Going online
Business Times - 27 Jul 2006
Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE)
www.ace.org.sg
Probably the best and friendliest of the lot. Pulls together a wealth of information and resources useful for businesses at every stage of growth, including a step-by-step guide on how to start your own business, a one-stop, reader-friendly overview of the many financial assistance schemes and tax breaks available through the various government agencies, as well as a calendar of networking events, conferences and seminars.
For businesses looking to expand abroad, there are links to foreign funding networks, including venture capital funds. For a fee, you can sign up to use the Deal Flow Connection service, which matches entrepreneurs with potential investors. There's even a lively forum, where you can share your rags-to-riches story with others, or grouse about your funding woes.
Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Asme)
www.asme.org.sg
Run 'by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs', this not-for-profit organisation aims to champion the interests of small businesses. The site is clearly targeted at members, but there are event calendars and free articles such as the catchily titled 'Be an Entrepreneur! Or Not' to help you decide if you have what it takes to start your own business.
Singapore Business Federation (SBF)
www.sbf.org.sg
Organises frequent trade missions abroad - very useful, say, if you're itching to get your hands on some of the oil money sloshing around in the Middle East but don't have the necessary contacts. The site has a listing of all upcoming overseas missions.
Enterprise One
www.business.gov.sg
A one-stop portal for businesses to access relevant government information such as rules and regulations and services.
Spring Singapore
www.spring.gov.sg
The government agency which oversees the development of SMEs in Singapore and administers most of the government funding assistance schemes for small businesses. Also the people who help ACE put together the annual BlueSky Festival networking event.
International Enterprise Singapore
www.iesingapore.com
Formerly the Singapore Trade Development Board, International Enterprise Singapore is the lead government agency responsible for promoting the growth of Singapore's external economic wing. The place to go if you're serious about expanding your business abroad.
Economic Development Board
www.edb.gov.sg
The government body tasked with attracting foreign businesses to Singapore. Geared more towards large businesses, the website is nonetheless a good place to start, if you're a foreign entrepreneur hankering to try your luck here. The site offers authoritative, up-to-date information about the business environment in Singapore and why you should invest your nest egg here.
Compiled CONRAD TAN
