Hey everyone,

We are NTU students, and we just launched the MVP for our platform, Askcher.

Right now, the site is a streamlined launchpad where tutors can sign up and parents/students can instantly request a match. But our long-term goal isn't just to be another standard matching middleman.

> The future vision is to build a complete educational ecosystem on one platform, using AI automation to handle the backend matching logic instantly and seamlessly based on specific student needs, learning styles and tutor tracking.

> Since we just went live with the MVP to test the market and build our initial user base, we really need feedback on the user experience.

> If you're looking for tutoring gigs or need a tutor, check the comments.

> Let me know if you run into any layout bugs or issues so we can patch them! Open to any advice or criticisms too. Thanks

Starting a company requires people with different skillsets. Not everyone has the luxury of knowing people with the relevant skillsets to co-found a company.

I'm wondering where do people find co-founders?

Hey everyone, I’m currently building a niche lifestyle consumer product business mainly targeted toward kids/families (currently), and I’m trying to learn more about the business development side of growing something unconventional.

Because the product category is pretty specific, it’s been hard figuring out the best paths for growth and finding mentors who’ve scaled similar lifestyle/product businesses before.

I’d really love advice from founders/operators on things like:
- finding new sales channels
- partnerships and collaborations
- scaling revenue for niche products
- business development strategy
- turning a small product into a sustainable business

Trying to stay somewhat anonymous publicly since it’s still early-stage, but happy to share more details privately if anyone’s interested or open to chatting. Feel free to DM me 🙏

Which AI platform (i.e. Claude, Gemini, etc) is most reliable and cost efficient to do manual tasks such as Accounts Receivable Reconciliation. Is it still better for an SME to hire 1 person to do the manual reconciliation than trying to integrate AI into a legacy flow?

I recently received an offer from thoughtworks singapore and it is for the full stack developer role. I have read mixed reviews online and wanted to check on the following:

1. What are the work hours like?
2. How are the people that you work with?
3. Will they delay my joining date? I am really concerned about this.

Please let me know as I am quite confused.

Curious to hear from founders and SME owners in Singapore.

After incorporating a Pte Ltd, what did you find most confusing?

• ACRA filings?
• IRAS tax filing?
• Company secretary?
• Bookkeeping?
• GST?
• Payroll / CPF?
• Bank account opening?
• Nominee director arrangement?

I’m trying to understand which parts are least clearly explained to new founders.

I am looking for a design partner in singapore for bobsentry which is AI governance and runtime agenct which controls the action of agent before execution, even if it score high or legit, but sensitivity and context aware.

Recently realised our company became “AI-native” almost by accident lol.

At first we weren’t trying to build some futuristic AI company or whatever. We just got annoyed at how messy normal company operations are.

• Files everywhere.
• Random Google Drive folders.
• People asking “where’s the latest version”.
• Stuff getting lost in chats.
• Same work being repeated again and again.

So over time we changed how we work internally.

Now basically the whole company runs on a file-based system. Think of it like a super organised shared workspace instead of random folders everywhere.

Every new client/project gets its own dedicated workspace from day 1:

• docs
• meeting notes
• project files
• workflows
• research
• internal notes
• reusable stuff

Everything stays there and everyone works from the same place.

The surprising part is this made AI WAY more useful. Yes, we heavily use Claude and Codex, and some local models, so these can read our data much easier, and have a better understanding of what we are doing, and what we are going to achieve.

Because once things are structured properly, AI can actually help across the company knowledge instead of just answering random prompts.

Whenever we discover something useful in a project, we try to turn it into something reusable:

• templates
• docs
• workflows
• internal tools
• writing structures
• automation steps

So instead of restarting from zero every time, the company slowly compounds knowledge.

One example that made this really click for us:

A deep-tech client shared their Google Drive with us so we could understand their company and products better.

Normally someone would manually dig through hundreds of files/slides/docs.

Instead we built internal tools to help organise and understand their authorised materials:

• old decks
• technical docs
• video transcripts
• writing style
• terminology
• visual preferences

Soon after we made a new deck for them.

The client was genuinely shocked because it already felt like something their own internal team would make. Same tone, same structure, same style.

That’s when we realised most companies are trying to use AI on top of chaos.

But AI becomes much more powerful if the company itself is structured in a way that AI can actually work with.

Feels like a lot of SMEs still operate mainly through chats + folders + memory tbh.

