DBS Foundation

What role does AI/technology play in addressing Asia's ageing challenges? And how can partnerships spark greater impact? At the second edition of the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue in Singapore, over 220 attendees gathered to hear from key voices catalysing impact in this space: our Impact Beyond Award winners Kenneth Wong, CEO of Evercare Health and Chen Jer Yaw, Executive Director of Buddy of Parents (a subsidiary of iWOW Technology Limited), Wei Boon Goh, Chief Executive of GovTech, Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation and Him Chuan LIM, Country Head of DBS Singapore. Together, they unpacked what it truly takes to build longevity solutions for an ageing Asia -- where AI/innovation, inclusive technologies, and cross-sector partnerships go hand in hand. Swipe through to explore the 5 key takeaways that shaped the conversation. 👇 --- Learn more about DBS Foundation's commitment to tackling the urgent needs of ageing societies: https://go.dbs.com/440hbbQ #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondDialogue #ImpactBeyondAward #socialimpact #ageing #Longevity #digitalinclusion

"Ageing-in-place" - a concept that’s becoming increasingly important as Singapore approaches super-aged society status by 2026. With just months to go, it’s a timely reminder that we need to be ready for the changes ahead. At DBS Foundation, we’re committed to supporting innovative solutions that empower everyone, regardless of their circumstances, to age with dignity, purpose and joy. Last week, at the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue, we heard from guests on what ageing-in-place means to them - and the perspectives were both diverse and thought-provoking. At the same time, we unveiled this year's Impact Beyond Award winners: Buddy of Parents (a subsidiary of iWOW Technology Limited), Evercare Health, Life Circle Health Services Pvt. Ltd. and Huakang Health - purpose-driven businesses creating innovative solutions to enable people to age in place. What does ageing in place mean to you? Watch the video and share your thoughts in the comments below 👇 #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondAward #ImpactBeyondDialogue

“Every time we went out to have festive dining, I needed to bring scissors, apron and some other tools for my mum… Even so, I could tell my mum was not enjoying the food because she had difficulty chewing,” said Poyin, a Softmeal ambassador. For families affected by dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), simple meals can be a struggle. That’s why Queenie Man founded The Project Futurus, a social enterprise based in Hong Kong that promotes positive ageing. Through its Captain Softmeal initiative, the organisation trains chefs and collaborates with restaurants like Yung Kee to develop texture-modified meals that are both safe to eat and visually appealing. Adrian Pang, who plays Chester in DBS Sparks, tried these Softmeals and was impressed: “This tastes like baby food, in the best possible way!” The signature roast goose, reimagined with care, “melts in your mouth” – a texture ordinary goose meat cannot achieve. Creating safe, delicious food for those with swallowing challenges takes time and precision. But the impact is clear: families can finally enjoy the same dishes, together, without worry or stigma. The Project Futurus is a recipient of the 2024 DBS Foundation Grant Programme, which awarded funding totalling SGD 4.5 million to 22 businesses for impact across the region. This aims to help scale their efforts, which are projected to benefit over 800,000 vulnerable individuals over two years. 👉 The DBS Foundation Grant call is now open until 30 June. If you're an impact entrepreneur or know of peers like Queenie who are looking to make a difference, find out more here: https://go.dbs.com/3T4Bj6p #DBSFoundationGrant #ImpactBeyondBanking

What sets the DBS Foundation Grant apart? It’s not just funding - it’s a partnership that helps purpose-driven businesses to go further, faster. Beyond capital, grantees gain access to mentorship, capacity-building, regional networks and more. Across Asia, our grantee network is making a difference by providing essential needs and fostering inclusion for those with less. Meet a few who’ve turned purpose into real impact: - Azalea Ayuningtyas from Du Anyam (Indonesia): Creating livelihood opportunities for women through traditional weaving - Aniket Doegar from Haqdarshak (India): Simplifying access to government welfare schemes for underserved communities - Sunny Yi-Han Lin from Social Enterprise Insights (Taiwan): Building financial literacy and mental wellness programmes - Jeanette Lee from Bettr Group (Singapore): Empowering marginalised women through coffee training and employment If you’re building a business in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong or India that’s making a difference - or if you know someone who is - apply or refer them today. Applications close 30 June! Apply here: go.dbs.com/45AIc6Z #DBSFoundationGrant #ImpactBeyondBanking

