FAQs
Start-up Incubation, Mentorship and Support
Who can apply for NTUitive’s incubation support?
All aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome to apply for NTUitive’s incubation support.
What kind of start-ups does NTUitive incubate?
NTUitive incubates any start-up that has potential to succeed – product-wise and/or leadership-wise.
Does NTUitive incubate foreign start-ups?
NTUitive currently does not incubate foreign start-ups.
However, if you looking to operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or owns innovative technologies, NTUitive is an appointed Startup SG Talent EntrePass Partner. Find out if you are eligible to apply for EntrePass here.
What type of support does NTUitive offer to start-ups under the NTUitive Incubation scheme?
NTUitive offers mentorship, incubation space, grant and fundraising support, and opportunities to participate in our competitions and networking events.
How long does NTUitive incubate start-ups?
There is no definite period NTUitive incubates start-ups but the minimum period is 5 years.
Does NTUitive invest in every company?
NTUitive will look to invest in companies that shows great potential to succeed.
What type of support and opportunities are available for NTU students/alumni who have started a business but are not incubated by NTUitive?
NTU students / alumni who have started a business but are not incubated with NTUitive are welcomed to participate in our events. However, they are encouraged to join NTUitive incubation programme to tap into our expertise and connections which are essential to push business further.
Does NTUitive support foreign exchange students with a business idea?
NTUitive provides basic mentorship for foreign exchange students with a business idea, however they are not eligible for any grant or investment support as well as incubation space.
Can NTUitive assist me to look for a co-founder?
NTUitive will try to help and match, with no guarantee, potential founders with same aspiring start-up dream. Founders are also encouraged to attend our networking events to find potential co-founders, employees and investors.
I am interested in entrepreneurship but do not know where to start. Can NTUitive advise me?
Please sign up for the NTU Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Training (NEST) programme which is designed to provide aspiring individuals with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to develop new ideas and/or iterate existing solutions and translate them into successful businesses. You may find out more information and register your interest here: http://bit.ly/signmeupfor-nest
Should you have any queries, you may reach out to [email protected]
Start-up Grants / Funding Schemes
What type of grants/funding schemes are available?
NTU currently has the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Project fund which is open to all NTU faculty, staff, students and alumni. It is a funding programme that provides up to S$10,000 for entrepreneurial teams and start-ups to develop its first prototype for market testing and validation. Through this programme, NTU hopes to transform these projects into promising companies. To apply for MDT Funding, For MDT funding, eligible teams will have to attend the NTU Entrepreneurship Start-Up Training (NEST) Programme, to concretized your business idea. Interested applicants please register your interest here: http://bit.ly/signmeupfor-nest. Should you have any queries, you may reach out to [email protected]
NTUitive is the appointed Accredited Mentor Partner for Start-up SG Founder grant of $50,000, a funding programme by Enterprise Singapore that supports businesses with strong differentiation, feasible business models, good market potential and a strong management team.
What is the eligibility criteria for Start-up SG Founder Grant?
- The team has at least 2 Singapore Citizens/Permanent Residents who are the main applicants of the grant and are first-time entrepreneurs (i.e. have no prior Private Limited entity on ACRA);
- The main applicants who are first-time entrepreneurs must hold a minimum of 30% equity in the company collectively;
- The company must have a minimum 51% SC/PR shareholdings;
- The company must not be more than 6 months of incorporation at the point of application to the AMP;
- The main applicants must be key decision-makers and contribute meaningfully to the company;
- The company must not have received any funding for the proposed business idea from another government organization;
- The company must invest a co-matching amount of S$20,000 as paid-up capital on ACRA;
- The proposed business idea must not be in the following list: cafes, restaurants, night clubs, lounges, bars, foot reflexology, massage parlours, gambling, prostitution, social escort services, employment agencies (including recruiting foreign work permit holders and workers/support staff, relocation services, and manpower services), and geomancy.
The applicants must also commit full-time to the company and not be in any other employment from the time they accept the terms and conditions of the Letter of Offer.
Link to ESG’s Website: https://www.startupsg.gov.sg/programmes/4894/startup-sg-founder/eligibility
NTUitive reserves the right to approve or reject submitted proposals at our discretion.
What is the processing time for a Start-up SG Founder application?
Start-up SG (SSG) Founder applications can only be recommended to Enterprise Singapore (ESG) through an Accredited Mentor Partner. Applicant(s) need to complete the SSG Founder application form and submit it directly to NTUitive for consideration and further recommendation.
NTUitive will select application(s) with potential to pitch to an evaluation panel and if the panel assessed that the applicant met the eligibility and evaluation criteria, NTUitive will recommend the application to ESG. ESG will inform the applicant and NTUitive on the application status for the grant within five (5) working days.
NTUitive reserves the right to approve or reject submitted proposals at our discretion.
Facilities
What are the requirements to apply for a hot-desking / office space at NTU Innovation Centre?
To be eligible for a hot-desking / office space at NTU Innovation Centre, applicant(s) need to be incubated with NTUitive, or have signed a commercialisation agreement with NTUitive.
Is the Open Innovation Lab open to NTU Students?
Yes, it is. Find out more here .
Partnerships
Does NTUitive collaborate with schools/organizations to run Entrepreneurship programmes?
Yes, NTUitive actively works with schools/organizations to run interesting and insightful entrepreneurship programmes.
Does NTUitive organise hackathons or innovation challenges with corporations?
NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship team organisers hackathons and innovation challenges with corporations. Find out more here.