Curious if anyone else here is experimenting with similar workflows. If you have any questions, we are happy to answer.

Hello everybody! It would be interesting to know how other entrepreneurs, managers, and business owners in Singapore perceive the use of AI.

There are many discussions on the topic, but I am more interested in practical matters.

Are you using AI in your company yet?

If yes, then:

What are you using it for?

Did it really save your time or increase sales?

What was better than expected?

What was worse?

If not, then:

Why not? Lack of time? Privacy issues? Not knowing what to automate? Bad outputs? Difficulties training employees? Unclear ROI?

I want to understand if the technology is starting to play a tangible role in the startup/SME sector in Singapore, or if everyone is still in the experimentation phase without any real outcome.

​

Hey r/singaporestartups,

I'm Nathan, founder of The Pivots (thepivots.co) — a small Singapore-based agency doing AI-powered websites and automation for SMEs. We're still early, and I want to build out our portfolio with more real-world startup work before we go harder on outbound.

So here's the offer — free web design for startups in this community.

Upfront about the catch:

- Hosting and domain are NOT included (you'll need to cover those)

- I'm doing this for portfolio + exposure, so I'd want a short video testimonial and permission to feature the work

- I'll prioritise startups that are actually live or in motion (not just an idea on a napkin)

On the build itself — we don't use templates. Instead, we'll look at modern websites you admire (or that I'll pull as references based on your industry) and design something custom from that direction.

To further reduce your risk: I'll build the full mockup on my localhost first. If you like what I've created, you can then go ahead and purchase your domain + hosting, and I'll help wire everything up and launch it. If it's not what you want, you walk away — no cost, no commitment.

What I can help with:

- Landing pages

- Full company / product websites

- Custom design and build

If this sounds useful, drop a comment with a quick line about what you're building, or DM me. Happy to answer questions in the thread.

Cheers,

Nathan

Hi business owners, managers and freelancers! would love to hear your thoughts on a platform we've built, Merlion Labs. We're early stage and this post is genuinely more about getting feedback than anything else.

Here's what we've built so far.

An AI agent that sits on your WhatsApp and handles customer conversations automatically. It answers enquiries, makes bookings without sending customers to a separate booking page (like what businesses have to do using Fresha, Calendly, etc), integrates with the current tools you use (google sheets, notion, google calendar, etc), captures leads & customer details directly within the chat itself. Feel free to suggest more features that will benefit your business, especially in the local market (eg. PayNow integration). Pricing will start from just S$29, and is good enough for most small businesses.

The thing we spent a lot of time on that most platforms don't solve is letting businesses keep using their WhatsApp Business app normally while the automation runs alongside it. Usually it's one or the other. We think that's a dealbreaker for a lot of SMEs here who aren't going to change a workflow that already works for them, so we made both work together. You also keep your existing number and everything runs through the official Meta API through an official Meta Business Partner so there's no risk to your account.

The AI isn't meant to replace anyone. It handles the repetitive stuff and knows when to hand the conversation to a human team member. And you can takeover the AI anytime from your inbox, and hand the convo back to the agent! Think of it less like a chatbot and more like a new staff member who deals with routine enquiries so the rest of the team can focus on actual work.

Honestly we're still figuring out a lot of things. Which industries this fits. How to build automations and workflows that actually help SG SMEs scale and focus on things that actually matter. And of course, how to make it sound more human.

We've seen data suggesting businesses using agents like this see value in this over time, because Singaporeans love to get stuff done over WhatsApp. In Singapore, 40% more enquiries on WhatsApp than traditional website forms, and 60% increase in bookings in 3 months of using a platform like this.

A few things I'd would love input on:

• For businesses that tried something similar before, what specifically broke down? Was it the setup, the AI giving wrong answers, customers hating it, something else? Is pricing the main blocker or is it more about trust and not knowing if it actually works?
• For businesses that have yet to try, what is something that you would appreciate to see as a feature/workflow to automate your processes?

Just trying to understand where the real gaps are before we go further. If you're open to trying it for free and telling me honestly what works and what doesn't, feel free to DM me. Thank you!

Sharing some screenshots below to show it in action.

Customer's WhatsApp

Merlion Labs Platform > Submissions

Hey r/singaporestartups,

I’m Jules, founder of Vibes✨, we help startups and brands create high-performing short form content for TikTok, Reels, and social ads, while also connecting them with creators and influencers for collaborations.

