ShowcACE : Building a Startup that Lasts in the AI Era with DBS
Join ShowcACE with DBS for an afternoon of conversation, ideas, and practical insights at The Meeting Point (LaunchPad@One-North)! Hosted by ACE.SG, this session brings together founders, operators, and startup teams who want a closer look at how to build and grow with the right support around them in the AI Era. ✨
As AI transforms the way startups are built and scaled, founders have new opportunities to grow with leaner teams, smarter operations and data-driven decision-making. At the same time, they face critical challenges from managing cash flow and preparing for fundraising to expanding into new markets. 🚀
In partnership with DBS SME Banking, ShowcACE brings together startup founders for an interactive panel discussion, "From Idea to Scale: Building a Startup in the AI Era," where they will share practical insights and real-world experiences on using AI to drive business growth, improve productivity and build resilient businesses. 🤗
The discussion will explore how startups can apply AI across marketing, sales, customer support, operations and finance, while addressing key topics such as scaling with lean teams, financing growth, regional expansion and building the right financial infrastructures for long-term success.
Come prepared to engage, ask questions, and share your own experiences. We look forward to seeing you there!
Agenda (subject-to-change)
1.30 pm : Registration Starts
2pm : Welcome Address by ACE.SG
2.15pm : Panel Discussion with Q&A (From Idea to Scale: Building a Startup in the AI Era)
Panelists to share their experience, insights and perspectives
Leonard Loo, CEO of Voltade
Isaac Timothy Tay, VP of Product, Shopback
Candice Ho, Group Head of Business Partnership & Initiative Management, Corporate & SME Banking, DBS
Jayce Tham, Co-Founder, CreativesAtWork and Dear.AI. (Moderator)
3.15pm : Sharing by DBS SME Banking
3.30pm - 5pm : ☕🥐Networking segment with light refreshment. Engage with the booth by Voltade alongside DBS Spark GenAI Advisory to discover practical AI use cases, explore productivity tools and learn how banking solutions can support their startup growth journey!
** Registration followed by a confirmation email is mandatory.
About ACE.SG
Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE.SG) is the national voice for Singapore’s startup ecosystem, serving as the key trade association representing the interests of local startups. ACE.SG is dedicated to building a vibrant and sustainable startup ecosystem in Singapore. We focus our work on three key priorities: Ecosystem Building, Global Connectivity, and Youth Entrepreneurship. Established in 2003 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, ACE.SG transitioned to a private sector-led, non-profit organisation in 2014. We are honoured to have Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), as our Patron. www.ace.sg
Introducing our Panellists and Moderator
Candice Ho is the Group Head of Business Partnership & Initiative Management, Corporate & SME Banking at DBS. In this role, she oversees strategic initiatives and forges key partnerships across industry and business associations to advance the bank’s offerings for corporate and SME clients.
Prior to this, Candice was the Head of SME Banking at DBS Singapore, and before that, has also led SME Banking at DBS Hong Kong. She joined DBS Hong Kong in 2010 to build the CASA liabilities business from the ground up across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, driving digital adoption and solutions for SME clients. Under her leadership, DBS has implemented digital solutions that streamline banking processes and accelerate business growth.
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Leonard Loo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Voltade, which helps businesses build and deploy agentic AI automations for WhatsApp and email. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, Leonard studied AI at Harvard and Business and Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Before founding Voltade, he was Head of Product at GovTech Singapore, where he founded form.gov.sg, go.gov.sg, and more than 20 digital products used by millions nationwide.
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Isaac Tay is a seasoned executive with an engineering background that has launched and scaled technology companies, specializing in digital products within e-commerce, logistics, and payment sectors across Asia Pacific markets. His expertise includes building high-performing teams across diverse functions and fostering an environment for individuals to work autonomously and excel.
Currently serving as VP of Product for ShopBack with responsibilities across Prodcut Management and Engineering. ShopBack is an online and offline deals discovery and rewards platform that operates in twelve markets. It is similar to Ibotta, Rakuten, and Honey from the USA. ShopBack has raised over $200 million from investors like Temasek and Westpac, powers over US$3.7 billion in annual sales for over 15,000 online and in-store merchant partners, and serves 38 million users.
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Jayce Tham, Co-Founder of CreativesAtWork and DEAR.AI. CreativesAtWork is a freelancer-led creative agency focused on storytelling, connecting businesses with curated creative talent across media and content production, while DEAR.AI explores human-led AI innovation and how AI can enhance the way we create, communicate, and work. My work sits at the intersection of creativity, media, and technology, helping businesses, creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and organisations leverage AI to create meaningful content, build future-ready capabilities, and unlock new opportunities in the evolving creative economy.
(Moderator)