- He will represent Singapore at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2023
Mr. Lim Wai Mun, Founder and CEO of Doctor Anywhere, has been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2022 Singapore by professional services organization, EY. This was announced during the EY EOY awards gala this evening, where Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry, was the guest-of-honor.
Mr. Lim Wai Mun, who was also named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Health Care Services, will be Singapore’s representative at the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) to be held in June 2023. He will compete with global contenders for the coveted world title. The EY WEOY competition is the hallmark of the awards program, offering a platform to profile local entrepreneurs among the world’s best business leaders.
(Please refer to fact sheet A for past WEOY winners)
On winning the top honor, Mr. Lim says:
“Being an entrepreneur goes beyond starting and growing a business. It’s fundamentally about a relentless focus on innovation and purpose to drive societal impact. For the health care industry, the past two years have been an especially trying time, but it has also propelled it to a new, digital era of better and efficient health care. I’m humbled and honored to be named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Singapore, and I hope to continue playing my part to grow our thriving local startup ecosystem.”
In addition to the top honor, EY presented six EOY category awards at the business event:
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Health Care Services
Mr. Lim Wai Mun, Founder and CEO, Doctor Anywhere
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Financial Technology
Mr. Akshay Garg, Co-founder and Group CEO, FinAccel Pte. Ltd.
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing
Mr. Julian Ng, CEO and Executive Director, Grand Venture Technology Limited
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Biotechnology
Mr. Kane Black, Chief Executive, INEX Innovate
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Food and Beverage Solutions
Mr. Jonathan Lim, CEO, Oddle
► EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Environmental Solutions
Ms. Melissa Tan, CEO, Wah & Hua Pte Ltd
Please refer to fact sheet B for profiles of the winners and their companies.
The winners were selected from close to 140 nominations by an independent judging panel, based on their merits in fulfilling the four globally benchmarked criteria, namely entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose and impact.
Please refer to fact sheet C for members of the judging panel and details of the judging criteria.
Chairperson of the judging panel, Mr. Lam Yi Young, also CEO of Singapore Business Federation comments on Mr. Lim’s winning attributes:
“Under the visionary leadership of Wai Mun, what started as a simple aim to provide the elderly with improved access to health care has now flourished into a leading omnichannel health care company. The courage to embrace the risk of leaving a corporate role to pursue his idea, tenacity in overcoming market barriers at a time when telemedicine was yet to be widely accepted, as well as continued innovation in growing the ecosystem of services, are truly exemplary. Since the launch of the company in 2017, Doctor Anywhere now has a notable presence across six countries and serves more than 2.5 million users across Southeast Asia, remaining true to Wai Mun’s purpose of bringing accessible and efficient health care services to everyone.”
Building a business with purpose
One of the key attributes observed among the winners this year is that they are building their business with a focus on purpose.
Mr. Liew Nam Soon, EY Asean Regional Managing Partner and Singapore and Brunei Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Solutions LLP says:
“Over the years, we saw that business leaders are increasingly recognizing the importance of building a purpose-driven business so as to create a sustainable business and deliver long-term value to stakeholders. Building a purpose-driven business takes grit, resilience and agility to not only navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and unpredictability of economic conditions, but also rally stakeholders around an unwavering vision and belief. This is what we are seeing with our winning entrepreneurs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of ESG, with investors placing dual emphasis on financial and non-financial metrics, and viewing companies that perform well on ESG less risky and better positioned for the long term. A corporate purpose that drives and underpins ESG goals is therefore instrumental in attracting the finance, trust and confidence that are necessary to grow the business.”
Please refer to fact sheet B for the quotes on winning the category awards and their thoughts on purpose, disruption and innovation.
Special honor for BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited and Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd.
EY presented the EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award to Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas of BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited. Mr. Kanjanapas shares that his personal motto is “dedicated to doing the right thing.”
Mr. Liew says:
“From establishing the real estate company, Tanayong, to founding BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, which is today a highly successful multisector conglomerate, Mr. Kanjanapas’ entrepreneurial story is truly remarkable and inspiring. Importantly, he has been highly instrumental in Thailand's infrastructural development, with BTS providing seamless connectivity via multimodal transportation, thereby improving the quality of commute and lives for millions of people. Committed to do what is right, he has led BTS to be the first carbon-neutral rail company, and continues to regularly give back to the community.”
