Venture Builder companies and programs can help entrepreneurs and businesses speed through the learning curve and reduce the risk of failure when it comes to building their own startup. This not-so-new model of entrepreneurship and innovation is experiencing a resurgence in the vibrant ecosystem of Singapore and across Southeast Asia.
What Is A Venture Builder?
Venture Builders refer to organizations that systematically build, develop, launch, and scale startups until they become independent. In short, they:
- Generate ideas, explore prototype concepts, and work on “in-house” projects to identify new business opportunities
- Build/recruit founding teams for the startups they develop
- Facilitate access to seed/early-stage capital
- Provides shared services for key resources required for operations
In contrast to Accelerator and Incubator, Venture Builder develops ideas and builds businesses “in-house” through shared capital, knowledge, and/or resources. Meaning that the barriers for entrepreneurs are substantially lowered.
Additionally, Venture Builder also facilitates fundraising while providing the initial capital.
Venture Builder – The Key Differentiator
Venture Builder is an excellent solution for established businesses and corporations aiming to innovate and make a mark in the startup world. They can collaborate or nominate key individuals to participate in the venture-building programs offered by Venture Builders.
A venture-building program is also an exceptional pathway for talented individuals looking to pursue entrepreneurship and become part of a startup’s founding team. Think of it as an advanced mentorship program that hones your skills to become the ideal CXO/founder, all while mitigating the opportunity cost of entrepreneurship by providing a steady monthly salary.
Most venture-building programs prefer senior candidates with impressive CVs and extensive work experiences who may still be new to the startup scene.
Typically, Venture Builders provide shared services and essential resources for the startup:
- Operational Resources: You will have access to a talented pool, including software engineers and developers, ready to execute your plan.
- Corporate Administration: A specialized operations team will assist you in managing the day-to-day requirements of accounting, finance, and legal matters.
- Office: A conducive workspace for the team to collaborate and efficiently accomplish their tasks.
Which Venture Builder Should I Go For?
Most venture builders tend to focus on a single industry to source ideas, hire teams, and provide support systems centered around a defined theme.
By establishing multiple businesses within a specific industry while maintaining a similar leadership profile, the venture builder can create recruitment channels that offer more consistent access to high-quality candidates than would be achievable through one-off recruitment efforts.
On the other hand, local universities are taking the lead in launching their own venture-building programs.
In addition to seeking individuals with extensive industry experience, some programs are also encouraging recent graduates and young adults who are willing to embark on this alternative career path.
SMU Venture Building Programme
ESG-SMU Venture building programme is a three-month training course to build and scale innovative tech startups. Aiming to provide aspiring local entrepreneurs with a strong foundation in entrepreneurship, it covers frameworks of ideation, team formation, lean startup methodology, product/market fit, and fundraising.
They are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who:
- May have an innovative idea but need help to develop, launch, and scale their business plans.
- Need training and coaching to get started.
- Applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Applicant must be able to commit 100% attendance to the programme for 3 months
SUSS Venture Builder Programme
The SUSS Venture Builder is an entrepreneurship programme designed to help graduates launch new ventures with success through rigorous 3- or 9-month hands-on training. Participants will be able to tap on SUSS’s industry experts, get guidance from an experienced co-founder, and undergo training in critical skills such as digital marketing and business modeling.
They are looking for candidates who:
- PMEs/Graduates and final-year graduating students who are Singaporean Citizens or Permanent Residents
- Must not hold any current full-time employment
- Entrepreneurial, self-starter, and independent
NTU Venture Builder Programme
A 12-month Venture Building programme funded by the SGUnited Traineeships Programme. They are looking for 18 recent graduates as trainees to undergo an experiential entrepreneurship education course.
The participants will work and learn from seasoned serial entrepreneurs to build disruptive, tech-enabled, and regionally-focused companies.
Conclusion
If you are interested in learning more about venture building and Venture Builder, check out Venture JDI today for a detailed discussion and receive advice from our experts.
If you’re gearing up for your next fundraising round and want expert guidance or warm introductions, don’t miss the Next Wave Capital Program – Launchpad Q2 2025.
