Government grants for startups and SMEs in Singapore (2026)

Why government grants matter for startups and SMEs in Singapore

In Singapore, inflation is rising. Business expenses such as utilities, office rental, and hiring are rising rapidly. As a business owner, you may want to consider Singapore's plethora of government grants to protect your bottom line. It may also ensure that your business's cash flow remains healthy as you continue to navigate Singapore's current economic conditions.

For startups and SMEs, grants can help to:

• Preserve cash flow while investing in growth
• Reduce the financial risk of adopting new technology
• Support international expansion into new markets
• Strengthen internal capabilities such as finance, HR, and operations

These grants are designed to encourage structured, sustainable business growth aligned with national economic priorities.

Quick overview 

Here is a quick snapshot of the key government grants available for startups and SMEs in Singapore, along with who they are best suited for and what they support.

How the Singapore government supports startup and SME growth in 2026

The Singapore government has consistently recognised the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving the country's economic growth, which is why it offers several Government grants for SMEs. The government has implemented various policies and programs to support the growth and development of SMEs in Singapore.‍

Government grants generally fall into four broad categories:

• Startup and early-stage commercialisation support
• Technology and innovation adoption
• Overseas market expansion
• Workforce and skills development

Startup and early-stage commercialisation support in 2026

StartupSG Founder

StartupSG Founder is a programme that supports first-time entrepreneurs in Singapore. It provides mentorship, startup funding, and access to business networks to help founders turn innovative ideas into viable businesses and launch new companies.

StartupSG Tech

StartupSG Tech supports technology startups developing innovative products or proprietary technologies. The programme provides early-stage funding to help startups test concepts, build prototypes, and commercialise new technologies.

VentureForGood (VFG) Grant

The VentureForGood (VFG) Grant, offered by the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE), provides funding for social enterprises that address social or community needs. The grant supports both new and existing social enterprises looking to start or expand operations.

Technology and innovation adoption grants for SMEs in 2026

The government's emphasis on innovation and technology has led to a range of grants and subsidies to help SMEs adopt new technologies and remain competitive in their industries. 

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

The Productivity Solutions Grant supports local SMEs that want to adopt IT solutions and equipment to improve their business productivity.

Funding support is typically up to a co-funding percentage set by the government at the time of application, subject to eligibility and sector-specific criteria.

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

The Enterprise Development Grant helps Singapore companies grow and transform their businesses. It provides funding for projects that improve operations, support innovation, and help businesses expand overseas.

The grant covers three areas:

• Core capabilities: Strengthening business foundations such as strategy, finance, HR, and marketing.
• Innovation and productivity: Improving efficiency through automation, process redesign, and product development.
• Market access: Supporting businesses that want to expand into overseas markets.

EDG funding is generally offered as co-funding of qualifying project costs, with support levels varying based on project scope and prevailing government policies.

Business Improvement Fund (BIF)

The Business Improvement Fund (BIF) is administered by the Singapore Tourism Board to support businesses in the tourism sector. Its purpose is to help tourism companies adopt technology, improve business processes, and develop innovative solutions to increase productivity and competitiveness in the tourism industry.

Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt)

The Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt) is administered by Enterprise Singapore to help businesses adjust their operations and strengthen supply chains when affected by global trade changes such as tariffs. Its purpose is to support companies through advisory services and operational restructuring, enabling them to reduce risks and remain competitive in international markets.

Overseas expansion grant in 2026

Given Singapore's role as a global business hub, several grants are designed to help SMEs enter international markets.

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

The MRA Grant supports SMEs taking their first steps into new overseas markets, covering activities such as:

• Overseas market promotion
• Overseas business development
• Overseas market set-up

Funding support is capped per new market and subject to eligibility conditions, including turnover and local shareholding requirements.

Workforce and skills development grants in 2026

A skilled workforce remains a core pillar of Singapore's business ecosystem.

SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC)

SFEC provides eligible SMEs with a one-time credit that can be used to offset costs for:

• Workforce training
• Capability-building programmes
• Approved transformation initiatives

The credit is designed to encourage businesses to invest in long-term human capital development.

Some key facts and information about startup and SME grants for 2026

If you're a startup or small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Singapore, securing grants can be a game-changer for your business growth. In Singapore, the government recognises the significant role that startups and SMEs play in the country's economic growth. To help support their growth and development, the government offers various SME grants in Singapore.

In this section, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about startup and SME grants in Singapore. Read on to know more.

When should you consider a startup or SME grant

If you are an SME in Singapore, it is always wise to explore the various SME grants available to help grow your business. Here are some situations where considering a grant may be beneficial for your business:

• If you are looking to expand your business and need funding for new projects or investments.
• When you are exploring new markets and need support, conduct market research, develop marketing campaigns, or establish partnerships.
• Entrepreneurs who want to upgrade their business capabilities through technology adoption, process improvements, or staff training.
• Businesses are looking to enhance productivity and efficiency through automation, lean management, or quality certifications.
• You're a startup in the early stages, seeking support for product development, business model validation, or initial market entry.

