The verdict in three sentences
An accelerator receiving 1,800 applications per cohort can no longer select with generic forms and shared spreadsheets: government co-funders and corporate partners expect an auditable scoring trail those tools do not provide. A custom platform built by a Singapore agency costs around 50,000 to 90,000 SGD and ships in 3 months, covering multi-step applications, scoring by 25 reviewers, funder dashboards and 24-month startup tracking. Against a SaaS at 8,000 to 20,000 SGD a year, it pays off over three to five years, and above all it fits each funder's own reporting metrics.
The problem: selecting 1,800 applications and proving why
The managing director of a Singapore accelerator funds cohorts with a mix of corporate partners and government co-investment schemes. Each call attracts about 1,800 applications from across Southeast Asia, for 30 to 40 startups selected. The current process: a form tool, a spreadsheet export, manual assignment of files to reviewers by email, then two weeks of score consolidation.
Funders ask the same three questions in every report: how many founders are women or from target markets, why a given application was rejected, and what happened to startups 12 and 24 months later. The spreadsheet cannot answer any of them without days of rework.
| Step | Current process | Time spent | With the platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intake | Form tool, attachments by email | 3 weeks of reminders | Multi-step form with uploads |
| Screening | Manual reading by staff | 120 hours | Automatic eligibility filters |
| Reviewer assignment | Emails and spreadsheet | 2 days | Automatic, conflict-of-interest aware |
| Scoring | Excel rubrics sent back | 2 weeks of consolidation | Online rubric, live averages |
| Selection committee | Printed files | 1 day of prep | Ranking and exportable profiles |
| Funder report | Manual rework | 5 to 8 days | Dashboard per funder |
| 24-month tracking | One-off survey | low response rate | Scheduled surveys at 6, 12 and 24 months |
Features and what they cost
| Module | Scope | Share of budget (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-step application | Draft saving, uploads, eligibility rules | 20 % |
| Reviewer portal | 25 reviewers, weighted rubric, conflict declarations | 20 % |
| Committee and ranking | Averages, score spread, comments, recorded decisions | 10 % |
| Funder dashboards | Metrics by gender, country, sector, stage | 20 % |
| 24-month startup tracking | Revenue, jobs, funding raised, surveys | 15 % |
| Notifications | Emails to applicants, reminders | 5 % |
| Admin and security | Roles, audit log, backups, PDPA controls | 10 % |
In Singapore, agencies quote this scope at roughly 50,000 to 90,000 SGD as a 2026 order of magnitude. A nearshore team such as Kolonell in Dakar prices it within its medium (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA, or 6,100 to 10,670 EUR) to complex (7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA, or 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) custom app grid, with the exact figure set in a quote; maintenance plans start at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA a month (53, 114 or 183 EUR). The timeline is 3 months, planned to be live before the next call opens.
Custom platform or application management SaaS
| Criterion | Specialized SaaS | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (2026 order of magnitude) | 8,000 to 20,000 SGD a year | 50,000 to 90,000 SGD once, plus maintenance |
| Time to launch | 2 to 4 weeks | 3 months |
| Funder-specific metrics | Limited to built-in fields | Built to spec |
| Data residency | Vendor's hosting region | Singapore hosting, accelerator-owned data |
| PDPA control | Vendor's policies | Your own retention and access rules |
| 24-month tracking | Rarely included | Included |
SaaS is the right call for a first intake or a small program. Above 1,000 applications per cohort, with several funders whose requirements differ, the custom platform wins, especially when it can be built into a funded program budget.
Mini case study
Mei Ling, managing director of a Singapore accelerator, compares over 5 years. The SaaS that fits her needs costs 15,000 SGD a year, so 75,000 SGD over 5 years, without 24-month tracking. A local agency quotes the custom platform at 60,000 SGD plus 600 SGD a month of maintenance, or 36,000 SGD over 5 years: 96,000 SGD. A nearshore quote from Dakar comes in well below that.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
At local agency prices, the custom option costs 21,000 SGD more over 5 years, but she adds the time saved: 120 hours of screening and 6 days of funder reporting per cohort, 2 cohorts a year, about 336 hours a year. At an internal cost of 60 SGD an hour, that is 20,160 SGD a year, or 100,800 SGD over 5 years. The custom platform comes out ahead, and the nearshore quote widens the gap.
FAQ
How long until the platform is live?
Three months from discovery to production. Plan 2 weeks of testing with 5 reviewers before the call opens.
How are reviewer conflicts of interest handled?
Each reviewer declares links at onboarding and the platform never assigns them those files. With 25 reviewers and 3 scores per file, each handles at most about 216 shortlisted applications.
Can founders apply from a phone?
Yes, the form is mobile first with draft saving. Over 60 % of applications from the region typically arrive from a smartphone.
Can funders view the data directly?
Each funder gets read access to its own dashboard, limited to the cohorts it supports. Sensitive personal data stays masked under PDPA rules.
Can the platform be reused for other programs?
Yes, each call is configured with its own criteria and rubrics. Pitch competitions or grant programs are added without major rework.
Let's scope your project. We map your selection stages, your funders' metrics and a 3-month plan aligned with your next intake. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