Please refer to fact sheet D for winner profile.
EY also presented the EY Family Business Award of Excellence to Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd. The award recipient is jointly selected by knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University and the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.
Mr. Liew says:
“Family enterprises form the bedrock of many economies. Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd. is a second-generation company that has been successful in preserving the company and family values while maintaining a strong sense of innovation and environmental sustainability. They have anticipated, adapted and evolved to meet the needs of their customers. The launch of a sustainable plant-based consumer brand, HerbYvore, bears testimony to their continual pursuit of innovation. Present in over 50 countries and working with more than 4,000 farmer partners, Agrocorp is nourishing a world with changing consumption needs and also contributing to local communities.”
On receiving the award, Mr. Vijay Iyengar, Chairman and Managing Director, Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd. says:
“As a business and a family, we’ve always felt that in making the most important decisions for Agrocorp, we always refer to the compass of environmental sustainability, social responsibility and impact potential. While the results are not always immediately apparent, both tangible and intangible value tend to follow suit and not just for ourselves, but for all our vital stakeholders, including our staff and customers.”
Please refer to fact sheet E for winner profile, eligibility and selection criteria.
The official partners of the EOY awards are the Singapore Exchange (partner); Portfolio, The Business Times and The Edge Singapore (official media partners). The supporters are Action Community for Entrepreneurship; Enterprise Singapore; Singapore Business Federation; and SkillsFuture Singapore.
For more information about the EY EOY program, please visit ey.com/sg/eoy.
-ends-
About EY
EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.
Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, a member of the global EY organization.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy
Fact sheet A: EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year past winners
Past WEOY winners
2001: Paolo della Porta, President, Chairman and Group CEO of Saes Getters S.p.A., Italy
2002: Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO of BrainLAB AG, Germany
2003: Narayana Murthy, Founder and Chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited, India
2004: Tony Tan Caktiong, Chairman and President of Jollibee Foods Corporation, Philippines
2005: Wayne Huizenga, President of Huizenga Holdings, Inc., US
2006: Bill Lynch, CEO of Imperial Holdings, South Africa
2007: Guy Laliberté, Founder and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, Canada
2008: Dr. Jean-Paul Clozel, Founder of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland
2009: Cho Tak Wong, Chairman of Fuyao Glass Industry Group, Mainland China
2010: Michael Spencer, Group CEO of ICAP plc, UK
2011: Olivia Lum, Founder of Hyflux Ltd, Singapore
2012: James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director of Equity Bank Limited, Kenya
2013: Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, Inc., US
2014: Uday Kotak, President and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, India
2015: Mohed Altrad, Chairman of Altrad, France
2016: Manny Stul, Chairman and Co-CEO of Moose Enterprise Holdings & Controlled Entities, Australia
2017: Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., Canada
2018: Rubens Menin, Chairman of MRV Engenharia e Participações S.A., Brazil
2019: Brad Keywell, CEO of Uptake Technologies Inc., US
2020: Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited, India
2021: JungJin Seo, Honorary Chairman of Celltrion Group, South Korea
2022: Gaston Taratuta, Founder and CEO of Aleph, Argentina
Fact sheet B: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winner and company profiles
(Information provided by winners’ companies)
a) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Singapore
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Health Care Services
Mr. Lim Wai Mun
Founder and CEO
Doctor Anywhere
Quote on receiving the category award:
“I’m honored to be named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year - Health Care Services. Even with rapid globalization and societal development, access to affordable, quality health care remains a trying reality for many across Southeast Asia. Hearing stories from our users about how Doctor Anywhere has brought health care to them in a simple, accessible and efficient manner is an inspiration to continue bettering health care for all.”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“The ideal state of health care is where there will not be barriers to accessing care. It is with this goal that Doctor Anywhere was established to make borderless and inclusive health care simple, accessible and efficient for everyone.
“Core to our business is leveraging technology and innovation to advance a more personalized, borderless and holistic approach to health care. This means seizing opportunities to bridge gaps within the existing health care system and deliver care more easily and affordably, and with easier means for all.
