15 Reasons Why You Should Move Your Startup To Singapore

The next biggest startup is all right here in this cosmopolitan island nation.

1. Asia's next startup hub

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Singapore is no Silicon Valley, we're not going to argue about that. But that doesn't mean it's not going to be the next promising startup hub to rock Asia and the world. Since 2008, 40% of startup acquisitions in the Southeast Asia are done here in Singapore alone.

2. A place where a culture of collaboration and innovation is valued and nurtured

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An ambitious government-initiated campaign called IDA Labs allows tech startups to create and test their ideas, work with mentors and other talented individuals and develop innovative solutions or products that answer real world problems in Singapore and worldwide.

3. Wide options for capital funding

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The growing economic boom in Asia has driven the growth of startups and venture capital firms to Singapore. Their government is offering attractive tax schemes to venture capital and private equity firms so that startups have various access to capital to fund their business ventures.

4. World-class education

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Singapore has come a long way from being an impoverished country 50 years ago with limited natural resources to emerge as one of Asia's highly developed nations today. That's because the country invests heavily on education for its citizens. Every classroom promotes a collaborative environment that prepares students to be the future innovators of the world.

5. Generous tax incentives are offered to encourage entrepreneurship

Is it easy to set up a business in Singapore? Absolutely. Even the World Bank agrees. What makes this city-state an attractive place for startups is its business-friendly environment and attractive tax incentives.

Do you know that companies with income below $100,000 for the first three years, don't pay taxes? No, I'm not kidding.

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After that, they pay 8.5% for income up to $300,000 and a flat rate of 17% for income above $300,000. Talk about major advantage for business owners who are just starting, right?

You will also find that it's easy to maximize growth for your business as dividends and foreign income are tax-exempted in Singapore.

6. Block 71--Singapore's own version of the Silicon Valley

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Modeled after the booming startup ecosystem in San Francisco, Block 71 is the newest co-working space that gathers investors, entrepreneurs, developers and digital influencers in one location. Located at Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate, it houses more than 250 technology startups and is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurial spirit in Singapore.

7. Lightning-fast internet connection

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We live in an era of instant data consumption, so having a sluggish internet could spell disasters for a business. Over the years, Singapore has consistently provided blazing-fast internet connection.

How fast? Their global average peak connection speed is 83 megabits per second. With that kind of internet speed, who doesn't mind watching cat videos for hours on end, right?

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8. Highest smartphone adoption in the world

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The next time you're thinking of reaching out to a massive mobile-ready market, think of Singapore. They have the highest smartphone usage in the world with 85% of their consumers preferring smartphones over desktops, mostly to take photos online.

9. Rich food culture

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You will be pleasantly surprised to know that Singapore is not just a destination for thriving startups, it is also every gastronome's food paradise. With its rich multicultural diversity, its cuisine infuses wide array of appetizing flavors with influences from China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Great Britain that you'll never get tired of. One may find these dishes commonly served in neighborhood food courts called hawker centers. So whether you're in the mood for

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chili crabs,

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roti prata,

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or Hainanese chicken rice; the options on what to eat are practically endless.

10. There's a plethora of cool things you can do here.

Whoever said that Singapore is boring, has not been around Singapore long enough to appreciate for what it really is. What it lacks in size, it makes up for all the fun activities you can do to make your stay every bit memorable.

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Take a leisurely stroll around Gardens by the Bay and watch in awe at the magical

solar-powered Supertrees that comes alive at night.

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If you're up for some unique oddities, Haw Par Villa's Ten Courts of Hell will not

disappoint you. With thousands of Chinese statues and dioramas portraying ancient

folklore of gore-filled punishments in the after-life, it will surely keep you mildly

disturbed.

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Or if you want none of the drama, you can simply grab a coffee and get cozy with the cute and cuddly cats at the Cat Cafe Neko no Niwa. It's a purrfect place to just unwind.

Whether you're here as a tourist or an expat, there's no reason for you to just sit at home all week in the Little Red Dot.

11. Where cultural diversity is the norm

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What makes Singapore's heritage truly remarkable is its vibrant multicultural society where it is home to diverse cultural and religious communities. The backbone of their economic prosperity was largely a result from its strategic trading port location and years of immigrant infusion from neighboring countries.

12. Outstanding Infrastructure

Singapore's overall infrastructure quality is one of the world's best. Everything you need---transportation, electricity and telephone infrastructure is conducive for business.

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One of Singapore's award-winning gems is the Changi Airport that will make you want a longer layover so that you can have more time to get some tan at their swimming pool while waiting for your next flight.

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Marina Barrage is a remarkable fusion between technology and Mother Nature. Across the the mouth of the Marina Channel, this humble dam is the country's 15th reservoir which supplies their water needs. Go here for picnic or take a selfie in the evening when it looks especially stunning.

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As the name suggests, Henderson Waves Bridge is Singapore's tallest pedestrian bridge that showcases an avante-garde architectural wave-inspired design. It stands at 36 meters above Henderson Road and is built with steel arches and Balau wood.

13. Green Technology is Singapore's Future

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Singapore is slowly transitioning to green technology in the city by cutting its carbon emissions and developing energy-efficient buildings. CleanTech Park is Singapore's first eco-business park that houses environment-friendly companies.

14. Where crimes are almost nonexistent

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There are a few countries in the world where it's relatively safe to walk around the neighborhood at night or ride the subway alone. Singapore is one of them.

Home to more than 5 million people, Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. You know why? Punishments here are often severe even for petty offenses. Try tresspassing on protected areas and you'll know what I mean.

15. Least Corrupt Country

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Singapore's success story was partly an outcome from its relentless efforts in fighting corruption. Civil servants here have high salaries so they won't be tempted to abuse their power and anyone involved in corruption cases can expect some serious jail time.