Deep-Tech Startups to Compete for S$2.5 Million at Singapore’s Premier University-Led Innovation Event

Record-Breaking Global Participation Marks 12th Lee Kuan Yew Business Plan Competition

In a landmark year marking Singapore’s 60th anniversary of independence, the Singapore Management University (SMU) has announced the 60 global finalists of the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), reinforcing its reputation as one of Asia’s largest university-led deep-tech startup competitions. Organised by SMU’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), the biennial event has set new records for international participation, attracting over 1,500 applications from more than 1,200 universities across 91 countries, a 57 per cent increase from the previous edition.

Scheduled to take place from 29 September to 2 October 2025 at SMU’s city campus, the Grand Finals Week will see finalists pitch their innovations across 12 focus areas, including Climate Tech, Energy Transition, Urban Mobility, and Sustainable Materials. This year’s theme centres on Urban Solutions and Sustainability, with shortlisted entries showcasing technologies such as airless wheels based on NASA research, transistors that reduce data centre energy use by 30 per cent, bioplastics rivalling petroleum-based alternatives, on-demand hydrogen production at sea, and self-healing concrete.

Ms Shirley Wong, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SMU IIE and Chairperson of the LKYGBPC Advisory Committee, noted a 70 per cent rise in entries from Asia, alongside significant growth in submissions from North America, the Middle East, and North Africa. She stated that the figures reflected growing global confidence in Singapore’s role as a gateway to Asian markets, further amplified by the competition’s alignment with SG60 and the Singapore Grand Prix, which together have elevated the event’s international profile.

Finalists such as Evangelos Moschos, Co-Founder and CTO of French startup Amphitrite, highlighted Singapore’s strategic value as the world’s busiest transhipment hub, offering access to investors, government agencies, and a robust R&D ecosystem. Moschos expressed interest in collaborating with local academic institutions and hiring Singaporean talent, including SMU students, to support operations in Paris and Singapore.

The 2025 edition also introduces the DueAI™ Challenge, a parallel competition designed to enhance the efficiency and fairness of startup evaluation using artificial intelligence. Developed by Dr Sze Tiam Lin, Senior Licensing Advisor at SMU IIE, the initiative deployed 14 AI models to assess applications alongside 220 human judges from 46 countries. The results were compared before finalising the list of 60 finalists, positioning LKYGBPC as one of the first university competitions to implement AI-driven selection at scale. Beyond pitching, the Grand Finals Week will feature closed-door roundtables with prominent regional business families, offering mentorship and strategic insights to founders while exposing investors to emerging technologies. A Talent Exchange segment will allow Singapore-based students to present their skills directly to finalist startups, and the week will conclude with Blaze Mixer Night, an opportunity for youth to engage with global innovators and build professional networks.

The competition’s expanded partnerships include the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) as its first Scientific Knowledge Partner, alongside new awards such as the Zhang Fan Global AI Initiative Award and the Future of Sustainable Materials Award, backed respectively by Mr Zhang Fan and Indorama Ventures. Venture capital firms, including Antler, TRIREC, and Wavemaker Partners, have also lent support, with Wavemaker’s Paul Santos noting the event’s consistent ability to attract ambitious founders and reinforce Singapore’s role as a global entrepreneurship hub. The 12th LKYGBPC reflects Singapore’s growing stature as a launchpad for innovation, sustainability, and deep-tech enterprise across Asia and beyond.

Editor’s Note:

The Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition has become more than a university event. It is now a global platform for deep-tech innovation. This year saw record participation, showing that startups worldwide view Singapore as a gateway to Asia’s future. The focus on sustainability and urban solutions is timely, as cities face increasing climate and infrastructure challenges. A key highlight is the use of artificial intelligence to assess entries. By combining human judgment with AI, SMU has set a new benchmark for fairness and scalability in startup competitions. The event is not only about winning prizes but also about creating a smarter and more inclusive innovation ecosystem.

Skoobuzz asserts that Singapore’s ability to draw talent, investment, and ideas from across the globe reflects its growing influence in shaping future entrepreneurs. Innovation flourishes when there is both opportunity and trust, and this competition provides both.