdom. AI may simulate both, but it doesn’t feel them. Being more aware of yourself, your community, and your tools is the real intelligence of this era.

The founders who will thrive aren’t the ones who automate everything; they’re the ones who use automation to deepen humanity.

So, if there’s one takeaway from this age of rapid evolution, it’s this:

AI is not the destination — it’s the reflection. It learns as we do: Through feedback, imperfection, and community. The more adaptable we become, the more intelligent our systems and ourselves will be.

In summary:

• Treat AI as your mirror — guide it with clarity.
• Learn through challenges — urgency builds growth.
• Build systems that can flex — no-code if you can.
• Let community shape you — but filter with intention.
• Prioritise traction, not perfection — evolution beats illusion.

Because in the end, technology doesn’t make us smarter — learning does. And the smartest thing we can do right now, as founders, creators, and dreamers, is to keep learning how to learn.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

Enjoyed this read? Don’t miss out on the next insight. Join our WhatsApp channel for real-time drops.

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