“With rapid regional expansion, our focus has been on hiring passionate, skilled local talent who can help to fuel the company’s growth and innovation through their diverse perspectives. We have made it a point to hire local teams in our respective markets, who have a deep understanding of the local landscape and can transform the evolution of health care in their countries.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“Amid the storms of uncertainty and disruption brought about by the pandemic, it is also a time of recalibration and opportunities. Having the foresight and willingness to take the leap beyond the horizon is crucial, along with the ability to withstand risk to pursue the long-term goal. Leadership in crisis also requires trust – decentralizing decision-making, allowing room for experimentation and autonomy, and trusting the skilled people you have to weather uncertainty. It is also not a time to rest on one’s laurels but instead focus on innovation and agility, being receptive to consumer needs and tackling emerging landscape challenges with zeal and ingenuity.”
About Mr. Lim Wai Mun
Mr. Lim Wai Mun is the founder and CEO of Doctor Anywhere, a regional technology-enabled health care company that provides telemedicine and a holistic range of health offerings.
While distributing lunchboxes to the elderly living in older housing estates in 2016, he saw how the seniors lacked access to basic health care due to their inability to leave their homes.
Moved by this experience, he founded Doctor Anywhere in 2017 with a vision to provide simple, accessible and efficient health care for everyone. His experience in private equity and nearly a decade in Temasek Holdings, where he helped conceptualize and establish Singapore-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Pavilion Energy, enabled him to propel Doctor Anywhere’s growth from a young telehealth startup to a regional health player with 2.5 million users across six countries today.
Mr. Lim continues to be active in the local startup community, guiding budding entrepreneurs and setting his sights on transforming Southeast Asia’s health care future.
Mr. Lim is 40 years old.
About Doctor Anywhere
Doctor Anywhere is a regional technology-enabled, omnichannel health care company, on a mission to make borderless and inclusive health care simple, accessible and efficient for everyone.
Headquartered in Singapore, it is the only regional telemedicine platform with localized operations across six countries in Southeast Asia, serving 2.5 million users through a strong network of established health care providers and experienced doctors.
Doctor Anywhere's mobile app enables users to holistically manage their health easily and effectively. In addition to online consultations, Doctor Anywhere’s omnichannel approach sees it operate a network of physical clinics and pharmacies, home-based health screenings and vaccinations, and an in-app marketplace for health and wellness products and services.
doctoranywhere.com
b) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Financial Technology
Mr. Akshay Garg
Co-founder and Group CEO
FinAccel Pte. Ltd.
Quote on receiving the category award
“I am deeply humbled and grateful for the recognition. This award isn’t for me, but it’s a recognition of my immensely talented and motivated team at Kredivo and other group companies that has worked tirelessly to pioneer a new industry (digital data-based credit scoring) and a new business model (Buy-Now-Pay-Later) in this region, and accelerate the delivery of credit to underserved and underbanked populations firstly in Indonesia and now in Southeast Asia.”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“Since incorporation in 2016, FinAccel has been working towards realizing the vision to provide mobile-first financial services that are fast, affordable and widely accessible, wrapped into a package that delivers an amazing customer experience. Through Kredivo, we deliver tremendous value to customers and merchant partners by providing instant credit access and bringing millions into the fold of unsecured credit for the first time in their lives.
“The company is doing good – just through its daily operations. Over the next few years, the organization’s goal is to be a deeply admired financial services company that impacts and enhances the lives of tens of millions in the region. The company recently announced its commitment to the EDISON Alliance's 1 Billion Lives Challenge, pledging to provide access to digital financial services to up to 20 million people in Indonesia, as well as Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines over the next five years. Through the 1 Billion Lives Challenge, Kredivo is helping to accelerate the delivery of digital and financial services for underserved and underbanked populations, particularly those in Southeast Asia, where nearly two-thirds of the population is either underbanked or completely unbanked.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“No doubt we are living through years of higher-than-normal uncertainty and disruption. I do not have a perfect playbook and am still learning and improving on this leadership journey. However, what has worked well for us is the clear and proactive communication around our decision-making approach. FinAccel’s culture is one of a high degree of trust and teamwork, and without this strong cultural core, it is hard for me to imagine that any kind of leadership style would succeed in these turbulent times.”
About Mr. Akshay Garg
Mr. Akshay Garg is Co-founder, Chairman and Group CEO of FinAccel, a financial technology company in Southeast Asia with a mission to build fast, affordable and accessible financial products for underbanked customers in the region. FinAccel’s flagship product Kredivo is the leading digital credit platform in Indonesia, enabling customers to take personal loans and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) from leading e-commerce merchants at bank-like interest rates with the simplicity of a few clicks. FinAccel is backed by some of the leading investors in the region such as Victory Park Capital, Naver Corp, Mirae Asset, Square Peg, Jungle Ventures, Telkomsel and Singtel, among others.
