If Razer builds Singapore’s nationwide e-payments system, the hypothetical deal would’ve been struck via Twitter

Next time you are a bit nervous about pitching to a group of Venture Capitalists, keep in mind the story of Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan.

After Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore, made mobile payments a key feature of his National Day Rally speech, Tan threw him a pitch via Twitter.

And it might have worked.

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The Prime Minister took to Twitter to explain that Singapore’s e-payments infrastructure is fractured, and it is high-time to build a system that is more efficient and universal.

In Singapore we do have e-payments, but too many schemes & systems – inconvenient for consumers and costly for businesses. #ndrsg pic.twitter.com/GRXwWJIkeW

— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) August 20, 2017

To which Tan offered up Razer as the company that will roll out the mobile payments solution across the city. He included a bold pitch about what his company is capable of accomplishing.

Say the word and I'll have the epayment system rolled out nationwide in 18 months. For Singaporeans. By Singaporeans 😉

— Min-Liang Tan (@minliangtan) August 22, 2017

PM Lee seemed opened to the idea, telling Tan to put together a proposal; at which point the public might have witnessed the beginnings of a deal getting struck via Twitter.

Thanks @minliangtan! Make me a proposal, and I will study it seriously.

— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) August 23, 2017

To acknowledge the moment, and thank the Prime Minister for being so open-minded, Tan made sure to spread the moment via Facebook.

Furthermore, Razer already has the infrastructure in place to build out an e-payments system.

In June, the gaming-hardware company acquired a minority stake in the Malaysian e-payments company MOL to roll out its virtual currency (called zGold). As it rolls out, the currency will be available for the gaming community in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Big brands like Playstation and Facebook will also accept zGold payments.

Also Read: Razer acquires stake in Malaysian e-payments platform MOL to roll out virtual currency

Whether or not this Twitter back-and-forth amounts to a tangible deal remains to be seen, but it certainly was a brilliant piece of pitching from Tan, and a savvy PR move from the Prime Minister.

Circling back to the top, for any startup Founder who is quaking in their boots before walking into a VC pitch meeting, just remember that Min-Liang Tan had the courage to pitch to a world leader via social media. And was rewarded.

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