History, Culture, Legacy: The Fabric of the Nation Posted on November 23, 2025 By: Nichol NG, CEO of X-Inc (small.news) — Singapore was a small fishing village way before it was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. These villages, called Kampongs, were supported by micro businesses owned by people of multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural demographic backgrounds. Some were fishermen, some were farmers who grew vegetables in their own backyard, some reared pigs, some were barbers, some were tailors, some built houses on stilts, some were teachers, some were gangsters who maintained law and order, and some were village heads who governed the villages. Building an ecosystem of inter-reliance on each other by providing something that another doesn’t have. The Human Roots of Business Reflecting on the essence of why businesses emerged through humanity, it’s basically to provide services and goods to one another when money wasn’t even the main source of valuation and compensation. When income inequality was not as stark, when personal relationships were worth something, when neighborly “kampong” love created the ties that bind. How many of these still exist in the modern world today? The Modern Micro-SME Landscape In Singapore, we have about 266,200 micro SMEs. These micro businesses run hawker stalls in hawker centres, they run food stalls in our wet markets, small service providers like pawn shops, Chinese medical halls, provision shops, clinics, etc. Singapore’s urban planning is one of the best in the world; every public housing zone is calculated according to data and statistics. The percentage of occupants in every housing district is tallied and controlled according to the racial percentages, but businesses and services are also allocated according to the number of people living within a 2 kilometer radius. This ensures that there are enough services to serve those living within the community, but more importantly, it allows for small businesses to have the opportunity to thrive within these mini townships. Where the Kampong Spirit Still Lives In this thriving metropolis, it is heartening to see multi-generation micro SMEs handing down some secret recipe from the generations of the past, and it’s also in these neighborhoods where you see the less glossy side of Singapore, where shops are still kept in their original forms. Hidden like little gems throughout our tiny island, these traditional micro SMEs keep the Kampong spirit alive, where the owners of these businesses remember that you like your noodles less spicy with a touch of vinegar for that added twang. Or your local coffee shop that sells for $1.50 and can beat any international coffee chains anytime. When we are away from Singapore, these are the things that we remember and crave for, the little things that make this place home for many locals. Tradition Under Pressure in a Rapidly Modernizing World However, as modernisation and AI take over at super sonic speed, even the passionate youth hoping to uphold traditions cannot keep up with the rising costs of operations. Getting a job seems like an easier path than fighting to be an entrepreneur. An 85-year-old storekeeper sits at her stall for more than 12 hours every day, just to keep that fleeting business alive. Is the fighting spirit dwindling, or are we just built differently these days? A Family Legacy of Hustle and Heart My grandfather arrived on the shores of Singapore in 1934 in search of a better life when life in China was hard, with famine. He started his microbusiness supplying dried goods to roadside hawkers, and when he married my grandma, who was an excellent cook, they produced their signature Teochew Braised Duck in their home kitchen and sold it to Chinese restaurants, seeding the food distribution that still exists today. With that tiny shophouse, they birthed 9 children and a business legacy that exists till today in some shape and form. Carrying the Torch in Challenging Times While we no longer paddle braised ducks, we have never allowed ourselves to forget the hustle that made us who we are. We are an SME that understands that at the core of every business is an entrepreneur who cares, a businessman who dares, a friend who wants to help, and a community builder here to create impact in the place where we live. As I face the immense challenges of 2025 on the brink of bankruptcy, I try to dig deep for the fighting spirit that my grandfather embodied. We are Small, but we can be mighty, knowing that we are a part of Singapore’s History, it’s not a legacy that I will forsake lightly. Singapore Itself: A Micro-SME That Defied the Odds In hindsight, Singapore is also a Micro SME but one that punches above its weight on the global stage. A reminder to all microbusinesses that success is possible. Let the Fight continue! Small business looks different around the world, but the need for support is universal. Find that support on silv=r™ today. Latest Stories