Singapore, 18 May 2026 - Nominations for the annual Emerging Enterprise 2026 Awards are now open to young businesses across Asia.
Jointly organised by The Business Times (BT) and OCBC, the Emerging Enterprise Awards is now in its 19th year. Since inception, it has celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and resilience of young businesses that are under ten years old and have an annual turnover of up to $20 million.
Last year, the awards saw close to 600 applications from a broad mix of industries across Asia. Winners included Singapore-based companies EVO Commerce, Mesh Bio Pte Ltd, and Hivebotics Pte Ltd, as well as Malaysia-based Dodo Ventures Sdn Bhd. The Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award was conferred on Singapore-based Hydroleap Pte Ltd, Hong Kong-based My-Care Healthcare Ltd, and Malaysia-based Green Environmental Engineering Sdn Bhd.
Emerging Enterprise Award
The Emerging Enterprise Award recognises emerging enterprises that demonstrate an enterprising mindset, drive consistent, significant and sustainable growth, and display the ability to scale and expand overseas, resulting in excellent business performance.
Enterprises that demonstrate a strong startup spirit and have a unique and commercially viable idea with long-term potential, will also stand to walk away with the Most Promising Startup Award.
Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award
The Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award recognises emerging enterprises that are capitalising on growth opportunities in the green economy, embedding sustainability in their businesses and leveraging technology and new solutions to transition to low-carbon businesses and industries.
Enterprises with a commercially viable green or sustainability-related business model that has long-term potential, and demonstrate a strong startup spirit, will also stand to walk away with the Most Promising Sustainability Startup Award.
The Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award was introduced in 2023 on the back of growing sustainability adoption by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the region. OCBC’s sustainable financing commitments to SMEs across the region grew by approximately 40 per cent in 2025 to nearly $13 billion. In April 2026, OCBC announced a target to support 12,000 SMEs across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia with sustainable financing by 2028, more than double the 5,000 SMEs the Bank supported as at end-2025. Achieving this is expected to drive SME sustainable finance commitments to S$25 billion by 2028.
Ms Christie Chu, Head of Emerging Business International, Global Commercial Banking, OCBC, said, “Today’s SMEs and entrepreneurs are navigating an increasingly complex business landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, unprecedentedly rapid technological disruption and evolving customer expectations. More than capital, they need visibility, mentorship and access to the right networks to succeed. Against this backdrop, platforms like the Emerging Enterprise Awards are more important than ever. By shining a spotlight on entrepreneurial excellence and helping enterprises accelerate their next phase of growth, we aim to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, help them gain visibility and support their journey towards sustainable, long-term success, empowering them to compete on a larger stage.”
Ms Chen Huifen, Editor of The Business Times, said, “Much like diamonds formed under pressure, today’s most promising enterprises are distinguished not only by resilience, but also by the clarity of their vision, the sharpness of their innovation and their ability to stand out in a competitive landscape. The Emerging Enterprise Awards seek to recognise entrepreneurs and enterprises that are not only navigating change effectively, but also contributing meaningfully to Singapore and the region’s next chapter of economic growth through innovation, leadership and sustainable business practices.”
From this year onwards, up to a total of six enterprises can be awarded across the Emerging Enterprise and Emerging Enterprise Sustainability award categories. Winners will walk away with attractive prizes including a two-year interest-free term loan equivalent to $200,000 in the local country currency, and a consulting package by RSM Singapore for growing businesses worth $15,000 each. For the Most Promising Startup and Most Promising Sustainability Startup award categories, up to a total of three winners will receive media publicity in BT.
Interested businesses can obtain an application form at https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/events-awards/emerging-enterprise and submit their applications between 18 May and 30 June 2026. Thirty businesses will be shortlisted and the winners will be announced at the end of October 2026.
The Emerging Enterprise 2026 Awards is supported by preferred payment solutions partner Mastercard, official auditor RSM Singapore, A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research, CBRE Pte Ltd, and Enterprise Singapore.
More details on the award categories and prizes can be found in the Annex.
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ANNEX
Emerging Enterprise 2026 Award Categories and Prizes
Emerging Enterprise 2026 is open to companies with up to 10 years of operations (or up to five years of business operations for Most Promising Startup Award), with the following criteria:
- Annual sales turnover: Up to SGD 20 million, or local currency equivalent, as of the last financial year
- Business incorporation: Registered either as a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, or Private Limited (or Sdn. Bhd.)
- Emerging Enterprise Award
(i) The Emerging Enterprise Award
Recognises emerging enterprises that demonstrate an enterprising mindset. These are businesses that drive consistent, significant and sustainable growth, resulting in excellent business performance, and display the ability to scale and expand overseas.
Prizes
Winner(s) (or their newly-established subsidiary, partnership or sole proprietorship, where applicable) will each receive from:
- OCBC (or any of its subsidiaries in Malaysia, Indonesia and/or Hong Kong (collectively, "OCBC Subsidiaries" and each an "OCBC Subsidiary") – a two-year, interest-free term loan of up to SGD 200,000 (or MYR 600,000, or HKD 1,000,000, or IDR 2,000,000,000, as set out in the terms and conditions);
- The Business Times - Media publicity in print, digital, and social media for Singapore and the region; and
- RSM Singapore - “Consulting Package for Growing Businesses” worth SGD$15,000.
(ii) Most Promising Startup Award
Recognises emerging enterprises with a strong startup spirit. These are startups that have developed a unique and commercially viable idea with the potential to be sustained in the long run.
Prize
Winner(s) will receive from:
- The Business Times - Media publicity in print, digital, and social media for Singapore and the region.
- Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award
(i) The Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award
Recognises businesses that prioritise sustainability, utilise technology and innovative solutions for a low-carbon future, and capitalise on green economy growth opportunities.
Prizes
Winner(s) (or their newly-established subsidiary, partnership or sole proprietorship, where applicable) will each receive from:
- OCBC (or an OCBC Subsidiary) – a two-year, interest-free term loan of up to SGD 200,000 (or MYR 600,000, or HKD 1,000,000, or IDR 2,000,000,000, as set out in the terms and conditions);
- The Business Times - Media publicity in print, digital, and social media for Singapore and the region; and
- RSM Singapore - “Consulting Package for Growing Businesses” worth SGD$15,000.
(ii) Most Promising Sustainability Startup Award
Recognises emerging enterprises with a strong startup spirit. These are startups that have developed a unique and commercially viable idea with the potential to be sustained in the long run.
Prize
Winner(s) will receive from:
- The Business Times - Media publicity in print, digital, and social media for Singapore and the region.