What activities are financed by a startup and SME grants

Both startup and SME grants can cover a wide range of activities that support growth and innovation, from business process improvement to R&D and internationalisation. Here are some examples of activities that can be financed by startup and SME grants in Singapore:

• Productivity improvement projects such as automation, digitalisation, and workflow optimisation.
• Innovation and R&D activities, including new product development, prototyping, and patent filing.
• Capability development activities such as staff training, business consultancy, and quality certification.
• Market access and internationalisation activities, including market research, trade fairs, and overseas business development.
• Startup support such as early-stage funding, building minimum viable products (MVPs), and joining structured incubation or acceleration programs.

What agencies handle grants in Singapore 

The Singapore government offers a variety of grants and assistance schemes for startups and SMEs through several agencies. Here are some of the key agencies that handle startup and SME grants in Singapore:

Enterprise Singapore

‍Enterprise Singapore is the main government agency supporting the growth and development of startups and SMEs¹. It provides a range of grants and assistance schemes for startups and SMEs across various areas, including productivity, innovation, and internationalisation.

Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

‍IMDA provides grants and support to startups and SMEs in the infocomm and media sector, including digitalisation, cybersecurity, and talent development.

National Research Foundation (NRF)

‍NRF provides grants and funding for R&D and innovation projects across sectors such as biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and urban solutions.

Workforce Singapore (WSG)

‍WSG provides funding support for workforce development and training initiatives, including schemes such as Enterprise Training Support (ETS) and Workfare Training Support (WTS).

Startups and SMEs in Singapore have access to a variety of grants and assistance schemes that can help them grow and thrive in the competitive business landscape. By leveraging these grants, startups and SMEs can gain a competitive edge, improve their capabilities, and tap into new markets and opportunities.

To get you started, we've compiled a list of the top government grants for startups and SMEs, tailored to different needs.

Top startup grants in Singapore for 2026

StartupSG Founder

The StartupSG Founder scheme provides first-time entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding support and comprehensive access to business networks. This scheme is relatively unique, as it matches mentors to start-ups by co-matching SGD $5 for every SGD $1 raised by the entrepreneur, up to SGD $50,000 in funding⁴.

To be eligible for this StartupSG Founder grant, the main applicant(s) must:

• Be a first-time entrepreneur & Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Hold more than 30% equity
• Commit full-time and be the key decision-maker of the company upon acceptance of the grant

Additionally, the startup company must also:

• Be operating within 6 months of incorporation at the point of application
• Have a minimum of 51% Singaporean Citizen/ PR shareholding
• Have business activities conducted mainly/wholly in Singapore
• Have not received funding for the proposed business idea from another government organisation
• Not be in areas such as cafes, nightclubs, lounges, bars, foot reflexology, massage parlours, beauty salons, gambling, prostitution, social escort, etc

Since the grant is only available to first-time entrepreneurs, there must be no more than one business entity registered under the applicant's name. The business should also not have been registered or incorporated for more than 6 months at the time of the grant application.

Who is it for

• First-time entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas and are looking to start a new company
• Singaporeans or Permanent Residents who hold at least 30% equity in the company

How to apply

• Create a company profile and submit an online application form
• Prepare the required documents, such as a business plan and financial projections
• Await evaluation by a StartupSG panel and attend an interview if requested
• Receive approval and grant of up to SGD $20,000 to SGD $50,000 in equity-free funding

StartupSG Tech

StartupSG Tech is specifically catered to tech startups, providing successful applicants with early-stage funding for the commercialisation of proprietary technology. Startups can either apply for a Proof of Concept (POC) Grant of up to SGD $400,000⁵ if the project is still at the conceptualisation stage (technical/scientific viability of concept yet to be tested) or a Proof of Value (POV) grant of up to $800,000 for developing a working prototype (The concept has technical/scientific viability).

To be eligible for this StartupSG Tech grant, the main applicant(s) must:

• Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Hold more than 30% equity held directly or indirectly by Singaporean(s) and/or Singapore PR(s)
• Be undertaking a significant role in the company, for instance main applicant should not be a mere shareholder

Additionally, the startup company must also:

• Be registered in Singapore within the past 10 years at the time of the grant application
• Not be a subsidiary of a corporate entity at the point of incorporation
• Have a group annual sales turnover that is not more than $100 million, or a group employment size is not more than 200 workers
• Have core R&D activities to be carried out in Singapore

Who is it for

• Tech startup founders working on projects in advanced manufacturing and robotics, biomedical sciences and healthcare, clean technology, information and communication technologies, emerging industries, precision engineering, transport engineering and services, food science and technology, or agritech

How to apply

• Create a company profile and submit an online application form
• Prepare the required documents, such as a business plan and financial projections
• Await evaluation by a StartupSG panel and attend an interview if requested
• Receive approval and grant of up to SGD $30,000 in equity-free funding

VentureForGood (VFG) Grant

Provided by the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE), this grant is accessible to both new and existing social enterprises that need funding to start up or expand business operations. Funding can go up to SGD $300,000⁶.

