The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routines and forced us to reassess life as we know it. Now, hybrid working has become the new norm. Our education system needs to see the same change. Edutech is making it happen.

The pandemic threw us into disarray. We embraced hybrid working and fluctuated between impassioned proclamations that it would destroy the world or push us into a new era of explosive productivity.

For all its highs and lows, the majority has spoken. Hybrid working is the new norm. People found what they needed to boost their mental well-being, productivity and motivation.

Our current education system has been struggling to nurture curious and self-directed learners. It is time we look for solutions outside the school walls.

Here’s why I think the hybrid model makes sense for our education system; and how edutech is making it happen.

Learning goes beyond school

In a world full of possibilities, distilling the world and its wonders into a handful of subjects in our curriculum is inadequate.

Diverse experiences will make our children better learners. Heuristic problem-solving exists in our school curriculum but it lacks consideration for real-world elements. Issues such as climate change are discussed in classrooms without the nuances of real-world conflicts and inequalities.

In short, the four walls of the school obscure and unintentionally prejudice perspectives.

Schools of the future

Just as varied models of hybrid Wwrk address the different needs of our workforce, hybrid schooling will need to offer various flexible options.

Also Read: In this age of digitalisation, is edutech a bane or boon for educators?

Hybrid schooling will be an important step toward letting kids decide what, when and how they want to learn. Realistically, it’s not practical to let learners decide entirely.

The key here is to give kids agency, giving them a sense of ownership over their learning. Research has shown that children are more motivated to learn when they feel in control of what and how they are learning.

• LingoTalk is an exciting edutech that offers personalised language learning with AI
• Padlet is a beautiful interactive space for anyone to mindmap and pins a wide range of multimedia
• Doyobi offers student-led experiences online, so students all over the world can meet and collaborate

The Skills Advantage Report by LinkedIn highlighted that employers these days are increasingly prioritising transferable skills in their hiring practices rather than academic qualifications. In tandem, the education we give our kids has to shift similarly.

An inclusive experience

Critics will be quick to claim that hybrid schooling puts students from families that lack resources and knowledge at a massive disadvantage. In actual fact, we only have to look within the communities that we live in. It just takes a little thinking out of the box.

From pet-sitting to volunteering, helping out with a small local business, exploring a passion project, to initiatives to rejuvenate the neighbourhood, the world is interconnected, interdependent and nuanced.

School, on the other hand, is a safe space governed by routine and timetables. I have no doubt that parents feel peace when their child is safe within the four walls of a school, but balancing that with a recognition of the reality that our children will face is equally important.

If you’re in tech, you would know just how interconnected and globalised the real world has become.

Interactions between people lead to greater empathy. Children who develop empathy have stronger relationships with other children and educators, which helps them become better learners.

Freedom in unstructured time

A huge part of why hybrid working resulted in greater productivity was its freedom. Workers were free to work in settings they deemed the most comfortable, invest time in hobbies that were both therapeutic and reinvigorating, and spend more time with their families and loved ones.

Also Read: Edutech in a post-pandemic world: Where do we go from here?

Children need the same freedom to develop their imagination and ability to manage themselves without external stimulation.

• DesignContest challenges designers all over the world to compete and express their creativity
• Masterclass gives you access to experts from anywhere in the world.

With more time and space to explore their interests and passions, children will also discover more about themselves. With greater self-awareness, children develop better decision-making skills and are more purpose-driven.

In a rapidly evolving world, we need to give our children a supportive environment for self-discovery.

Let them fail!

One thing is clear, hybrid schooling will not be neat, tidy or perfect.

Children, with all the optimism and enthusiasm in their hearts, will have ambitions that may not be practicable in the real world. Let them fail. Encourage risk-taking! Let them learn from their mistakes and overcome their fear of failure.

Failure is not the be-all and end-all in life (another issue I have with standardised testing).

In the real world, your value is not determined by standardised testing. Most of our young workers these days struggle with that reality. They believe that to win approval, they should constrain their actions within KPIs that are set for them.

If everyone gave up at the prospect of failure, we would have zero successful startups. Zero!

Our privilege disconnects us

We are privileged. We are digitally literate, we have access to the basic necessities of life. The schools we send our children to also give them “invisible” privileges that disconnect them from life.

