ACE.SG Corporate Newsletter 47

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ACE.SG Corporate Newsletter

January 2024 | ISSUE 47

Culture and Adaptability, not skills, build great teams: Logan Tan, CEO of Eezee

Common wisdom today tells us that a relentless focus on skills-based hiring delivers exceptional results.

But this has a very critical flaw; it assumes that the company’s trajectory, competitive landscape, available toolkits, and team dynamics all remain unchanged for the long haul.

Reality is the most sought-after skill today can very quickly become obsolete as soon as the next innovation arises.

“Balancing the fluidity and uncertainty in entrepreneurship with hiring the right people at the right time is indeed a very delicate balance,” says Logan Tan, the co-founder and CEO of Eezee.

“One good way is to prioritise culture fit as much as you would for skills fit. Because at Eezee we recognise adaptability as key to our culture, we look for candidates who are not only skilled in their respective areas but also demonstrate a strong ability to thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. We assess their willingness to learn and take on new challenges.”

Aligned Mission and Vision trumps all

“Eezee’s team culture is an embodiment of kindness, reflection, impactful excellence work, and integrity.

These values are not just words on a page; they guide our actions, decisions, and interactions, shaping the very essence of who we are as a company and as individuals.

We aspire for Eezee to be known as more than just a company – we want to be recognised as a beacon of these core values,” shares Logan.

These core values shape and define how the team at Eezee stands out for their kind and collaborative spirit, their commitment to introspective growth through reflection, their pursuit of excellence that generates meaningful impact, and their unwavering integrity in all that they do.

“One of the key things we did well was never to compete on salary and to make sure people join us for our culture and mission,” Logan adds, “This has helped us attract individuals who were genuinely excited about joining us on this journey.”

What he invariably found was that while skills can be developed and refined with time, a misalignment in values and attitudes can be very disruptive to team dynamics.

“Most of our best employees had zero or no experience in their field of work but expressed keen interest and have taken active steps to work on their passion in their free time,” he says, “It’s that attitude towards impactful work, the willingness to put in the effort required to overcome obstacles that matter more.”

This explains Eezee’s dogged approach to assessing candidates not only for their technical abilities but also for their adaptability, willingness to learn, and alignment with their vision.

“By focusing on “substance” over “form”, this was how we built a team from zero to Series A,” he concludes.

Learn more about Eezee here.

Innovation Nexus Connect - Where Artificial Intelligence drives revolution

Technology is becoming human by design, and machines are getting much better at interacting with humans on a new level.

Alongside this emerging new spatial computing medium, ACE.SG is excited to launch our inaugural Innovation Nexus Connect Series with artificial intelligence as our first theme!

Like the eras that have come before us – we believe the moment for reinvention through AI is now.

Find out more

FundrACE

31 January 2024 | 2.00pm to 4.00pm | The Meeting Point

Excited the ACE.SG's fundrACE is back!

What better way to kickstart your 2024 by meeting and connecting with investors on the last day of January!

Join today

BSI x ACE.SG Accelerator Programme Information Session

15 February 2024 | 10.30am to 11.30am | Virtual

Calling all tech startups - Come shape the world of Trust with data!

ACE.SG and BSI Singapore are organising a virtual information session for our BSI x ACE.SG Accelerator Programme on 15 February 202, Thursday, 10.30am - 11.30am.

In this sponsored 12-month accelerator starting April 2024, join us in co-creating solutions to advance Trust through tech, and learn how to ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards that are data-driven.

Access expert workshops dedicated 1-1 mentoring sessions, a Demo Day to pitch your startup and future proof-of-value /commercialisation opportunities.

(Zoom link for the session will be sent upon successful registration)

Navigating International Expansion with Startups

15 February 2024 | 10.00am to 12.00pm | ACE.SG Ideation Centre

Singapore's thriving innovation ecosystem provides a stellar foundation for startups, yet the key to sustained growth lies in navigating global markets effectively.

Dive into our complimentary 2-hour workshop on 15 Feb 2-23. Thurs from 10.00am - 12.00pm, tailored for startup founders and their senior teams ready to scale beyond borders.

JFDI.Asia founder Hugh Mason, with a wealth of experience supporting over 100 startups in their global journey, will delve into strategies for a successful first step into new markets.

