Exploring a Smarter Path to Entrepreneurship: Reflections from Our Recent Prefounder Bootcamp
- elisetanyeeling
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Recently we had a overwhelmingly received ASN Prefounder Bootcamp on entrepreneurship through acquisition, thanks to the strong partnership with Gen Capital Partners - Eric Koh and Zachary Lee.
We express our deepest gratitude to our insightful speakers too, Weng Leong Kam, Hui Ling Ang, Mac Ng, Anthony Tse, Joe Low and Adrian Thoo.
I was genuinely impressed by the caliber of professionals at our bootcamp—from senior executives to seasoned operators across healthcare, financial services, and technology. These aren't just people exploring options; these are serious individuals with the skills and networks to successfully acquire and grow established businesses in Singapore. The ETA ecosystem here is more ready than most people realize.
Eric Koh, CEO and Cofounder of Gen Capital Partners
Not everyone dreams of building a startup from scratch. For many professionals in Singapore, the idea of acquiring and growing an existing business may feel more aligned with their experience, skils, and goals. That’s the beauty of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)—and it’s exactly what we’ve been unpacking in our Prefounder Bootcamps.
Since launching in August 2024, the Asia Startup Network’s Prefounder Bootcamp series has welcomed professionals who are curious about what it really takes to become a business owner.
Even though I come from venture capital and accelerators background, I disagree that trying to build a tech unicorn is for everyone - there is a fit in terms of the right type of entrepreneurship for each one of us.
From Elise Tan, founder of Asia Startup Network
Hence the goal of our bootcamp is to help guide our participants/ working professionals on the path they could take. And our bootcamp serves to create a space where people can learn, ask real questions, and hear from others who’ve successfully walked the path.
Our most recent session—focused on ETA—was developed in partnership with Gen Capital Partners, with generous knowledge-sharing from Eric Koh and Zachary Lee. Their candid stories about acquiring businesses, navigating seller relationships, and managing transitions gave participants a rare behind-the-scenes look at what ETA truly involves.
Some key themes emerged:
Cultural dynamics matter when negotiating with sellers in Asia.
Most successful acquisitions take months of relationship-building.
Having a clear risk management strategy can make or break a deal.
The importance of psychological readiness—not just financial readiness.
We were inspired by the questions and energy in the room. Many attendees were mid-career professionals seeking something more aligned with their values and lifestyle—something that allowed them to take ownership of their future without starting from zero.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether there’s another path to entrepreneurship—one that plays to your strengths and allows you to build on existing momentum—you’re not alone. These are the kinds of conversations we’re having at each Prefounder Bootcamp, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the community growing around this idea.
We’ll be hosting more sessions in the months ahead, digging deeper into ETA and other ways to step into entrepreneurship thoughtfully. If you're curious, feel free to follow along or drop us here a note here: https://forms.gle/P5KeyBxDaatq3ja26. No hard sell—just an open door.
"Entrepreneurship takes a village", and we are grateful for the partnership with ETA trailblazers, Eric and Zachary from Gen Capital. With the support of all the mentors and investors, and contributions from business owners and aspiring operators throughout the bootcamp, we believe that together we can catalyze entrepreneurship in a meaningful way that goes towards solving the issue of SME succession.
Andrew Tan, cofounder of Asia Startup Network
Entrepreneurship is a journey; it's about finding the right fit for you specifically. Programs like ASN's Prefounder Bootcamp explore alternative paths, condensing information to allow professionals to take ownership of their future through avenues like ETA.
Weng Leong Kam, CEO, Grof Services Pte Ltd
Comments