Ultimately, if we coddle them, restrain them and teach them that uncertainty and the pursuit of new discoveries are not worth the time, they will be at a massive disadvantage in ambiguous, real-world situations.

School, or our concept of it, needs an overhaul. Parents, educators and the community must participate and invest meaningfully in their education.

Only then can we nurture a generation that we couldn’t be prouder of.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

Image credit: Doyobi

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Charged Indonesia, a new electric motorcycle startup, has secured a US$4.5 million (approximately IDR 68 billion) investment led by Singapore-headquartered DeClout Ventures.

Charged Indonesia intends to launch a range of “affordable and practical” e-motorcycles for commercial fleets and individuals in the archipelago in Q4 2022.

Founded in 2022, Charged Indonesia is a direct-to-user e-motorcycle manufacturer and distributor.

The firm is currently rolling out a 16,000-square metre zero energy facility in Greater Jakarta to house its experiential centre and R&D and production engineering teams.

The firm starts with three models to cover varying needs, including personal transportation, logistics, corporate fleets, and ride-hailing services. The firm aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to mitigate air pollution and improve the overall mobility experience in Indonesia.

Also Read: Oben Electric wants to RORR past other e-motorcycles in India with its ICE-comparable model

Stephanus Widi, Chief Commercial Officer at Charged Indonesia, said: “Carbon emissions from traditional combustion motorcycles are one of the main sources of air pollution in Indonesia. Charged Indonesia aims to improve this by leading the transition of combustion motorcycle users towards sustainable mobility. We see ourselves as part of the sustainability movement in Indonesia with the government, state-owned enterprises, NGOs, supply chain partners and other ecosystem members to create a future with cleaner air, reduced pollution and better health for our future generations and environment.”

“This investment is a strategic one for us as we see strong alignment and synergies between Charged Indonesia’s business and our portfolio companies in the smart city infrastructure, IoT, and cleantech space,” said DeClout CEO Lim Swee Yong.

Indonesia’s EV sector is still in its infancy. According to a Gaikindo’s report, only 705 total EV sales were recorded in 2019. As of June 2021, the number of EV sales in the country totaled 1,900 units. When viewed from the total sales of cars in Indonesia in the first semester of 2021, the interest in the EV market is at 0.5 per cent of total cars sold.

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After two years of extensive lockdowns, online webinars, video calls, and very few opportunities to engage with the community in-person, we’re finally bringing you Echelon! APAC’s leading tech, startup, and investment Platform organised by e27, is returning this year with the goal of building stronger collaboration between ecosystem players.

What makes this year’s Echelon different from its past version is that Echelon 2022 is a curated event that focused on connecting key decision-makers from the region’s startups, investors, corporates, governments, and ecosystem enablers.

The event is invite-only and aims to facilitate favourable business outcomes through meet-ups, discussions, and other activities that could help participants connect with and discover potential partners to move their business forward.

With a focus on sustainability and an eye to the future, together, we find out how you can apply principles of sustainability with the newest technologies in today’s business environment to take your business operations to the next level.

Echelon 2022: Exciting things ahead

Echelon 2022 will feature a slew of opportunities for learning, connection, and growth. Here’s a quick rundown on the things you can expect from Echelon 2022!

The event features the Main Stage where participants can learn firsthand from Asia’s experts and thought leaders. Guest speakers will be discussing a variety of topics including fundraising and growth experiences, tips and insights on how to grow and scale, as well as exciting new trends on what to expect in 2022 and beyond!

Another key feature of Echelon 2022 is the Corporate to Startup Business Matching. This feature will bring together corporates that are looking to innovate their businesses together with proof of concept-ready startups, forging partnerships between established enterprises and innovative startups.

Also read: Accelerating Indonesia’s rural economy through social commerce

Complementing such a feature, Echelon 2022 will also be hosting an Investor to Startup Business Matching which introduces investors to highly relevant and investment-ready startups and facilitate potential deals and partnerships geared towards mutual growth.

Bringing back one of Echelon’s most exciting features, the 2022 edition of the programme will also showcase a special Exhibition. Here, participants get to meet Echelon 2022 sponsors and partners to explore opportunities for future business collaborations and partnerships, among others.