To be eligible for this VFG grant, the company must:

• Registered/intend to register under the Companies Act or the Co-operative Societies Act
• Incorporated (if not incorporated at the point of application and in the process of prototyping, partnership with relevant social service agency and/or validation with intended beneficiary groups should be shown)
• Registered as a raiSE member at the point of grant disbursement
• Address local social gap/need

Who is it for

• Startup companies in their early or seed stages that are Social Enterprise members of raiSE can receive support to create more human-centred social impact, such as providing employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals.

How to apply

• Submit your pitch deck and additional documents, including your ACRA profile, management accounts for up to 2 years (if applicable), financial projections for at least 2 years, and the founding team's resumes, to vfg@raise.sg.

Business Improvement Fund (BIF)

The BIF is offered by the Singapore Tourism Board and is targeted at firms in the tourism sector, encouraging technology innovation and the adoption of new business models and processes to improve productivity and competitiveness. Successful Startups/SMEs can receive funding support covering 70% of qualifying costs⁷, including training, hardware and software, internal manpower, travel, and third-party project-related costs.

To be eligible for this BIF, the company must:

• Singapore-registered
• Be under the tourism sector, taking on core capability development initiatives or under the technology sector, creating innovative products and services for tourism businesses

Who is it for

• Tourism business or technology companies creating products for the tourism industry

How to apply

• Prepare an executive summary (e.g. project objectives, description, schedule, and costing) of your project and submit it to STB_Incentives@stb.gov.sg
• An STB officer will be in touch to advise on the eligibility of your project to proceed with the application process.
• Submit a formal application form thereafter via the Business Grants Portal

Top SME grants in Singapore in 2026

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)

The Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) is a relatively new grant launched by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) on 25th October 2018. Essentially, this SME grant combines the former Capability Development Grant (CDG) and the Global Company Partnership (GCP) Grant.

The EDG aims to help SMEs in Singapore by building internal capabilities within 3 main areas: Core Capabilities, Innovation and Productivity, and Market Access.

The application of the EDG grant will be assessed based on the project scope, project outcomes, and the service provider's competency.

To be deemed eligible for the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), applicants need to:

• Be a registered business and operating in Singapore
• Have a minimum of 30% local shareholdings
• Be in a feasible financial situation to start and complete the project

Additionally, you will need your company's CorpPass and the following requirements to apply:

1. ACRA information
2. Audited financial statements
3. Relevant proof of quotation or proposal
4. Management consultancy scopes
5. Relevant consultants’ certification

Who is it for

• SMEs seeking to grow and transform their business across various areas such as innovation, overseas expansion, and capability development.

How to apply

Check if you are eligible for the grant

• Identify the project category, scope out the project and prepare the proposal
• Provide all necessary documentation
• Sign in to the Business Grants Portal using your CorpPass and complete your submission (which may take 8-12 weeks)
• If you receive the grant, accept the Letter of Offer within the timeline

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA)

The focus of the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant² is to help Singapore SMEs expand and gain access to overseas opportunities, from market setup and identification of overseas partners to promotions.

MRA covers up to 50% of the eligible costs for local SMEs

The support is capped at SGD $100,000 per company per new market and covers activities under three pillars: 

• Overseas market promotion (capped at SGD $20,000)
• Overseas business development (capped at SGD $50,000)
• Overseas market set-up (capped at SGD $30,000)

Each application is limited to one activity in a single overseas market.

‍

Here's the eligibility criteria to be deemed qualified for the MRA grant:

• The business entity is registered or incorporated in Singapore
• The business has at least 30% local shareholding
• Group annual turnover not exceeding SGD $100 million per annum, based on the most recent audited report or group employment not exceeding 200 employees

*A new market refers to a target overseas country where the applicant company has yet to exceed SGD $100,000 in overseas sales in each of the last three preceding years.

Who is it for

• SMEs seeking to enter new overseas markets or expand their existing business into overseas markets.

How to apply

• Visit the Enterprise Singapore website to check your eligibility for the MRA Grant
• Prepare the required documents, such as the quotation and invoice, for the project
• Apply for the grant on the Enterprise Singapore website
• Receive approval and reimbursement of up to 70% of the project cost

Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)

Managed by Enterprise Singapore, the grant aims to support companies exploring the adoption of IT solutions and equipment to improve current business processes and productivity. Local SMEs can receive up to 50% in funding support, capped at USD $30,000³.

