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Overview

 

The SMU-PEELI Entrepreneurship Programme is jointly organized by IIE and the Jiangsu Tao Shing Pee Education Foundation (Tao Foundation). The Tao Foundation was founded and funded by famous Singapore entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr Tao Shing Pee, and his wife, Mdm Liu Kwan Li, to connect Singapore and China students together in the entrepreneurship community.

PEELI-Alibaba Group Photo
PEELI-Nanjing Forestry University Group Photos

Each year, the SMU-PEELI Entrepreneurship Programme equips Tao Students with the financial support and skills to create start-ups that can transform their rural hometowns. Up to 15 selected SMU students  will be given the opportunity to travel to China and share their entrepreneurial skills with other fellow Tao students, visit incubation centres and start-us, as well as learn more about the China entrepreneurship ecosystem.

During the exchange, Tao students from China will also visit Singapore and participants will experience learning in SMU from top academics and practitioners. Programme highlights include a business plan competition, and visits to relevant sites including start-ups and innovation & entrepreneurship related centres.

Programme Overview

 

China

 

Part I: Cultural & Innovation Immersion (Tentatively 4 to 10 May 2019)

SMU students will interact with 40 Tao students in China through team-building activities organized by the Tao Foundation. During the 1 week trip, students will visit start-ups and incubation centres in China. In previous years, visits to unicorn start-ups such as Tencent and Alibaba were organised. You will also be able to gain insights to the cultural diversity, advanced technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship in China.

 

Singapore

 

Part II: Entrepreneurship Acceleration (Tentatively 6 July to 3 August 2019)

The 40 Tao Students will be hosted in Singapore for 4 weeks, where student participants will learn about innovation & entrepreneurship through Learn- Interact- Apply. Participants will learn through a selection of lectures and case studies taught by our instructors, including SMU lecturers and industry experts. Panel discussions, fire-side chats and site visits (local start-ups, venture capital firms, big tech companies and social enterprises) will provide a conducive environment for insightful conversations relating to the innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system in Singapore and the region. Throughout the 4 weeks, participants will form teams matched with dedicated mentors to take part and pitch business ideas in the SMU-PEELI Business Plan Competition and stand to gain entry into IIE’s incubation program.

*Programme actitivities are indicative and will be finalised on a later date.

Application Information

Why Apply?

By joining this programme, you will be able to:

  • Develop entrepreneurial thinking as a futureproof skillset.
  • Combine ideas, imagination and insight with technology to build new products and services, under the guidance of experienced mentors.
  • Connect with peers, practitioners and compassionate teachers to seed entrepreneurial collaboration opportunities for the future.
  • Expand your personal and professional network in China.

 

Keep a look out for the next run of our SMU PEELI Rural Entrepreneurship Programme! Applications will be open soon!

Contact Us
Huo Yasi
yshuo@smu.edu.sg

Programme Testimonials

“The norm is to choose a safer career path with a stable life for the rest of one’s life and join the corporate ladder. These Tao students have burning passion and motivation that keeps them pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. As a graduating student, this has reminded me of my own entrepreneur dreams as a possible career path.” - Chen Weifang, LKCSB 2016

 

“I gained the inspiration to think bigger, and the motivation and the right frame of mind, to step out of the norm and innovate!” - Gerald Ong, LKCSB 2016

 

“Definitely inspired to be an entrepreneur as the whole environment throughout the trip is that we should just start a business and work on it rather than hesitating. I have also gained a greater interest in China, if possible, I would like to have a partnership with the Tao students and work in China in future as the market is so much more vibrant and big there.” - Cheryl Tan, LKCSB 2016

FAQ

1. Who is SMU-Peeli looking out for?

We are looking for students from any of the Singapore universities, who have at least one semester of study after the summer of 2019. They should have a strong interest in China’s business, innovation & entrepreneurship (I&E) landscape, and a passion for I&E. The latter can be demonstrated through attending start-up events, participating in student entrepreneurship clubs, and working for or on a start-up. Applicants are also expected to be proficient in Mandarin, as many of the classes will be conducted in Mandarin.

