Singapore: A Multicultural Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

‘It's the perfect place to start a business’

Andre Menezes, who's originally from Brazil, chose Singapore as the global headquarters of his alternative protein company TiNDLE and has never looked back. “When I first moved here, I didn’t think it was possible for a country to be that well-run,” he says. “I was a little shocked.” Having lived in Singapore since 2016, the entrepreneur describes connecting with the “little red dot” almost instantly: “Whenever I land in Singapore, it feels like home.”

‘To me, Singapore is food heaven’

With influences ranging from China, to India, to Malaysia, to the West, Singapore is an ideal launching point for anything new and innovative, says Menezes, especially five-star fare. The nation is a “cultural melting pot” with “authentic food from around the world,” he says. To develop TiNDLE, Menezes was able to collaborate with local chefs representing nine different cuisines in an environment of excellence with “high standards for everything,” he says.

‘Talent is never easy to find — except here’

Any world-class business comes down to people, and the talent in Singapore is “arguably the best educated in the world,” Menezes says. The ONE Pass visa debuting in 2023 — with flexible five-year timelines and spouse work eligibility — makes it even easier for companies to attract top talent. Once in Singapore, the healthcare, education and housing options make it hard for executives to live anywhere else. “I have never seen anyone want to leave,” he says.

‘Everything works and is so easy’

In much of the world, dealing with government agencies is a nightmare – but in Singapore it is “perfect customer service across the board,” Menezes says. As a result, “99 percent of your time can be focused on building your business.” An added bonus: Having Singapore’s Economic Development Board on your team. Menezes remembers having trouble reaching a potential business partner. One call to the EDB and he had a meeting — which led to a lucrative deal.

Discover how Singapore can help you start — and scale — your world-class business.

Illustrations by Kristal Melson

This mini story was first published across The New York Times digital platform.