Products and services which emerged winners at the Mapletree-SCCCI River Hongbao Hackathon – themed “Together, United, Inclusive” – will be sold at the upcoming River Hongbao 2024 event.

SINGAPORE – In celebration of Chinese New Year, visitors to the River Hongbao 2024 (RHB) at Gardens by the Bay will be able to check out and buy inventive culturally-inclusive offerings from youths who won the entrepreneurship competition today. RHBHacks is sponsored by Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd (“Mapletree”) and is supported by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Hosted at Mapletree Business City, RHBHacks 2024 gathered youths with a strong entrepreneurial mindset from various tertiary institutions to compete and pitch their business proposals to a panel of judges. Inaugurated in 2019, each of the top four winning teams was awarded S$2,000 prize money, S$5,000 seed money and the opportunity to set up a stall at RHB. The most innovative and best pitch teams also won $500 in prize money.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Mapletree Chairman said: “Mapletree continues to support RHBHacks each year because it is a platform for budding entrepreneurs to channel their passion into creating innovative and socially responsible solutions. Winning teams also have the unique opportunity to put their ideas to the test at RHB Carnival. We hope this will spur them in their entrepreneurship journeys.”

Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, graced the event at the Mapletree Business City as Guest-of-Honour. Ms Gan said: “Our pioneers’ spirit of unity and mutual support, as well as virtues of perseverance and resilience have made Singapore what it is today. These are values that have helped us overcome difficult times, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. I am encouraged to see that our youth participants have embraced the challenge to think creatively, foster innovation and exemplify inclusivity in social entrepreneurship.”

The hackathon attracted 38 business proposals submitted by teams comprising two to five members, from a total of 8 local and private tertiary institutions. The participating youths ranged in age from 18 to 29.

The theme this year – ‘Together, United, Inclusive’ aims to commemorate Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birth anniversary in 2023. Mr Lee was a staunch advocate for bilingualism and multiculturalism.

RHBHacks offers a unique platform for young entrepreneurs to experiment with how a product or service can incorporate the themes of unity and inclusivity.

The youths first attended a virtual retail workshop, where a retail expert from Mapletree shared marketing basics as well as some quick tips. During the session, a representative from Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry taught students how to craft an effective pitch deck and deliver a compelling pitch.

After refining their business ideas and sending in their proposals, 12 teams were shortlisted to take part in today’s hackathon.

The winning teams will be amongst the many stalls (including food, retail and games) set up at RHB, which runs from 8 February to 17 February 2024. The team with the highest profit earned at the end of RHB will receive another $300.

The teams will contribute 70 percent of their earnings to an IPC-registered charity of their choice, aligned to Mapletree’s CSR pillars.

Please refer to Annex A for list of winners.

Photos: 

Speech by Guest-of-Honour, Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower

Welcome address by Mr Cheah Kim Teck, Mapletree Board Member and Chairman of Audit and Risk Committee

Team Henosis receiving the Best Pitch Award from Mr Pok Cheng Chong, Deputy Secretary-General of SFCCA (Left) and Mr Lim Hock Yu, Secretary-General of SCCCI (Right)

 Team Ateteen receiving one of the Top 4 Finalists Award from Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower

Team High5 receiving one of the Top 4 Finalists Award from Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower

 Team TeePee receiving one of the Top 4 Finalists Award and Most Innovative Award from Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower

 Group photo of shortlisted RHBHacks 2024 teams, judges and guests at Mapletree Business City

 Group Photo of the Top 4 Finalists for RHBHacks 2024

Group photo of Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree, representatives from SFCCA and SCCCI, and RHBHacks 2024 Judging Panel