If you’ve been itching to discuss your exciting new ideas with experts, the exclusive event will also be introducing Open Networking Session. With Echelon 2022’s dedicated business matching section, participants that take part in the Open Networking Sessions will get access and exposure to relevant decision-makers in the tech industry where they can do in-depth discussions that could help move their company forward.

Apart from the open sessions, participants can also explore unique Roundtable Sessions. Through this feature, you can access closed-door, exclusively themed events dedicated to exploring new opportunities, initiating discussions and knowledge sharing, and fostering collaborative programmes among attendees.

Lastly but certainly not least, the event will be showcasing an exclusive Private Luncheon. This invite-only luncheon for Echelon partners aims to facilitate discovery and discussion with select attendees.

Connect, discover, and learn

Through this revitalised effort to bring the community together after two years, Echelon 2022 attendees have the opportunity to connect and meet in person with investors, corporates, governments, and entrepreneurs who are shaping APAC.

You also stand the chance to discover partners to collaborate with and build productive relationships, with 500 of the most influential decision-makers and industry leaders from the Southeast Asia tech and startup ecosystem.

Also read: Kristal.AI expands to ESOP liquidity offerings

Moreover, attendees can learn and gain insight through discussion sessions featuring veteran and upcoming entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers who will be shedding the light on today’s tech landscape and the future of startups in the region.

“The Echelon conferences for us is a really big deal, regionally because it brings together all the people in the ecosystem we live and breathe in,” shared Ardent Capital on their experience of having been part of past Echelon editions.

Want to experience what it’s like to marvel at today’s leading entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers? Register your interest to join Echelon 2022.

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Starboard, a platform for founders to start and run their companies globally, announced today a US$3.5 million pre-Series A funding round led by Monkʼs Hill Ventures.

Other investors include Actium Partners, Iterative Capital, Bruno Poh (General Counsel, Lyte Ventures), Lelaina Lim (CFO, Eu Yang Sang International Limited), Michael Tor (Executive Director, UOB), Soh Gin Wee, Sulyana Binte Abdul Aziz, and Terrence Hoon.

The funds will be used to expand engineering, operations and customer success teams, supporting users in Singapore, Southeast Asia and the US.

Founded by serial entrepreneur Melvin Yuan (CEO), Starboard is a one-stop corporate services platform for business incorporation, compliance, accounting, and financial management. It helps global businesses set up, manage and run their US/Singapore companies from a cloud-based platform.

Also Read: Lanturn secures US$3M to provide online corporate services to organisations in Singapore

In other words, the firm is building a company OS (Operating System). It provides access to various corporate services, including accounting and bookkeeping, compliance, payroll, visa applications, company formation and structuring, ESOP advisory, and fractional-CFO services.

The company has onboarded many clients — from startups to SMEs and asset managers — and is currently rolling out its proprietary client portal as a web app, iOS and Android App.

“Founders often have to pull information from multiple sources about their business. Starboard is the ʻone place and one teamʼ solution for founders to manage their businesses efficiently,” said Melvin Yuan, Founder and CEO.

Starboard has also set up operations in Silicon Valley to enable clients from Singapore and Southeast Asia to manage their US subsidiaries. Yuan, a three-time founder, believes that US-based companies can quickly expand into Asia through Starboard, tapping into the market and talent pool with Singapore as regional headquarters.

Despite rapid digitisation, the market still sees many traditional corporate service providers (CSPs) that rely on pen-and-paper processes, limiting efficiency and scalability. In Singapore alone, 2,000 such providers are servicing over 290,000 SMEs.

Starboardʼs platform automates corporate entity management and governance workflow to increase productivity and reduce errors by CSPs. There is a huge opportunity to consolidate this massive fragmented industry.

In 2020, Lanturn, another Singapore-based one-stop online corporate services startup, raised US$3 million in a seed funding round from several investors, including East Ventures and CoCoon Ignite Ventures.

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Apeiron Bioenergy, a Singapore-based bioenergy products company, has announced closing an equity financing round from Mitsui Chemicals.

The amount remains undisclosed.

The funds will support Apeiron Bioenergy in increasing its collection capacity for waste-based feedstocks across Asian markets. It will also equip the company for exponential growth amidst growing demand for renewable feedstock for advanced biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel.

