Mediacorp launched a new initiative 'The Big Spark' yesterday, November 16 (Thursday), during the 2023 Singapore FinTech Festival, aiming to build a strong network amongst aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.
The Big Spark is set to start with an eight-part business reality show, which will be seen across CNA platforms on February 2024.
About the business reality show
With the aim to connect business aspirants to investors, The Big Spark plans to gather entrepreneurs from diverse sectors and industries across Southeast Asia, including FinTech; environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG); educational technology; artificial intelligence (AI); Software as a Service (SaaS) and health and wellness.
Our very own, theAsianparent CEO and Founder Roshni Mahtani Cheung, is one of the resident judges including Mr Lim Wai Mun, Founder and CEO of health and wellness company Doctor Anywhere. Some other guest judges will be coming from Zoom, UOB and Google Cloud companies.
As of recently, there are 24 start-up teams from the region that have been shortlisted to join the show after a call for applications last October. Through a series of challenges and master classes, the start-ups will pitch and test their best business ideas for over S$1 million in seed funding.
Mediacorp aims for innovation and entrepreneurship
In a bigger picture, Mediacorp's 'The Big Spark' aims to be an avenue to “cement Singapore’s position as a launchpad for innovation and entrepreneurship,” as explained by Mediacorp.
“In its capacity as Singapore’s national media network, Mediacorp will lend its wide reach and multiple platforms to support the region’s start-up culture, connecting key players across the ecosystem to nurture promising enterprise.”
Mediacorp also added that they hope the said business reality show will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries.
Parminder Singh, Mediacorp’s Chief Commercial and Digital Officer, said in a statement, "Even amidst the challenges of recent years, innovators in Southeast Asia have never stopped imagining the impossible."
“It is with this exciting prospect in mind that we conceived The Big Spark as a platform for them to connect with investors and raise the capital needed for their ideas to lift off."
Moreover, Jonathan Glazier, The Big Spark's Executive Producer and Director, shared that he was delighted to be asked to develop a business reality show with Mediacorp.
“'The Big Spark' is very much in the new breed of reality show. Rather than being about conflict and drama, it’s about supportive communities; a series for good, if you will," Jonathan added.