Stories

Stories & Articles

Insights, case studies, and community stories from the Better.sg tech-for-good ecosystem.

Spec-Driven Development, A Structured Approach to AI-Assisted Software Development

The traditional software development project accumulates scope creep, technical debt and complexity over time. The usual advice for a new developer joining a project - "Read the Code” - tells the developer what a system does, but not why it was built that way. That gap only widens with legacy code and complex, long-drawn projects. AI makes this gap sharper. The quality of AI-assisted code depends significantly on how the request is defined. This is where Specs-Driven Development (SDD) comes in.

AI CodingSpec-Driven Development

31 Aug 2026Read

Article·4 min read

Presence: A Digital Safety Net for Solo Dwellers

Well-being check-ins for people who live alone. Presence, not silence. Presence quietly learns your everyday phone rhythm. If your day goes unusually quiet, it checks in. If you can’t reply, it gently lets someone you trust know.

30 Jul 2026Read

Article·4 min read

Tech Spotlight: Better.sg’s Engineering Playbook!

At Better.sg, we want to show that volunteerism and enterprise-level reliability are not mutually exclusive.

EngineeringPlaybook

27 Jul 2026Read

Blog·4 min read

Attention: Borrowed or Harvested?

Mental Health & Tech: Building Platforms that Encourage Digital Well-Being

productmental health

26 Jul 2026Read

Article·6 min read

Highlights from our 2nd Pitch & Demo Night of 2026

On 4 June 2026, over 100 established and aspiring changemakers gathered at The Foundry for Better.sg’s second Pitch & Demo Night of the year.

eventspitch-night

30 Jun 2026Read

Article·7 min read

"This is a Room of Possibilities"

Over 100 community members gathered at The Foundry for Better.sg's Pitch & Demo Night to showcase tech-for-good projects and pitch new ideas.

eventspitch-night

28 Feb 2026Read

Article·6 min read

Saylah: Making Communication Accessible in Singapore

Saylah is a free, locally relevant AAC app built by Better.sg volunteers to make communication accessible for non-verbal individuals in Singapore.

projectsaccessibility

28 Feb 2026Read

Article·5 min read

Marking the Close of Better.sg's AI/ML Mentorship Programme (2nd Edition)

Six months, ten sessions, and over a hundred mentors and mentees later, Better.sg's AI/ML Mentorship Programme wrapped up its second edition.

eventsai-ml

31 Jan 2026Read

Article·8 min read

What is AI Safety and Why Should You Care?

As AI becomes embedded in everyday life, understanding AI safety has never been more important. Here's what it means and why it matters.

ai-mlai-safety

30 Jan 2026Read

Article·1 min read

Annual Report FY24/25

Better.sg's Annual Report FY24/25 is now available. Explore our key milestones, community impact, and plans for the year ahead.

annual-reports

20 Jan 2026Read

Article·2 min read

Better.sg's Q1 2026 Events

A preview of Better.sg's upcoming Q1 2026 events: the AI/ML Mentorship closing ceremony, Pitch & Demo Night, and the first community social of the year.

events

4 Jan 2026Read

Article·4 min read

#TechforGood Gains Momentum: Better.sg at Major Singapore Tech Events

Better.sg reaches meaningful milestones at World of Workato 2025 and <d/acc> Discovery Day, signaling that community-driven tech innovation is becoming central to Singapore's digital ecosystem.

tech-for-goodcivic-innovation

29 Nov 2025Read

Article·4 min read

BEACON 2025 Brought Together More Than 240 Changemakers to Build a Caring Digital Future

More than 240 changemakers from Singapore's public, private, and people sectors convened at BEACON 2025 to explore how technology and community can strengthen society through the theme "Connect, Collaborate, and Cultivate."

beaconconference

1 Nov 2025Read

Article·4 min read

The Rise of Micro Apps: How Non-Profits Can Do More with Less

How Non-Profits Can Do More with Less — a look at how lightweight, purpose-built apps are transforming what small teams can achieve.

tech-for-goodmicro-apps

22 Sept 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Build for Good Community Evening: Fostering a Community of Tech for Good

Better.sg and Open Government Products brought together tech enthusiasts for an evening exploring how technology contributes to social impact.

communityevents

12 Sept 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Better.sg's AI/ML Mentorship Programme has officially launched!

The second run of Better.sg's AI/ML Mentorship Programme is underway, featuring insights from mentors on pivoting into AI/ML and building professional portfolios.

ai-mlmentorship

26 Aug 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Building Empathy with Tech: From Airwaves to the Classroom

At Better.sg, we believe tech should not only be smart, it should also be human. Our Are You OK? chatbot (RUOK) recently stepped into the spotlight in two exciting ways.

mental-healthai-ml

15 Aug 2025Read

Article·8 min read

Using Lovable for Social Impact

A case study applying vibe coding to develop a full CRM platform enabling home-based cafes for social impact.

tech-for-goodai

12 Aug 2025Read

Article·3 min read

The 2nd Pitch & Demo Night of 2025 Was a Huge Success!