We just started out, and I want to work with more Singapore startups to build stronger case studies and long-term partnerships.

So here’s the offer:
Free short form video content for startups in this community.

A few things upfront:
- No hidden fees - just $50 for 2 way transport for our team
- I’d ask for permission to feature the work in our portfolio/socials
- A short testimonial would be appreciated if you’re happy with the results

What we can help with:
-TikTok/Reels style brand videos
-Founder-led content
-Product showcases
-Street interviews / vox pops
-Trend-based edits
-Social-first ads designed for engagement
-Finding influencers and creators that fit your brand and audience
-Helping coordinate creator collaborations and campaigns

If you’re interested, drop a comment or DM with:
What your startup does
Your website/socials
The type of content you want to create
Happy to collaborate with some cool local startups

Hey first time posting here, my brothers and I currently operate a licensed St**b**** and we are planning to expand with a mid-sized supermarket.

Wanted to nap out SOPs for shrinkage, shoplifting and loss prevention (LP) like - what is the threshold for calling the cops versus just banning them? Is there an shared group chat/system between managers to share common criminals?

Cheers

Hey r/singaporestartup,

We're CE Media, an early-stage media startup based in Singapore. We're building something from the ground up — creating content, forging partnerships, and growing a brand that actually means something in the media space.

We're not a big corp with layers of approvals. We move fast, we figure things out, and we want people who are excited by that. If you've ever wanted to be part of something before it blows up, this is your shot.

We're hiring for 4 full-time roles — hybrid/remote friendly:

1. Business Development

You'll be the one opening doors. Finding clients, closing deals, and building revenue streams that keep us growing.

What we need from you:

• You know how to find opportunities and turn conversations into deals
• Comfortable with outreach — cold or warm, online or in person
• You can pitch without sounding like a robot
• Experience in media, advertising, or creative services is a plus but not required

2. Partnership Executive

Relationships are the engine here. You'll identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships — brands, creators, platforms, whoever makes sense for our growth.

What we need from you:

• Strong relationship-builder who follows through
• You can spot a win-win and structure a deal around it
• Comfortable managing multiple partners and keeping everyone aligned
• Bonus if you have an existing network in media, lifestyle, or tech

3. Videographer

You'll shoot, edit, and own the visual output. We need someone who can work across formats — short form, long form, branded content, the works.

What we need from you:

• Solid camera + editing skills (Premiere, DaVinci, Final Cut — whatever you use, just be good at it)
• An eye for composition and storytelling
• Comfortable shooting on location and adapting on the fly
• A portfolio or reel we can look at

4. Content Creator

You'll create content that people actually want to watch, read, or share. You understand what works on social and you're not afraid to experiment.

What we need from you:

• Strong instinct for what resonates on social platforms (TikTok, IG, YouTube, etc.)
• Can write, script, and ideate — not just execute
• Comfortable being on camera or behind it (ideally both)
• Bonus if you already create content on your own channels

Why join us?

• Equity on the table. You're not just filling a seat — you're building something and you'll own a piece of it.
• Real growth, fast. In a startup this early, your trajectory is whatever you make it. No waiting 3 years for a title bump.
• Hybrid/remote flexibility. We're based in Singapore but we care about output, not office hours.
• No bureaucracy. You'll have real ownership over your work from day one.

How to apply

DM me or drop a message with:

• Which role you're interested in
• A short intro (who you are, what you've been doing)
• Portfolio/reel/LinkedIn — whatever shows your work

No formal cover letters needed. Just be real.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Worked on a lead for a regional corporate training provider selling leadership and compliance programs into SG and PH. The difference in buying behavior was pretty noticeable.

In SG, prospects were more direct. HR & L&D teams wanted pricing, curriculum structure, trainer credentials, timelines, and clear business outcomes early. If the program fit, the process moved fairly quickly. In PH, there was more back-and-forth before anything moved. Referrals, past client proof, local credibility, and relationship-building mattered a lot more before decision makers were comfortable.

A rough pattern we saw:

• SG had fewer replies but calls moved faster
• PH had more conversations, but longer nurturing
• SG buyers asked more about ROI and execution
• PH buyers asked more about trust, fit, and who else had used it

So what's the biggest difference you've noticed selling in SG vs PH?