Comments on: Why NRF’s TIS may be the Fix that Singapore’s Tech Ecosystem needs

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:55:49 +0000

i think it will have its share of applicants. it could be both a feeder fund to the NRF 1 to 1 funds like Exstream, Walden OR being fed deals from iJam (provided they are solid in the first place).

all in all, personally keen to take a step further at this.

By: James Chan

James Chan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:13:56 +0000

Fees are not necessarily the best form of motivation for NRF to extend to these incubators. The good ones will figure a way out to pay for the operational expenses.

Not many new wanna-be incubators will meet the criteria of finding a linkage to a local IHL.

Notice how NRF was not particularly clear on what ‘linkages to iHLs’ mean?

Many IHLs already got their own incubators.

There’s always room for more. Besides, ‘incubators’ is but a term – the final form may not be what you and I imagine incubators to be.

I wouldn’t want to speak too quickly in both of these cases…

By: Mohan

Mohan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:14:25 +0000

Good read. I think the schemes are starting to get smarter and with the government learning from previous successful models (NRF TIS is modelled after Israel), a lot better quality startups will emerge.

I am particularly interested in the foreigners taking up this scheme to invest in the local ecosystem and giving it a much needed mentorship jab!

Exciting times ahead

By: Varun Arora

Varun Arora — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:51:27 +0000

Motochan,
well written blog. Glad to’ve discovered it – welcome to my bookmarks.

- Varun (@HomeCamera)

By: Venturepreneur

Venturepreneur — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:07:36 +0000

There is no fees for managing the startups. So there will be few takers for this scheme. Not many new wanna-be incubators will meet the criteria of finding a linkage to a local IHL. Many IHLs already got their own incubators. Good effort by NRF but I’m afraid this is another academic exercise like the previous ones.

By: Leonard

Leonard — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:34:34 +0000

Kudos to NRF for taking a tough stance against preventing TIS from being abused. Some incubators (no names to protect the guilty) just try to “flip” as many startups as fast as possible to benefit from the other schemes not unlike the property market right now.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:58:19 +0000

went to the briefing, in short:
- good intent
- great deal for funders
- slight misalignment for a “full time successful incubation manager who don’t need a salary” – if you are successful you have other business to deal with which makes you hardly fulltime, if you are not successful but skilled you need to be paid to do the necessary on a full time basis
- criteria seems looser which is exactly what will make this a success, transplant deals.

so if you have no access to solid home runners which can be transplanted, it dont matter whether you are full time angel…