Back for its 23rd year, professional services organisation Ernst & Young (EY) has announced the winners of the EY Entrepreneur of The Year (EOY) 2024 Singapore awards.
This year’s four category recipients were selected from a pool of over 80 nominations.
Who are this year’s EY EOY winners?
1. Edy Tan Wei Hock, CEO of Chye Thiam Maintenance (Environmental Services category)
As the CEO of Chye Thiam Maintenance, Edy Tan Wei Hock has transformed the homegrown brand from a local cleaning specialist in the 1980s to now one of the largest environmental services companies in Singapore.
Some of the company’s recent innovations include environmental robotics and analytics, as well as streamlined waste management solutions aimed at supporting a circular economy.
At the same time, the 50-year-old entrepreneur also shapes industry standards as VP of the Environmental Management Association of Singapore and a charter member of the Tripartite Cluster of Cleaners.
Besides these efforts, Edy is a board member of various charities and public committees, including Vice-Chairman of the Citizen’s Consultative Committee for Toa Payoh West-Thomson, Council Member of the Public Hygiene Council, and Advisory Committee member at imPAct@Hong Lim Green.
His dedication to public service was honoured with the Public Service Medal in 2018.
2. Samuel Yik, Managing Director of Dian Xiao Er Group (Food and Beverage category)
Transitioning from an audit career, Dian Xiao Er Group is Samuel Yik’s first dive into the F&B industry, and it’s become a leap of faith that paid off.
The casual Chinese restaurant opened in 2002 is now a renowned restaurant famed for its Herbal Roast Ducks, and boasts 16 outlets around Singapore. This dish is prepared fresh daily and uses top quality Cherry Valley ducks (or better known as Pekin ducks).
This success comes despite the numerous challenges Samuel faced, such as the SARS outbreak and bird flu.
According to EY’s press release, Samuel’s resilient entrepreneurial spirit was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when he managed to double the business’s revenue.
3. Anthony Chow, co-founder and CEO of igloocompany (Technology Solutions category)
The co-founder and CEO of igloocompany (igloo), Anthony’s foray into entrepreneurship is more unconventional than the others. He began by renting an Airbnb property where he lived and worked to test smart locks he was developing.
Nine years in, the business has expanded into numerous enterprise verticals and has made over 500,000 smart doors, as well as partnered with 2,000 businesses worldwide.
Speaking on the brand’s drive, Anthony stated, “True innovation at igloo stems from a deep-seated passion for driving the digital economy forward.” It’s also why they’re dedicated to creating a world without keys.
Outside of igloo, Anthony is committed to giving back and serves as an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore. He’s also part of the Milken Institute’s Young Leader Circle.
4. Zachary Wang, co-founder and CEO of Neuron Mobility (Mobility category)
A serial entrepreneur, Zachary is the co-founder and CEO of Neuron Mobility, an e-scooter and e-bike operator in Singapore.
Being a tech company, Zachary shared that innovation is in the brand’s DNA, which is why he’s prioritised creating a culture of creativity and learning, and embracing critical thinking.
His enthusiasm for building smart cities led him to collaborate with councils to solve problems such as congestion, emissions, and to safely extend the range of existing transport networks.
Aside from Neuron Mobility, the 39-year-old businessman founded Rezeca Renewables back in 2009. He’s also spent a couple years building hydrogen fuel cell electric cars while at university.
23 years of spotlighting local talents
Similar to previous years, the four winners were selected by an independent panel of judges based on four globally benchmarked criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose, and impact.
Based on its press release, the chairperson of the judging panel is Susan Chong, Founder and CEO of Greenphyto Pte. Ltd. She had previously served three times as a judge at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) award.
On this year’s winners, she stated that all four recipients epitomise the foresight, agility, and courage of leading entrepreneurs.
“Be it investing in technology and innovation to redefine established ways of operating to venturing into foreign markets beyond Singapore or carving a niche for themselves, these entrepreneurs have changed the face of their industries, created new consumer demands and uplifted quality of lives in communities.”
Out of the four, one of the winners will represent Singapore at the annual WEOY award in 2025. This winner will be announced at the EY EOY Awards Gala that’s being held on November 18, 2024.
Alongside these four recipients, two other honorary awards were conferred in partnership with Bank of Singapore.
Honorary award winners
1. Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (EY-Bank of Singapore Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence)
For context, this award is to recognise successful Southeast Asian businesses that contribute to the economy and community in the region.
As a second-generation entrepreneur, Lance grew JG Summit Holdings, Inc. to now possess a dynamic portfolio in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Its ventures span across various sectors like aviation, real estate, and telecommunications.
2. Tecity Group (EY-Bank of Singapore Family Enterprise Award of Excellence)
One of Asia’s most structured single family asset management office, Tecity Group is an investment management firm that provides competitive remuneration and global investment opportunities for business growth.
It’s now being helmed by the third generation and aims to keep the legacy of its founders alive through the group’s investment, public-listed, and philanthropic arms.
The goal of the EY EOY award programmes is to honour entrepreneurs who have created and sustained successful business ventures, as well as to coincide with the government’s focus on fostering entrepreneurship and grooming local entrepreneurs.
- Learn more about Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year programme here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.
Featured Image Credit: EY