Singapore, October 2026 — Nami Japanese Academy Pte Ltd has been recognised at the inaugural SME AI Impact Awards 2026, jointly organised by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF), for its achievements in using artificial intelligence to transform educational operations. As an award recipient, Nami has also received the SME AI Impact Awards Trustmark, a verified mark of excellence recognising its achievements in AI-driven business transformation.
The prestigious national awards attracted 290 nominations spanning 21 industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education. Just 30 enterprises were recognised across two award categories, representing approximately 10% of all nominations.
Nami Japanese Academy was selected as one of 15 recipients of the SME Adoption Excellence Award, which recognises Singapore businesses that have successfully implemented AI solutions to deliver measurable improvements in operational efficiency, customer experience, and workforce capabilities.
The awards form part of Singapore’s National AI Impact Programme, supporting the country's National AI Strategy and spotlighting enterprises delivering tangible outcomes through AI.
Recognition by a Distinguished Panel of Government and Industry Leaders
The awards were evaluated by a seven-member panel of senior leaders from government, multinational technology companies, and professional services firms.
The panel included:
Ng Cher PongChief Executive, IMDA
Kok Ping SoonChief Executive Officer, Singapore Business Federation
Loh Hean-HoManaging Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Liew Nam SoonASEAN and Singapore Managing Partner, EY
Benjamin Stewart KingCountry Managing Director, Google Singapore
Chia Wee LuenManaging Director, Microsoft Singapore
Oliver JayManaging Director International, OpenAI
Nominations were assessed against three criteria: the significance of the business challenge addressed by AI, measurable operational and financial outcomes, and the effectiveness of workforce development and organisational change management.
As one of the award recipients, Nami Japanese Academy has also been conferred the SME AI Impact Awards Trustmark, an officially verified mark of excellence recognising enterprises that have demonstrated measurable business impact through AI. The Trustmark serves as a mark of credibility, distinguishing Nami among Singapore SMEs recognised for their successful adoption of artificial intelligence.
Nami joins a distinguished group of award recipients that includes established Singapore enterprises such as GetGo and Glints, highlighting the growing role of AI-driven transformation across industries of different sizes and specialisations.
From a Growing Japanese Language Academy to an AI-Enabled Education Business
Founded by Nicholas Koh, Nami Japanese Academy was established to make high-quality Japanese language education more accessible through personalized instruction and innovative teaching methods.
The academy has since grown to serve over 500 students, supported by an experienced team of Japanese language educators delivering more than 300 hours of instruction monthly.
As Nami expanded, coordinating hundreds of student schedules, individual lesson arrangements, cancellations, and administrative enquiries presented an increasingly complex operational challenge.
Under Koh's leadership, the academy introduced an AI-powered WhatsApp concierge integrating student communications, scheduling, lesson reminders, and invoicing into a streamlined workflow.
Rather than simply automating responses, the system was designed to distinguish routine administrative requests from more complex situations requiring human judgement. AI manages repetitive processes while staff retain oversight of exceptional cases and sensitive student concerns.
The transformation demonstrates how an education business can leverage AI to improve operational efficiency while preserving the personalised relationships that underpin effective language learning.
Technology That Empowers Educators, Rather Than Replaces Them
At the centre of Nami's approach is the belief that technology should strengthen, rather than substitute, human teaching.
By reducing the administrative demands associated with running a growing academy, Nami enables its team to focus more attention on lesson delivery, student progress, and curriculum development.
The academy's broader educational philosophy emphasises active communication, student confidence, and practical language proficiency. Its curriculum incorporates interactive activities and structured opportunities for learners to practise expressing themselves independently.
This emphasis on human-centred education extends to Nami's use of AI: technology handles repetitive administrative processes, while teachers remain central to the learning experience.
Nami's recognition reflects a broader shift in Singapore's education sector, demonstrating that smaller enterprises can achieve meaningful technological transformation without sacrificing the human qualities that distinguish their services.
Looking Ahead
The SME AI Impact Award marks an important milestone in Nami Japanese Academy's growth and its continuing commitment to educational innovation.
Beyond its regular programmes, the academy has also provided Japanese language learning opportunities to more than 50 underprivileged children and elderly learners, reflecting its commitment to broadening educational access.
Building on its recognition, Nami aims to continue refining its operational systems, developing its teaching curriculum, and expanding access to engaging Japanese language education.
As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy, Nami Japanese Academy hopes to demonstrate how entrepreneurial innovation can enable smaller education businesses to scale sustainably, strengthen their teams, and deliver better experiences for students.
About the SME AI Impact Awards 2026
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The SME AI Impact Awards are jointly organised by Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) under the National AI Impact Programme.
The inaugural awards recognised 30 enterprises from 290 nominations across 21 sectors for achieving meaningful business outcomes through AI adoption and innovation.
All award recipients receive the SME AI Impact Awards Trustmark, a verified mark of excellence that signals credibility and recognises demonstrated achievements in AI-enabled business transformation.
Official reference: IMDA — Inaugural SME AI Impact Awards 2026