Prior to founding FinAccel, Akshay co-founded Komli Media, an advertising technology company that pioneered real time bidding and audience profiling in Asia. Komli Media was the parent company of PubMatic (NASDAQ: PUBM); other parts of its IP were acquired by Axiata (KLSE: AXIATA) and Affle (NSE: AFFLE).
Mr. Garg is 44 years old.
About FinAccel Pte. Ltd.
FinAccel is a financial technology company focused on making financial services fast, affordable and accessible for the underbanked population in Southeast Asia. FinAccel’s products and entities include Kredivo, the leading Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) platform in Indonesia and Vietnam; KrediFazz, the leading personal loan platform in Indonesia; as well as the recently acquired Bank Bisnis Indonesia. FinAccel is backed by leading venture capital firms and corporate investors such as Victory Park Capital Advisors, LLC, Mirae Asset, Naver, Square Peg, Jungle Ventures, Telkom Indonesia, Singtel and GMO, among others.
finaccel.co
c) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing
Mr. Julian Ng
CEO and Executive Director
Grand Venture Technology Limited
Quote on receiving the category award
“The honor of receiving this award is not just mine. It also recognizes the guidance of my mentor Mr. Ricky Lee, and the support of my entire team. The many small steps that we had taken together over the years have brought us to where we are today. We are still far from our end goals and EY has refueled us with the inspiration to continue our journey. I am humbled and grateful.”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“More than financial performance, a sustainable business does not grow at the community’s expense but adds to it. Good values imbued in a company should outlive the entrepreneur and be passed down through the generations.
“I believe in inculcating familial values in my team members, whom I see as persons to be mentored rather than mere subordinates. As such, even though I have a vision to make Grand Venture Technology (GVT) a center of employment of high-tech skillsets, our workforce today includes a good proportion of individuals with special needs, older retrenched workers and young adults who need a second chance. Many of these are hired without the relevant experience and are occupying positions specially created for them.
“I also try to demonstrate resilience and courage in the worst of times by choosing, for example, to ensure my team continues to be paid in a timely manner even when cash flow was extremely tight.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“The COVID-19-related disruptions over the past two years have shown us the importance of forward planning and employee well-being. Grand Venture Technology was able to successfully navigate supply chain disruptions through proper material planning, even when the materials had to be procured at increased prices. We were prepared to sacrifice short-term margins for long-term sustainability. Our consistent performance even garnered us an award from a grateful customer.
“We have also diversified into the aerospace and medical diagnostics business to mitigate exposure to the cyclical nature of the technology industry.
“As for employee well-being, we bought COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinated the entire organization in Malaysia before the local government started offering the vaccines to the masses. Even with movement restrictions lifted, we would engage with our staff on whether to continue working from home, resume work onsite or adopt a hybrid model. Our staff thus trust us and understand that they are valuable stakeholders.
About Mr. Julian Ng
Mr. Julian Ng is a visionary on a mission to build Grand Venture Technology (GVT) into a global name in precision engineering and advanced manufacturing. Living by the philosophy that “the entrepreneurship journey is more meaningful when the travel companions are good”, Mr. Ng believes that an understanding family, capable and loyal employees, and appreciative customers form the bedrock of a successful business. He thus describes his role at GVT as being on a journey of relationship building, mentorship and personal growth.
Mr. Ng’s entrepreneurial spirit is demonstrated by his ability to drive exponential revenue growth and penetrate new customer sectors. Starting his career as a top sales engineer with Norelco Centreline, he subsequently moved on to co-found two companies and nurtured them into compelling investment targets. The first company, Achieve Manufacturing Solutions, has since evolved into Frencken Group; and the second, GVT, was recently recognized as one of Forbes Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion.
Mr. Ng is 50 years old.
