Daily Briefing: Bars, pubs reopen under pilot programme; Learning platform C-suite raises six-figure seed funding

And Waterloo Street vendors cite new lots’ size, location as main concerns.

From ChannelNewsAsia:

Three bars and pubs will be allowed to reopen for two months under a small-scale pilot programme for the nightlife industry, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on 8 December.

The three bars and pubs are Bar Kiharu at Orchard Plaza, Bell Bar at Cuppage Plaza, and Skinny’s Lounge at Boat Quay.

These were selected after a “careful review” of the six nominations MTI and MHA received, including assessing the operators’ readiness and capability to comply with the prescribed safe management measures, the ministries said in a joint press release.

Bell Bar will reopen on Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, whilst Skinny's Lounge will reopen on Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Bar Kiharu will also reopen on Wednesday, from 6.30 PM to 10.30 PM.

Read more here. 

From e27:

C-suite, a Singapore-based O2O learning platform for current and aspiring executives, announced today it has secured a “six-figure USD” in a seed funding round led by angel investors, including its own co-founder and COO Don Tsai.

As per a press note, the fresh funds will be utilised to expand its team and roll out new marketing campaigns.

C-suite positions itself as an exclusive community hub, a social network, a news and views forum, and a recommendation engine.

Users can access content through a paid-for app, virtual gatherings, and real-world conferences, amongst others.

It plans to roll out additional features such as a jobs portal and concierge service, alongside a mobile app, in 2021.

Read more here.

From ChannelNewsAsia:

It's not the cost of each lot; it's the size—and it could be bigger, stallholders along Waterloo Street said after the authorities announced on 8 December plans to move vendors to designated spots along a popular pedestrian walkway next year.

From 4 January 2021, vendors along the Waterloo Mall stretch will have to ballot for one of 41 allocated spots as authorities try to mitigate health and fire hazards along the busy pathway.

For a 3 sq m lot, vendors will have to pay $48.15 every month for a three-year temporary occupation licence.

Every vendor will also be issued a new umbrella 2.2m wide.

Currently, they do not pay any fees and they choose where they want to set up shop.

Read more here.