Christopher Quek

Abstract on my commentary: On the other hand, making loans more accessible to startups comes with its own risks as well. Credit-assessment criteria are commercial decisions by banks that take into account the high failure rate of startups. But “VCs are sophisticated investors trained to accept high forms of risks. So equity fund-raising, though an

Abstract: “While there have been a few announcements of late-stage investments across Southeast Asia in the past few weeks, investors will become even more cautious in the midst of Covid-19,” says Quek. “Investors will not be deploying capital so quickly and at a lesser quantum. Anecdotal sharing among the VCs shows there [are more] start-ups

Among the many announcements in Budget 2020, one which slipped under the radar was the S$300 million injection by the Government into Startup SG Equity for deep-technology startups. Under the scheme, the Government will co-invest up to S$4 million with qualified third-party investors into eligible Singapore-based deep technology startups. As a deep-tech venture capitalist in Singapore’s

This article first appeared on Medium. In kuehs and putu mayam (traditional Singaporean local cake desserts), the red jaggery sugar is a key ingredient used for its texture and celebratory color. But these desserts are more familiar with the boomer generation than it is with millennials or the Gen Zs. This poses a challenge for Cheng Yew Heng, Singapore’s oldest

This article first appeared on Medium. Corporation Road in Singapore is best described as a place filled with factories and industrial-like buildings. Design and aesthetics are the last thing on anyone’s mind. So it was a stark contrast to the office I was visiting in this area. My jaw was just left wide-open and dangling

The wave of exuberance in South-east Asia has cast the spotlight on startup valuations, with some industry players predicting a correction in 2020. Christopher Quek, managing partner of VC firm TRIVE, called valuations “over-rated”. “It’s no celebration for those who raised another round of funding, unless there is a clear growth in earnings,” said Mr

Written by: Christopher Quek 2019 was a significant year for the Singapore startup scene for several reasons. On a positive note, Carousell’s merger with classified firm 701Search lifted its value to S$1.2 billion, showing that born-and-bred Singaporeans can grow unicorns – companies with a valuation of over S$1 billion – and can compete in the

It was like walking into the past of Singapore as I entered into Lorong Telok, a group of restored shophouses nestled within the financial district, next to iconic Boat Quay attraction. Yet this area is filled with modern eateries, cafes and entertainment spots that seeks to attract the business crowd for their daily meals and

PM Lee spoke about startup founders are able to fail with no shame in Singapore’s culture. He has good intentions in encouraging aspiring Singaporeans to try new businesses and succeed. I, for one, am eager too to promote this culture of entrepreneurship. However, it is a stark difference in reality. For ten years, I have been

Consuming food is a daily affair for every person. But with increasing global population growth, there is a huge pressing need to provide more solutions in food production. But what is Singapore working on in the area of technologies on food? To understand the state of food tech in Singapore, I speak to three Singapore