The Social Space

What The Social Space does

The Social Space Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based, founder-owned multi-concept social enterprise founded by Cheryl Ou and Daniel Yeow, operating through two physical outlets in Kreta Ayer and Potong Pasir. Each outlet combines three integrated concepts: a wholesome café serving fair-trade food and beverages, a curated fair-trade retail store stocking products from over 60 social enterprises and non-profits, and a toxic-free nail salon operated through a partnership with The Nail Social. The business positions itself as a platform for inclusive employment, having provided work to over 50 beneficiaries drawn from single mothers, youths-at-risk, ex-offenders, and individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions, in coordination with social service agencies including Bettr Barista, MINDSET, and Rumah Foundation.

Revenue is generated through seven streams: café food and beverage sales (dine-in plus Grab/Foodpanda delivery), fair-trade retail (in-store and via Shopify-powered e-commerce), nail salon services, sustainable corporate gifting, catering, space rental for private events, and learning journey experiences with the founders priced at S$65 per person. Distribution spans two owned physical locations, a single Shopify storefront, third-party food delivery aggregators, and a direct enterprise sales motion for corporate gifting, catering, and event hosting. Marketing relies on Instagram, Facebook, an owned blog/journal, an email newsletter, and recurring community events including the Run For Good fundraiser and The Good Weekend market.

The technology stack is intentionally light: no proprietary platform, no AI/ML components, and no patents. Operational technology consists of Shopify for commerce, Go Gift Cards for gift card issuance, and Grab/Foodpanda for last-mile delivery. The company is bootstrapped with no institutional funding rounds disclosed, employs 11-50 people, and operates exclusively in Singapore. Notable recognition includes Leading Verified Social Enterprise by President Tharman (2025), Spirit of Enterprise Award (2022), Champion of Good by NVPC (2018), and President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award (2015). In 2025 the DUO Galleria outlet was closed after two years, consolidating the footprint to the two current locations.

Name

The Social Space

Legal name

The Social Space Pte Ltd

Website

https://thesocialspace.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Social Space is a Singapore-based multi-concept social enterprise operating two outlets that combine a fair-trade café, curated retail from 60+ social enterprises, and a non-toxic nail salon, while providing inclusive employment to over 50 beneficiaries from marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-concept social enterprise cafe and retail

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Neighborhood Cafes (THAFADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coworking Cafes / Work Cafes (THAFADAJ)

Keywords

• Fair trade retail
• Social enterprise cafe
• Sustainable corporate gifting
• Inclusive nail salon
• Community event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Café Food and Beverage Sales: Wholesome café serving food and beverages sourced from fair-trade and eco-friendly producers. Two physical café locations with dine-in and delivery options.
2. Fair Trade Retail: Curated selection of socially conscious consumer goods including home décor, lifestyle products, personal care, and gifts. Products sourced from 60+ social enterprises and non-profits.
3. Nail Salon Services: Non-toxic manicures and pedicures operated through partnership with The Nail Social at Kreta Ayer location.
4. Corporate Gifting and Catering: Sustainable corporate gifts, event catering, and bulk gift orders for enterprise clients. Includes plastic-free gift packs, snack boxes, and customizable corporate packages.
5. Space Rental and Private Events: Private event hosting, space rental for corporate events, workshops, and community gatherings. Includes venue booking with catering options.
6. Learning Journeys: Educational experiences with founders including introductions to social enterprise, team lunches, and Q&A sessions. Priced at S$65 per person for 1.5 hour sessions.
7. Gift Cards: Physical plantable gift cards and e-gift cards available for retail and nail salon services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Social Space operates multi-concept physical spaces in Singapore combining a Wholesome Cafe serving fair-trade food and beverages, a Fair Trade Retail store stocking curated socially-conscious products from 60+ social enterprises and non-profits, and a non-toxic Nail Salon operated in partnership with The Nail Social. The business additionally sells sustainable corporate gifts, offers catering, hosts events and workshops, rents space for private functions, and runs founder-led Learning Journey experiences.

