Two awards for young businesses in Asia

Emerging Enterprise Award and Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award

Recognising the young, bold ambition of businesses under 10 years old.

Congratulations to our 2023 finalists and winners

CELEBRATING YOUNG AND BOLD AMBITIONS

Asia's leading business awards for SMEs and startups

The Emerging Enterprise Award and Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award, co-presented by OCBC and The Business Times, celebrate dynamic enterprises that are ready to innovate, grow and expand. Established in 2008, these awards have empowered startups and young businesses across Singapore and Asia that are less than 10 years old, providing a springboard for growth and success. Finalists and winners gain access to invaluable resources, networks and opportunities to help unlock their full potential.

Whether through exceptional growth or innovative sustainability efforts, the Emerging Enterprise Award and Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award offer a platform for your business to stand out.

Key Dates

Applications Closed

18 May 2026

Finalist announcement

September 2026

Award Gala

End October 2026

MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS

Emerging Enterprise
Award

Recognises emerging enterprises that demonstrate an enterprising mindset. These are businesses that drive consistent, significant and sustainable growth, resulting in excellent business performance; and display the ability to scale and expand overseas.

Emerging Enterprise Award, will each receive from:

OCBC – a 2 year, interest-free term loan of up to S$200,000 (or local currency equivalent, as set out in the terms and conditions);
The Business Times – Media publicity in print, digital, social media for Singapore and the region
RSM – Business Consulting Package worth S$15,000

Most Promising Startup, will receive from:

The Business Times – Media publicity in print, digital, social media for Singapore and the region.

Emerging Enterprise
Sustainability Award

Recognises emerging enterprises that are capitalising on growth opportunities in the green economy, embedding sustainability in their businesses and leveraging technology and new solutions to drive the change and transition to low-carbon businesses and industries.

Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award, will each receive from:

OCBC – a 2 year, interest-free term loan of up to S$200,000 (or local currency equivalent, as set out in the terms and conditions);
The Business Times – Media publicity in print, digital, social media, for Singapore and the region
RSM – Business Consulting Package worth $15,000

Most Promising Sustainability Startup, will receive from:

The Business Times – Media publicity in print, digital, social media for Singapore and the region

PARTNERS OF THE EMERGING ENTERPRISE AWARDS

Presented by The Business Times

Preferred Payment Solutions Provider - Mastercard

Official Auditor - RSM

A*STAR

Enterprise Singapore

Paia

HEAR WHAT OUR PAST WINNERS HAVE TO SAY

Jackson Aw, Founder, Mighty Jaxx (Singapore)

“Upon joining the Emerging Enterprise Awards, we found our NorthStar, a direction to undertake. Now we have grown beyond anything I thought it would be."

Tan Swee Yen, CEO, Conex Healthcare (Singapore)

“This is an experience that has nurtured me into a better leader, and provided clarity in what we want to do going forward into the future."

Craig Goonting, COO, TROOPERS Innovation (Malaysia)

“It is a really amazing experience, the judges showed honest interest and it’s great recognition on the regional Stage."

Steven Fong, CEO, Flex Fuel Hydrogen Development (Hong Kong)

“It’s absolutely important for a small company to have partners to grow and the Emerging Enterprise connects you with partners."

Meet the judges

Christie Chu
Head, Emerging Business International
OCBC

Christie leads the Emerging Business International at OCBC. The business serves the growth of SMEs - sole proprietors, partnerships, and private limited companies from start-ups to Serial Entrepreneurs and high growth businesses across multiple industries. It offers a full suite of loans and cash solutions to help the growth of business owners (locally and foreign incorporated entities), including Funds and non-profit organisations. She is responsible for driving acquisition & engagement and digitalisation across the various platforms.

Iris Ng
Head, Emerging Business and Commercial Banking Cash Global Commercial Banking OCBC

Iris leads the Emerging Business and Commercial Banking Cash business at OCBC Singapore, focusing on digital-first SME strategies and modernization. She previously led the Middle Market segment and champions financing for high-growth sectors like digital economy and urban solutions. Iris also drives Sustainable Finance, having developed OCBC’s SME Sustainable Finance Framework, now adopted regionally. With over 25 years in commercial banking and deep expertise across industries, she partners with stakeholders to support SMEs in sustainability transitions.

Chen Hui Fen
Editor
The Business Times

Chen Huifen is the Editor at The Business Times. She started her journalism career at Singapore Press Holdings more than 20 years ago. She has covered macroeconomics, policy, biomedical sciences, healthcare and SMEs before taking on a supervisory role a decade ago.

Stanislaus Jude Chan
Deputy news editor for public listed companies, financial markets, and environmental, social and governance (ESG)
The Business Times

Stanislaus Jude Chan is a deputy news editor at The Business Times, where he oversees the coverage of public listed companies, financial markets, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Over his career, he has covered real estate investment trusts (Reits) and climate conservation, as well as a range of business topics as a breaking news journalist.

Sumit Khurana
Senior Vice President , Small and Medium Enterprises, Asia Pacific
Mastercard

Sumit is the Senior Vice President of Mastercard’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Business in Asia Pacific and has the responsibility for SME product and business development functions across the region. In this role he partners with banks, fintechs, alternate lenders across Asia Pacific to help them transform their SME payment offerings and build market leading propositions.

