Stellarate 3.0 is the latest iteration of Stellar Lifestyle’s retail and ad-tech accelerator programme.
This year, it’s returning with a vengeance, armed with bigger ambitions, deeper partnerships, and a sharper focus on tech that tangibly transforms how we shop, dine, and engage with brands on the move.
Tony Heng, President of Stellar Lifestyle, said, “Stellarate 3.0 reflects our unwavering commitment to shaping the future of transit retail and supporting SMEs through open innovation. By co-creating with start-ups, tech enablers, and forward-thinking brands, we are not only enhancing commuter experiences but also unlocking new value across the retail and media ecosystems. These collaborations bring to life real-world solutions with scalable potential, both in Singapore and regionally. Through Stellarate 3.0, we empower SMEs to grow and innovate, unlocking new opportunities, fuelling economic vibrancy, and reshaping the business landscape.”
The brief this year is clear: practical, scalable solutions that use tech to elevate retail and advertising in real time. Examples are systems that read Out-of-Home (OOH) ad performance and translate clicks into conversions, or platforms that harness hyper-local data to help merchants fine-tune offers based on foot traffic patterns, time of day, and commuter moods. Imagine walking past a bubble tea stall at 5.30pm and receiving a flash promo, tailored not just to your timing, but your order history.
There’s also a call for automation tools to help retail and F&B outlets go manpower-lite and for ideas that encourage deeper commuter interaction with transit retailers.
Yes, there’s a S$130,000 grant pool. Yes, there’s the prospect of piloting your idea in some of the busiest MRT stations in the region. But Stellarate 3.0 offers much more than that.
This year, Stellar Lifestyle has partnered with Enterprise Singapore (ESG) to drive innovation in productivity and automation, particularly for F&B and retail. There’s also UOB, stepping in to offer waived fees, tailored business financing, and up to S$10,000 worth of credits for digital transformation tools through its BizSmart suite.
And for start-ups hoping to go international? Enter JRE Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japan Rail East. Not only do winners get access to Singapore’s bustling transit retail network, they also stand a shot at entering Japan’s railway retail ecosystem, one of the most innovative and profitable in the world.
To nurture the minds behind the machines, Stellarate is teaming up with Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE). Successful applicants gain access to incubation space and mentorship under SMU’s prestigious Business Innovations Generator (BIG) programme, an incubator that’s helped over 560 start-ups raise a collective S$740 million.
Professor Lim Sun Sun, SMU’s Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement, called it “a partnership that will redefine the future of urban mobility and retail experiences for Singapore and beyond.”
How to Apply
Applications for Stellarate 3.0 are open from 26 May to 30 June 2025 at stellarlifestyle.com.sg/stellarate. Start-ups need to have a minimum gross turnover of S$120,000 (as of 2024) and at least S$50,000 in paid-up capital.
A submission fee of S$109 applies, but that’s fully refunded to winning teams.
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