What it does: Operates as a venture capital (VC) firm in Singapore and invests in startup companies in Southeast Asia.
Best known for: being a non-traditional VC enterprise that creates original business ideas and new models for promising startups.
Staff stats: About 200 employees.
The good bits: Offers travel opportunities. Reported to have a friendly work environment.
The not-so-good bits: Extended work hours.
REAPRA Pte. Ltd. is a venture builder and investment group established in 2014 in Singapore by Japanese entrepreneur Shuhei Morofuji. A blend of two words ‘research’ (RE) and ‘practice’ (PRA), REAPRA focuses on developing businesses for startups with high-growth potential. Most of its businesses operate in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Japan.
The company has 14 direct subsidiaries including two VC organisations in Thailand and Vietnam. It has funded 40 startups in aerospace, agriculture, digital media, education, healthcare, hospitality, real estate and travel.
REAPRA claims that for every investment in a startup, it sets a ten to 20-year time horizon in realising growth potential in its business field. The firm ventures into a particular market only if it knows the startup can eventually become a leader in the future. Its research capability and practice-driven insights make this undertaking feasible.
Candidates can submit their resume and complete an online application form on the company’s recruitment portals. Shortlisted applicants are notified within a month through email or mobile phone.
They will be invited for a screening and two interviews. Human resources (HR) will conduct the first interview to assess the candidates’ personality, behaviour and motivations, and academic background. They should expect such questions as:
The hiring manager will conduct a second interview to evaluate their skills and qualifications. For the analyst position, they are required to develop a business plan, financial forecast and an investment structure. Interview questions may include:
The following are the available positions for graduates and their reported monthly salaries (in Singapore dollars): investment analyst 5,200-7,400; accounting clerk 3,000-4,000; researcher 4,600-6,400; HR assistant $2,700-3,600; public relations specialist 3,800-5,200; financial analyst 5,500-7,800; project assistant 2,800-3,400; research assistant 2,600-3,400; business analyst 5,100-7,200.
For career growth and personal advancement, candidates can undertake the company’s Build 80 programme which will sharpen their skills in business strategy, financial forecast and investment structure. This project is the organisation’s in-house platform that entrepreneurs or founders can join to build a startup with REAPRA.
Under this programme, candidates will team up with entrepreneurs in a week-long activity held in one of its offices. One of the areas they will handle is developing a corporate strategy and providing post-investment hands-on support to founders including market and customer research and operation planning.
Aspiring candidates will be part of a team of 20 to support the founders in six workstreams - business strategy, technical advisory, legal, HR, fundraising and administrative support across Southeast Asia. They also provide localised support to entrepreneurs to help their businesses to scale across markets faster and more effectively.
The work environment is said to be friendly and collaborative. Employees and managers constantly work together and with clients to achieve the organisation’s goal of providing business sustainability to founders. Autonomy is given to employees as they are encouraged to take ownership of assigned tasks or projects.
Despite the long work hours, the organisation offers flexible schedules that allow them to work hours that differ from the normal arrangements. This flexibility encouraged lower stress levels, higher productivity and steady work-life balance.
As part of its social responsibility, the organisation regularly releases a series of online research publications on current topics in Southeast Asia covering social and environmental issues on food, plastic and electronic waste.
At REAPRA, employees will find themselves surrounded by smart, analytical, and curious co-workers. Opinions and viewpoints are taken with interest, which fosters healthy teamwork and reduces group conflict. In addition, workplace politics tends to be minimal since transparency is present as a result of regular group discussions.