Walk away with practical templates to map out the cities you're thinking of exploring next, plus public sources of information to tap into!

Limited seats available - sign up here

Western Australia, Perth Business Mission

18-22 February 2024 | Perth, Western Australia

Looking to venture abroad?

Join us on a journey to global expansion with the perfect backdrop for your startup's growth – Western Australia (WA), Perth!

Renowned as an agrifood production powerhouse, WA boasts a robust ecosystem of innovation and research. This is your opportunity to connect with Australian and international agritech startups and innovation stakeholders, learn about Australian agritech solutions and participate in evokeAG, one of the region’s premier agrifood tech event!

Book your spot

Legal Insights - VC Investment Model Agreements

28 February 2024 | 2.30pm - 4.00pm | ACE.SG Ideation Centre

Looking to fundraise?

Join us for the third edition of Legal Insights and find out more about Venture Capital Investment Model Agreements. At the session, you will gain profound insights into the legal framework that underpins VC investments and become better prepared in navigating your entrepreneurial journey.

Secure your spot here

Talent-ready Employer Workshop

14 March 2024 | ACE.SG Ideation Centre

Building your team from scratch can be very challenging.

Join us for this 4-hr workshop to find out how you can finetune your hiring and onboarding strategies to find fellow changemakers to make your next leap.

Apply now

Austin, Texas Business Mission

8-16 March 2024 | Austin, Texas

Together with EnterpriseSG, we will be leading a startup business mission to Austin, Texas, taking place from 8th to 16th March 2024. You will have the opportunity to participate in South by Southwest, Austin's annual flagship technology and creative industries conference and trade show.

The mission has the following objectives:

Attend tech and creative industry conference trade show SXSW 2024
Engage city government officials to understand opportunities in Texas, pro-business policies, and why Austin would be a strategic entry for startups maiden expansion into the US
Engage with VCs, incubators and accelerators for expansion/business matching opportunities. (Majority of VCs in both East and West coasts have a presence in Austin)
Engage corporates for commercial opportunities (Note: 55 of the Fortune 500 companies are based in Texas)
Leverage and engage trade associations such as Austin Tech Council, Austin Asian Chamber of commerce, and Singaporean Community for corporate connects and opportunities

ACE.SG Incubator

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or an early-stage startup? Join our upcoming ACE.SG Incubator Programme to kickstart or grow your business!

Through this 3-month equity-free programme, convert your ideas into a strong business model!

Access:

Access to funding from our VC Partners
Expert Workshops
Tailored 1-1 Workshops
Access to ACE.SG's network
Complimentary Co-working space
Access to Startup SG Grant (Up to $50,000)

Global Ready Talent Programme

Looking to grow your team with inspiring interns?

This Global Ready Talent Programme is your channel to tap on EnterpriseSG's funding to develop your talent pipeline of interns from local Institutes of Higher Learning. Participating startups can receive funding support up to 70% of the students' monthly internship stipends.

Indicate your interest here

ACE.SG Membership Reboot

Good News!

After a challenging year, ACE.SG startup membership is now Complimentary, with effect from January 2024!

We are confident this presents new opportunities for startups in the ecosystem to network and build synergies that will, in the long run, help more founders succeed in their entrepreneurial journeys and to further uplift the startup ecosystem.

Apply now to be an ACE.SG member

ACE.SG Job Openings

ACE is expanding and we are looking for people who are passionate about building the Singapore startup and innovation ecosystem!

Openings:

Interns

Book a coworking space with ACE.SG

We hear you! ACE is opening up our office at Block 67 to cater to companies and individuals who require coworking spaces.

For more information, please email space@ace.sg.

Event Spaces for Rent

Are you looking for spaces to host your next event? ACE offers three event spaces that could meet your needs, both during and after office hours.

For large-scale events/workshops, the ACE Ideation Centre can accommodate up to 80 persons. Meanwhile, the ACE Innovation and Inspiration rooms are perfect for small group discussions and meetings.

These spaces are conveniently located on the ground floor of Block 79 at the LaunchPad @ one-north, right opposite the one-north MRT station.

For more information or enquiries, please send an email to space@ace.sg

Check out the available spaces here