From start to scale.
The bank that grows with you.

My understanding of SMEs did not begin in a boardroom. It began at home.

Growing up, I spent much of my time in my father’s factory. He ran a business in the paper industry, and I had a front-row seat to the realities of entrepreneurship. I watched him build relationships with customers, look after his employees and make difficult decisions as the business environment change around him.

As technology evolved and markets shifted, the business he spent decades building faced new challenges. I saw firsthand how difficult it can be to adapt when the stakes are deeply personal.

Those experiences stayed with me. They taught me that behind every business is a person – someone who has invested years of hard work, taken risks and made sacrifices to build something meaningful. All while carrying the responsibility of supporting employees, serving customers and creating opportunities for others.

Today, I am often reminded of this when I meet business owners across Singapore.

We see the products we buy, the meals we enjoy and the services we rely on every day. What we do not always see are the businesses behind them. 

The neighbourhood salon that greets regulars by name. The suppliers behind your favourite café. The manufacturers producing essential components. The logistics company ensuring goods arrive where they need to be.

Many of them are SMEs.

Though they may be small in size, their impact is anything but.

Their contributions extend far beyond the business they run. They create jobs, strengthen communities and help power the industries and supply chains that underpin our economy.

Yet much of what they do happens behind the scenes.

The business landscape today looks very different from when my father was running his company.

Technology is reshaping industries. Customer expectations are evolving. New opportunities are emerging across the region. 

Yet one thing remains unchanged. Entrepreneurs continue to do what they have always done: adapt, innovate and find ways forward. 

In my conversations with business owners, I continue to be inspired by their determination to keep building. Not because the path is always straightforward, but because they believe in what they are creating and the future they are working towards. 

What I hear most often is not a lack of ambition. It is a desire to make the right decisions for their business, their employees and their future.

At DBS, we are privileged to be part of many of these journeys.

From our beginnings as the Development Bank of Singapore, we have supported generations of local businesses through different stages of growth, economic cycles and industry transformation.

What remains constant is the value of having trusted partners who understand both the opportunities and challenges that come with building a business. 

That is why our commitment remains unchanged. We are here to support businesses at every stage of growth, from start to scale.

Beyond banking, we want to equip businesses with the knowledge, networks and confidence they need to size opportunities and build for the future.

When I think back to the time I spent at my father’s business, I am reminded that every enterprise, no matter its size, begins with someone willing to take a chance on an idea and work tirelessly to make it succeed.

That same spirit continues to define Singapore’s SMEs today.

The future will undoubtedly bring new challenges, new technologies and new opportunities. But if there is one thing I have learned from the founders I have met, it is that businesses that continue to adapt will always find new ways to grow.

At DBS, we look forward to supporting that journey.

Because while SMEs may be small in size, their impact reaches far beyond their footprint. They are the businesses behind the everyday, and they will continue to play an important role in shaping Singapore’s future.

Small business. Extraordinary impact. 

Discover the stories behind the businesses that power our everyday — and see how SMEs are growing with DBS