Applications are open for SMU's 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) until 30 April 2025. The previous edition in 2023 saw participation from over 1,000 entries from 1,100 universities from 77 countries, with 53 university start-ups gathering in Singapore for the final rounds of the competition. Since 2017, finalists at the LKYGBPC have raised over USD 1 billion. The LKYGBPC offers close to US$2 million in prizes, and this year's edition will run between 29 September 2025 and 2 October 2025. SMU Institute of Innovation of Entrepreneurship Director Hau Koh Foo highlighted SMU's focus on holistic innovation and praised the bold visions of its student start-up founders, comparing their grit to Lee Kuan Yew's. He emphasised the LKYGBPC as a global stage for their future plans and SMU's dedication to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem for its students.
