The Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival (GIF) 2025 marked a major milestone this year, making its standalone debut under the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the Ngee Ann Kongsi Social Impact Hub. Held with the theme “The Power of Purpose in Ageing”, the festival drew over 700 participants and showcased regional innovation in eldercare, digital health, and inclusive design.
At the heart of the event was the Pitch for Good Grand Finals, a regional startup competition attracting entries from over 10 countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and France. Twelve finalists pitched solutions aimed at improving the lives of older adults, from AI-powered health tools to privacy-preserving fall detection systems.
Top honours went to SoundEye, which clinched the Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Prize of S$25,000 for its fall detection technology. Other winners included the Tzu Chi Humanistic Award (S$10,000), the Ngee Ann Kongsi Silver Prize (S$5,000), and the Special Mention Award (S$5,000), which were presented to Marymount Labs, Sentinan, and MIEA Health respectively, each securing cash prizes and opportunities for mentorship, testing, and further development.
Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education; and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration delivered the opening speech at SUSS’ Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival 2025
Festival-goers also enjoyed panel discussions, exhibitions, and even an intergenerational music performance using movement-based Soundbeam technology. Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS, highlighted the shift towards seeing ageing as a space for innovation, collaboration, and purpose rather than a societal burden.
Now in its third year, GIF has grown into a regional hub for changemakers co-creating solutions that support healthy ageing, digital inclusion, and community engagement. The festival continues to serve as a launchpad for meaningful collaborations and breakthroughs in the age-inclusive innovation space.
For more details on GIF 2025, visit SUSS’ official page.
Images: SUSS