Irene Cheong
Assistant Chief Executive, Innovation & Enterprise Group
A*STAR

Ms Irene Cheong is the Assistant Chief Executive, Innovation & Enterprise (I&E), at A*STAR. She provides operational leadership to the I&E Group and National Platforms and drives I&E's daily operations. She leads A*STAR's industry engagements, as well as catalysing globally investible deep tech spin-offs and growing significant value in A*STAR's existing start-up portfolio. Since joining A*STAR, Ms Cheong has led productisation and alignment efforts in MedTech, while putting in place strong programmes and partnerships to jumpstart A*STAR's venture building and spin-off capabilities.

Woo E-Sah
Partner & Head of Capital Markets
RSM

E-Sah is the Head of Capital Markets at the Firm, where she leads the public and private transaction advisory practice. She works closely with founders, boards and management teams across every stage of the capital lifecycle. Her expertise includes IPO reporting accountant engagements, pre-IPO readiness, financial due diligence, transaction accounting, assurance and regulatory matters. Over her career, E-Sah has advised emerging businesses, multinational corporations and SGX-listed companies across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, shipping, manufacturing, retail and construction. Prior to her current role, E-Sah served as Head of Assurance at the Firm.

Dennis Lee
Partner, Business Consulting
RSM

Dennis is a Partner in the Business Consulting division, with extensive experience in corporate governance, internal audit and enterprise risk management. He works closely with boards and senior management across listed companies, financial institutions and family-owned businesses to strengthen risk governance frameworks and support compliance with SGX Listing Rules and the Code of Corporate Governance. Dennis also advises organisations across sectors including financial services, real estate and construction, healthcare and manufacturing.

Emily Liew
Assistant Managing Director, Innovation
Enterprise Singapore

Emily is the Assistant Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, the government agency under the Ministry of Trade & Industry which champions enterprise development. She oversees the Innovation portfolio, covering startup and innovation ecosystem development, enterprise innovation incentives, venture building and global innovation networks. Previously, she led the Strategic Partnerships and Platforms Group, and was formerly Chief Data Officer and Executive Director of Strategic and Corporate Planning.

Geoffrey Yeo
Assistant Managing Director, Capabilities, Urban Systems & Solutions
Enterprise Singapore

Geoffrey is the Assistant Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore government agency which champions enterprise development. He oversees the group responsible for driving enterprise capabilities, in areas like Financing, Sustainability and Digitalisation, to support business growth and competitiveness. He also leads efforts to support the growth of companies in the Urban Systems and Solutions industries. Geoffrey currently serves on the board and investment committee of SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore that catalyses investments into Singapore-based early stage technology startups.

Corrado Forcellati
Managing Director
Paia Consulting

Corrado guides a skilled and engaged team to help companies in Singapore and Southeast Asia embed sustainability into their strategies and business operations.

Show

PAST WINNERS

Emerging Enterprise Award

Fano

Kskin

Pancare

Fano

Kskin

Pancare

Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award

Plana

Pyxis

Rushowl

Plana

Pyxis

Rushowl

Most Promising Sustainability Award

Lifelab

Thepowdershampoo

Lifelab

Thepowdershampoo

See our past winners

Before you apply

Eligibility requirements

Years of business operation

Up to 10 years (Up to 5 years of business operations for Most Promising Startup Award and Most Promising Sustainability Startup Award)

Business incorporation

Registered either as a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, or Private Limited. Not applicable to listed company, lending institution or the lender's affiliates.

Note: For Indonesia: Registered either as a Limited Liability Company (Perseroan Terbatas or PT) or Limited Liability Partnership (Commanditaire Vennonntschap or CV)

Annual sales turnover as of the last financial year

Up to S$20 million or local currency equivalent

Business profile

Must be a registered business.

For example:

Singapore: Business profile with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
Malaysia: Business profile with Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) or Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM)
Indonesia: Company Registration Certificate (TDP) or NIB or Trading Business License (SIUP) or similar document
Hong Kong: Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration Certificate

Financial documentation must be provided

Latest financial statements for the last two financial years, including management statements. †For businesses that have only 1 year of operation, financial statements can be for the prior or current year, whichever is available.

Register now

Download and complete the details required within the Awards Entry Pack and email your application to EE2026@rsmsingapore.sg

Download the Awards Entry Pack

ASIA’S BEST SME BANK

The Emerging Enterprise is brought to you by OCBC Bank, Asia’s Best SME Bank.

Asia's Best Bank
for SMEs

2025 Euromoney

Best Digitally-Driven SME Bank in Southeast Asia

2026 The Digital Banker

ASEAN SME Bank
of the Year

2025 Asian Banking & Finance

See all

PARTNERS OF THE EMERGING ENTERPRISE AWARDS

Presented by The Business Times

Preferred Payment Solutions Provider - Mastercard

Official Auditor - RSM

A*STAR

Enterprise Singapore

Paia

Two awards for young businesses in Asia

Emerging Enterprise Award and Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award

Congratulations to our 2023 finalists and winners

Emerging Enterprise Award

Emerging Enterprise Award, will each receive from:

Most Promising Startup, will receive from:

Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award

Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award, will each receive from:

Most Promising Sustainability Startup, will receive from:

Emerging Enterprise Award

Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award

Most Promising Sustainability Award

Eligibility requirements

Download and complete the details required within the Awards Entry Pack and email your application to EE2026@rsmsingapore.sg

Asia's Best Bankfor SMEs

Best Digitally-Driven SME Bank in Southeast Asia

ASEAN SME Bankof the Year

Important note

Emerging Enterprise
Award

Emerging Enterprise
Sustainability Award

Asia's Best Bank
for SMEs

ASEAN SME Bank
of the Year