Step into a Singapore hawker centre and you’ll be hit with the clang of woks, the hiss of a hot grill, and the unmistakable aroma of sambal and smoky satay. It’s easy to see why these lively street food halls are known as the nation’s community dining rooms.
Under one roof, you’ll find generations of hawkers serving up dishes perfected with love, hustle, and a whole lot of heart. From char kway teow (stir-fried noodle dish) to laksa (spicy noodle soup), every hawker stall is more than just about makan. It’s a story of survival, resilience, and innovation.
In many ways, the hawker centres are Singapore’s most underrated entrepreneurial business centre, showing us real lessons in what it takes to start small, think big, and thrive in competitive markets.
And if you think about it, the hawkerpreneur spirit isn’t so different from a startup in Singapore or a modern business leader tackling global challenges. The determination to tahan long hours, the courage to innovate, and the drive to persevere – these are the same values that drive Singapore’s entrepreneurial spirit today.
Lessons in Entrepreneurship from Singapore’s Hawker Culture
1. Starting Small, Thinking Big
Many hawkers began with little capital, often just one stall. It is entrepreneurship in its purest form: lean operations, resourcefulness, and the ability to make something out of almost nothing.
Take Noorman Mubarak, for instance. A former flight attendant, he started a humble nasi lemak stall in 2017, fusing his wife’s Indonesian-style ayam taliwang with Singapore’s beloved nasi lemak. At first, business was slow, and hours were gruelling. But he kept going, refining the recipe, building his brand, and slowly expanding. Today, his venture has grown into more than 30 outlets and even earned a spot in the Michelin Guide.
From one stall to a nationwide chain—that’s “start small, think big” in action. The same principles you’ll explore in a business management degree at the London School of Business and Finance in Singapore—how to scale effectively, manage resources, and turn small wins into long-term success.
2. Adaptability as a Growth Strategy
One day they’re tweaking the dishes, the next they’re adjusting prices or responding to changing circumstances. Flexing and adapting to every curveball is how these Singapore hawkers keep moving forward.
Take Lee Syafiq Muhd Ridzuan, founder of Ashes Burnnit. While others cut back during the COVID-19 pandemic, this hawkerpreneur boldly opened new outlets and used modern branding—neon signs, bold visuals, and social media—to stand out. His story shows adaptability isn’t just about survival; it’s about turning challenges into growth.
That same adaptability is the secret sauce of Singapore’s startup culture. Look at Grab—what started as a ride-hailing app quickly pivoted into food delivery, digital payments, and even financial services. By reading the market and moving fast, it grew from a local startup into a Southeast Asian super app.
3. Building Customer Loyalty
Hawker stalls show how much consistency and trust matter. A smile, a quick “same-same”, and they already know your order. That consistency, trust, and personal touch keep customers coming back, sometimes for decades.
For entrepreneurs, this is a timeless lesson: products may attract first-time buyers, but relationships create lifelong customers. Just like a hawker who remembers your kopi (coffee) order, businesses that invest in trust and connection will always stay top of mind.
4. Hard Work and Perseverance
Hawker life is tough—long hours, slim margins, stiff competition. Yet, day after day, Singapore’s street hawkers open their stalls, rain or shine. Must tahan, no choice. That kind of resilience is exactly what entrepreneurship or business demands.
Business school can give you the theories and strategies, but it is grit and perseverance that carry you through challenges. At LSBF Singapore, case studies, projects, and hands-on learning in its business management degree put you face-to-face with the same kind of real-world grit hawkerpreneurs live every day.
5. Innovation Rooted in Tradition
New-generation hawkers are rewriting the rules. Think gourmet twists on chicken rice, fusion dishes like laksa pasta. It means respecting heritage while creating fresh value. Even your daily kopi (coffee) or teh (tea) comes with an astounding number of permutations, each tailored to how you like it.
That blend of creativity and customisation is the heartbeat of hawker culture, and a masterclass in innovation. This spirit mirrors Singapore’s broader culture of entrepreneurship, where new ideas thrive alongside deep-rooted values.
From tech startups to family businesses, the ability to innovate is what keeps Singapore’s enterprises resilient, relevant and ready for growth.
Building the Skills to Navigate Tomorrow’s Business Challenges
When you zoom out, hawkerpreneurs and startup founders face the same battles: uncertainty, competition, and constant pressure to innovate. A hawker stall might look humble, but it’s essentially an entrepreneur business centre—a live case study in resilience, adaptability, and customer focus.
In the same way, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Business Management, offered by LSBF Singapore Campus, demonstrates that business skills aren’t merely learned from textbooks; they are something you practise.
This business management programme builds practical skills in small business development, business creation, negotiations, and decision-making. It aims to give you the mindset, skills, and global perspective needed to succeed in today’s competitive world.
For those looking to take their expertise further, the MBA Global provides a specialised path in entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic management.
Together, these business programmes offer a pathway to develop practical skills, build leadership capabilities, and gain internationally recognised UK qualifications.
Ready to build your hawkerpreneur spirit?
Speak to our education consultants to know more about the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Business Management.