About Grand Venture Technology Limited
Grand Venture Technology (GVT) is a fast-growing and trusted solutions and services provider for the manufacture of complex precision machining, sheet metal components and mechatronics modules. Its cutting-edge facilities in Singapore, Malaysia and China are backed by the latest automated manufacturing technologies, Class 10,000 cleanroom facilities and a certified quality management system. The group’s highly experienced and dedicated team of engineering talent serves a strong global network of established partners and suppliers with a wide range of engineering, assembly, testing and product life cycle management solutions. GVT’s portfolio of customers hail from the semiconductor, electronics, analytical life sciences, medical, aerospace, and industrial automation industries, and represent some of the largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in their respective markets. The group was recently listed in Forbes Asia’s 2022 edition of the 200 Best Under A Billion for its sterling growth and performance over the years. GVT is listed on the Singapore Exchange.
gvt.com.sg
d) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Biotechnology
Mr. Kane Black
Chief Executive
INEX Innovate
Quote on receiving the category award
“To be named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year - Biotechnology, the world’s pre-eminent recognition of entrepreneurs, is a huge testament to the highly talented, dedicated and passionate team that forms the backbone of everything we do at INEX Innovate. It is a fantastic honor to be included among other passionate and inspiring entrepreneurs in this year’s awards, and the outstanding entrepreneurs who came before us. Thank you!”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“Our vision is to democratize medical diagnostics for women across Asia and around the world. Bringing them improved early detection that is more accessible, particularly giving women and mothers greater certainty and confidence in their health through early detection, will help to improve their chances of medical success. At INEX Innovate (INEX), we see every patient who interacts with our products as a singular being who deserves individual care and attention. Customer satisfaction is at the core of our vision and heart of our operations.
“Additionally, as a medical innovator, INEX is deeply involved in academia and research. We not only support the local ecosystem through supporting research, licensing and commercializing the technologies that are developed in Singapore’s centers of scientific excellence but also provide the scientific and medical community access to our technologies, intellectual property and know-how to innovate and create new products.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“Like any technology-driven company and sector, uncertainty and disruption are par for the course.
“The democratization of medical diagnostics, that is, making tests critical for the early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer more widely available, more accessible and at a lower cost to communities, will only be a benefit to the societies that we live in. I believe there is enough room for all of us to grow in this space.
“What has been critical for us was recognizing that time was more expensive than money, and that the faster we move and pivot, the better. This saw us pivot into COVID-19 PCR testing in the very early stages of the pandemic and became one of the first few private laboratories to offer such testing. As we enter a new period of uncertainty with rampant inflation, unrest and potential global recession, a nimble and efficient team will be key to success.”
About Mr. Kane Black
Mr. Kane Black is a seasoned entrepreneur with an extensive and diverse international career in leadership roles across the technology, biotechnology, medical device and health care investment sectors.
Mr. Black began his career with Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed technology company, Adtec Corporation K.K. (now known as AKIBA Holdings), serving as Director and Head of Operations for Europe. There, he demonstrated a proven track record of growth and was also instrumental in the company’s buyout by Japanese technology company, Shinden Hightex Corporation.
In 2009, Mr. Black joined a Hong Kong-based private family office as Asia Director and steered its investment portfolio. He then co-founded Nova Satra Health in 2012 with a view to develop, collaborate and commercialize cutting-edge therapies across the medical technology spectrum. This led to the establishment of Singapore-based molecular diagnostic developer Nova Satra Dx in 2014. In August 2019, Nova Satra Health merged with INEX Innovations Exchange in a US$72m-deal to create INEX Innovate.
Mr. Black has been a council member of National University of Singapore’s Medicine International Council since 2020.
Mr. Black is 42 years old.
About INEX Innovate
INEX Innovate (INEX) is one of Asia’s fastest growing medical technology developers and medical laboratory operators. Spun off from the National University of Singapore, INEX is Asia’s first women’s health technology group. Founded by maternal-fetal medicine specialists, INEX focuses on developing and commercializing molecular diagnostic technologies in the areas of fetal health and women’s oncology.
INEX has a broad commercial portfolio of validated tests in prenatal health, ovarian and breast cancers along with more than 48 key patents. Through its wholly owned subsidiary iGene Laboratory, INEX operates a College of American Pathologist accredited Next-Generation Sequencing laboratory that provides diagnostic testing, contract research and COVID-19 testing services.
