USI is managed by a dedicated team within SMU’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and works closely with eight founding Programme Management Committee (PMC) partners. 

These partners represent sectors such as capital markets, science, regulators, and industry. They include A*STAR, Antler, Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Energy Market Authority (EMA), ST Engineering, The GEAR by Kajima, TRIREC, and Wavemaker Partners.

1. Access to VCs for fundraising
2. Introductions to industry for pilots / POCs
3. Dedicated one-to-one mentorship with PMC partners
4. Access to LKYGBPC mentor network (https://lkygbpc.smu.edu.sg/trailblazers/mentors)
5. Access to PMC partners’ industry events and training
6. Access to SMU’s recruitment support to onboard interns, graduates, post graduates as startups look to scale in Asia
7. Access to SMU’s regional network 
8. Networking opportunities, including mixers, and socials

Unlike traditional accelerators, each cohort begins with a goal-setting session where startups define up to two challenges that they want to address through the program. 

Throughout the year-long engagement, USI helps the startups work on these challenges together with the PMC partners. A 1-to-1 mentor is assigned to the startup and will help keep track of their progress on a monthly basis.

Once a quarter, a week-long in-person session is organised in Singapore to collectively review the status and address any gaps. These sessions are co-funded by USI and the startup and are organised in alignment with major industry events like the International Built Environment Week, Singapore International Energy Week etc. to provide the startups with more industry networking opportunities.