The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Singapore Chapter is actively working to transform the startup landscape by providing crucial resources to early-stage ventures. According to chairperson Anuradha Shroff, the initiative focuses on delivering capital, mentorship, networks, and global platforms necessary for startups to achieve significant scale.
Strengthening India-Singapore Startup Ties
Following a successful demo-day innovation demonstration and investor pitching sessions held on November 20, Shroff revealed to PTI that the organization is actively promoting the India-Singapore startup community. "As we are working in a global business community, we are promoting India-Singapore startup community for long-term prosperity of the youth-led innovative businesses," she stated.
This year holds special significance as Singapore celebrates its 60 years of independence alongside 60 years of diplomatic relations with India. Shroff, drawing from her three decades of international business management experience, powerfully emphasized that "When two nations innovate together, innovation doubles." This philosophy underpins the cross-border program that strategically connects startups from both ecosystems.
The NEXTLEAP Accelerator Program in Action
The centerpiece of this initiative is "The NEXTLEAP Accelerator Program," a collaborative effort between ICAI Singapore Chapter and BeyondSeed, an Indian-origin investor group based in Singapore. The program received additional support from the Committee on MSME & Start-ups of ICAI.
A select cohort of twenty startups underwent an intensive eight-week journey that included comprehensive masterclasses, personalized one-on-one mentorship, and a rigorous multi-layer evaluation process conducted by external juries. The program culminated in a Demo Day where the top 10 startups presented their pitches directly to a panel of investors.
Kuldeep Mirani, Founder & CEO of BeyondSeed, highlighted the substantial opportunity presented by India-Singapore collaboration, reinforcing the core purpose behind The NEXTLEAP initiative.
Thriving Ecosystems and Collaborative Pathways
The sessions featured distinguished speakers who provided valuable insights into both nations' startup landscapes. Gyan Chandra Misra, Chairman of the Committee on MSME & Start-ups of ICAI, elaborated on India's dynamic economic, digital, and startup environment. Meanwhile, Ignatius Rasiah, Program Director at the National University of Singapore (NUS), addressed innovation, leadership, and Singapore's evolving startup ecosystem.
The scale of both markets presents enormous potential. India boasts over 100,000 startups, while Singapore's growing community is currently estimated to be closer to 50,000 startups. The evening also featured a keynote address by Former Union Minister CA Suresh Prabhu, adding significant weight to the proceedings.
This strategic partnership between ICAI Singapore Chapter and its collaborators represents a significant step toward creating sustainable growth pathways for early-stage startups while strengthening economic ties between India and Singapore through innovation and entrepreneurship.
