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Dream loud, dream big and dream now: Surbhi Agarwal of Yellow.ai

At e27, we have kickstarted a new articles series called work-life balance to learn more about tech enablers and executives and their lives beyond working hours.

Surbhi Agarwal is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of experience in startups and large enterprises such as McAfee, Intel and Google. At Google, she managed over US$1B of Cloud Data and AI product portfolio.

She currently heads the marketing division of Yellow.ai. She has built a high-performing global organisation to lead all critical go-to-market functions, such as product marketing, demand generation, content strategy, revenue operations, brand, SEO, website, AR, and PR.

Agarwal has an MBA from UC Berkeley and is an Electrical Engineer who has been recognised in the Women in Tech and Women in AI communities for the business impact made in the technology field. She is a DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) Advocate and a sponsor of the Girls Who Code programme. 

She has been regularly contributing article for e27 (you can read her thought leadership articles here). 

In this candid interview, Agarwal talks about her personal and professional life.

How would you explain what you do to a five-year-old?

We want to save time and make the world a smarter place! Hence, we make computers as smart as people to help us with everything, from online shopping, finding our lost toy package, returning something we didn’t like, to even scheduling doctor appointments!

What has been the biggest highlight/challenge of your career so far?

I was fortunate enough to see the birth of AI ten years ago when it was still so nascent. I became fascinated by how it could be used as a catalyst to enable high-growth systems in all industries.

I developed a deep passion for it and created a new category by building a new Deep Learning Accelerator that scaled high-performance computing workloads by 150x. At Google Cloud, I enabled the full power of AI by laying the data foundation and owned the product portfolio of Data and AI, where I led the launch of Cloud TPUs and AutoML.

Also Read: ‘Don’t chase titles; chase curiosity and let it lead you’: Bernadette Cho of Entrepreneur First

With this, I embarked on an AI mission to help businesses solve real-world problems more efficiently and faster. At Yellow.ai, I continue on my AI path with Conversational AI to help enterprises, their customers and employees deliver actionable outcomes daily in every conversation.

How do you envision the next five years of your career?

I believe that building teams that make great products, which in turn make high-growth companies is the future that every leader should invest in. 

Over the next five years, I want to empower this journey by driving organisational efficiency by building high-performing teams across multiple functions which bring forward diverse perspectives and solve business challenges.

What’s something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I have lived and worked on four out of seven continents early in my career, which brought me immense exposure to global cultures.

At 23, I had to live in a small town in Taiwan for six months for a work assignment. As a vegetarian and non-language speaker with no acquaintances was quite hard. It pushed me out of my comfort zone every day and made me adaptable as I had to adjust, learn and integrate into a new culture.

I accepted eating only plain white rice for lunch every workday with my clients. I accepted getting haircuts from someone who couldn’t understand what I was looking for. I accepted talking to local Taiwanese children who wanted to hear a few sentences in English. I accepted the changes around me, and the changes accepted me.

These early experiences have shaped me into a person who takes on new challenges, respects others’ perspectives, and leaps forward with change.

At Intel, I have led corporate retention programmes to build diverse teams. At Google, I led the “I am remarkable” programme to make every voice be heard, and every perspective valued.

What are some of your favourite work tools?

Google Workspace. I cannot imagine my life without it! My organisation spans multiple time zones and operates with a flexible-hybrid model. 

Google Workspace keeps me connected with everything big and small happening every minute of the day. From collaborating with my team and connecting with my customers to keeping my schedule on track and ensuring focus time, Google Ecosystem is a core part of my every day!

Also Read: Failure makes you wiser in your next attempt: Endowus CPO Vinod Raman

Do you prefer WFH or WFO, or hybrid?

Flexible hybrid because it brings the best of both the digital and physical worlds. But flexibility adds another layer of empathy. I like collaborating with my team as much as possible, and the hybrid experience allows that. At the same time, I believe in and support every team member’s flexible choice.

What would you tell your younger self?

Not every aspect of life can be planned to the last iota because life happens when we are busy planning! And the future belongs to those who are passionate about dreaming and believe in their dreams. So dream loud, dream big and dream now!

Can you describe yourself in three words?

Charismatic, visionary, and empathetic.

