Grant Funding — Max Claim for SOQ
Maximum EDG claim strategy for SOQ International Academy (PEI UEN 201723514D) — net cost, qualifying costs, timing, and board checklist for Plan SOQ-25K.
Max claim for SOQ
Target: halve the TMS build cost through EDG — ~US$12,500 net on the US$25,000 Plan SOQ-25K package (indicative, subject to EnterpriseSG approval).
SOQ is a PEI / ATP (beauty, digital, WSQ at International Plaza) — not a generic SME software buyer. The custom TMS build qualifies under EDG Innovation & Productivity, not PSG (off-the-shelf only). WSQ trainee subsidies and SkillsFuture Credit are operating revenue — they do not pay vendor fees.
Indicative only. Grant approval, support %, and qualifying cost lines are decided by EnterpriseSG via Business Grants Portal (BGP). AIEE.DEV provides application documentation — not approval guarantees.
Board decision tree — max claim path (5 bullets)
- Confirm SOQ entity — SOQ International Academy Pte. Ltd. (UEN 201723514D) registered in SG, >=30% local shareholding, financially viable for the project.
- Apply EDG on BGP before any vendor payment — project must not have commenced; no signed AIEE.DEV contract, no prototype invoice (2.1 Payment, 5.1 G1 timing).
- Target 50% EDG on qualifying costs — full US$25,000 implementation fee is the primary claim line -> ~US$12,500 net to SOQ (SME rate; ~30% if classified non-SME).
- Do not pursue PSG for this build — PSG covers pre-approved off-the-shelf packages only; a bespoke Admin + Student + Trainer + SWDA Hub stack is EDG territory.
- Optional WDG(JR+) for workforce change — separate BGP track via pre-approved consultant; nett-fee model (SOQ pays co-fund only; grant paid to consultant on milestones). Does not replace EDG for the software build.
1. Best grant path for SOQ (PEI / training business)
| Priority | Scheme | Max support (SME) | Fits Plan SOQ-25K TMS build? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Primary | Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) | Up to 50% qualifying costs | Yes — custom software + consultancy + transformation |
| 2 — Complement | WDG (Job Redesign+) under EWTP | Up to 70%, cap S$150k | Partial — workforce consultancy + capability + workforce tech (bundled; pre-approved consultant) |
| 3 — Top-up | SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) | S$10k wallet (Mar 2026 redesign) | Supplementary — internal upskilling, not vendor fee substitute |
| 4 — Watch | EDGE grant (expected 2H 2026) | ~S$100k/yr standard | Apply under EDG now if project starts 2026 |
| Not suitable | Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) | Up to 50%, ~S$30k cap | No — off-the-shelf directory only |
| Not applicable | WSQ subsidies / SFC / ATP approval | Trainee course funding | No — SOQ earns these when delivering courses; does not fund IT capex |
Frame the EDG project as: Digital transformation of SOQ training operations — integrated TMS with SWDA and Xero (Innovation & Productivity pillar). Not a "SWDA grant application."
SWDA glossary: 1.1 Overview — agency vs trainee funding vs capital grant.
2. Maximum claim scenario — Plan SOQ-25K
Active offer: Plan SOQ-25K = US$25,000 (~S$32,500 at ~1.30) all-in - 28 days - 100% source.
| Line | Gross (USD) | Gross (SGD ~) | Indicative EDG 50% | Indicative net to SOQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIEE.DEV implementation (full package) | 25,000 | ~32,500 | ~12,500 / ~16,250 | ~12,500 / ~16,250 |
| AWS hosting Year 1 (pass-through) | — | ~18,000 | Partial / lower % — confirm in proposal | Client-borne |
| SOQ internal PM (optional) | — | ~25,000–40,000 | Partial — capped internal manpower | Adds to qualifying base if approved |
| Scenario | SOQ pays (indicative) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No grant | US$25,000 | Fastest start — kickoff + prototype invoice per 5.1 |
| EDG 50% approved (max claim) | ~US$12,500 | Primary target — reimbursement after deliverables |
| EDG 50% + SFEC upskilling | ~US$12,500 + SFEC offset | SFEC for admin/trainer training — not AIEE.DEV fee |
Caveats (read before budgeting net cost):
| # | Caveat |
|---|---|
| 1 | Support level is up to 50% — EnterpriseSG assesses per project; non-SME ~30% |
| 2 | No fixed dollar cap on EDG — but each line must be qualifying and evidenced |
| 3 | EDG is reimbursement — SOQ funds milestones first, claims after LoO deliverables |
| 4 | 8–12 weeks BGP processing — plan calendar before G1 prototype invoice if grant-first |
| 5 | Claims must reach EnterpriseSG within 6 months of project qualifying period end |
| 6 | Pre-qualified auditor required at claim stage |
HK Attachment A baseline (S$250,000) is historical context only — max-claim math above uses the active Plan SOQ-25K offer.
