Singapore should back unproven, young talent

A fellowship for young, high-agency founders building deep-tech in Singapore.

Singapore has world-class universities, capital, and stability, but venture creation lags. Current programs reward pedigree and KPIs while overlooking the very demographic driving global breakthroughs: founders in their 20s chasing bold visions.

A 1984 exchange between Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew and Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner set in motion a decades-long, state-backed effort to build world-class science. Singapore recruited top researchers, established institutes like IMCB, and developed hubs such as Biopolis, with universities anchoring talent development and research infrastructure. Yet despite this strong base, translation into venture creation has lagged. With scarce land but abundant human capital, the next frontier is building deep-tech ventures and advanced manufacturing as strategic fits for the nation's future.

Singapore is well positioned to take this step. It is home to leading STEM universities like NUS and NTU, complemented by talent trained at top global institutions. The country has invested in world-class infrastructure, enjoys geopolitical stability, offers favourable taxation, and concentrates significant pools of HNIs and institutional capital. The state has already shown conviction in global deep-tech by participating in growth rounds of American biotechs such as Antheia, Debut, Inari, and Nature's Fynd. More recently, NUS launched a US$116 million fund to back Series A deep-tech spinouts, signalling intent to turn research strength into venture outcomes.

In parallel, new institutional models are emerging. Xora, reportedly backed by a billion-dollar budget, acquires IP from leading labs and installs experienced operators as C-suite leaders while retaining majority ownership. This brings discipline and speed, but risks creating mercenary rather than missionary incentives. Liminal, also seeded by Temasek with a reported billion dollars, takes a people-first approach, targeting second-time founders and funding them to build in Singapore. Promising as it is, the model skews toward older, more risk-averse profiles and may not anchor the next generation of talent locally.

Government-led efforts follow a similar pattern. National GRIP aims to train 300 startup teams by 2028 and spin out 150 companies by 2030. NUS GRIP and NTU LLP have laid the groundwork: since 2018, NUS has supported nearly 170 teams, with about 100 spin-offs raising US$51 million. NTU has incubated over 250 teams, with 60 spin-offs raising US$18 million. On paper, that looks solid.

But compare it globally and the gap is glaring. Mach Industries, founded by a 19-year-old MIT dropout, raised US$85 million in its first round, more than the combined total raised by the 400+ startups and 160+ spin-offs from both Singapore programs. The issue isn't technical competence. It's something more fundamental.

These programs consistently overlook the demographic that drives category-defining companies: high-agency, young founders. Cognition raised US$500M for AI agents (Scott Wu, 28) and Etched raised US$125M for AI chips (Gavin Uberti, 23). Many such founders didn't wait for permission, leaving top universities to pursue bold visions. A true Silicon Valley doesn't just adopt ideas but exports groundbreaking innovations worldwide, staying one to two years ahead of other advanced economies. It's time for Singapore to shift from importing to exporting transformative technology.

The pattern is unmistakable. The most ambitious deep-tech companies are built by young, technically exceptional founders motivated by curiosity and long-term impact. Yet Singapore's structured, KPI-driven programs don't back this kind of talent. Pedigree and proof-of-work still dominate the system, and it will be an uphill battle to convince authorities to create programs that attract these individuals into deep-tech venture creation.

We already have the talent. What is missing are visible young role models to show local innovators what is possible. A fellowship could be the spark that ignites this shift, giving young innovators the permission to start.