The company has been recognized globally with several accolades including The Straits Times’ Singapore’s fastest-growing companies and the Financial Times’ high-growth companies Asia-Pacific 2022 and other awards from Frost & Sullivan and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
inex.sg
e) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Food and Beverage Solutions
Mr. Jonathan Lim
CEO
Oddle
Quote on receiving the category award
“I am humbled to receive this recognition, and all of this would not be possible without the dedication of our team, support of our partners, and the trust that our restaurant partners have in us.
“The industry has seen tough times the past two years and as a company that always puts restaurants first, we will continue to strive to help our partners survive and thrive in challenging conditions.”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“By combining empathy and technology, we democratize restaurant technology by making it cheaper and more accessible for restaurants through our full suite of omnichannel technology.
“With a mission to empower restaurants to take charge of their own future, our omnichannel platform helps restaurants deliver first-class experiences and engagements to our customers. This is by giving customers access to valuable customer data and insights, so they can be smarter and faster in driving their business sustainably and consistently into the future.
“We give them the ability to go online at the cheapest rate. As a result, whatever margins that can be saved for the restaurants can then be reinvested into the growth of the business.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“In times of uncertainty and disruption, it is important to stay focused on the mission. For Oddle, our mission is to future-proof restaurants and empower them to take charge of their own future. We constantly analyze and think about the best course of action, and every step taken is rooted from our ‘Always Restaurant First’ philosophy. We have been working round the clock to future-proof our favorite restaurants and bring them online.
“Oddle continues to empower many business owners who are apprehensive about going digital, and aims to build a sustainable future for the F&B industry and give everyone a possibility to succeed tomorrow.”
About Mr. Jonathan Lim
Mr. Jonathan Lim founded Oddle with the aim to redefine the food and beverage (F&B) industry and the platform has since partnered with some of the region’s most iconic and visible restaurants.
In 2014, Oddle was built based on Mr. Lim’s experiences in the F&B and technology sectors amassed over the last 13 years. After opening his specialty grill restaurant, The Lawn, in 2011, he spotted distinct problem areas faced by the F&B industry and set out to solve them with the creation of Oddle. Combining empathy with technology, Oddle fills the gap in the market by providing accessible and affordable performance-driven solutions that help restaurants improve and optimize their operations through smart data and meaningful engagement.
As CEO and co-founder, Mr. Lim drives business's planning, development and overall direction with his co-founders. To date, Oddle has nearly 5,000 F&B restaurants onboard its platform across Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, including 1,500 restaurants locally.
Mr. Lim is 37 years old.
About Oddle
Oddle is Singapore’s leading omnichannel food and beverage (F&B) technology platform that has been disrupting and redefining the F&B industry in the region.
With a mission to empower restaurants with tools to take charge of their own future, Oddle’s omnichannel platform helps restaurants deliver first-class experiences and engagements to their customers. This works by giving the restaurants and merchants access to valuable consumer data and insights, so they can be smarter and faster in driving their business sustainably and consistently into the future. Unified, all of Oddle’s products and services give merchants the important power to predict sales, for a more secure future.
Oddle provides a full technological suite of solutions that comprises e-shop, reservation system and platforms, QR ordering system and payment terminal solution. Completing the ecosystem are brand enhancement services such as managed marketing services and Oddle Eats, a food discovery platform used by millions of hungry consumers in Asia.
oddle.me
f) EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Environmental Solutions
Ms. Melissa Tan
CEO
Wah & Hua Pte Ltd
Quote on receiving the category award
“The environmental industry is not everyone’s choice sector, yet the environment should be everybody’s priority! Sustainability is not limited to the environmental sector but for all businesses. So, it needs to be addressed urgently. From the use of recyclable materials to retrofitting systems and processes, these will impact and contribute to climate actions and help us move toward a circular economy. We will then be able to create a sustainable lifestyle in the community and preserve resources for our future generations.”
Quote on building a business with purpose
“Being a volunteer for the past 19 years, I believe in creating a social impact on every walk of life. We bring this mindset to the workplace as well, and built a cohesive working environment, resulting in high employee retention. For the community, we often organize programs to highlight the importance of sustainability and raise the image of the environmental services sector.”
Quote on leading and navigating through an era of uncertainty
“A team with a strong camaraderie spirit is key in the face of uncertainty and disruption. In the face of challenges, it is important that leaders look after the wellbeing of their employees and their families, and work as a team to ride through the disruptions. Also, regular and open communication regardless of hierarchy is important whenever there is a challenge or change, as it provides assurance and stability to the employees. Finally, keeping up with global trends and technological developments will help the team make better decisions to improve work quality and efficiency, while providing the individuals a chance to gain new skills for continuous personal growth.”