stacked · interactive chart
gauge · interactive chart
50%
Of qualifying costs
3. Qualifying vs non-qualifying — this CRD project
Qualifying (claim toward max EDG)
| Cost item | Plan SOQ-25K | EDG bucket | Claim? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIEE.DEV fixed fee — discovery, design, build, SWDA Hub, Xero, handoff | US$25,000 | Third-party consultancy / solution vendor | Yes — primary line |
| Phased fee breakdown (Prototype / FE / BE / Handoff) | Per 2.1 schedule | Consultancy milestones | Yes — align to LoO claim schedule |
| Technical architecture + integration design | Included | Innovation & productivity evidence | Yes |
| SOQ staff time on project (PM, UAT lead) | Optional | Internal manpower (capped) | Partial — job description + timesheets |
| Project-specific cloud infra (if in scope) | Pass-through AWS | Software & equipment | Partial — confirm % with EnterpriseSG |
Non-qualifying (do not put in EDG cost schedule)
| Cost item | Why excluded |
|---|---|
| PSG pre-approved SaaS (DSMR, generic LMS) | Wrong scheme — and SOQ is building custom |
| General operating expenses | Rent, utilities, business-as-usual admin |
| Marketing collaterals / website content | Not transformation project costs |
| Standalone implementation without transformation narrative | Must tie to business outcomes |
| WSQ trainee subsidies / SFC claims | Course delivery revenue — not vendor payment |
| Post-retention ongoing support beyond LoO period | Outside approved qualifying period |
| GST | Typically excluded from grant base — confirm with finance |
Outcomes to quantify in application: use KPIs from 4.12 Business benefits — admissions admin hours, attendance cycle effort, finance re-entry, on-time SWDA evidence, single student/course/order record.
4. Pre-payment checklist — apply before prototype invoice
Hard rule: EnterpriseSG requires the project to be new, not commenced, not generating revenue at application. First paid invoice = Day 7 prototype (US$7,500) — see 2.1 and 5.1 G1.
| # | Check | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACRA bizfile <=6 months - confirm >=30% local shareholding | SOQ co.sec | ☐ |
| 2 | Audited FS or certified management accounts (last FY) | SOQ finance | ☐ |
| 3 | CorpPass access to BGP | SOQ authorised officer | ☐ |
| 4 | EDG project proposal — transformation narrative + KPIs | SOQ + AIEE.DEV | ☐ |
| 5 | AIEE.DEV phased quotation (USD/SGD) mapped to milestones | AIEE.DEV (Pei Han / HK) | ☐ |
| 6 | Technical scope summary + architecture one-pager | AIEE.DEV (HK) | ☐ |
| 7 | No signed AIEE.DEV contract until LoO accepted (if grant-first) | SOQ board | ☐ |
| 8 | No prototype / kickoff payment until LoO accepted (if grant-first) | SOQ finance | ☐ |
| 9 | Submit EDG on BGP | SOQ (CorpPass) | ☐ |
| 10 | Accept Letter of Offer (LoO) — then kickoff + G1 invoice | SOQ board | ☐ |
Grant-first vs build-first:
| Path | When to start build | Cash flow |
|---|---|---|
| Grant-first (max claim) | After LoO (~8–12 wks) | Lower net cost; delayed start |
| Build-first | Immediate kickoff - Day 7 invoice | Full US$25k; EDG likely ineligible if applied after payment |
5. WDG(JR+) nett-fee model — optional complement
Not a substitute for EDG on the AIEE.DEV build. Use for workforce transformation around the new TMS — admissions redesign, trainer rostering, admin role changes.
| Component | Cap | SME support | SOQ relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce consultancy | S$50,000 | Up to 70% | Process redesign — enrolment-to-claim workflows |
| Capability building | S$60,000 | Up to 70% | Train admin / trainers on new portals |
| Workforce tech solutions | S$90,000 | Up to 70% | HR analytics, skills tools — not full custom TMS |
Nett-fee model (cash-flow advantage vs EDG reimbursement):
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | SOQ engages pre-approved WDG(JR+) consultant |
| 2 | Proposal itemises total fee - government portion - client co-fund |
| 3 | SOQ pays co-fund only to consultant |
| 4 | Anchor Programme Partner pays grant portion to consultant on approved milestones |
| 5 | Accept LoO before work starts — same commencement rule as EDG |
Example (illustrative): S$50,000 consultancy - 70% SME -> SOQ pays ~S$15,000 co-fund; grant ~S$35,000 to consultant on milestones.
