27th October – 14th November 2025
Over three intense weeks, ten Techscaler founders travelled to Singapore—one of the world's most dynamic innovation hubs—to build relationships, pitch to global audiences, and explore commercial pathways across the wider APAC region.
This trip was a market entry accelerator that generated pilots, partnerships, and pathways to growth that founders described as transformational.
Meet the Founders
This year's cohort brought together innovators working across medtech, climate tech, and digital health:
- Zoë Russell, Co-founder & COO – Rethink Carbon, helping landowners and policymakers make smarter, more sustainable land use decisions
- Yola Jones, Co-founder & CTO – Seluna, using ethical machine learning to accelerate diagnosis of paediatric sleep apnoea
- Amanda Pickford, Founder & COO – ThermaFY Eco Solutions, empowering communities to live in energy efficient homes
- Christopher Helson, Co-founder & Director – Tiny Air, developing technology to decontaminate and inspect surgical instruments
- Kevin Gordon, Co-founder & CEO – Virtual Reality Empathy Platform (LifeLens), creating VR learning to raise awareness of dementia and ageing challenges
- Jay Evans, Co-founder & COO – Wristbud/Interactive Health, developing wearable technology to support mental health
- Stefan Bostock, Co-founder & CEO – Danu Insights, building AI-powered tools to help scientists design faster, smarter experiments
- Tolulope Abikoye, Founder – Connecting Hands, building a culturally responsive digital health platform for mothers affected by postnatal depression
- Osman El-Koubani, Co-founder & CEO – Trials Link, creating a digital platform for clinical trials recruitment
- Scott Cunningham, Co-founder & CTO – MyWay Digital Health, creating innovative software to manage long-term health conditions
Why Singapore? Why Now?
Singapore is a gateway to wider APAC markets including Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The ecosystem is highly relationship-led, government-supported, and deeply interconnected. Rather than formal processes, progress often happens through warm introductions, informal conversations, and networks where “everyone knows someone” who can open the next door.
For founders used to UK business culture, the shift in how relationships are built—and how quickly those connections compound—was immediately apparent. So were the opportunities.
Week 1: Entering the Ecosystem
The programme kicked off with an onboarding session at BLOCK71 Singapore, where founders were introduced to the Buddy Programme—pairing each Techscaler founder with a local startup founder who could guide them through the ecosystem and make crucial introductions.
After sharing their pitches and goals, founders attended a reception at Eden Hall, the official residence of the British High Commissioner, networking with 220-250 attendees from UK delegations attending SWITCH and Singapore International Energy Week.
SWITCH Conference: Asia's Innovation Festival
The next three days were dedicated to SWITCH—Asia's premier innovation festival showcasing cutting-edge innovations across healthcare, smart cities, and sustainable technologies.
"An incredible showcase of how fast innovation is moving across Asia. The diversity of ideas across APAC was inspiring." - Zoë Russell, Rethink Carbon
Founders immersed themselves in panels, exhibitions, and networking, sharing insights through their cohort WhatsApp group—a level of peer support that would define the entire programme.
Week 2: Deepening Connections
Week two opened with insights into the ASEAN investment landscape, but the real breakthrough belonged to Kevin Gordon from Virtual Reality Empathy Platform. He met with one of Singapore's key "dementia influencers"—whose network could prove invaluable. Kartina Osman from SDI attended to provide "local legitimacy," and the meeting exceeded expectations.
"They've asked me to localise the product for Singapore—this meeting could be our entry point into the region," Kevin shared.
The Buddy System Pays Off
BLOCK71, Techscaler’s workspace partner for the trip, assigned a dedicated buddy to each founder in the cohort. Chris from Tiny Air got real traction from conversations with his assigned buddy, Patrick. Patrick runs his own medtech company but is also a healthcare professional working in Singapore hospitals every day. For Chris, this was the access point he needed. Patrick immediately offered to help open doors into the hospital system—connections that would have taken months to establish through cold outreach.
GlobalScot Pitching Breakfast
Wednesday morning brought one of the standout events of the entire programme. Inside the British High Commission, GlobalScot Fraser Morrison had gathered a carefully curated audience of GlobalScots and ecosystem contacts.
Each founder pitched—then faced a surprise live Q&A. They weren't fazed, fielding tough questions with confidence. The quality of follow-up introductions was exceptional, with attendees linking founders to colleagues, family members in relevant sectors, and decision-makers across industries.
Mentor Felicia Cheung, who had had one-to-one sessions with each participant before departure, also visited during this week, meeting with founders individually. The response was unanimous—everyone wanted more sessions with her.
Mapping Real Expansion Pathways Across ASEAN
Colin Tan from Tuspark, one of our long-standing international partners, hosted a focused full-day workshop that brought together ecosystem builders from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, alongside Enterprise Singapore, Stage One, AON, Rajah & Tann, Hawksford, and Burda Ventures.