🎉 The winners are in! At the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue yesterday, we unveiled the four winners of the inaugural Impact Beyond Award - a search for innovative businesses addressing the urgent needs of ageing societies. Following a rigorous evaluation involving DBS senior leaders and external experts, these businesses stood out for their bold innovation, ecosystem approach, and commitment to enable everyone to age with dignity, purpose and joy. Meet our Impact Beyond Award winners! - Buddy of Parents (Singapore), improving the lives of seniors and caregivers through user-friendly, smart IoT solutions for ageing-in-place. - Life Circle Health Services Pvt. Ltd. (India), bridging care gaps by improving access to senior home care services and building caregiving workforce capacity. - Evercare Health (Hong Kong), fulfilling at-home and institutional patient care needs through AI-powered caregiver matching algorithms. - Huakang Health Industry Group (China), integrating smart care solutions with innovative and comprehensive models for senior living and dementia care. A special thank you to our DBS leaders who brought deep expertise and perspectives to the evaluation process: Ho Tian Yee, Chairperson of DBS Foundation, Him Chuan LIM, Country Head of DBS Singapore, Rajat Verma, Managing Director and CEO of DBS India, and Ginger Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of DBS China. Watch the video to find out what set the winners apart, and why they are poised to drive even greater impact. #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondAward #ImpactBeyondBanking

#Didyouknow: Globally, more people are over 60 years of age than below 5? Kicking off the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue yesterday, Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation shared this thought-provoking stat from the World Health Organisation. What followed was a powerful exchange of ideas across two panel discussions, featuring key voices from different sectors driving solutions for ageing societies. Our speakers include Wei Boon Goh, Chief Executive, GovTech; Dr Fidah Alsagoff, Vice Chairman, Healthcare & Life Sciences (Global Partnerships), Temasek International Pte Ltd; DBS’ senior executives, as well as our four DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Award winners – purpose-driven businesses that will collectively receive SGD 3 million in funding and the bank’s support to scale their work in addressing key ageing challenges. They discussed the social and healthcare challenges of ageing populations, including isolation and strains on caregivers and healthcare systems; they also explored the potential of AI/ technology and collaborations – including multigenerational community support and cross-sector partnerships – in mitigating these and fostering a more inclusive ageing society. We were joined by some 220 invited guests including businesses, philanthropic foundations, and the bank’s private wealth, SME and institutional banking clients, united by a shared goal: to co-create ideas and unlock opportunities for collective action. A big thank you to our speakers and guests for the inspiring conversations. Stay tuned for more insights from the Dialogue! Learn more about DBS Foundation's commitment to tackling the urgent needs of ageing societies: https://go.dbs.com/3FhOZIe Tan Su Shan Him Chuan LIM Ze Ling Chen Claire Wong-Low Kenneth Wong Anant Kumar JY Chen iWOW Technology Limited Evercare Health Life Circle Health Services Pvt. Ltd. Huakang Health Industry Group #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondDialogue #ImpactBeyondAward #ageing #socialimpact

With populations ageing across much of the world, we're undoubtedly facing one of the most profound social transformations of the 21st century. Ageing isn't just a demographic trend, but a global challenge that demands rethinking everything from healthcare and housing to employment, social inclusion, and technology design.    Join us at our livestream of the DBS Foundation Impact Beyond Dialogue and hear how AI and innovation can transform ageing societies by enabling new products, services, and experiences, especially to those who need them most.

