Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before we speak. If your question isn't here, book a call — we'll answer it in 30 minutes.
General
Accelera is a Singapore-based corporate services group specialising in overseas expansion, growth financing, and M&A advisory across Southeast Asia. We provide six integrated service lines — grant advisory, entity set-up and hiring, loan and financing, insurance, fundraising, and distribution and partnerships — under one relationship.
Our clients are growth-stage SMEs — typically Singapore-based businesses looking to expand regionally, or foreign companies looking to enter Southeast Asia. We work across a range of sectors including F&B, manufacturing, technology, professional services, and trading.
We operate across Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. We have active subsidiaries in Thailand and Vietnam, and work with vetted partner networks in Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore is our headquarters and primary structuring hub.
No. You can engage us on a single service line or a combination — depending on where you are in your growth journey. Many clients start with grant advisory or entity set-up, then expand the relationship as their needs grow.
Law firms and accounting firms handle specific technical functions. Accelera sits above that — we are your strategic and commercial partner. We identify opportunities, coordinate execution across multiple disciplines, and manage outcomes. Where specialist legal or accounting input is needed, we coordinate it through our network.
Grant Advisory
We cover the main Singapore government grants for SME growth and overseas expansion — including the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG, up to 50%), Market Readiness Assistance (MRA, up to 70%, S$100K cap per market per year), the Market Immersion Initiative (MIE), and SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC, S$10,000 one-time credit). Eligibility and coverage depend on your business profile and objectives.
Eligibility depends on factors including your company's registration in Singapore, annual turnover, staffing levels, and the activity being funded. We assess your eligibility as part of our initial scoping — at no charge. We only proceed with an application if we believe it has a strong chance of approval.
Processing times vary by grant. MRA applications are typically processed within 4–6 weeks. EDG applications can take 6–12 weeks depending on complexity and the approving agency's queue. We manage the full process and keep you updated throughout.
In some cases, yes. SFEC can be stacked with qualifying EDG or MRA claims, effectively increasing your total supported amount. We assess stacking opportunities as part of every engagement to maximise total government support captured.
Entity Set-Up & Hiring
Timelines vary by market. Singapore is the fastest — a Pte Ltd can typically be incorporated in 1–3 business days. Malaysia takes 1–2 weeks. Thailand and Vietnam typically require 4–8 weeks due to regulatory approvals. Indonesia can take 6–12 weeks for a PT entity. We advise on the fastest and most appropriate structure for your goals.
Requirements vary. Singapore requires at least one locally resident director but no local shareholder. Thailand has foreign business restrictions that often require a Thai majority shareholder structure with appropriate protections. Vietnam and Indonesia have specific foreign ownership caps in certain sectors. We advise on the right structure and legal protections for each market.
Yes. We assist with employment structuring, work pass and visa applications, HR compliance, and payroll setup across all five markets. We can also advise on Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements as a lower-cost alternative to full entity setup where appropriate.
Loan & Financing
We cover working capital loans (up to S$5M), invoice financing (up to 80% of receivables), trade finance instruments including letters of credit and bank guarantees, and the government-supported SME Working Capital Loan (ESG) of up to S$500K. We match the right instrument to your specific cash flow need and business profile.
We act as an advisory and facilitation intermediary — we do not lend directly. We work with a network of banks, licensed financial institutions, and alternative lenders to identify the best fit for your requirements and manage the application process on your behalf.
Key factors include revenue track record (typically 2+ years of audited financials), profitability or clear path to profitability, quality of receivables or collateral, director credit standing, and the purpose of the loan. We help you prepare a credit package that presents your business in the strongest light before approaching lenders.
Fundraising
We work with businesses from Series A through to pre-IPO. The ideal engagement point is when you have a clear use of funds, a track record of revenue, and a defined growth plan. We can also assist at the pre-seed or seed stage for structured instruments such as convertible notes or venture debt.
Venture debt is a non-dilutive loan — typically S$500K to S$5M — provided to growth-stage companies alongside or between equity rounds. Unlike equity, it does not require you to give up ownership. It is typically used to extend runway, fund specific assets, or bridge to the next milestone without diluting existing shareholders.
Fundraising engagements are typically structured on a retainer plus success fee basis. The success fee is a percentage of capital raised, payable only on close — aligning our incentives directly to your outcome. Specific fee structures are agreed upfront and documented in an advisory mandate letter.
Distribution & Partnerships
Yes. We identify, vet, and introduce distribution partners in all five SEA markets. This allows you to test commercial traction before committing to the cost and complexity of a full entity. We also structure the distributor agreement to protect your brand, pricing, and IP.
A distributor buys or carries your product and sells it in-market — a purely commercial arrangement. A joint venture partner holds equity alongside you in a local entity — a deeper structural commitment with shared upside and risk. The right structure depends on your market strategy, risk appetite, and capital commitment. We advise on both and manage the structuring process.
Fees & Engagement
Fee structures vary by service line. Grant advisory and entity set-up are typically project-based or retainer-based. Financing facilitation and fundraising carry a milestone or success fee component. Distribution and partnership services are scoped and priced per engagement. All fees are agreed upfront — no surprises.
Yes. The initial 30-minute scoping call is complimentary and carries no obligation. We use it to understand your business and goals, and to identify which services are immediately relevant — including any grants you may already be eligible for.
We typically deliver an initial grant and financing scoping assessment within 48 hours of receiving your business profile. This includes applicable grants, estimated funding quantum, and recommended next steps — at no charge.
Yes. Many clients engage us on a monthly retainer for ongoing advisory — covering grant renewals, financing monitoring, regulatory compliance updates, and strategic guidance as they scale. Retainer arrangements are flexible and can be scaled up or down as your needs evolve.
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