According to the International Energy Agency, global demand for renewable diesel is set to more than double, or by 11 billion litres, over the next five years. It mainly stems from government regulations in the US and the EU as established in the decarbonisation targets byCOP26.

However, the planned capacity is set to outpace domestic feedstock supply significantly, and production must keep up with the climate emergency.

Apeiron Bioenergy collects and processes a range of renewable feedstocks, including used cooking oil (UCO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME), and acts as a critical exporter across the Asian market.

Over the past 15 years, Apeiron Bioenergy has built its presence in over ten countries and collected more than 500 million litres of UCO between 2017-2021, offsetting an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Also Read: Singapore startup EcoWorth Tech converts highly contaminated waste into reusable products

“Zero Carbon emissions is one of our strategic targets by 2050. As one of Japan’s leading chemical companies, our investment in Apeiron is our way of contributing to solving the world’s future environmental issues,” said Tadashi Yoshino, Representative Director, Managing Executive Officer, Mitsui Chemicals.

Apeiron Bioenergy’s access to diversified sources and networks of feedstock and relationships with downstream customers means it is in an excellent position to access and supply downstream by-products for Mitsui Chemicals to help achieve its net zero targets.

Mitsui’s strategic investment will help Apeiron meet the substantial rise in biofuel demand by ramping up its capacity of collection points and processing facilities through both organic and inorganic growth.

The company actively seeks to acquire or collaborate with local collectors of sustainable feedstocks in the Asian markets.

“Tackling supply chain issues in bioenergy across Asia requires a community-focused, collaborative approach,” said Chris Chen, Managing Director of Apeiron Bioenergy. “We will ramp up our collection capability, collaborating closely with our downstream partners to resolve the wider sustainability problem of reducing carbon emissions across the land, sea and air transportation spaces.”

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Ivan Yeo stepped down as the CEO of EVOS ESports, a leading e-sports startup he co-founded, in 2021 to focus on his health and handed over its rein to a new generation of leaders. During this time, he started in-depth research about Web3, one of the most talked-about sectors globally.

As he dug deeper, Yeo realised the enormous potential Web3 presents and the disruptive capability across multiple industries it carries.

This landed him on the idea of Avium.

“Avium is building a network of studios by leveraging Web3 infrastructure,” Yeo says. “We are building an entertainment brand to greenlight original content by the Southeast Asian studios behind Marvel Comics, Valve, Netflix, Prime Video, and Tencent.”

Yeo believes that one of the key ingredients of building a successful brand is to capture attention. Avium is doing this by establishing multiple channels.

Also Read: Web3 games should aim to have sustainable tokenomics, ecosystems: Froyo Games’s Douglas Gan

“Our first channel is creating our original content, characters and stories, and we’re supported by hundreds of artists and creators from top Southeast Asia studios working on this. This will eventually be distributed across various social media and content platforms in multiple formats, such as audio, comics, and animation,” he shares.

The second channel is via Avium Esports, which Yeo claims to be the first ever decentralised e-sports team. It allows the startup to establish its presence and gain attention in the gaming sector, drawing eyeballs and creating legions of diehard fans.

“So building Avium as a brand means continually building these avenues for us to capture attention and further develop them,” adds Yeo, who successfully turned EVOS into an organisation with a presence in four countries. EVOS has raised over US$16 million across several rounds and employs over 60 full-time professional gamers and 300 exclusive talents under its brand.

The Founders’ Pass collection — an NFT designed to incentivise the creatives and studios building Avium’s brand — is at the centre of Avium’s ecosystem. It is an all-access pass to the Avium ecosystem. It means the Founders’ Pass holders get auto-access to a curated community, direct access to the project core team, exclusive events, creative resources and subsequent collections by Avium, including the upcoming Origins collection. The pass holders are also considered Avium’s founding members, with rights to build with studios and producers while leveraging the brand.

The benefits for studios

Every artist dreams of creating their original IP and being recognised for the brilliant work they produce. However, bringing original content to fruition and mass distribution remains difficult because Southeast Asia lacks a supporting ecosystem (seen in Hollywood) to enable this.

As a result, much of the work undertaken by Southeast Asian studios is only seen as “outsourced”. While they may be working on blockbuster Hollywood titles, they are minimally recognised, have no claims to the art they produce, and do not participate in the value created downstream (distribution, merchandising, etc.).