 

2. How much will the programme cost?

There will be a co-payment of $500 per student for the 5-week programme. At the end of the programme, participants who successfully graduate from and performed well during the programme (based on minimum 80% attendance and reasonable conduct) will be awarded a subsidy of $200 to defray the cost of their co-payment.

 

3. What is the selection process like?

Applications will be open from 12 Feb – 15 March 2019; interested students should submit a 1-page resume and 3 slides explaining their motivations and qualifications for participating in SMU-Peeli. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to IIE for interviews before the final cohort is selected.

 

4. If selected, what do I have to settle individually? 

All major travel and logistical arrangements will be settled by the organizers. Participants will be mainly expected to fully commit to and participate in (i) the preparations leading up to the programme and (ii) both the China and Singapore legs of the programme.

 

5. What is the time commitment for this programme?

1 full week in May (Tentatively 4 to 10 May 2019), and 4 full weeks in July/August (Tentatively 6 July to 3 August 2019). Given the time commitment for this programme, students will not be able to hold down an internship during those weeks.

 

6. Which parts of China will the programme visit?

Zhenjiang, Nanjing, and Shanghai.

 

7. What type of business ideas can I work on as part of this programme?

You will be able to work in groups on business ideas in any vertical, guided by experienced mentors from the Singapore I&E ecosystem. Alumni of the SMU-PEELI programme have founded many start-ups, including Bei Bei Bang, an online tuition platform.

 

8. Will I be able to claim any course or internship credit for this programme?

Unfortunately not.

Overview


Brand Hackathon 2021

Brand Hackathon

Are you a founder looking to enhance your brand story?
Are you a founder looking to enhance your brand story?
The 2 day Brand Hackathon brings together consumer companies and award winning marketing experts to co-create compelling brand stories.

When: 9 - 10 April 2021
Where: Singapore Management University

Target Participants

  • Early-stage Business to consumer (B2C) startups incubated at BIG 

Key Takeaways

  • Be able to enhance the essence of your brand story
  • Be able to elevate your brand materials
  • Be able to stay relevant to your target audience

 

Programme Mentors

Curriculum Directors: Christina Lim

Christina Lim

Christina Lim 

Chief Marketing Officer-in-Residence,
SMU Institute of Innovation Entrepreneurship;

Founder and Principal,
Chrisspeak Pte Ltd

Application Information

FAQ

  1. Are non-SMU students allowed to sign-up?
    Yes. Brand Hackathon is open to non-SMU affiliated founders/organizations.

  2. I do not know how to design my own graphics, can I still participate in the Brand Hackathon?
    Yes. Besides having our curriculum director impart foundational skills of building a brand and overseeing the conceptualization of your brand collaterals, a dedicated designer will be assigned to each team to assist in actualizing the collaterals.

  3. What is the selection criteria in shortlisting teams?

    • Teams must fall under the target participant categories
    • Company must demonstrate clear need for brand mentorship
    • Founders must be open minded and coachable

  4. What should I include in my company pitch deck?
    Marketing and branding strategies are developed with the company's business model in mind. Hence more information about the company would be useful in developing a compelling brand story. The following are details that we recommend to include:

    • Mission/vision of company
    • The Problem
    • The Solution
    • The Market Opportunity
    • The Product
    • The Customers
    • The Technology
    • The Competition
    • Traction
    • Business Model
    • The Team
    • The branding and marketing plan
    • What do you aim to achieve from the Brand Hackathon
    • What are the 3 most important brand related questions that you would like to ask the trainers

  5. Can I bring my marketing lead instead of my co-founder?
    No, the Brand Hackathon is only open to company founders.

Contact Us

For enquiries, please contact:
Incubation: incubation@smu.edu.sg

Overview

From Summer 2018 onwards, the Student Entrepreneur Internship (SEI) will allow students with a registered start-up or business to perform their mandatory 10-week (or more) internship in that start-up or business.

SEI will be offered annually to any students presently matriculated in any undergraduate degree programme at SMU, allowing students to have the opportunity to focus on nurturing their start-up. Additionally, successful applicants with viable projects or business activities will be strongly considered for IIE’s Business Innovations Generator and be matched with experienced mentors.