What are you most likely to be doing if not working?

Listening to relaxing music while lying in my hammock under the redwood trees.

What are you currently reading/listening to/ watching?

I enjoy reading books about astronauts and planets to my four-year-old!

Be a part of the e27 contributor community of thought leaders and share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

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Malaysian fleet fuel expense management startup BayaPay raises funding

Bayapay

Early-stage VC firm Winacore Capital has announced an undisclosed financial investment into BayaPay, a fleet fuel expense management startup in Malaysia.

The firm provides BayaFuel, a card that enables businesses to make secure payments within set limits and controls across all fleet-related expense management, such as fuel, travel, lodging, repairs, maintenance, road tax, insurance, tolls, and parking.

Using BayaFuel, commercial vehicle operators can save at least 20 per cent in fuel costs, the fintech startup claimed.

The fintech startup will soon launch the next-generation fleet fuel payment and expense management solution BayaFuel cards. It is a programmable SME payment card with credit facilities to pay for fuel and fleet-related expenses.

Also Read: How iPrice Group navigates the seven SEAs

BayaPay is currently pre-live on pitchIN to raise funds of up to RM3 million (US$635,000). Within a week of the campaign launch, BayaPay said it has received pledges surpassing its minimum fundraising target of RM500,000.

BayaPay hopes to close out the funding round by November 2022.

The company will use the funds to complete and launch the go-to-market fleet fuel payment card, expected by Q1 2023, to build traction in the market and structure credit funding.

Winacore Capital is a seed and debt fund with the primary goal of investing in and supporting Malaysian startups.

Echelon 2022 is happening from 27-28 October at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore!

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MiRXES launches SEA first Translator Program with Plug and Play

Translator Program

Leading biotechnology company MiRXES launched the first edition of the MiRXES Translator Program at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH).

MiRXES Translator Program is Southeast Asia’s first business and clinical advisory programme backed by science that bridges post-incubation ideation and post-accelerator growth. The program is a collaboration with global innovation platform Plug and Play.

The first of its kind, MiREXS Translator Program will support select high-growth potential companies to fast-track the commercialisation and adoption of preventive healthcare solutions, and translate that to revenue growth. The aim of doing so is to improve population health outcomes collectively.

Also read: How can startups automate processes to save time and money

“With our rich startup experience and extensive networks, MiRXES is excited to expand our role in the biotechnology and preventive healthcare sector by enabling multi-stakeholder partnerships and connecting companies with resources to increase the adoption of preventive healthcare solutions globally,” said Dr Lihan Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of MiRXES.

MiRXES is a Singapore-headquartered biotech company that discovers and develops accurate and affordable preventive healthcare solutions and makes them accessible to all. They are focused on saving lives and improving health economics and outcomes through RNA-powered disease early detection and precision genomic tests.

MiRXES also launched and operates the Early Medical Centre, the region’s first healthcare innovation centre. The facility takes a unique, individualised approach to health, and is equipped with world-class facilities that serves as an aggregation hub for diagnostic solutions.

Co-generating business milestones

Through MiRXES Translator Program investor-partner partnership, MiRXES will actively co-generate measurable business milestones and results while sharing risks and rewards with companies enrolled in the programme, assisting them in growing and scaling their business efficiently and effectively.

MiRXES will enable the acceleration of their growth by contributing its research, manufacturing, and clinical diagnostic capabilities to validate products and provide cost advantage through economies of scale. Companies taking part in the program will also have access to the Early Medical Centre, where they will be able to validate their pricing and business viability.

“Besides investing capital through the MiRXES Translator Program, MiRXES is delighted to share our knowledge from operating some of the world’s most sophisticated laboratories where we pioneered clinical applications of cutting-edge research in RNA biomarkers and help these startups gain a footing in the industry,” said Zhou.

Also read: Bridging the gap between digital literacy and the financial services industry

Companies in the program will also receive support from MiRXES in regionalising their businesses through MiRXES’s infrastructures in Southeast Asia. Through their network, MiRXES will also facilitate partnerships between venture funds, medical partners, government, hospitals, and adopters,

MiRXES will be working with the shortlisted startups to run an extensive programme to develop and enhance their reach within the preventive healthcare sector. Depending on the startup’s maturity, the collaboration could span solution optimisation, pilot production, clinical advisory, and market validation.