“Using the collaborative and community-driven culture of Web3, Avium works with studios to produce original content and intellectual property (IP). Together with our ecosystem partners, we assist them with community building, marketing, NFT technology and smart contract deployment. That’s the unique thing about Web3. The community backing the project is ultimately the same fans who can enjoy their creations,” he elaborates.

Avium and EVOS

Yeo believes there is an opportunity for collaboration between Avium and e-sports, specifically EVOS. For now, the Web3 startup is endorsing and supporting Slate Esports, a decentralised e-sports organisation owned by the players and the community.

Slate was formed by SEA Games Bronze Medalist duo Akihiro’ JPL’ Furusawa and Daryl ‘Youngin’ Ng after EVOS released them in late July. Both are Founders’ Pass holders. With the endorsement, Slate will leverage Avium’s ecosystem and represent the brand through the decentralised ownership model by utilising the pass.

“The decentralised ownership model is one of the first use cases of Founders’ Pass, allowing community members to utilise the Avium brand. Ownership by the players and fans aligns incentives better and allows them to participate in brand value growth, compared to Web2 business model,” Yeo explains.

Also Read: EVOS Esports Founder’s new Web3 media startup Avium lands US$2M funding

Avium has also onboarded two renowned regional art and animation companies — Caravan Studios and Circle Studios. Caravan has developed entertainment IP for household brands, including Marvel Comics, Netflix, Prime Video, Lego, Legends of Runterra, and Clash Royale. Circle Studios is the company behind Valve, Tencent, Dota, and Mobile Legends.

“For us, Caravan and Circle are not just teams of people we outsource to or just there to get the work done. We acknowledge and work with them as ecosystem partners, symbolising a deeper relationship between the creators and what’s created. Ecosystem partners are active participants in the Avium ecosystem. The more they succeed, the stronger the Avium ecosystem becomes. So it was important to find partners aligned with the vision of what we are building,” Yeo says as he shares the reasoning behind the partnerships.

Last week, Avium received US$2 million in a pre-seed round led by Saison Capital and joined by East Ventures, Mirana Ventures, Ricky Ow (ex-Warner Media), and Hepmil Media Group. The fund will be deployed to build the brand and IP in line with its vision to become the most prominent Web3 media and entertainment company.

“We will deploy the capital to fund the costs of creating original content and characters in the Avium world, publishing stories in the media, and establishing our content creator network and presence in e-sports,” Yeo concludes.

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It’s not very often that I receive phone calls from ex-colleagues. So, I was surprised when my phone’s screen flashed with an ex-colleague’s number when I was ready to sign off after a busy week. The strange thing was that we hadn’t spoken for nearly two decades, except for the occasional greetings and wishes on WhatsApp.

I must say, it was a long conversation. We chatted about family and our jobs. Lo and behold, he informed me that he has been with the same company for the past 35 years.

He went on to express that for some time now, he was overcome with emptiness. Unfair treatment from his manager, lack of support, and unmanageable workload. A couple of times, he voiced his intent to quit, but he never could follow through with it. I felt for him at this point.

A lot of questions floated in my head instantly. Would I have been in the same boat if I was still working there? Had he been stuck at the same company for too long? How can companies value long-serving employees?

I’ve been reading about burnout, roadblocks at work, and mental health. As I continued listening to him, I realised that this was what he was experiencing.

As we navigate the new normal, we are constantly faced with new crises every now and then. Businesses have to transform to suit the different needs of customers. Employees have to re-skill and up-skill constantly to keep up with the new technology tools to prevent burnout. Customers have a variety of channels to cater to their needs and wants.

But business leaders are not addressing complex issues such as stress, mental well-being, exhaustion, and burnout. There is no emotional support given at the workplace.

Working on core company culture to prevent burnout

We must understand how important it is for an employee to feel good, happy, and motivated at work. From having one-on-one conversations to checking how they are doing, managing their workloads, or even giving them time away from work.

Also Read: How startup leaders can delegate to prevent burnout 

However, employees need to be shown that they are valued before burnouts even occur, which can lead to an even bigger mental health problem. This is why I would like to share the best ways to support an employee emotionally.

