Check in from Singapore

Delivered May 17, 2025 @ 8:10pm ET

Weather in Singapore - Sunny, 28⁰ C / 83⁰ F

Table of Contents

• Doriot® product innovations

• Check in from Singapore

My name is Gerry Hays, and for lack of a better description, I’m the custodian and convener of Doriot® (pronounced “Doe-ree-oh”), a movement to break open the gates of venture and expand innovation and wealth beyond an elite few.

Democratize Venture is my platform to explore the venture markets and share the insights, strategies, and frameworks I bring into the classroom. It’s where education meets execution—for anyone ready to play the startup game.

Doriot® product innovations

VentureStaking™ - a zero-to-one innovation in venture investing — designed to put the smallest investors on the same playing field as the largest. More people are VentureStaking™ every day!

FantasyStartup® - #1 global startup investing simulation with more than 14,000 downloads worldwide. Learn how the power law of venture works.

QAI - Qualified Accredited Investor™ - An exam and certification program for anyone serious about launching a venture-backed company or investing in high-growth startups. QAI teaches you what top VCs know about how the game is played — from term sheets to founder psychology. Since launching in 2023, more than 350 individuals have been certified worldwide.

Check in from Singapore

Hey everyone! I’m currently leading 26 Indiana University business students on a two-week journey through Singapore, where we’re meeting with venture capitalists, startup accelerators, and entrepreneurs. That means this week’s update is a bit delayed—and a little shorter than usual—but I wanted to take a moment to share some fascinating historical context that helps explain why Singapore is such a compelling place for innovation and business.

To understand Singapore, you have to understand its history. Originally colonized by the Dutch, Singapore was ceded to the British Empire in 1824. During British rule, it became a vital trading port for East Asia. The British held onto Singapore until after World War II, when the island began exploring a merger with Malaysia.

However, the merger was short-lived. The cultural blend on the island—Chinese, Indian, and Malay communities that had developed their own distinct Peranakan identity—clashed with the political structure of Malaysia. The result? Malaysia expelled Singapore in 1965.

At that time, Singapore was a small island nation with no natural resources, a limited economy based mainly on import/export, and no military. But it had something extraordinary: a leader with vision. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister, believed Singapore could be more than a vulnerable port city. He envisioned a clean, safe, efficient, and prosperous nation governed by meritocracy, rule of law, and zero tolerance for corruption.

Under his leadership, Singapore transformed rapidly. Through bold policies on education, infrastructure, housing, and foreign investment, Singapore emerged as one of the world’s most competitive economies. Today, it boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita globally, is a major financial hub, and consistently ranks among the top countries in ease of doing business and innovation.

Lee Kuan Yew once said, “I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.” That pragmatism, paired with an unwavering long-term vision, laid the foundation for the Singapore we see today—small in size but immense in global stature.

In short, Singapore is perhaps the greatest startup in the history of the world, proving that imagination, vision, and focus are the underpinnings of success.

Next week, I’ll share some insights from local speakers and presenters about what makes Singapore's innovation ecosystem so unique—and what lessons we’re taking back home.

Wishing you a focused and fulfilling weekend,
– Gerry ([email protected])