SOE Awards 2026 – A Night of Celebration and Impact

After months of preparation, from the food tasting sessions to the 2026 Awards Honourees briefing in August, the big night finally arrived. On 5 November 2026, Spirit of Enterprise (SOE) welcomed more than 500 guests to The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore for the SOE Awards 2026 Ceremony & Gala Dinner.

Entrepreneurs, business leaders, partners and supporters came together to recognise the determination and innovation of business owners whose journeys continue to shape Singapore’s entrepreneurial landscape. The evening centred on the people and stories behind each business, from the ideas that sparked their beginnings to the challenges they navigated along the way.

Recognising Excellence Across Eight Categories

This year, SOE recognised 59 honourees across eight award categories, from established enterprises and emerging start-ups to businesses championing sustainability and social impact. Their stories showed that enterprise takes many forms, with resilience and vision as common threads.

Alongside the honourees, two student award categories, the SOE-iFAST Best Student Interviewer Award and the SOE-iFAST Student Achievement Award, recognised eight students in total, four in each category.

This year also saw SOE introduce a new Social Impact & Entrepreneurship Recognition, created for entrepreneurs who use their businesses to make a positive difference to society, including social enterprises.

Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat on the Courage to Start

The evening was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development. In his address, he described the entrepreneurial spirit as a mindset that goes beyond starting a business, one that businesses, Government and the people sector all need. He pointed to this year’s theme, “Built Through Challenges, Defined by Character”, as a fitting reflection of that spirit.

Mr Chee shared the story of Mr Jason Lee of Scent by SIX, who began by creating a fragrance for his own wedding and went on to build a business that opened up a new business-to-business market. His journey shows that entrepreneurship does not require a full roadmap from the start, only the willingness to begin and the openness to adapt as opportunities appear. He also described entrepreneurs as multipliers, as a growing business creates opportunities for employees, customers, suppliers and investors, and paves the way for others to start their own ventures.

Mr Chee spoke about the Government’s work to keep rules in step with how businesses operate, through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Pro-Enterprise Rules Review, and encouraged experienced entrepreneurs to mentor and support young founders. He reminded honourees that the awards recognise what they have achieved so far, with plenty more still to do for their companies and for society. His message to aspiring entrepreneurs was to let the stories of the night inspire them to take the first step, and to keep going with resilience and a willingness to learn.

Honouring the Top Award Recipients of 2026

Five top awards were presented on the night, each reflecting a different dimension of entrepreneurship:

• Dato Elaine Teh Chooi Peng, Octopus (APAC) Holdings Limited – SOE-CLA Southeast Asia Entrepreneurship Award 2026
• Tay Tony, Willing Hearts CLG Ltd – SOE-EATZ Social Impact & Entrepreneurship Recognition 2026
• T Max, KGS Investments – SOE-Evorich Sustainability Award 2026
• Beatrice Liu, Oriental Remedies Group – SOE-Neo Top Start-up Honouree of the Year Award 2026
• Muhammad Hasan Basri Bin Abdul Rahman, Pondok Abang – SOE-PropNex Top Honouree of the Year Award 2026

Together, these recipients show the many ways entrepreneurs make an impact, from business leadership and innovation to sustainable practices and contributions to the community. Their achievements reflect the opportunities created and the positive difference made along the way, alongside commercial success.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

SOE also recognised the Student Interviewer Award recipients, acknowledging their curiosity and their commitment to learning directly from entrepreneurs. Through the Student Interviewer Programme (SIP), students gain first-hand perspectives on the realities of building and running a business, including the perseverance needed to turn ideas into reality.

By connecting young people with business owners, SIP encourages them to ask questions and to consider entrepreneurship as a path of their own.

The SOE Book: Stories That Travel Beyond the Night

Another significant moment of the gala was the launch of the SOE Book, SOE’s annual publication. This year’s edition, “Every Success Begins with the Courage to Start”, features the journeys, challenges, lessons and values of Honourees, alongside practical advice and case studies drawn from real entrepreneurial experience.

Copies go to schools and public libraries, as well as SOE events, bringing these stories into classrooms across Singapore. The initiative is led by Mr Alan Koh, SOE’s Book, PR & Media Outreach Chairman and founder of Impossible Marketing.

With Thanks to the People Behind the Night

The success of the SOE Awards is supported by the commitment of many individuals and partners. SOE extends its appreciation to the Board of Governors for their guidance and dedication in upholding the integrity and standing of the awards.

SOE also acknowledges the leadership of its President, Ms Novie Djayayanti, whose commitment continues to guide the organisation in its mission to recognise and inspire entrepreneurs. Sincere thanks go to the Guest-of-Honour, sponsors, partners, organising committee and supporters whose contributions made the 2026 celebration possible.

Carrying the Spirit of Enterprise Forward

The evening was a celebration of achievement and a reminder that every entrepreneurial journey begins with an idea and the courage to pursue it. The stories of this year’s honourees show the value of perseverance and adaptability, along with a willingness to make a difference.

SOE congratulates all 59 honourees and award recipients. May their journeys encourage others to pursue new possibilities and contribute to a thriving entrepreneurial community. The Spirit of Enterprise lives on, through every ambition pursued and every challenge overcome.

Annex: Full List of SOE 2026 Honourees

SOE-CLA Southeast Asia Entrepreneurship Award 2026

SOE-EATZ Social Impact & Entrepreneurship Recognition 2026

SOE Award 2026 (Established)

 SOE Start-up Award 2026

SOE Micro-business Award 2026

 SOE-PropNex Top Honouree of the Year Award 2026

SOE-Neo Top Start-up Honouree of the Year Award 2026

SOE-Evorich Sustainability Award 2026

 SOE-iFAST Best Student Interviewer Award 2026

 SOE-iFAST Student Achievement Award 2026

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ALAN KOH

Alan Koh is the Founder and CEO of Impossible Marketing, a group of companies renowned for hyperlocal marketing strategies tailored to businesses in Singapore. His professional journey began in the banking sector, where he quickly rose through the ranks, garnering eight industry awards in just four years.

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Impossible

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