Stacking: Run EDG for AIEE.DEV build + WDG JR+ for change as aligned but separate BGP applications — confirm stacking rules with EnterpriseSG/WSG at application time.
6. Timeline — apply, build, claim
| Phase | Timing | Action | Documents from AIEE.DEV |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0 — Eligibility | Week 1 | Confirm shareholding, financials, BGP access | — |
| T1 — Grant pack | Week 1–2 | Discovery workshop - scope + KPI baseline | Scope doc - phased quotation - architecture summary - milestone map |
| T2 — EDG application | Week 2–3 | SOQ submits on BGP (before contract/payment) | All T1 deliverables + consultant/vendor details |
| T3 — Approval | Week 3–15 (~8–12 wks) | EnterpriseSG evaluation - clarifications | Respond to scope queries as needed |
| T4 — LoO + kickoff | Upon approval | Accept LoO - sign contract - Day 0 kickoff | Updated milestone plan aligned to LoO |
| T5 — Delivery | Days 1–28 + Month 3 retention | Build per 5.1 | Invoices - deliverable sign-off - UAT records |
| T6 — EDG claim | After LoO deliverables achieved | Submit on BGP - appoint pre-qualified auditor | Final invoices - bank statements - completion report |
Payment vs claim alignment (2.1 milestones):
| Gate | Day | Invoice (USD) | EDG claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickoff | 0 | 0% | Project start post-LoO |
| G1 Prototype | 7 | 7,500 | Qualifying cost — retain invoice |
| G2 Frontend | 14 | 6,250 | Qualifying cost |
| G3 Backend | 21 | 6,250 | Qualifying cost |
| G4 Handoff | 28 | 3,750 | Qualifying cost |
| G5 Retention | Month 3 | 2,500 | Confirm qualifying period covers retention |
7. What SOQ must NOT claim
| Do not claim | Reason |
|---|---|
| PSG for custom TMS | Off-the-shelf directory only — wrong instrument |
| WSQ / SFC / trainee subsidies | Operating revenue when delivering courses |
| "SWDA grant" for vendor fees | SWDA governs course delivery; EDG governs business transformation |
| Generic IT refresh without KPIs | EDG requires transformation outcomes |
| Costs incurred before LoO | Pre-commencement spend typically excluded |
| Care / ongoing retainer (post-project) | Outside approved qualifying period |
8. AIEE.DEV grant pack (pre-contract)
| Deliverable | EDG use |
|---|---|
| Scope & outcomes document | Project narrative |
| Phased fee breakdown (USD + SGD) | Qualifying cost schedule |
| Milestone plan ↔ LoO claim dates | Reimbursement schedule |
| Technical architecture summary | Innovation & productivity evidence |
| KPI baseline (current vs target) | 4.12 Business benefits metrics |
Contacts: Pei Han (CCO) — commercial - HK (CSO) — technical appendices
9. SOQ action items
| # | Action | Owner | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Board decision: grant-first vs build-first | SOQ leadership | Before kickoff |
| 2 | Confirm entity eligibility on BGP | SOQ finance / co.sec | Week 1 |
| 3 | Discovery + EDG-ready pack with AIEE.DEV | SOQ ops + AIEE.DEV | Week 1–2 |
| 4 | Submit EDG (before contract or Day 7 invoice) | SOQ via CorpPass | Week 2–3 |
| 5 | Accept LoO -> sign -> kickoff -> claim on completion | SOQ board + finance | Post-approval |
| 6 | Optional: parallel WDG JR+ for workforce change | SOQ + pre-approved consultant | Separate track |
10. Official references
Related sections
| # | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2.1 Plan SOQ-25K pricing — gross fee - net after EDG - payment gates |
| 2 | 5.1 Project control plan — G1 invoice timing vs grant commencement |
| 3 | 4.12 Business benefits — KPIs for EDG outcomes |
| 4 | 4.1 Attachment A — historical S$250k baseline |