join acid

The timing of ACID’s launch reflects a market need as investors become increasingly selective, requiring startups to articulate their value propositions with greater precision and strategic clarity to secure funding.

The consultancy intends to help startups navigate complex stakeholder environments and build their reputations.

Founded by Chester Tan, former head of communications of Lendela, ACID aims to fill a gap Tan has observed repeatedly: while communications has become a critical function in larger companies, early-stage founders often overlook its value until it’s too late. Many leadership teams find themselves hitting a wall after pouring millions into marketing or partnerships that don’t deliver, often because they lack a compelling brand story that truly resonates with their audience.

Chester Tan has launched ACID, a boutique comms consultancy focusing on helping early-stage startups from emerging industries in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Tan was head of communications at Lendela and also worked at Wachsman for strategic communications of Fintech & Web3 before he founded ACID.

ACID, a strategic communications consultancy focused on early-stage startups in Southeast Asia, has launched in Singapore.

Designed for sectors navigating high-stakes multistakeholder environments in fintech and emerging industries — from AI-driven sectors such as enterprise tech and deep tech to cybersecurity and decentralised finance — ACID aims to support lean teams operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

“Many founders still think comms is something you invest in after you’ve raised or hit scale. But by then, you’re playing catch-up,” said Chester Tan, founder and CEO at ACID.

“Articulating your narrative with intention from the get-go becomes leverage very soon, helping you earn trust with regulators, cultivate your influence in your industry, attract the right partners, and lower your acquisition costs. These accelerate the creation of shareholder value, which is why we believe founders should bring comms to the table as soon as they’ve nailed product-market fit and begun acquiring users.”