DBS launches programme to help start-ups and SMEs grow their business and network across Asia

SINGAPORE - Oct. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- Start-ups and SMEs can now seek business advice and opportunities across Asia with DBS BusinessClass, a new programme delivered through a mobile app. Through DBS BusinessClass, entrepreneurs can consult and connect with industry experts, investors and fellow entrepreneurs. DBS BusinessClass members can also access news and articles on topics pertinent to starting and running their businesses and attend exclusive networking events.

Lim Chu Chong, Head of SME Banking, DBS Bank said, “We found that fast-growing SMEs need help connecting with investors and experts when they are scaling up their business. By building a mobile platform which allows SMEs to access business advice, insights and exclusive networking opportunities, we hope to help SME owners build social capital and sharpen their competitive edge. We are committed to a culture of continuous innovation so as to make DBS the SME bank of choice for entrepreneurs.”

Tap on community wisdom and expertise
DBS has garnered the support of more than 20 business experts, seasoned entrepreneurs and investors to join DBS BusinessClass’ panel of advisors and more will be coming on board in the coming months.

DBS BusinessClass’ panel of advisors:

 Name   Company   Area(s) of expertise

 Lim Kuo-Yi          Partner, Monk’s Hill          Venture Capital & Private Equity

 James Tan         Managing Partner, QuestVC       Venture Capital, Entrepreneur

 Tan Choon Seng     Chairman, Trustcott Group     Founder, Link2 Ventures
   Angel Investor

Dr Alex Lin        Head, Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd          Venture Capital, Entrepreneur

 Jeffrey Paine   Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures   Venture Capital

 Turochas Fuad   Founder, travelmob   Entrepreneur

 Rosaline Chow Koo   Founder, CXA   Entrepreneur

 Supriya Singh     Associate Director, JAFCO Investments     Venture Capital

 Zechariah Chan   Partner, Lee & Lee Partnership   Intellectual property law

 Volker Heistermann   Managing Director, Yushan Ventures   Venture Capital

 Darius Cheung   Founder and CEO, 99.co   Entrepreneur

 Brian Koh   Director, NUS Enterprise   Management Consultant, Entrepreneur

 Andy Zain   Managing Director, Mountain Ventures   Venture Capital

 Dennis Goh   Founder, HungryGoWhere   Entrepreneur

 Mohan Belani   Co-Founder and CEO, e27   Entrepreneur

 Casey Lau   Co-Founder, StartupsHK    Entrepreneur, Technology

 Dr John Ng   President, Meta Counsulting   Business Consultant

 Callum Laing   CEO, Entrevo (Key Persons of Influence)   Business Consultant

 Surender Dhaleta   Editor, e27   Marketing

 Keith Ng   Partner, Lee & Lee Partnership   M&A/Corporate Law

 Keith Timimi   Chairman, VML Qais   Advertising & Marketing

Entrepreneurs can reach out to any advisor simply by sending them a chat message on the app. If they have a burning question or an issue they are grappling with, they can start a topic, tag the appropriate advisors and have an online discussion with fellow entrepreneurs and experts anytime, anywhere.

The programme and mobile app will be rolled out regionally so entrepreneurs can also meet other SME owners from DBS’ other key markets of  China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Dr Alex Lin, Head, Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd and a DBS BusinessClass advisor, said: “DBS BusinessClass is a good initiative to help bring the fragmented tech start-up community together.  Most of our local start-ups lack the necessary experience and require a lot of guidance from successful entrepreneurs and mentors who can help to shorten their learning curve by sharing their personal experience. Apart from that, I hope that through DBS BusinessClass, start-ups can find business partners, investors and business opportunities to help them grow their business further. I look forward to the platform playing a bigger part in nurturing the start-up eco system in Singapore.”

Networking opportunities
DBS BusinessClass members can look forward to exclusive events such as roundtables and seminars where investors, entrepreneurs and industry experts will come together to discuss solutions to meet challenges faced by start-ups and SMEs. Key learnings at each roundtable will be distilled and published on the DBS BusinessClass mobile app. Since March this year, DBS has organised more than 10 events to help SMEs make sense of matters pertinent to running a business, including funding, cash flow management, financial modelling and fund raising.

Access DBS SME banking solutions on the go
Through the DBS BusinessClass mobile app, start-ups and SMEs can also instantly reach the bank’s relationship managers through the app’s chat functions, and get their banking questions answered on the go. They can also access business tools online such as a loan calculator (https://www.dbs.com.sg/sme/business-tools/loan-calculator...) which calculates monthly instalments and interest paid for a variety of business loans.

A working capital tool (https://www.dbs.com.sg/sme/business-tools/working-capital...) is also available via the app which allows companies to calculate their cash conversion cycles instantly. The tool also offers tips on how these firms can obtain more operating cash flow.

Stay on top of market trends
Community managers will curate, select and tag relevant news and articles for DBS BusinessClass members every day so they can have, at their fingertips, news and events that impact them directly.

The DBS BusinessClass app can be downloaded for free on iOS and on Google Play. All new BusinessClass members can ride in style with a SGD 20 Uber voucher when they download the app and sign up to be a member.

Discover how DBS BusinessClass helps SMEs with connections, advisory and insights.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqvsHd0a1GA