Give feedback

We all wish to have constructive and timely feedback on our performance. Giving balanced feedback can help in shaping an employee’s work. Employees working remotely or in a hybrid setup could request a monthly evaluation from their supervisors. You could even seek guidance from trusted peers, mentors, or even your managers.

Healthy criticism and feedback will have a positive effect on your employees for many reasons. Among some of the reasons, we can mention that it helps to build a relationship between the higher-ups and the employees. Their work will feel more important and valuable if you show that you care.

Equip your employees with the right tools

Ensuring your employees have the right tools to do their job well can benefit productivity and satisfaction. Whether on-site or remote, there must be a collaborative synergy between teams. Some examples of tools are collaboration platforms, CRM, customer engagement platforms, and project management.

One of the most frustrating things that I have experienced as an employee myself was when the company tried to save money by not purchasing the tools that I needed to the point that it was impossible to do a decent job.

Unclear job expectations

One of the biggest aspects of why your employees procrastinate or get to the point of burnout is the lack of clarity on what, how, and for what amount of time they need to do a certain job. You won’t likely feel at ease if you’re unsure about your level of authority or what your boss or other colleagues expect from you.

That is why you as a manager should develop an excellent hierarchy structure and a detailed plan for your employees. This way, they would know what they need to do and to whom they should go for help and advice.

Dysfunctional workplace dynamics

Nothing screams “toxic” more than an unwelcome job environment. I know that the saying “we are one big, happy family” is misused and should not describe a company because you are mainly there to purely profit from one another but to be honest, you are spending a big chunk of your day at work, with your co-workers. That is why you should at least have a friendly interaction with them.

Like just imagine this scenery: Perhaps you are the target of an office bully, feel undercut by coworkers, or have your job micromanaged by your employer. This may increase work-related stress and make the whole working experience not enjoyable.

Work-life imbalance

You risk burning out rapidly if your work consumes so much of your time and energy that you lack the energy to spend time with your loved ones.

Also Read: 6 leadership lessons I learned after we raised our seed round

That is why ever since people started working from home during the quarantine, they understood how important it was to be near their loved ones more. You can see a lot of employees all around the world requesting or even demanding that they be allowed to work from home permanently.

Lack of social support

I once worked for a company that went from 10 employees to 150 in less than five years. In a conversation that I had with some of the employees that were in the company from the beginning, they confessed that they were happier, more motivated, and more productive.

The reason behind this is they could instantly communicate amongst themselves for every need. They also had a great time because they filled their break-time with quality, social time full of laughter.

But this does not mean that all of you should be in a big office for some quality time and social support. Firstly, because it’s impossible if you are in a large company and secondly remote working has too many pros.

But how can you build social support and interaction if your employees are working remotely? Equip them with the right tools. Get together on a virtual call to get things done. Have fun Fridays. Basically, pour a glass of whisky, chat, and play games for an hour.

Final thoughts

Coming back to the conversation with my friend. As I rounded up my conversation with my old friend, we both felt that we learned valuable lessons from one another. We said our goodbyes with a promise to strive to do better at our jobs and for ourselves.

Now that I’m reminiscing about this, I think I should call my friend and see how things are at his end.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

Image credit: Canva Pro

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Singapore-based WasteX, an agricultural processing waste startup, has announced its launch with an initial investment of US$525,000 from Wavemaker Impact.

Founded by CEO Pawel Kuznicki, WasteX helps Southeast Asia’s agricultural producers convert waste into higher-value products that fight climate change. The startup looks to tackle the problem of 3.5 billion tons of agricultural processing waste globally — dumped, burnt, or sold cheaply — by converting it to upgraded products with major financial, operational, and carbon benefits.

Also Read: Singapore startup EcoWorth Tech converts highly contaminated waste into reusable products

The company provides an end-to-end solution to agricultural producers – from selecting the right technology, its deployment, and operational support to the certification for carbon credits and facilitation of the sale and application of higher-value products, such as biochar or black soldier flies.

WasteX has already started several pilot projects with clients, including integrated agricultural companies, independent mills, and livestock farms. Over time, it looks to digitise its solution significantly and connect diverse players along the biomass waste value chain to scale this new industry.

The early assessment of the opportunity comes with a potential market of over US$150 billion in GMV for the upgraded products and over 700 million metric tons in GHG reduction potential.