Product overview

The Social Space is a multi-concept social enterprise operating a platform of integrated services: a Wholesome Cafe serving fair-trade food and beverages, a Fair Trade Retail store featuring curated socially conscious products from 60+ social enterprises, and The Nail Social (a toxic-free nail salon partnership). The business also offers Events & Workshops, Space Rental for private events, Catering services, Sustainable Corporate Gifting programs, Learning Journeys with founders, Co-Working Day Passes, and Gift Cards including plantable options. Additional offerings include Zero Waste Essentials and a Refillery service. The Social Space positions itself as a unified platform connecting conscious consumers with social impact brands while providing employment opportunities for marginalized individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wholesome Cafe Cafe serving wholesome food and beverages sourced from fair-trade and eco-friendly producers. Menu includes open-face toasts, smoothie bowls, pasta dishes, salads, and specialty coffee, available for dine-in at two Singapore locations and for delivery via Grab and Foodpanda.
• Fair Trade Retail Curated online and in-store selection of socially conscious consumer goods including home decor, lifestyle accessories, personal care, bakes and edibles, baby and kids items, and gifts, sourced from 60+ social enterprises and non-profits from around the world.
• The Nail Social (Toxic-Free Nail Salon) Toxic-free nail salon offering non-toxic manicures and pedicures, operated in partnership with The Nail Social at the Kreta Ayer outlet, providing vocational training for underprivileged women.
• Events and Workshops Ticketed events and workshops including Run For Good monthly fundraisers, art workshops, upcycling workshops, heritage trails, and wellness sessions, open to individual consumers and groups.
• Private Event Space Rental Private venue rental at the Kreta Ayer and Potong Pasir outlets for corporate events, product launches, panel discussions, celebrations, and workshops, with optional catering packages.
• Learning Journey with Founder 1.5-hour immersive educational experience led by founders Cheryl Ou and Daniel Yeow covering social enterprise introduction, team lunch, Q&A, and a take-home coconut bowl and spoon set, designed for corporate and institutional team-building groups of 8 to 16 people at S$65 per person.
• Catering Services Catering for meetings and events featuring savoury canape platters, fruit tartlets, cookie platters, meal boxes, beverage dispensers, and sustainable disposable wares, available for corporate and private clients.
• Sustainable Corporate Gifting Corporate gift packs featuring sustainable plastic-free products sourced from small social enterprise partners, structured as VIP and executive gifts, conference and event packages, gratitude and appreciation sets, and gift sets and bundles, with corporate discounts available for bulk or repeat orders.
• Gift Cards (including Plantable Gift Cards) Gift cards available for retail and nail salon purchases, including e-gift cards and eco-friendly plantable gift cards that can be planted to grow herbs or flowers after use.
• Co-Working Day Pass Weekday co-working day pass at the Kreta Ayer outlet including a window counter seat, high-speed Wi-Fi, powerpoints, and an all-day brunch set.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 beneficiaries employed including single mothers, youths-at-risk, ex-offenders, and individuals with disabilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• The Nail SocialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning nail salon operating at The Social Space Kreta Ayer location. Provides non-toxic manicures and pedicures with vocational training for underprivileged women. The Nail Social is a raiSE member and winner of President's Challenge Social Enterprise Awards.
• Fashion for CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for cold brew coffee products with proceeds supporting cancer research and patient support at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) Cancer Fund. Also collaborates on Run For Good fundraising events.
• The High PanterssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity running crew collaborating on monthly Run For Good fundraising events supporting Fashion for Cancer.
• Bettr BaristacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 providing social programmes and inclusive employment for beneficiaries. Bettr Barista provides vocational training support.
• MINDSET CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service agency partnership providing fair employment opportunities for beneficiaries with mental health conditions.
• Rumah FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting individuals with developmental needs through inclusive employment opportunities.
• APSN Delta Senior SchoolStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership providing training attachments for students with special needs.
• raiSE (Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise)coreOthersMembership in Singapore's umbrella organization for social enterprises providing support and recognition.
• The FoundrysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partnership for The Good Weekend community market events at The Foundry heritage building.
• Bettr CoffeesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerConscious coffee vendor participating in The Good Weekend events with specialty coffee and small plates.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee: Established Singapore specialty coffee roaster with retail and café presence. Comparable as a local café and coffee retail operator overlapping with The Social Space's café and retail assortment.
• Common Man Coffee Roasters: Singapore specialty coffee roaster and café operator with multiple locations. Comparable as a Singapore café brand competing for the same specialty-coffee conscious-consumer segment.
• PPP Coffee (formerly Papa Palheta): Singapore specialty coffee roaster and café operator with multiple outlets. Comparable as a local multi-location specialty café brand.

Broad incumbents

• The Body Shop: Global values-driven personal care and lifestyle retailer. Comparable as a large-scale ethical retail brand overlapping with The Social Space's fair-trade personal-care and lifestyle retail assortment.
• % Arabica: Global specialty coffee chain with cafés across Asia including Singapore. Comparable as a café-format competitor serving the same specialty-coffee consumer, but at much larger scale and without the social-enterprise positioning.
• LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics: Global handmade cosmetics and bath retailer with a strong ethical and anti-waste positioning. Comparable as a values-led retail brand competing in the ethical personal-care and giftable products space.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: US-origin specialty coffee chain with a presence in Asia. Comparable as a premium specialty-coffee café brand competing for the same quality-conscious consumer.

Direct peers

• Foreword Coffee Roasters: Singapore specialty coffee roaster and café with explicit social mission, including employment for marginalised groups. Closely comparable as a Singapore-based café social enterprise operating at the intersection of specialty F&B and impact.
• The Nail Social: Award-winning non-toxic nail salon founded by the same co-founder (Cheryl Ou) that operates the salon inside The Social Space's Kreta Ayer outlet. Directly comparable as a Singapore social enterprise with vocational-training mission.
• Bettr Coffee (Bettr Barista): Singapore specialty coffee social enterprise that trains and employs baristas from disadvantaged backgrounds. Comparable as a fair-trade, impact-led café partner in Singapore's social-enterprise ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thesocialspace.sg
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesocialspace.sg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thesocialspace-sg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Social Space