Over 100 changemakers gathered at The Foundry for Better.sg's second Pitch & Demo Night, featuring inspiring project demos and a new partnership announcement.

eventspitch-night

21 Jul 2025Read

Article·2 min read

Better.sg Talks AI, Care, and Community on Hatch Academy's Podcast

Better.sg members discuss building tech tools that support real-world social work on Hatch Academy's AI for All podcast.

ai-mlcommunity

20 Jul 2025Read

Article·5 min read

Empowering Women, Scaling Impact: A collaboration between Rise & Thrive and Better.sg

Rise & Thrive partnered with Better.sg to launch an e-learning platform, enabling more women from low-income households to build sustainable home-based businesses.

social-impactcommunity

13 Jul 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Chatbot Masterclass: LLMs are smart, but you're the expert. Here's how to teach them.

Understanding the limitations of LLM-powered chatbots and learning practical techniques to improve their responses through better guidance and customization.

ai-mlchatbots

28 Jun 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Partnering for Impact: How Better.sg Powers #TechforGood Through Collaboration

Meaningful change happens through partnerships across sectors, disciplines, and communities — explore two key events catalyzing Singapore's tech-for-good movement.

tech-for-goodcommunity

27 Jun 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Cybersecurity Essentials For Social Impact Organisations

A workshop on protecting employees and data assets against cyber threats, attended by representatives from 11 social impact organisations.

cybersecuritysocial-impact

7 May 2025Read

Article·2 min read

Leading with Heart: Lewis Liu on Improv, Innovation, and Impact

CEO Lewis Liu discusses how passion for people and creative problem-solving drive better.sg's mission to create meaningful digital solutions for Singapore.

communityleadership

30 Mar 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Creating for Everyone: Inclusive Design in Tech

58 designers, developers, and product managers gathered to explore how accessibility goes beyond permanent disabilities — making technology more usable for all.

accessibilityinclusive-design

5 Mar 2025Read

Article·3 min read

Better.sg's First Pitch & Demo Night in 2025!

Over 100 participants gathered at The Foundry on February 5, 2025, to witness project pitches and demonstrations of tech-for-good initiatives.

eventspitch-night

14 Feb 2025Read

Article·2 min read

Supporting Social Impact Organisations' Digital Transformation Journey

Better.sg expands its efforts to work directly with social impact organisations, supporting their digital transformation through the Volunteer Tech Officer programme.

tech-for-goodvto

29 Jan 2025Read

Article·3 min read

2024 CEO Letter to better.sg Members

A message from Lewis Liu reflecting on 2024 achievements and inviting community feedback for the year ahead.

communityannual-review

25 Dec 2024Read

Article·3 min read

Better.sg Annual Report: FY23/24 in Review

A year marked by community growth, signature events, and impactful initiatives leveraging technology for social good.

annual-reportscommunity

30 Nov 2024Read

Article·5 min read

BEACON 2024 Celebrates #TechforGood: Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation

BEACON 2024 brought together over 270 innovators and changemakers to explore how technology can create meaningful social impact, with the theme "Diversity and Inclusion."

beaconconference

23 Nov 2024Read

Article·3 min read

Better.sg Welcomes Our New CEO

A letter from new CEO Lewis Liu reaffirming Better.sg's community-driven mission and announcing a greater emphasis on the advisory pillar.

communityleadership

29 Sept 2024Read

Article·5 min read

Tech-Driven Utopia - Our Future City

Better.sg reimagines a tech-driven utopia using Gen-AI, showcasing a society driven by tech for good, seamlessly integrated into daily life.

tech-for-goodai-ml

22 Sept 2024Read

Article·2 min read

What is Singapore's Place in the AI/ML Revolution?

Singapore can punch above its weight in the AI/ML revolution, with industry leaders discussing the nation's role in developing Southeast Asia's first LLM model.

ai-mlmentorship

21 Sept 2024Read

Article·3 min read

Singapore's Inaugural BEACON 2023 Conference puts a spotlight on #TechforGood

The inaugural BEACON 2023 conference convened tech enthusiasts and changemakers to drive conversations on leveraging technology for social impact, attracting over 260 attendees.

beaconconference

18 Nov 2023Read

Article·5 min read

Femtech - The Future is Female

An exploration of the US$1 billion Femtech industry, featuring insights from leaders in women's health technology innovation across Asia.

femtechgender

29 Nov 2022Read

Article·4 min read

Interview: Lim Zi Kun, Desiree Khng – ToBeYou.sg; Part Two: Approaching Sensitive Topics

Exploring how To Be You tackles race, religion, and prejudice through gamification and interactive storytelling in Singapore's multicultural context.

projectsdiversity-inclusion

1 Jun 2022Read

Article·4 min read

Interview: Lim Zi Kun, Desiree Khng – ToBeYou.sg; Part One: Launching a Successful Project

How a team of Better.sg volunteers built and launched ToBeYou.sg, a role-playing game that builds empathy across social divides.

projectsdiversity-inclusion

1 Jun 2022Read

Article·5 min read

Interview: Dr Jade Kua – DARE; Learning to Pivot

Dr Jade Kua shares insights on pivoting the DARE app and the importance of honest conversations about the future of tech products in social good initiatives.

projectstech-for-good

13 Mar 2022Read

Article·3 min read

Interview: Jeremy Au – Social Impact Investor, Building to Last

Jeremy Au shares his perspective on merging investment and social impact disciplines, and how TechforGood initiatives should approach sustainability and financing.

social-impactinvestment

11 Dec 2021Read