Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong firms lead 2026 Enterprise Awards
The annual awards, organised by The Business Times and OCBC, recognised nine companies for innovation and sustainable solutions, with nearly 40 per cent of 600 applications from outside Singapore.
Regional Innovation Recognised
Nine companies from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia received top honours at the 2026 Emerging Enterprise Awards on Monday (Oct 26). The Business Times and OCBC jointly organise these annual awards, now in their 19th year, to recognise young businesses demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and resilience.
Eligibility requires companies to be under 10 years old with an annual turnover up to S$20 million. This year saw close to 600 applications, with nearly 40 per cent originating from Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia, highlighting the awards' increasing regional appeal.
Emerging Enterprise Award Winners
Singapore-based Woosa Sleep and Hong Kong's MediConCen secured the Emerging Enterprise Award. Woosa Sleep specialises in sleep wellness, designing and manufacturing premium mattresses, smart storage bed frames, and lifestyle products for direct-to-consumer sales in tropical climates.
MediConCen develops artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to automate insurance claims, covering decisioning, real-time fraud detection, and workflow automation. The Hong Kong firm recently integrated a payment solution with Mastercard to streamline claims processing, enhancing efficiency for insurers.
Most Promising Start-up Awards
The Most Promising Start-up Award went to Hong Kong-headquartered Alpha AI Technology and Malaysia's Hyperscale DCS. Alpha AI provides AI-powered inspection and asset-monitoring services, serving property managers, government agencies, and utilities. The company is expanding its operations into South Korea and China's Greater Bay Area.
Hyperscale DCS focuses on data centre infrastructure, including power, cooling, and modular prefabricated systems. Its regional footprint extends to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom, showcasing its broad operational reach.
The awards showcase the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, particularly in technology-driven solutions. The strong regional participation, with almost 40 per cent of applications from outside Singapore, suggests a growing platform for cross-border business recognition and potential investment interest in these innovative firms.
For investors and regional businesses, these awards highlight companies like MediConCen and Alpha AI, which are scaling operations and integrating new technologies, potentially signalling future growth areas in fintech and AI-powered services across Asia.
This article is journalism, not investment advice; consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Market data is indicative, may be delayed, and should be verified with your broker or exchange before use.
Comments.
Comments are moderated. We remove what is unlawful, abusive or off-topic, and and you remain responsible for what you post.
Reader comments open soon. Until then, corrections and responses go to our newsroom, and we publish what we get wrong on Corrections.