A practical checklist for Singapore business owners deciding whether software they want to buy can be funded, and what to verify before spending anything. Everything here is drawn from Enterprise Singapore and MTI guidance, linked at the bottom.
Last verified: August 2026. Grant terms change, so treat the official pages as the authority before you apply.
The four schemes, in one line each
| Scheme | What it is for | Status |
|---|---|---|
| PSG — Productivity Solutions Grant | Pre-approved IT solutions and equipment that improve productivity | Open until EDGE launches |
| EDG — Enterprise Development Grant | Larger capability-building and transformation projects | Open until EDGE launches |
| MRA — Market Readiness Assistance | Expanding into overseas markets | Open until EDGE launches |
| EDGE | All of the above, consolidated. You apply by activity rather than picking a scheme | Launching 2H 2026 |
Anything already approved under PSG, EDG or MRA is honoured. A project in progress is not affected by the transition.
Step 1: Does your company qualify at all?
All of these must be true on the day you submit. If any one fails, stop here.
- Registered and operating in Singapore
- At least 30% local equity, traced through to the ultimate individual shareholders
- Group annual sales under S$100 million or group employment under 200 staff (either one qualifies)
- The solution will be used in Singapore, by the entity applying
- You have not paid, or placed a deposit with, the vendor
Not eligible regardless of the above: charities, Institutions of a Public Character, religious entities, voluntary welfare organisations, government agencies and their subsidiaries, and societies.
There is no minimum company size. A two-person business that meets the criteria qualifies.
Step 2: Can this specific software be funded?
This is where most assumptions break. PSG funds pre-scoped packages from pre-approved vendors, not software categories and not “AI tools” as a group.
- Is the exact product listed on GoBusiness Gov Assist? Check the official listing, not the vendor’s marketing page.
- Is the specific tier or bundle you want the approved one? Vendors often have only one approved package.
- Are you already using this tool, or a lower tier of it? If so, it will not be supported.
- Is the vendor itself pre-approved, not just the product category?
Commonly covered categories include accounting and ERP, HR and payroll, CRM and customer management, inventory and POS, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and sector-specific systems such as clinic, warehouse and F&B management. What these share is that they are systems a business runs on, rather than point tools one person uses occasionally.
Generally not covered: standalone AI chatbot subscriptions, image or video generators bought directly, and any tool with no approved package, however good it is.
Step 3: Check what you are actually claiming
- Only the purchase, lease or subscription cost of the approved package is supportable.
- Delivery, installation and administrative fees are excluded. Ask the vendor to itemise a bundled quote.
- PSG covers up to 50% of eligible cost, capped at S$30,000 per company per year, running 1 April to 31 March.
- Under EDGE that annual cap rises to S$100,000, and eligibility opens to non-SMEs.
Step 4: Prepare before you submit
- Confirm your Corppass access works. This is boring and it delays more applications than it should.
- Get a formal quotation from the approved vendor, addressed to your company. Not a screenshot of a pricing page.
- Have your latest financial statements ready.
- Write a short proposal covering the business impact you expect.
- Submit through the Business Grants Portal before any money changes hands.
Step 5: Know the timeline before you commit
- Submit via the Business Grants Portal
- Letter of Offer: budget around six weeks
- Deploy and use the solution: minimum 30-day usage period
- Submit your claim with invoices, proof of payment and serial numbers where relevant
- Disbursement: roughly 14 working days by PayNow Corporate, up to eight weeks by GIRO
Plan for three to four months end to end. There is also a one-year holding period from the date your final claim is approved, so choose something you intend to keep.
The five mistakes that cost people money
- Paying first. Any payment or deposit before submission disqualifies that purchase. Free trials are fine. A charged card is not.
- Claiming an upgrade. Running a tool on a starter plan, then claiming the business tier, does not work.
- Trusting the vendor’s badge. “PSG supported” in marketing may cover only one specific package.
- Assuming AI means eligible. The technology is irrelevant. The approved list is what counts.
- Picking a worse tool because it is funded. A 50% discount on software that does not fit your business is not a saving.
Read next
- Which AI tools actually qualify for the PSG grant — the eligibility question in depth
- The EDGE grant explained — what changes in 2H 2026, and whether to apply now or wait
- What it costs to start a business in Singapore — the wider budget picture
- Best AI tools for small businesses — work out what you want before checking funding
Official sources
- EnterpriseSG, Productivity Solutions Grant
- EnterpriseSG, PSG FAQ
- EnterpriseSG, Budget 2026 measures
- GoBusiness Gov Assist, approved solutions
This checklist is general information, not professional advice on your specific application. Confirm current terms on the official pages above, and treat the GoBusiness listing as the authority on whether a particular package qualifies.