SINGAPORE: Brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance has named the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) as Singapore’s most valuable brand for the 14th consecutive year in its Singapore 100 2026 report. Changi Airport, meanwhile, was named the strongest brand for the year.

Changi Airport achieved a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 91.2 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating, the highest accolade for brand strength awarded by Brand Finance, while DBS, which was also ranked the fourth strongest Singaporean brand, achieved a BSI score of 88.5. The bank also ranked the seventh most valuable bank in the Asia Pacific (APAC).

Both companies recorded higher brand values. DBS’ brand value rose 8% to US$18.6 billion (S$23.74 billion), driven by its regional expansion and diversification, while Changi Airport’s increased 16% to US$889 million, supported by record passenger traffic, expanded connectivity, and continued service excellence.

Meanwhile, Telechoice International, a regional diversified provider and enabler of innovative info-communications products and services, ranked as the city-state’s fastest-growing brand after its brand value surged 288% to US$52.7 million, thanks to strong demand in semiconductor-related segments, higher sales volumes, and targeted investments in high-growth product lines.

Overall, Singapore’s top 100 brands grew 7% year-on-year (YoY) to US$84.1 billion, the report added. /TISG

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This article (DBS remains Singapore’s most valuable brand; Changi Airport strongest in 2026) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: One would expect that a global business hub like Singapore would be sprouting entrepreneurs from top students of its globally-ranked universities. However, netizens are convinced that Singaporeans are just not cut out for entrepreneurship.

Discussion about why top students in Singapore rarely pursue entrepreneurship sparked online after Dr Tan Sian Wee, senior vice-president of Innovation and Enterprise at the National University of Singapore (NUS), told The Straits Times that while entrepreneurship is forged in uncertainty, risk-taking isn’t really practised in local universities.

Proposed new ventures are often met with a “we need to study this further” reflex, which delays momentum and dampens Singaporeans’ bold ideas.

“This wariness ties back to our ‘culture’ that favours certainty over experimentation, and caution over ambition,” he said.

Netizens echoed similar views, with one saying Singapore’s education system is not centred around taking risks, unlike entrepreneurship, which is a high-risk, high-reward career path.

One commenter wrote, “Singapore is good at producing technocrats. Excellent executors. But very little in the entrepreneurship mindset.”

Others pointed out that entrepreneurship often involves losing money first, given how expensive it is to do business in Singapore.

“Most are not privileged enough to have the funds to start a business or take risks. 99% of startup founders I have seen have the connections or financial means to start their startup and take risks,” another wrote 

However, a third added that most Singaporeans really just prefer stability, saying those who can or are willing to take risks have already left the little red dot.

Still, with many struggling to find jobs, some Singaporeans have recently been fuelled to start businesses, as it has seemed less risky than waiting for employment. /TISG

Read also: Warren Buffett says you can still be a great CEO even without attending college because he never looks at where a job candidate went to school

This article (Netizens share why Singaporeans are not cut out for entrepreneurship despite Singapore universities producing top students) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.