Aspire’s new vibrant workplace, a tribute to Singaporean roots

The fintech player named its meeting rooms after iconic MRT stations like Orchard, Marina Bay, and more.

What better way to stand out in the heart of fintech than to have an office that embodies it? This is what Aspire, a leading Fintech startup, has achieved with its new headquarters.
 
A Singapore-founded company, Aspire designed its office to mirror the city state’s image as the Garden City. So, it accommodated greenery within its concrete walls and strategically throughout the space, effectively generating a harmonious work environment that tames the turbulence of the fintech industry to which it belongs.

“Greenery has also been proven to reduce stress and promote relaxation, creating a conducive environment for employees,” Aspire CEO and Co-Founder, Andrea Baronchelli told Singapore Business Review.
 
Its office is also adorned with themed rooms named after iconic MRT stations such as Orchard, East Coast, Marina Bay, Chinatown, and Little India.

Additionally, a values mural displaying the company’s core values of Purposeful Excellence, Radical Ownership, and Authentic Belonging is showcased to remind the community of their aspirations.
 
Efficiency-driven layout

Apart from drawing inspiration from its Singaporean roots, Aspire also took into account the importance of dynamics and inclusivity in their work environment when building the new office, channelling a curated mix of recreational and professional spaces.
 
Standing as the largest office in Aspire’s portfolio, the 8,200-square-foot office features a diversified collection of spaces including a webinar room, an events space, and informal meeting areas.

“Our new headquarters is equipped with a variety of spaces designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and better relationships not just among our employees, but also with external industry players,” he said.
 
The Work Cafe situated in the building, which doubles as an events space, emphasises Aspire’s ambition to a successful transmission of best practices and insights across the organisation.
 
It is purposely built as a customizable space, to accommodate various small-scale events such as roundtables, fireside chats, or focus group discussions, to larger industry scale such as networking mixers.

 
“Equally important to growing our domain expertise are our collaborations with relevant industry associations, through which we aim to nurture a pipeline of talent and also contribute to the continued growth of the local fintech ecosystem,” Baronchelli explained.
 
‘Employee-centric’ vision

Aspire also wanted to ensure that its new office to promote discussion and collaboration across teams, reducing the need for lengthy email exchanges or formal meetings by embracing an open layout.
 
“Our hot desking system arrangement also means that we have no fixed seating which fosters serendipitous interaction and reinforces our flat culture - even [I, the CEO, don’t] have a fixed seat,” Baronchelli said.

 
“This has facilitated better relationships between team members, cross team knowledge sharing, and more frequent brainstorming sessions, translating to optimal outcomes that have led our growth so far,” he added.
 
Natural light, green spaces, and informal meeting spaces were made specifically for the employee’s well-being.
 
To further drive efficiency, the office also offers a sufficient number of meeting rooms of various sizes to accommodate different needs, ensuring that employees can effectively collaborate on projects of varying scales whenever necessary.
 
Aspire also sticks to a hybrid work schedule in Singapore to maintain work-life balance for employees.

 
“Our meeting rooms are also equipped with advanced video conferencing software which are able to focus on specific speakers, helping to enhance collaboration among remote teams,” Baronchellli said.
 
To make the office stand out even more, Aspire has dedicated recreational spaces for employees to unwind and bond over activities such as pool, table tennis, foosball, board games, and even jamming sessions with a guitar.

Aspirations

These efforts to create a dynamic and engaging workplace align closely with Aspire’s broader business strategies and goals in the region.
 
“Our decision to base our Asia headquarters in Singapore was influenced in large part by the country’s strong connectivity to Asia Pacific markets, availability of skilled tech talent, and strong government support for fintech innovation,” Baronchelli said.
 
Strategically located at the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, Aspire’s headquarters positions itself near partners and clients, offering unparalleled accessibility and convenience for employees, partners, and clients alike.

“Aspire’s new office in Singapore represents the epicentre of our regional operations from which we will continue to serve more than 15,000 clients across Asia Pacific. This is inclusive of notable Singapore brands such as Endowus, Love Bonito, Aftershock, Tech In Asia, and Multiplier among others,” he said.
 
The office houses about 200 employees under various departments including commercial, finance, and engineering. By 2025, Aspire seeks to multiply its local workforce and skilled fintech talent to 300.
 
“We are fully committed to the local fintech ecosystem and plan to invest more to not only expand our business, but simultaneously contribute to the continued growth of the local fintech ecosystem,” Baronchelli said.