Tech@SG: How Zenyum and Padlet Secure Critical Global Tech Talent in Singapore

Singapore is committed to building a dynamic tech ecosystem where startups can grow and thrive. Talent is an important factor for success, and in the highly competitive tech segment, companies need all the support they can get to attract and recruit the right people. The good news is that Singapore is proactively addressing the tech crunch, building the local talent ecosystem through programmes such as the TechSkills Accelerator and SG:D Scholarships.

The city-state also recognises the need to support the acquisition of global specialised talent to complement the local workforce: this is where Tech@SG, a programme that helps companies secure employment passes (EPs) for critical talent comes in.

In a nutshell, the programme works by providing a company-level endorsement to the Ministry of Manpower, the government body in charge of approving EPs.  Since its introduction in 2020, multiple companies have benefited from the support that the programme provides.

Learn more about the Tech@SG programme here.

Zenyum built its diverse product team with the best talent from Singapore and around the world

Zenyum is disrupting the dental healthcare market with innovative tech-driven products like 3D-printed braces, facilitated with mobile app-based dental consultations.

German in background, Zenyum’s founder Julian Artopé started the company with the ambition of making cosmetic dentistry more accessible to people in Asia. Singapore was the perfect place to start up given its access to a diverse range of customers across Southeast Asia as well as its progressive regulatory climate that would help establish credibility for Zenyum’s processes and quality control.

As Zenyum grows at a faster pace than it expected, it requires advanced capabilities – and the accompanying right talent – to continue upgrading its products. Leveraging the Singapore talent base to lead Zenyum’s product team, the company has recruited specialised product managers from the rest of the world to support the growth of the product. Tech@SG will continue to be vital in bringing aboard the necessary capabilities in an expedited manner.

Padlet secures world-class tech talent with speed and certainty

Padlet is a US-headquartered real-time collaborative online platform and Software as a Service (SaaS) company that allows users to upload and share content on virtual bulletin boards called “padlets”. From text posts and photos to video clips and audio playlists, and even documents and spreadsheets, Padlet makes collaboration easy for school and work. Beyond the US, the company also set up its Singapore office with its engineering and member services teams.

“In Singapore, it is easy to set-up and scale operations, and connect with the world. It is also easier to navigate regulations compared to other tech nodes,” says Shu Yang Quek, Head of Padlet’s Singapore office. For Padlet, this is one of the key differentiating factors that sets Singapore apart from other tech nodes.

To meet its growth ambitions, Padlet needed to grow its engineering team. Given the tech talent crunch, the company refined its recruitment strategy with an effort to augment its local team with some of the world’s best software engineers. Many of these highly sought after talent are already attracted to Singapore for the reasons stated above, but they need better assurances that they can come to Singapore if they accept a role at Padlet’s Singapore office. By ensuring successful EP applications, Tech@SG provides Padlet with an edge amongst the global competition.

Talent is the most important resource for growth

As an attractive and dynamic global tech node, Singapore aims to create a conducive and welcoming environment – not just for tech businesses, but for the critical talent that will fuel growth for these businesses as well. Tech@SG is a reliable way for tech companies to recruit critical talent by offering them a guaranteed place in one of the top tech hubs of the world.

With the global demand for talent set to increase as the digital economy grows, Singapore’s holistic approach to developing the talent pool across both local pipelines as well as in supporting the acquisition of specialised overseas talent will ensure that the tech node remains dynamic and set for growth.