Plug and Play, a highly successful investor and preferred innovation partner for major corporations, will assess applicants and curate suitable emerging preventive health-focused technology startups for the MiRXES Translator Program.

“Our goal is to provide a line-of-sight into the most innovative startups shaping the healthcare and biotechnology industry globally,” said Jupe Tan, Managing Partner of Plug and Play APAC.

“We are delighted to be working with MiRXES for their Translator Program. With more than 15 years of experience in early-stage investing and scaling corporate innovation, Plug and Play has a keen ability to identify, attract, and accelerate founders who want to solve industry challenges and scale new technologies,” Tan added.

Join the MiRXES Translator Program

Applications for the inaugural 2022-2023 MiRXES Translator Program will begin at the end of October 2022.

The program will be rolling out with six focus areas – diagnostic solutions, complementary health products, health management programmes, digital health solutions, healthcare financing solutions and healthcare supply chain.

Post-revenue startups across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, with innovations aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of preventive healthcare, are eligible to apply for this programme.

The MiRXES Translator Program supports startups in accelerating the commercialisation of their products through:

  • Revenue contracts and/or benefits-in-kind of up to US$1,000,000 in value
  • Scientific and clinical advisory
  • Workflow optimisation and market positioning strategy
  • Price and revenue channel discovery
  • Expansion opportunities to target markets
  • Access to a multi-stakeholder ecosystem of investors, policymakers, payors, solution providers and healthcare delivery providers, including MiRXES’s delivery arm

For more information about and to apply to the MiRXES Translator Program, visit their page here.

 

Disclosure: This article is produced by e27 team, sponsored by Plug and Play.

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Cloud communications firm Toku nets US$5M Series A+ for APAC expansion

Thomas Laboulle, Founder and CEO of Toku

Singapore-headquartered cloud communications provider Toku has announced the completion of its US$5 million Series A extension round, bringing its total funding to US$10 million.

The new round was co-led by Delivery Hero Ventures and Malaysia’s OSK Ventures, with participation from Betatron Venture Group.

The startup will use the fresh money for APAC expansion and establish a local presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines. It also aims to double its total headcount to 200 by 2024.

Toku creates bespoke cloud communications and customer engagement solutions. It combines local expertise, regional in-country infrastructure and global reach to help businesses overcome the complexity of digital transformation in APAC markets and enhance their CX with mission-critical cloud communications solutions.

Also Read: Shift4Good fund I makes US$98M first close to invest in sustainable mobility startups

The company works with leading regional brands, such as foodpanda, Gojek, Lenskart, Decathlon, and JCDecaux.

Toku claims it recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 128 per cent over the past four years. The company is closing in on half a billion customer interactions processed annually across 17 markets in APAC.

Thomas Laboulle, Founder and CEO, Toku, said: “As the APAC digital economy continues to mature, customer experience has emerged as a key differentiator and a major driver of value for businesses.

Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon.

The 2022 Echelon edition will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here. 

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Square Peg closes new US$550M fund

(L-R) Square Peg Singapore Partner Piruze Sabuncu and Tushar Roy

Square Peg, a global investment firm with an office in Singapore, has announced the close of its fifth fund at US$550 million.

The investors include high-performing Australian superannuation funds (such as Hostplus and AustralianSuper), family offices, institutions and endowments. The Square Peg team is also a significant investor in its funds.

The fresh capital will be deployed across two strategies: its core venture fund will invest in companies from seed to Series B, and the Opportunities Fund will typically invest in later-stage rounds of its emerging portfolio companies.

The fifth fund has already made follow-on investments in Kula, Supabase, and Airwallex.

The VC firm will continue to invest in consumer internet, fintech, edutech, future of work, healthtech, and SaaS in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Israel.

Also Read: How iPrice Group navigates the seven SEAs

Since its launch, Square Peg has backed more than 60 companies across the three markets. Its portfolio companies also include SaaS firm LottieFiles, digital health platform Doctor Anywhere, and digital credit provider FinAccel (all in Southeast Asia); Canva and ROKT (in Australia); and Fiverr and AIDoc (Israel).

