Winter Cohort 2025 - Special Track

AI ACCELERATE

Build traction. Drive revenue. Unlock funding.

Building in AI is tough.
Scaling is tougher

That’s why we built AI Accelerate — a 10-week programme by BLOCK71 Singapore and Microsoft, supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG).

Here, you’ll:

- Refine your product with mentors who’ve done it before
- Get real investor feedback
- Plug into partners who can open doors

We’re here to help founders go from technical breakthroughs → real traction → funding-ready growth.

Why choose
AI Accelerate?

Tailored Support

Every startup has its own journey. We’ll work on what matters most to you — whether that’s product–market fit, localising for Asia, or speeding up your go-to-market.

Expert Mentorship

Work side-by-side with Microsoft specialists and BLOCK71 mentors who’ve scaled products and raised capital across the world.

Global Network

Tap into a connected community of founders, corporates, and investors across the BLOCK71 and Microsoft ecosystems.

Access to Funding

Selected startups will qualify for up to S$1.2 million Proof of Concept (PoC) and Proof of Value (PoV) grants through Startup SG, enabling pilot projects with enterprise clients across the BLOCK71 and Microsoft ecosystems.

Are you one of us?

To qualify for AI Accelerate 2026, your startup should check these boxes:

Post MVP, with traction to show

You’ve moved beyond the idea stage and already have users, pilots, or revenue.

B2B or scalable B2C

You’re building for markets that matter, not just a niche.

AI at the core

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a feature – your product runs on real AI use cases, built or in development.

Rooted in Asia, with global ambition

You already have a presence in Asia or are ready to incorporate in Singapore and use it as a launchpad.

Privately Held

We back startups, not consultancies, dev shops, or agencies.

Not in restricted sectors

This programme is not for educational institutions, government entities, personal blogs, crypto mining outfits, or similar organisations.

If this sounds like you, then you’re exactly the kind of founder we built AI Accelerate for.

Your Journey to Success

29 Sep 2025

Applications Open
Startups can apply for the Winter 2026 cohort.

October

Join us for our info sessions at our events and SWITCH.
Check out our Luma Page

7 November 2025

Last Day of Applications
Application window closes at 11:59pm SGT.

Mid December

Shortlisting & Selection
Startups are assessed on traction, product, and market readiness.

January 2026

Programme Begins
10-week sprint kicks off — packed with mentorship, workshops, and 1:1 clinics. Founders get co-working access and ecosystem perks and support at BLOCK71 Southeast Asian nodes during the programme

May 2026

Investor Day
Graduating startups pitch to a curated audience of venture capitalists and corporate partners.

Are you one of us?

To qualify for AI Accelerate 2026, your startup should check these boxes:

Alumni Spotlight

Meet the startups from past AI Accelerate cohorts

They didn’t just imagine the future of AI — they built it, and took it to market. AI Accelerate alumni have gone on to secure funding, land enterprise pilots, and scale across Asia.

Meet Our 2025 Cohort

Hear from our founders

“BLOCK71 provided deep insights into U.S. market dynamics and guided us in formulating a robust expansion strategy. ”

Tina Chopra

Founder &
CEO of Addlly AI

“Before AI Accelerate, we built cutting-edge AI but struggled to scale in a mature industrial market. The program helped us shift perspective where we created general-purpose AI agents that work across all machines and the entire supply chain. Helping us unlock new industries, reaching new customers, and driving real traction."

Kan Shyi-Herng

Founder & CEO of Helios Applied Systems

“The program connected us with fellow founders and the Microsoft team and gave us fresh insights, real support, and practical tools that will shape how SimpleAI grows.”

Bryan Sng

Co-Founder and COO of SimpleAI

FAQs

Do you cover flights, accommodation, or office space?

No flights or accommodation. But yes — you’ll have complimentary access to BLOCK71’s co-working space during the programme.

Is the program open to startups outside of Singapore?

Absolutely. We welcome founders from anywhere who are serious about expanding into Asia. While the programme can be joined remotely, showing up in Singapore at key moments can give you stronger outcomes.

When will I receive the outcome of my application?

We’ll inform all applicants by mid-December 2025.

If I am shortlisted for the program, do I automatically qualify for the funding?

Not straight away. Shortlisting brings you one step closer where your startup will still need to undergo a final evaluation panel to qualify for access to the funding. Selected startups may qualify for up to S$1.2 million in grant funding - S$400K PoC, with the opportunity to unlock a further S$800K PoV.

What impact will this program bring to participants?

Go-to-Market Acceleration
- Work with corporates and industry leaders
- Gain exposure through media and speaking opportunities
- Refine your product and business model
Advanced AI Product Development
- Hands-on workshops to strengthen your product
- Access to Microsoft’s on-demand learning courses
- 1:1 support from Microsoft AI specialists
Funding & Grants
- Investor networking and curated introductions
- Direct access to top-tier venture capital firms
- Partner perks to keep you moving fast
Strategic Partnerships
- Peer roundtables and founder-led discussions
- Curated business matchmaking with trusted partners

A Powerhouse Collaboration for Startups

Built by

BLOCK71 isn’t just another startup space. This is a launchpad for founders who dare to do things differently. Powered by NUS Enterprise and backed by industry and government partners, BLOCK71 connects you to the mentors, markets, and muscle to scale. Since 2011, more than 1,600 startups have taken off with us across Singapore, the US, China, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam - and we’re just getting started. Welcome to the Home of the Brave

Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Supported By

Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) is set up as the single interface of the Singapore government for the digital industry, since 2019. We lead the development of a thriving Infocomm and Media (I&C) industry by encouraging technology companies to create competitive products and services from Singapore, for Asia and beyond.

To cover the range of interests between local digital champions and global technology leaders, DISG is a joint office between the Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). This structure allows us to leverage the expertise, complementary networks, resources, and programmes across agencies to help tech companies on their journeys.