The Singapore Women Entrepreneurs Network (SG-WEN), a network established by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) celebrated its third anniversary with the launch of SC X SG-WEN RISE and the inaugural SG-WEN Awards ceremony at a gala event that was held on 24 September. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat was the guest of honour at the event that was attended by over 180 business leaders. 

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat participated in a fireside chat on ‘New pathway for societal growth: Unlocking the potential of Singapore women entrepreneurs’ with Rachel Lim, Co-Founder, Love, Bonito. The fireside chat emphasised the importance of effective advocacy of the Singapore women entrepreneurial landscape that unlocks new avenues of economic growth in Singapore. 

SC X SG-WEN RISE

Ms Rachel Eng, Chairperson of SG-WEN, said: “SG-WEN is pleased to partner Standard Chartered to launch our signature training programme for women entrepreneurs. Aligned with our joint vision, this programme works towards empowering women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and become more effective social entrepreneurs through both personal and professional development. Women entrepreneurs in Singapore continue to face challenges in their entrepreneurial efforts. They struggle with access to business networks, access to capital and perception bias. We want to address these concerns through SC X SG-WEN RISE.”

SG-WEN conducted an opinion poll in September 2024 across its network to better understand the challenges and mindsets of women entrepreneurs, and how best to support them. The findings showed that women entrepreneurs in Singapore continue to face challenges in their entrepreneurial efforts, and the top two obstacles indicated are access to professional business networks and balancing business and family life. More than half of the respondents also perceived that it is more difficult for women to be entrepreneurs as compared to their male counterparts. Facing challenges such as perception bias and access to market, 85% of the respondents feel that entrepreneur networks is the most beneficial resource, with close to half of them stating that they have benefitted from SG-WEN as women entrepreneurs. 

SC X SG-WEN RISE is designed to empower women entrepreneurs to scale their business through a range of thought leadership dialogues, mentorship opportunities and tailored financing solutions offered by Standard Chartered. The year-long programme aims to equip women leaders with effective leadership and communication skills, board readiness, sustainability and corporate governance knowledge and critical ‘know-how’ instrumental for business success. This programme is open to women entrepreneurs who are members of SG-WEN, SBF, Standard Chartered clients, and Women-in-Business Committees of Singapore’s trade associations and chambers. 

Ms Teresa Tah, General Manager, SME Banking, Standard Chartered Singapore, said: “We strongly believe in empowering female entrepreneurs in Singapore through equitable access to financial services and opportunities to connect to a global network of like-minded entrepreneurs. We are delighted to further deepen our partnership with SBF through the launch of SC X SG-WEN RISE, a specially curated curriculum that provides female entrepreneurs with a wealth of resources offered by both SBF and Standard Chartered to scale their businesses.”

Standard Chartered is one of the key corporate partners of SG-WEN. Last year, the Bank launched its Standard Chartered Women’s International Network (SC WIN), a global initiative that offers women entrepreneurs tailored financial solutions, business education and opportunities to connect to a network with like-minded female entrepreneurs.

SG-WEN Award

The inaugural SG-WEN Award was presented to six outstanding Singapore women entrepreneurs who have made a remarkable impact on Singapore’s economy and society. Selected by an independent judging panel comprising senior business leaders in Singapore and the Executive Committee of SG-WEN, each of these winners has demonstrated strength and resilience in her own field. The recipients were:

• Ms Anna Lim, Executive Director and SouperChef, The Soup Spoon

• Ms Jamie Lim, CEO, Scanteak Singapore

• Ms Jessie Tran, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Solutions Supply

• Ms Michelle Lim, CEO and Co-Founder, Make The Change

• Ms Renee Lim, Co-Founder, Lemonfridge

• Ms Suziana Binte Ahmed Ash’ Ali, Co-Founder and Director, SuzyAmeer Frozen

Growth of the SG-WEN Community and Beyond

Since its inception in 2021, SG-WEN has nurtured and grown its diverse community to more than 700 members. Committed to supporting the growing community of women entrepreneurs in Singapore, the network continues to look for and partner with like-minded individuals and organisations that can help to drive ground-up initiatives from educational events to seminars, workshops, mentorship and sponsorship opportunities.