Co-founder's death a setback, but Tipsy Collective still plans to grow

Hospitality group focusing on its two recent openings in S’pore, looks to expand in region

- Anjali Raguraman Correspondent

A month after its co-founder died, group home-grown hospitality Tipsy Collective has said it is accelerating plans to expand the business.

Mr Derek Ong, who co-founded the group with close friend David Gan in 2018, died suddenly on Aug 26 at the age of 35. It was about a week before the duo were to launch their most ambitious venture yet a Sentosa beach club.

Mr Gan, Tipsy Collective's executive chairman, said Mr Ong's death was a setback, but it has renewed the group's drive to grow the business to "carry on Mr Ong's memory".

"We are a man short, a co-founder short... but things haven't changed, though the circumstances have," said Mr Gan, 31, who was speaking to The Straits Times in an exclusive interview at the beach club last Friday.

Tipsy Collective runs 12 restaurants and bars here, and is known for its heartland gastropubs that have live music.

The collective's islandwide menagerie of creature-themed outlets includes Tipsy Bird in Paya Lebar, Tipsy Bunny in Jurong, Tipsy Panda in Woodlands, and Tipsy Flamingo at Raffles City.