The company claims its fifth generation fund takes total capital commitments to over US$1.6 billion since its founding ten years ago. Over the past decade, it has returned substantial capital back to its investors of over US$580 million across 11 exits at an IRR of 42 per cent.

Square Peg has a permanent presence in Singapore, with two Partners Tushar Roy and Piruze Sabuncu, managing investments in the region.

Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon. 

Here’s the full list of the speakers for the 2022 edition, which will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here

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KYAN Therapeutics bags US$5M to bridge the cancer care gap using tech

Hugo Saavedra, Chairman and CEO of KYAN Therapeutics

Singapore-based KYAN Therapeutics, a biotech company with novel personalised medicine and drug-dose combination optimisation technology, has closed a US$5 million oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round.

Altara Ventures led the round and was joined by Enterprise Singapore (SEEDS Capital), K3 Ventures, and prominent angel investors.

KYAN will use the funds to advance clinical development, expand lab infrastructure and treat more patients globally.

Hugo Saavedra, Chairman and CEO of KYAN Therapeutics, said: “KYAN is on a mission to bridge the cancer care gap by advancing revolutionary technologies. This funding will help KYAN establish our commercial lab, fund additional clinical trials, and expand our team.”

Also Read: How iPrice Group navigates the seven SEAs

“We have ambitious goals to expand globally, and Singapore is the perfect place for us to set up our new global headquarters given the access to strategic investors, leading clinical collaborators and great talent,” he added.

KYAN Therapeutics tackles the complexity of cancer by combining small data AI and biological experiments. From drug development to personalised medicine, KYAN offers a solution to identify the optimal outcome for millions of possible drug-dose combinations.

This funding news comes on the heels of KYAN’s recent announcement of positive clinical study findings on its guided treatment platform for patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma.

According to the company, the prospective and interventional study resulted in 59 per cent of treated patients with improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to their last line of treatment.

Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon. 

Here’s the full list of the speakers for the 2022 edition, which will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here

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Facebook unveils the 2022 APAC cohort for Community Accelerator Program

An engaging, immersive initiative by Facebook to help community leaders advance their leadership skills and utilise Facebook tools and resources to deepen their community’s impact.

Facebook has launched its 2022 Community Accelerator Programme, and for the APAC region, startup ecosystem platform e27 is designated to be the implementation partner to help community leaders on Facebook advance their skills and utilise digital tools to deepen their impact.

This year, Facebook aims to create a better digital experience through content creation for digital communities. This programme is a game-changer for the carefully selected communities across the Asia Pacific.

Among thousands and thousands of applicants, we selected 20 communities from six different countries to join this year’s Asia Pacific cohort. The most diverse communities joining this year’s programme engage through content sharing on hobbies and leisure, support, education, parenting, sustainability and climate, health and well-being, and economic impact. 

Throughout the four-month programme, selected participants will receive training from experts and coaches through a customised curriculum to help them organise and strengthen their community while connecting with community leaders from around the globe.

Participants will also gain access to Meta tools and services to support them in their efforts to activate their members. Each participant will receive a grant of up to US$40,000 through grant management partner GlobalGiving to fund work that advances their community goals.

Over the last few years, the community leaders on Meta are looking for support and guidance in how to grow their communities’ impact stronger than ever. To support the communities, Meta took this holistic approach that enables the community leaders to learn and use the tools and educational resources they need for a better digital experience and make a greater impact in the world.

Let’s meet the communities of the 2022 APAC Cohort

This year among the selected, 20 communities from six different countries in the Asia Pacific region is joining this game-changing accelerator programme. Seven communities from the Philippines, six communities from Bangladesh, four communities from Indonesia, one community from Malaysia, one community from Singapore, and one community from Thailand were selected for the four-month-long accelerator programme. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the communities and their leaders.

Communities from the Philippines

Coffee Home Brewers 

Community Leader: Rosario Juan

Community: This community is for coffee enthusiasts who love to brew coffee at home with sheer excellence. This is a respective and collaborative community of coffee lovers and learners who engage and converse with each other on coffee recipes, favourite methods, and favourite beans. 