Also Read: Shoes from waste plastic bottles! Neeman’s is going places with its sustainable footwear products

WastX was born out of Wavemaker Impact’s 4-month-long venture-building process. Wavemaker Impact is a climate tech venture builder that co-founds sustainability startups with proven entrepreneurs to reduce 10 per cent of the global carbon budget by 2035. It aims to rally individuals, investors, and businesses that care about the planet and want to make a rapid, material change in reducing carbon emissions.

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Today marked the first day of NXC International Summit –the event commonly known as Nexticorn– after a short, pandemic-induced hiatus.

Held in Bali, Indonesia, from August 31 to September 2, Nexticorn is an initiative to streamline the investment process by connecting leading investors from around the world to high-performing tech startups from Indonesia –the region’s most promising digital economy. To build the next Indonesian unicorns, it assists tech startups in securing the “missing” middle-stage investment by tapping into locally and internationally available resources.

The event has brought onboard hundreds of notable tech startup investors who are ready to meet its next potential investments. The following is a handy list of 22 out of those hundreds of investors that startups can meet at the event:

1. IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. They help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. Its notable investments in the region included Voyager Innovations, 2C2P, and RedDoorz.

2. MUFG Innovation Partners
The investor’s most recent moves in the SEA startup ecosystem includes an US$850 million investment in regional tech unicorn Grab, which was raised to support its expansion in the fintech sector.

3. GIC
An example of a recent investment that GIC made in the region is a US$80 million round it led for Bibit which was raised to foster greater financial literacy in Indonesia.

Also Read: These 30 Indonesian startups are ready to meet you at NXC International Summit

4. Saudi Aramco Enterpreneurship
The organisation aims to promote entrepreneurship and help develop local SMEs by encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to establish or expand SMEs in their respective fields. The Center provides various programmes that offer non-collateralised loans or equity partnerships, along with the guidance and tools that develop and nurture entrepreneurs and their businesses.

5. HALA Ventures
Hailing from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HALA Ventures recently made an investment into Egypt-based SubsBase, and is looking forward to enter Southeast Asia.

6. SoftBank Ventures Asia
As one of the leading investors in the region, one of SoftBank’s investments this year includes Funding Societies’s US$294 million Series C+ round through its Vision Fund 2.

7. Alpha JWC Ventures
This year, Alpha JWC Ventures led a in Filipino parenting e-commerce startup edamama.

8. Sequoia
The firm’s participation in the event is no surprise as it recently announced a US$850 million fund to double down on Southeast Asia.

9. Merak Capital
Merak Capital is an investment firm focused on technology companies across multiple industries, and licensed by the Capital Market Authority of Saudi Arabia. It has recently participated in a seed funding round for Egypt-based Convertedin.

10. Saison Capital
In a recent interview with e27, Chris Sirise of Saison Capital explains how “absolute decentralisation” will never be a panacea for every issues in the market.

11. Sovereign’s Capital
With presence in major tech hubs such as Silicon Valley and Jakarta, the firm invests in two market segments: profitable, lower middle market companies (with US$10 million to US$100 million in revenue, and US$2.5 million to US$10 million in owner earnings) and promising, early-stage technology companies (with US$500,000 to US$5 million in annual recurring revenue).

12. Jungle Ventures

Jungle Ventures recently announced a US$600 million close for its fourth fund, with targets of up to 18 key investments.

Also Read: ‘Indonesia will soon see a proper credit boom for businesses, consumers’: AC Ventures

14. Openspace Ventures
One of the firm’s most recent investments included a US$5 million funding for Indonesian waste treatment startup Octopus.

15. BEENEXT
BEENEXT recently led a US$3 million Pre-Series A funding for RIMM Sustainability.

16. Cornerstone Venture Partners
Based in New York, the firm is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on B2B technology solutions.

17. Insignia Venture Partners
Having raised US$516 million for its fund, Insignia Ventures announced that it will remain bullish about Web3, climate-tech, and healthcare in SEA.

18. 1982 Ventures Partners
A relative newcomer in the space, 1982 Ventures recently closed debut US$20 million seed-stage fintech fund.

