Singapore founder Mia Hoang wins TiE women global pitch

Singapore-based founder Mia Hoang has won the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition 2026, an award that carries S$100,000 in equity-free funding.

Hoang, founder of AirXCarbon, first won the TiE Singapore Women Entrepreneur Competition before advancing to the global contest. She represented Singapore against finalists drawn from TiE chapters worldwide.

The global competition drew more than 3,000 applications from over 40 countries, according to TiE Singapore. Hoang emerged as the overall winner among the women-led startups that reached the final stage.

Her victory marks a prominent result for Singapore in an international startup competition and adds to growing visibility for Southeast Asian founders in global entrepreneurship networks. TiE Singapore said it was among the first times a founder from Southeast Asia had won the global title.

Cash prize

The winner received S$100,000, or about US$75,000, in equity-free funding. TiE Singapore described it as one of the larger cash awards in competitions focused on women entrepreneurs.

Unlike many startup contests that focus mainly on mentoring, networking or other non-cash support, this award provides direct funding without requiring the founder to give up equity.

The funding is intended to support business growth, expansion into new markets and long-term operations. No further financial terms were disclosed.

Regional signal

The result also highlights Asia's place in the startup landscape, particularly for women founders seeking international recognition. Investors and support networks in the region have expanded in recent years, though access to capital remains uneven across markets and growth stages.

Singapore has positioned itself as a hub for early-stage companies through a mix of public policy support, private capital and international business links. Programmes such as TiE Women are part of a broader effort to increase the number of female founders gaining exposure to investors and mentors.

TiE Singapore is part of the wider TiE network, a non-profit organisation that supports entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding and incubation. The network operates through more than 60 chapters worldwide.

Competition path

Hoang's route to the global award began with the Singapore chapter's women entrepreneur competition, where entrants were assessed on factors including innovation, scalability and market potential. Winners from local chapters then advanced to the international stage.

The final round brought together founders from multiple countries in a global pitch process. Hoang competed against leading women-led startups from across TiE's international chapter network before taking the top award, TiE Singapore said.

While TiE Singapore framed the outcome as a milestone for the local ecosystem, it also reflects how startup competitions have become a route for founders to secure both funding and validation beyond their home markets. For early-stage companies, such endorsements can help in conversations with investors, partners and customers.

AirXCarbon was not described in detail in the announcement, and no updated valuation, revenue figures or headcount were provided. The announcement instead focused on the scale of the competition, the funding attached to the prize and the broader implications for women-led entrepreneurship in Asia.

The TiE Women initiative supports women-led startups through mentorship, education, networking and access to funding. Within that framework, Hoang's win stands out for combining international recognition with a sizeable cash award.

TiE Singapore said the competition was designed to provide practical backing to women entrepreneurs, with the S$100,000 prize intended to give founders resources they can deploy directly into their businesses.