Through panels, investor briefings, and practical sessions on setup, tax, fundraising, and regionalisation, founders gained a clear view of how Singapore operates as a launchpad into wider ASEAN markets. It was a rare chance to learn directly from operators working across the region—and it sharpened the cohort’s understanding of what expansion into Southeast Asia really requires.
Week 3: APAC Expansion Pathways
Smith & Nephew Innovation Centre
This was a standout day for medtech founders. Smith & Nephew invited the cohort to tour their innovation centre, including a VR surgical training suite, recording studio, and 12-table training operating theatre.
After short pitches, the generosity of introductions was overwhelming. Tolu from Connecting Hands was introduced to contacts in women's health. Stefan from Danu Insights was connected to clinical trials experts. Chris from Tiny Air was connected to Smith & Nephew in London for a trial.
That same morning, Chris had another meeting at a leading Singapore hospital, accompanied by Kartina Osman, discussing installation of his machines.
Malaysia: The Gateway Beyond Singapore
An optional trip to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) revealed Singapore's role as a gateway to wider APAC. MIDA helps businesses enter Malaysia—for free—assisting with visas, immigration, and connecting companies to special investment zones with significant incentives.
Multiple founders are now considering dual Singapore-Malaysia strategies: Chris from Tiny Air is exploring manufacturing in Malaysia, Amanda from ThermaFY is considering an R&D base, and Scott from MyWay Digital Health is continuing talks with the Malaysian Ministry of Health started earlier this year.
"Without the programme, I certainly think that APAC would endlessly be 'a big biotech region' that we would never properly get around to investigating." - Stefan Bostock, Danu Insights
Closing Workshop
The cohort gathered for a final reflective session. The collective feeling was clear: they wanted more time. What had seemed like an impossibly long three weeks proved barely enough to capitalise on opportunities.
"It's amazing what you can achieve in three weeks. This trip has been a catalyst for fresh thinking. The introductions and insights we've gained have stretched our imagination and opened up exciting new directions." - Amanda Pickford, ThermaFY
Key Programme Insights
Relationships Drive Everything in Singapore
Cold outreach rarely works. Personal introductions are essential, and our local partner’s involvement—personally attending meetings to provide local legitimacy—proved game-changing.
The Singapore + Malaysia Model Is Real
Founders are exploring dual-market strategies: headquarters or commercial presence in Singapore, with manufacturing, R&D, or operational bases in Malaysia.
Medtech Thrives Here
Healthtech and medtech founders saw particularly high traction due to Singapore's strong healthcare ecosystem and government support for innovation.
Cohort Culture Was Exceptional
Founders demonstrated remarkable openness to feedback throughout the three weeks, listening without defensiveness and rapidly adapting their propositions—a habit that proved invaluable in Singapore's relationship-driven ecosystem and will serve them well beyond the programme.
Founder Success Stories
Kevin Gordon – Virtual Reality Empathy Platform (LifeLens)
Secured a major potential customer in Singapore and is exploring wider APAC use cases. "This trip lit a fire. I feel energised and excited about global opportunities for LifeLens. The future feels bigger now."
Christopher Helson – Tiny Air
Gained hospital access, explored venture-builder partnerships, began trial conversations at a leading Singapore hospital, and is considering Malaysian manufacturing.
Tolulope Abikoye – Connecting Hands
Visited confinement centres (havens for new postpartum mothers) in Singapore, gaining insights that are reshaping her app's development. "I came with an X and left with Y and Z, one of the thrills! From Scotland to the world!"
Yola Jones – Seluna
Connected with a Glasgow University alumnus now working on a Singapore-based medtech team, establishing a valuable peer link for cross-border collaboration.
Amanda Pickford – ThermaFY Eco Solutions
Reframing her thermal imaging product for hot climates and exploring R&D hubs in Singapore or Malaysia. "Innovation truly accelerates when you step beyond what you know."
Zoë Russell – Rethink Carbon
Gained deep insight into Southeast Asia's nature-based solutions and carbon markets. "I've completed the trip with a strong initial network of project developers, consultants, and centres of influence; a clear understanding of Singapore's role as a regional carbon hub; and exciting opportunities for pilots and partnerships."
What This Means for Scotland
This programme demonstrated how international exposure accelerates scale-up opportunities for Scottish startups. Singapore serves as an innovation testbed—a compact, supportive ecosystem where founders can rapidly test their value proposition and build relationships necessary to access wider APAC markets.
By the end of three weeks, founders left with new customer leads, pilots in development, research collaborations, manufacturing and R&D bases under consideration, government-level partnerships in discussion, hospital trials being arranged, and market entry strategies for wider APAC markets.
As Tolu put it: "I left with clarity, confidence, and a broader vision."
Interested in joining a future Techscaler international programme? Become a Techscaler member today.
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