19. Vertex Ventures
Only yesterday, the firm announced that it leads Propseller’s US$12 million Series A round.

20. 500 Global
In an interview, Ee Ling Lim, Head of APAC Business Development at 500 Global, explains about the characteristics that the firm looks in a company and how they can help it grow.

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Earlier this year, it was predicted that the 2D internet space would be replaced by a 3D virtual space. The metaverse has been introduced repeatedly in fiction throughout history, and VR inventions paved the way for its conceptualisation. 

The first VR machine was invented in 1956 by an inventor named Morton Heilig. The Sensorama Machine simulated a motorcycle ride through the city of Brooklyn. While VR went on to make an impact on the gaming industry with VR arcade games and various gaming equipment, it wasn’t until Web2 did the potential of metaverse fully revealed itself.

The concept of a virtual metaverse

The metaverse is basically a virtual world where people could be presented through avatars and control those avatars through VR gear, though that doesn’t have to be the case for a virtual world to be considered part of the metaverse.

In fact, games such as Minecraft and Second Life are also components of the metaverse. What innovators are hoping to do is to combine the internet into a comprehensive, linear world that will offer users a rich experience that they would not otherwise have in real-life.

In the sci-fi book-turned-movie, Ready Player One, there is a strongly established metaverse which is fully immersive and offers free education to all so that everyone can access the kind of knowledge that their more privileged peers are traditionally more likely to be given.

Also Read: The work in the metaverse is just beginning, where do we stand now?

Aside from information-sharing, the metaverse can also improve the quality of life for any individual as the virtual currencies can be converted into real-world money, which can aid those who are physically disabled or unable to hold down a traditional job.

The potential of the metaverse is exceedingly beneficial, and its advantages have been discovered and implemented in the health industry.

Digital technology encompassing the health industry

Following the COVID-19 outbreaks, countries all over the world implemented their own social distancing protocols and borders were shut, along with schools, shops, and other non-essential services. Healthcare was strained to its maximum capacity, and it was only a matter of time before someone came up with the idea of digitising the healthcare system.

Consultations were soon being done online, and the first AR surgery was done on living patients by neurosurgeons from Johns Hopkins. The sophistication of modern technology will inadvertently hail medical services from all sectors to adopt its practices and take it a step further.

Dentistry has also pioneered the use of metaverse, led by the Dental Design Studio. The dental practice currently has 15 facilities in the United Kingdom and one that exists on the virtual plane of Sandbox. 

Patients may very well one day have dental telehealth conversations regarding their oral health and hygiene. With the right gear, x-rays or 3D imaging may be possible in real-time. Currently, the firm intends to develop interactive surgeries where users will be able to design their own teeth.

A representative from Dental Design Studio explains that they “have always been interested in technology and have tried to innovate in any area that will benefit our patients. As people are increasingly starting to use the metaverse as a form of social interaction, we got the idea to create a group of dental practices in the metaverse – giving patients the chance to experience the dentist differently. ”

The metaverse benefits everyone from the end-user to the service providers. Aside from patients, practising dentists will also be able to join conferences and talks without having to travel in real-time by participating in lectures in the metaverse. 

A startup called Immersive Touch has developed a virtual simulation to help medical students and practising dentists alike rehearse medical procedures before executing them on their living patients. The practice of using technology to practice will inadvertently reduce the risks and enhance patient satisfaction. 

Also Read: Why Singapore is ASEAN’s sandbox for innovation in healthtech

On the other hand, patients can also view procedures beforehand to prepare for their upcoming procedure to alleviate any dental anxiety they may have, stemming from the fear of the unknown. 

The future of dentistry in the metaverse

Marketing is important and will continue to be important in the virtual world. Having a digital presence in the metaverse can help dentistry practices create brand awareness and offer advertising opportunities, as long as risks are taken into account, such as data privacy.

But the purpose of the metaverse isn’t just to feed capitalism or enhance commercialisation. It’s to increase accessibility. With increased accessibility and decreased costs, the metaverse can provide access to medical care to anyone in the world.

Dental booths may be set up in offices or medical sectors with the sole purpose of giving patients extra accessibility to dental services. Just imagine strolling up to a booth and having your needs taken care of, whether it is a consultation or an extraction, immediately.

What may sound like a luxury to first-world individuals would sound like a heaven-sent to underprivileged people living in third-world countries.

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