This programme is made possible via a joint tie-up between Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC) and IIE.

Eligibility & Scholarships

General Eligibility:

For more information on eligibility and application, please refer to OASIS>Careers & Comm Service>Internship>SEI Programme.

  • Full-time students from SMU’s seven schools, namely School of Accountancy, School of Economics, College of Integrative Studies, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, School of Computing and Information Systems, School of Law and the School of Social Sciences are eligible.
  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students may apply. 4th year students will not have this opportunity for internship since they would graduate at the conclusion of their final examinations in April of their 4th year at SMU.
  • Students from SOL are required to first complete the normal, mandatory internship requirements per SOL’s stipulated requirements, before applying and performing a SEI stint.
  • SOA and SIS applicants’ Proposed Activities under the SEI programme
  • Accounting/Finance-related and Technology-related respectively are allowed.
Overview

As Southeast Asia's first and only student venture fund-cum-training programme, Protégé Ventures (PV) nurtures future tech-savvy entrepreneurial leaders through hands-on venture capital training and extensive network building.

The programme equips students with the necessary skills and mindset to conquer the world of venture capital and navigate disruptive economies.

We invite highly motivated undergraduate and postgraduate students from all universities as well as students from all polytechnics in Singapore keen to break into the venture capital space to join us!

  • Hands-on Learning: PV provides a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world investment scenarios.
  • Invest Real Capital: You can invest real capital of up to SGD50,000 into promising student venture startups!
  • Networking Opportunities for Jobs and Internships: Students can connect with industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and fellow investors, expanding their professional network and gaining valuable insights into the startup ecosystem.
  • Access to Cutting-Edge Ideas: Get the chance to explore innovative ideas and emerging technologies, gaining exposure to groundbreaking startups and potentially disruptive ventures.
  • Entrepreneurial Exposure: PV exposes students to the entrepreneurial mindset, helping them understand the challenges and opportunities involved in building and scaling a business.

SMU students can now clear their credit-bearing internship requirement* through their time and work done at Protégé Ventures! 

*Contact us for more details or enquiries.

Are you interested in applying to become an Analyst? Register your early interest HERE to be the first to know when recruitment opens for the 2025/2026 cohort!

For more information, please visit the official Protégé Ventures website here.

Protégé Ventures fuels Singapore's space ambitions with investment into eco-friendly rocket propulsion space start-up Equatorial Space! This is its 12th investment into a student-founded start-up and is the first investment drawing from its second fund – PV Fund II. Read the full press release here.

Application Information

For more information, please contact Lu Yi (yilu@smu.edu.sg)

Overview

Established in 2017, the SMU Entrepreneur Endowed Scholarship is available to full-time undergraduates at the Singapore Management University. Recipients will receive $11,250 which will be used towards subsidised tuition fees and study-related expenses, tenable for one year of study. They will also receive mentorship opportunities by the donor.

 

General Eligibility:

  • Full-time undergraduates enrolled in any degree programme
  • Good academic results and student life activities
  • With demonstrable financial needs (gross monthly household per capita income not exceeding $2,250)
  • Should have an interest in pursuing an entrepreneurship career path
  • Should preferably have prior or current entrepreneurship experience

More info

Overview

Protege Ventures

 

Protégé Ventures was launched in partnership with Kairos ASEAN, a Singapore-based social enterprise dedicated to finding and empowering young entrepreneurs. It is the first student venture fund in Southeast Asia, run by students, and for students. This joint venture leverages on Kairos’ network in the regional startup ecosystem as well as IIE’s expertise in nurturing student entrepreneurs. The first batch of 18 student VCs are being trained to source and fund student-led startups across the region, thus building a bridge between the venture capital industry and the university innovation ecosystem.

 

For more information, please visit the official website here.

Application Information

As the Senior Associate Director for IIE, Christine is responsible for all corporate functions of the Institute, covering Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Performance Management and Office Administration.

As the Senior Associate Director at IIE, Yasi is responsible for programmes and student clubs that enrich the student experience relating to Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

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