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EY has named four entrepreneurs as category winners for the annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Singapore awards. 

In its 23rd run since it began in 2002, this year’s awards features winners from a mix of “traditional industries as well as new sectors that emerged with the rise of the digital and sharing economy”, said Susan Chong, founder and chief executive of local vertical farm Greenphyto. Chong is chairing this year’s judging panel and was EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014. 

The year’s category winners are:

• Edy Tan Wei Hock, chief executive officer of Chye Thiam Maintenance – winner in the environmental services category

• Samuel Yik, managing director of Dian Xiao Er Group – winner in the food and beverage category

• Anthony Chow, chief executive officer and co-founder of igloocompany – winner in the technology solutions category

• Zachary Wang, chief executive officer and co-founder of Neuron Mobility – winner in the mobility category 

EY said on Monday (Sep 9) that the winners were selected from a pool of more than 80 candidates by an independent judging panel, based on four globally benchmarked criteria of entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose and impact. 

One of the four winners will be crowned EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2024 Singapore and will represent Singapore at the annual EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2025, a global competition for entrepreneurs, to compete against contenders from over 60 countries and jurisdictions. 

Singapore’s representative will be announced at the EY EOY Awards Gala held on Nov 18, which will be attended by guest of honour Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law.

Greenphyto’s Chong, who has also served as a judge in three previous editions of the awards, lauded this year’s winners for epitomising “the foresight, agility and courage of leading entrepreneurs”. 

“Be it investing in technology and innovation to redefine established ways of operating to venturing into foreign markets beyond Singapore or carving a niche for themselves, these entrepreneurs have changed the face of their industries, created new consumer demands and uplifted quality of lives in communities,” she said. 

Liew Nam Soon, EY Asean regional managing partner and Singapore and Brunei managing partner, said this edition’s winners embody the year’s theme of “The Art of Entrepreneurship” through how they have impacted the communities they serve and stand as inspiring models for fostering a “strong entrepreneurial spirit” in Singapore. 

Two other honorary awards will be conferred for Asean entrepreneurial excellence and family enterprise excellence. 

Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive of JG Summit Holdings Inc – a conglomerate with a portfolio spanning food and retail, aviation, real estate, energy, financial services and telecommunications sectors – is the winner of this year’s EY-Bank of Singapore Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award. 

The award recognises successful South-east Asian businesses that contribute to the region’s economy and community. Its recipient does not compete for the EOY Singapore 2024 title. 

Tecity Group has also been named recipient of the EY-Bank of Singapore Family Enterprise Award of Excellence, which recognises family enterprises that have made significant socio-economic contributions and demonstrated the ability to harmonise between business and family matters. 

Founded by the late banker and philanthropist Tan Chin Tuan, the group comprises an investment arm, The Tecity Family Office; a public-listed arm, Straits Trading Company Limited; and a philanthropic arm, The Tan Chin Tuan Foundation. 

It was jointly selected by knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University and the Insead Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.