About the Kickstart Fund
Introduced in 2015 by The Sandbox, the Kickstart Fund is dedicated to nurturing a spirit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) in NP students.
Whether it is a passion project or a viable business solution, students are given the opportunity to ideate, experiment, and prototype their ideas. With funding and business guidance from TSB mentors, students learn how to become dynamic, driven, visionary entrepreneurs. Many of the students who came through the Kickstart Fund have gone on to run commercially successful businesses - some based on the ideas they had in school!
If you have an interesting idea that you want to turn into reality, talk to a TSB mentor today!
All current full-time NP students are welcome to apply. Applications can be submitted at any time of the year. The maximum amount funded per project proposal is $5,000 or 90% of the project cost, whichever is lower.
What We Fund
1. Pitching and Prototyping
Posters, equipment, tools, software, printing and professional services necessary for prototype development.
2. Marketing and Publicity
Collaterals, websites, social media and other kinds of digital marketing services.
3. Business Operations
Outsourcing of services and labour costs.
4. Administration
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) registration and other administrative fees.
To qualify for funding, students must not receive other NP funding for the same project.
Application Process
1. Proposal
*It is highly recommended that you talk to a TSB mentor before you submit your proposal. Click here to make an appointment.
Once you are ready to submit your application, please email to asktsb@np.edu.sg.
2. Evaluation
Your application is evaluated based on 3 key criteria:
- Does the team have the ability to implement and complete the project?
- Is the idea different from what has already been funded? Is it innovative enough?
- Will this idea be important and valuable to industry/society/consumers?
If your project is commercially viable, 2 more criteria will be considered:
- What is the commercial potential for this project?
- Will there be a sustainable/ feasible/viable revenue stream?
3. Progress
Your project team will need to regularly update your TSB mentor at pre-determined milestone checkpoints.
4. Closure
Students will need to provide a one-page closing report [available on the Kickstart Fund portal] once the project is completed.