Meet Shanthi Kanniyappan from Group Operations — having spent 45 years of her career at DBS, she's ridden every wave of digital change, from passbook accounts to digibank, and now, Gen AI. Understanding firsthand the challenges seniors face with tech, Shanthi is passionate about boosting their digital confidence at workshops held at community centres across Singapore. --- On weekends, while many are relaxing with friends and family, you’ll find Shanthi Kanniyappan at community centres scrolling through smartphones with seniors. At 61, the Singaporean navigates digital apps with the ease of someone half her age – but her gift isn’t tech-savviness, it’s a belief that no one is ever too old to learn or teach. With a 45-year career in the frontlines at DBS/POSB, Shanthi has seen technology reshape the industry. She’s transitioned from passbooks to online banking, tested early versions of the DBS PayLah! app and is a strong advocate of Gen AI to serve customers more efficiently and effectively. Having lived that digital leap, she understands just how intimidating technology can feel, especially for seniors. That’s why she gives back in the way she knows best – by helping fellow seniors gain confidence to use digital apps. Shanthi volunteers at E-Payment Learning Journey workshops, co-run by DBS and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, where she helps seniors pick up everyday digital skills, like using PayLah! at wet markets or hawker centres. Her special skill? Decades of experience and a deep understanding of how to make people feel at ease. Many seniors, she notes, are eager to learn but fear making mistakes, losing money or falling for scams. Some, like 80-year-old Mr Chua, simply don’t have anyone patient enough to walk them through new digital features. This calls for empathy, patience and lots of encouragement, she says. “People are vulnerable when they’re struggling so be present and empower them to trust themselves.” At home, Shanti has seen the ripple effect of boosting her family’s digital confidence. Today, her mum uses WhatsApp to stay connected with relatives overseas. “She still panics when a new feature appears,” Shanthi laughs. “But now she knows she can ask, learn and try again.” Meanwhile, her husband has become the go-to tech guide among his friends. Volunteering has been part of Shanthi’s life since 2014 – from befriending seniors at risk of social isolation to accompanying students with special needs on outings, as well as skills-based volunteering. Recently, Shanthi joined a financial literacy programme co-organised by DBS and MCCY SG Cares, for students in lower-income families. She was paired with nine-year-old Lovelle Tan, a number-loving girl, who helps as a cashier at her grandparents’ hawker stall. Lovelle carefully saves a portion of her allowance daily and identified a Maths workbook as her top “need”. (Continued in comments below...)

Fashion should empower, not exclude. Meet Josy from Hong Kong, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy - and Kadri Keung, the co-founder of Rhys Workshop Ltd., a lifestyle label designing inclusive wear that blends dignity, function and style. From pouches that discreetly hold urine bags, to pants tailored for wheelchair users, these are garments that go beyond fashion - they change lives. Jamie Ha from Sparks caught up with the duo to find out how Kadri’s spark led to a social enterprise, and how Josy’s world has opened up through clothes made with care and purpose. The DBS Foundation Grant supports purpose-driven businesses like Rhys Workshop with funding and capacity-building to help changemakers scale their impact in providing holistic care for physical and mental wellness. 👉 The DBS Foundation Grant call is now open until 30 June. If you're an impact entrepreneur or know of peers like Kadri who are looking to make a difference, find out more here: https://go.dbs.com/3SKO45U #DBSFoundationGrant #ImpactBeyondBanking

As Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area face challenges brought by an ageing population, we successfully held our inaugural DBS Foundation GBA Impact Beyond Dialogue 2025 last week! 200+ participants across government, business, social enterprise and community sectors gathered to reimagine ageing as a driver of innovation and inclusive growth. Honoured to have our distinguished guests Ho Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, HKSAR Government, Ong Siew Gay, Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Hong Kong; and Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation share their invaluable insights on the importance of shifting mindsets on ageing, as well as the enormous silver economy opportunities in the region. The dialogue featured dynamic discussions on how ageing can unlock new opportunities for business, innovation, and collaboration as cross-border connectivity in the region continues to deepen. We were also proud to present our Hong Kong grantees - The Project Futurus, Motive Force Technology Limited, and Rhys Workshop Ltd. - under the 2024 DBS Foundation Grant Programme. In addition, 19 local social enterprises were invited to showcase their innovative solutions including those addressing ageing issues. We look forward to working with like-minded partners to turn the challenges of ageing into opportunities, and create a more inclusive society for all. #DBSFoundation #ImpactBeyondBanking #Longevity