About Ms. Melissa Tan
Ms. Melissa Tan leads Wah & Hua (WH) as CEO, spearheading and implementing its business development initiatives. She transformed the business from a traditional family-run small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to a corporatized medium enterprise. During this time, she faced scrutiny from the industry, but continued to seek out opportunities to expand the company’s footprint for the survival of the family business and its employees. One of the milestones that she led WH to achieve was to secure deals with foreign companies to provide a comprehensive solution, which enabled WH to diversify and grow exponentially.
She has also assumed the role of Chairman of the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore since 2013. In this position, she champions the association’s efforts to enhance the professionalism and technological capabilities of the waste management industry in Singapore, with an aim to impact the society’s view of sustainability.
Ms. Tan is 44 years old.
About Wah & Hua Pte Ltd
Wah & Hua (WH) is a multimaterial recycling and waste management company that provides services for the collection of recyclables from small businesses to large corporations.
WH is one of the market leaders for industrial and commercial waste management, serving many industrial and commercial premises. We provide efficient and innovative technologies and solutions to customers to better manage their waste and recyclable materials.
In 2019, WH formed a joint venture with ALBA Group Asia to incorporate ALBA W&H Smart City Pte Ltd, and was awarded public waste collection for Jurong, Woodlands and Yishun sector.
WH is constantly striving to be one of the leading integrated environmental solution providers and create a sustainable future for all.
wahhua.com
Fact sheet C: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year judging panel and criteria
Judging panel
Lam Yi Young (Chairperson of judging panel)
CEO
Singapore Business Federation
Dr. Kar Wong
CEO
Advanced Group of Companies
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 Singapore
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Engineering Services and Process Equipment
Nainesh Jaisingh
Founding Partner and CEO
Affirma Capital
Loi Pok Yen
Group CEO
CWT Pte. Limited
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Logistics
Tan Boon Khai
CEO
JTC Corporation
Michelle Cheo Hui Ning
Deputy Chairperson, CEO and Executive Director
Mewah International Inc
Prof. Lily Kong
President and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Social Services
Singapore Management University
Judging criteria
The following four judging criteria sets the global standard adhered to by each and every country participating in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.
Entrepreneurial spirit
- Identifies opportunities to innovate and create a better world.
- Takes risks to realize their vision.
- Demonstrates courage, perseverance and resilience to overcome significant obstacles.
Growth
- Increases market share and expands into new markets.
- Drives positive financial performance.
- Invests in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse mix of talent.
- Builds a culture of innovation that pioneers new approaches or technologies.
Purpose
- Commits themselves and their organization to an inspiring purpose and vision.
- Drives strategies for a sustainable future business.
- Creates and protects value in the long term, across a broad group of stakeholders, including consumers, employees, suppliers, government, communities, investors and shareholders.
Impact
- Positively impacts the customers they serve.
- Integrates sustainable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices in their strategy, with robust commitments and execution plans.
- Focuses on diversity and inclusion across multiple dimensions.
Factsheet D: EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence Award winner profile
(Information provided by winners’ companies)
EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas
Chairman
BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited
About Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas
Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas, Chairman of BTS Group, is one of Thailand’s most influential and visionary business leaders, distinguished by his ability to create successful business enterprises, particularly in the mass transit and property development spaces. His early business successes included heading the Hong Kong-listed Hwa Kay Thai Holdings Ltd. and its group of companies, as well as founding and managing the Seiko football team.
Returning to Thailand in 1988, he established Tanayong Public Company Limited, the major real estate developer behind the Thana City project in Bangkok, a satellite city development of hotels, condominiums, residential housing and office buildings.
In 1992, he led the Tanayong Group to shift its focus to mass rapid transit through winning the concession contract to construct and operate Thailand’s first and only privately funded elevated mass transit railway system, which set the company on a path toward mass transportation. In 2010, the company was renamed BTS Group. Over the years, under Mr. Keeree’s leadership, the BTS Group won numerous concession contracts to design, build and operate Bangkok’s mass transit as well as the city’s first monorail lines, together with operating or owning a network spanning bus, ferry, motorway, and airport segments. It expects to carry three million daily passengers across rail and non-rail by 2025.
