Awards
Awards for Student Entrepreneurs
The Summer Venture awards offered by SMU Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship aims to provide financial support for SMU student entrepreneurs during the May vacation so that they can focus on their start-up ventures instead of seeking paying internships. Successful candidates will be awarded a cash grant and are required to work on their ventures full-time for a 10-week period during the months of May to August. All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Donor and/or his representatives.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Donor / his representatives in mid of April 2025 and successful candidates will be informed by end of April 2025.
Eligibility
- Applicants should be a matriculated SMU undergraduate at the time of application AND participation in the programme
- Inbound Exchange Students from foreign universities studying at SMU are not eligible for the award
- Applicants should be students who have their own venture i.e. applicants shall be the owner, founder, or co-founder of the business/start-up
- Applicants should be committed to work on their ventures full-time for a 10-week period during the months of May to August
- Applicants should be effectively bilingual in English and Chinese
Mechanics of Award
- A cash grant of $1,500 awarded to the individual
- Awardees to set milestones they intend to meet over the summer
- First 50% tranche upon finalisation of milestones, and the second 50% tranche upon completion of milestones
- SMU undergraduates should keep in mind that if they apply for both the SVA and the SEI programme, they will be eligible for a further $1,000 allowance from the SEI programme and fulfill their internship requirements if they apply for SEI in addition to SVA.
Eligibility
- Applicants should be a matriculated SMU postgraduate at the time of application AND participation in the programme
- Inbound Exchange Students from foreign universities studying at SMU are not eligible for the award
- Applicants should be students who have their own venture i.e. applicants shall be the owner, founder, or co-founder of the business/start-up
- Applicants should be committed to work on their ventures full-time for a 10-week period during the months of May to August
Mechanics of Award
- A cash grant of $3,500 awarded to the individual
- Individual will be matched with a mentor from IIE’s network of mentors comprising industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs
- Milestones to be set with identified mentors
- First 50% tranche upon finalisation of milestones, and the second 50% tranche upon completion of milestones
Eligibility
- Applicants should be a matriculated SMU undergraduate and postgraduate at the time of application AND participation in the programme
- Inbound Exchange Students from foreign universities studying at SMU are not eligible for the award
- Applicants should be students who have their own venture i.e. applicants shall be the owner, founder, or co-founder of the business/start-up
- Due considerations will be given to financial needs of students
- Applicants should be committed to work on their ventures full-time for a 10-week period during the months of May to August
Mechanics of Award
- A cash grant of $3,500 awarded to the individual
- Individual will be matched with a mentor from IIE’s network of mentors comprising industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs
- Milestones to be set with identified mentors
- First 50% tranche upon finalisation of milestones, and the second 50% tranche upon completion of milestones
- SMU undergraduates should keep in mind that if they apply for both the TEV and the SEI programme, they will not receive a further $1,000 allowance from the SEI programme. They will, however, be able to fulfill their internship requirements if they apply for SEI in addition to TEV.
Students should keep in mind that they can apply for multiple awards. The summer venture awards do not provide internship credits. SMU Undergraduates MUST also apply for the SEI programme in order to fulfill their internship requirements. Scroll down for more information, or visit this website to learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Student Entrepreneur Internship
Named the ‘Student Entrepreneur Internship’ or SEI Programme, a participating student in the SEI may also credit the supervised time spent in his/her start-up or business towards the student’s mandatory degree fulfilment.
The SEI Programme is made possible via a joint tie-up between the Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre, or DKHMCC, and SMU’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or IIE. Offered annually, SEI is open to a student presently matriculated in any undergraduate degree programme at SMU. All SMU undergraduates are eligible to apply for the SEI Programme.
Successful applicants with viable projects or business activities will be strongly considered for IIE’s Accelerator Programme, or AP. IIE will assign experienced mentors to individually supervise a participating student’s AP project or activity. The SEI application window opens on 1st January and closes on 28 February every year. Applicants would be notified after 3 weeks of the closing date, allowing applicants ample time to consider other internship options for that Summer should they not be selected for SEI.