Stellar Lifestyle and JR East Launch Stellarate 3.0 to Transform Transit Retail and Advertising with Tech Startups

Stellar Lifestyle, the business arm of SMRT, has officially launched Stellarate 3.0, the third edition of its annual tech accelerator programme, in partnership with Japan’s JR East Group and Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE). The initiative is designed to fuel the next wave of smart retail, F&B, and advertising innovations within Singapore’s and Japan’s train networks.

Aimed at reimagining how commuters engage with retail and advertising in transit environments, Stellarate 3.0 offers a launchpad for tech-enabled startups with visionary ideas. Up to four winners will be awarded grants from a pool exceeding S$130,000, alongside pilot opportunities within SMRT’s extensive transit retail network and Japan’s retail transit ecosystem.

Backed by Global Partners and Local Innovation

The programme is jointly supported by JRE Ventures, the investment arm of Japan’s largest passenger rail operator, and UOB, which is offering winning startups growth support, including:

• Waived annual and facility fees for financing for the first two years
• Networking and profiling opportunities
• Complimentary digital transformation guidance and up to S$10,000 in exclusive UOB BizSmart credits

In a new collaboration, selected startups will also benefit from SMU IIE’s Business Innovations Generator (BIG)—an incubation programme offering mentorship from industry leaders, venture capitalists, and university faculty, plus access to workspaces and a thriving startup ecosystem. BIG has nurtured over 560 startups to date, raising more than S$740 million collectively.

From Ideas to Impact

Over the past two years, Stellarate has drawn over 150 startup applications, from robotic retail solutions to advanced data-driven ad technologies. One standout success is UNISTOP, a Stellarate 2.0 winner that has expanded its room-sized robotic vending machines from five to ten in Singapore, with ambitions to scale into Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the UAE, and the UK.

What Stellarate 3.0 is Looking For

The 2025 edition is focused on solutions that:

• Deliver insights on Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising effectiveness and conversions
• Leverage real-time local data to boost merchant and advertiser sales
• Improve operational efficiency for F&B and retail outlets through manpower-lite tech
• Enhance commuter experiences by enabling easier brand and merchant discovery

Applications Now Open

Startups and companies worldwide with a gross turnover of at least S$120,000 (as of 2024) and a minimum paid-up capital of S$50,000 are invited to apply. Applications are open here from 26 May to 30 June 2025.

A S$109 submission fee applies but will be fully refunded to selected winners.