Today, the BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited is one of Thailand’s top 50 listed companies and the first and only carbon-neutral rail transportation company. It has been ranked first globally in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for transportation and transportation infrastructure sectors for two consecutive years.
Mr. Kanjanapas is 72 years old.
About BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited
BTS Group is a multi-industry conglomerate utilizing data and partnerships to amplify value from its proprietary transport and media network through three strategies: Move, Mix, and Match.
The Move network itself is a pioneering concept where they aim to provide convenient and safe door-to-door transportation solutions to customers, which purposefully supports UNSDG13 (Climate Action) by reducing carbon emissions and uplifting people’s way of life.
The Mix network has advanced beyond its leading out-of-home advertising media capability to provide comprehensive offline to online solutions combining advertising, payment, and distribution services, incorporating smart data for optimizing insight and customer satisfaction.
Under the sharing economy concept, BTS Group provides a unique Match solution to its partners; sharing access to both its Move network (providing access to customers) and its Mix network (providing broad and customized audience reach).
Moving forward, BTS Group aims to be a solutions company, sharing its strong physical and digital platforms together with unique and useable data to amplify the values of the group and its partners, as outlined in the slogan “borderless transform solutions”.
bts.co.th/eng/
Factsheet E: EY Family Business Award of Excellence
Winner profile, eligibility and selection criteria
(Information provided by winners’ companies)
EY Family Business Award of Excellence
Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd.
Quotes on receiving the award
Mr. Vijay Iyengar, Chairman and Managing Director, Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd.:
“As a business and a family, we’ve always felt that in making the most important decisions for Agrocorp, we always refer to the compass of environmental sustainability, social responsibility and impact potential. While the results are not always immediately apparent, both tangible and intangible value tend to follow suit and not just for ourselves, but for all our vital stakeholders, including our staff and customers.”
About Agrocorp International Pte. Ltd.
Agrocorp International is an integrated agricultural commodity and food solutions provider. Established in Singapore in 1990, Agrocorp has offices in 15 countries with around US$3b in revenue. The company ships over 12m tonnes of product to its customers in Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, the Middle East and East Africa. Its product offerings include traditional agri-commodities such as grains, pulses, sugar, oilseeds, cotton, rice and edible nuts as well as a growing portfolio of nutritional products such as plant-based proteins, organics and specialty food ingredients. Agrocorp also has a growing food processing business with plants located in Canada, Australia, India and Myanmar. Agrocorp is committed to sourcing agri-food products with traceability, value, and providing innovative solutions to fulfil the needs of an ever-changing world while striving to always be the customers’ supplier of choice.
agrocorp.com.sg
About the award
The EY Family Business Award of Excellence was launched in 2013 to recognize family enterprises that have made significant socio-economic contributions and demonstrated the ability to harmonize between business and family matters. It is jointly selected by knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University and the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.
Family enterprises that have been honored include Goldbell Group, Hong Leong Group, Far East Organization, Sing Lun Holdings Pte Ltd, Tolaram Group, Jebsen & Jessen (SEA), Eu Yan Sang International, B.P. de Silva Holdings, and the Kewalram Chanrai Group.
Eligibility:
- Leadership of the company includes family member(s) from second or subsequent generations, or has multiple branches of a family involved in leadership. (i.e., one individual and first generation would not qualify for the award).
- The family still has a significant ownership and voting stake and is primarily responsible for setting the strategic direction and values for the firm.
- The legal form of the company or group of companies is not relevant.
- Companies may be private or publicly traded.
- If the shares and voting rights have been transferred to a trust, it will remain to be considered as family enterprises if the family has dominant influence on the trust in a way described above.
- The business or headquarter of the business is located in Singapore.
Judging criteria:
- Company shows evidence of a successful, sustainable and long term-oriented strategy.
- Company has adopted an effective and transparent corporate governance approach, enabling the execution of the desired strategy and living out of family values.
- Company governance enables unity among the ownership family (i.e., little evidence of significant family disputes impacting the business).
- Demonstrated the ability of the family to preserve company culture, tradition and values and maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and continued innovation over generations.
- Evidence shown of exceptional personnel management.
- Commitment to philanthropic causes or corporate social responsibility.
- Other exceptional achievements such as business awards, public service etc.