To be eligible for this StartupSG Founder grant, the main applicant(s) must:

• The business entity must be registered and operating in Singapore.
• At least 30% of the local equity must be held directly or indirectly by Singapore citizens and/or permanent residents, based on ultimate individual ownership.
• The company must have either:
  
  • Group annual sales turnover of not more than SGD $100 million, or
  • Group employment size of not more than 200 employees.
• The IT solution or equipment purchased, leased, or subscribed to must be used within Singapore.
• No payment, deposit, or commitment must have been made to any supplier, vendor, or third party for the solution or equipment before submitting the grant application.
• The applicant must not fall under excluded categories, including:
  
  • Charities
  • Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs)
  • Religious entities
  • Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs)
  • Government agencies, subsidiaries, or societies

Who is it for

• Local SME's looking for IT solutions and equipment to improve business productivity

How to apply

• Identify relevant solutions that best suit your business needs and select a suitable vendor
• Get direct quotations from approved vendors
• Prepare your documents, such as contact details, the company's financial statements for the past 3 years, proposal and/or quotation from your vendor, deployment location/ tenancy agreement, and business impact
• Apply on the Business Grant Portal (BGP)
• Receive your letter of offer and complete your project

Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt)

The Business Adaptation Grant (BizAdapt) is administered by Enterprise Singapore to help enterprises adjust their business operations and strengthen supply chain resilience in response to tariff measures.

The grant provides advisory and reconfiguration support, with a cap of SGD $100,000 per enterprise.

Enhanced support rates (from 1 April 2026, Budget 2026)⁹:

• Up to 70% support for SMEs
• Up to 50% support for non-SMEs

What does BizAdapt support

The grant supports four key activity areas:

1. Free Trade Agreements and trade compliance advisory
2. Legal and contractual advisory
3. Supply chain optimisation and market diversification advisory
4. Reconfiguration support, including manufacturing relocation or change of suppliers, to mitigate tariff impact

To qualify, companies must be registered and operating in Singapore, hold at least 30% local equity ownership, and meet the specific eligibility requirements for the selected activity.

Who is it for

Enterprises that:

• Export to overseas markets
• Have overseas operations
• Are directly or indirectly impacted by tariff measures
  Need advisory or operational restructuring support to mitigate supply chain risks

How to apply

• Log in with CorpPass and submit your application on the Business Grants Portal, as third parties cannot apply on your behalf.
• Wait approximately 8 to 12 weeks for the application assessment and outcome.
• Review and accept the Letter of Offer within the stated timeline if your application is approved.
• Complete the project within the qualifying period and submit a change request on BGP if any project details change.
• Engage an auditor from EnterpriseSG's pre-qualified panel and complete the mandatory audit before filing your claim.
• Submit your audit report, statement of claim and deliverables on BGP and receive disbursement via Corporate PayNow or GIRO within about 14 working days after approval.

Alternatives to Startup and SME Grants in Singapore

While government grants are an excellent way for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access financial support, there are other options as well. In this section, we will explore some alternative financing options for SMEs.‍

Bank loans

‍SMEs can apply for bank loans to finance their business operations or expansion plans. With a bank loan, a business owner can borrow money and repay it over time with interest. This type of financing is widely available, and the terms and interest rates are generally more favourable than other financing options. Here are some of the top SME bank loans to apply for.

Crowdfunding

‍Crowdfunding is a popular option for SMEs just starting and looking to raise money to get their business off the ground. This method involves raising funds from a large number of people through an online platform. In exchange for their contribution, the donors receive rewards, such as products or services.

Angel investors

‍Angel investors are wealthy individuals who invest their own money in SMEs. In exchange for their investment, they typically receive equity in the business. These investors are often experienced entrepreneurs or businesspeople who can guide and advise the SME.

Venture capital

‍Venture capital (VC) is another alternative to government grants that SMEs can consider. This type of financing involves investing in a business in exchange for equity. Venture capitalists often provide more than just capital; they also offer mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance to help the business succeed.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending

‍P2P lending is a type of financing that connects businesses directly with individual investors through online platforms, bypassing traditional financial institutions. This alternative funding option is especially attractive for startups and SMEs that may not meet the stringent requirements of bank loans or government grants. With faster approval times, flexible loan terms, and competitive interest rates, P2P lending offers a streamlined way to access working capital or fund business expansion. However, businesses should assess the lending platform's credibility and understand the repayment obligations before committing.

Conclusion

Startups and SMEs in Singapore can apply for and benefit from many of the grants detailed. Alongside these grants, businesses can also enjoy benefits available to all companies, such as low corporate tax rates, strong intellectual property rights, a skilled workforce, and strong connectivity to emerging markets in Asia.

Disclaimer: This content was last updated in March 2026. Policies, regulations, and official guidelines may change over time. Readers are advised to refer to the relevant government websites or official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.