DadbudPH

Community Leader: Joey Ong

Community: A group for PinoyDads, all dads from all backgrounds, supporting each other and giving each other the virtual fist bump they’ve always needed.

Also Read: Facebook announces 2022 Community Accelerator participants

Philippine Native Tree Enthusiasts 

Community Leader: Ephraim Cercado

Community: The Philippine Native Tree Enthusiasts is an environmental, civic group passionate about environmental conservation through the propagation of native trees. They mostly emphasise native trees, and they encourage the members to share relevant information from seed sourcing and germination to propagation. 

Share Your Pulutan 

Community Leader: Arne Reodique

Community: Pulutan means “Food – best consumed with drinks” (like Tapas) which celebrates the Filipino culture of drinking and sharing food with good company. This community also encourages sharing of recipes, food videos, etc.

Social Media Marketing Philippines

Community Leader: Neil Dimapilis

Community: This group is built specifically for both Filipino freelancers and those aspiring to be one to learn and find resources on how to grow as a Freelancer. This community provides information and educational resources to those who wish to learn Social Media Marketing.

The Freelance Movement | Freelancing Community 

Community Leader: Avie Ellazar

Community: This group is built specifically for both Filipino freelancers and those aspiring to be one to learn and find resources on how to grow as a Freelancer.

The Succulent Club Philippines

Community Leader: Dorothy Mercado

Community: A community of succulents lovers that share tips and resources on how to care for succulents. Through this hobby, community members have also found connections and support from one another.

Communities from Bangladesh

Castaway on the Moon

Community Leader: Shah Alif

Community: Starting during the Coronavirus Pandemic, Castaway on the Moon helps young and creative artists from Bangladesh and abroad by helping them showcase their talent in the group. As a cultural organisation, its long-term goal is to make people collaborate with culture and art and make people aware that artists are important to brighten our world.

Foodbank

Community Leader: Sabit Hossein 

Community: Foodbank is Bangladesh’s premier place for restaurant recommendations and reviews from around the country, with over two million foodies from all over the country. The group sends foodie scouts to new restaurants suggested by the members to do official tastings and to highlight unsung food heroes off the beaten path around the country.

Oporajita

Community Leader: Zarin Oshin

Community: Oporajita is a plant lovers’ group encouraging people to create their own mini gardens through learning content and plant giveaways in the community. The long-term mission is to encourage more people to plant trees, create a mass movement to play a small part in climate change and be a little part of the ongoing SD$15 that is “Life on Land”.

Pencil

Community Leader: S.M.Niaz Mowla

Community: Pencil is encouraging future generations of Bengali speakers worldwide to practice Bengali culture and the Bengali language by engaging people of all ages who are involved in creative writing and cultural work. Authors of different ages publish their writing online in the Pencil group first, then continue to print books with Pencil and various publishers and coordinate authors with readers.

School of Engineers 

Community Leader: Hasan Mahmud

Community: School Of Engineers is the largest online educational platform for engineering students and professionals in Bangladesh. The group teaches more than 492,000 students and professionals every single day using our Meta page, group, and YouTube channels. Long-term, the group hopes to contribute to achieving SDG’s Goal for quality education by 2030 and start a  global chapter in 2025.

Women and e-commerce Trust

Community Leader: Nisha Nasima 

Community: More than 10 thousand female entrepreneurs are selling a wide range of products and services through meta-pages, but many of these entrepreneurs will not be able to sustain their businesses due to a lack of necessary knowledge and training. Women and e-commerce Forum (WE) addresses the needs of these female entrepreneurs. WE’s goal is to help female e-Commerce entrepreneurs to sustain their businesses and empower them via a selling and trading platform using meta groups.

Also Read: Meet Facebook Community Accelerator 2022’s additional funding recipients who are turning impactful ideas into action

Communities from Indonesia

Food Combining Indonesia 

Community Leader: Erikar Lebang

Community: A community to discuss healthy lifestyles through food-combining methods.

Ikatan Laundry Indonesia (ILI)

Community Leader: Reza Nevizond

Community: To create a community for professional laundry businesses that protect the interests of members, businesses, and customers with the support of its ecosystem to support and grow together so that it becomes a top 3 reputation reference choice on a national scale.

INFP Personality

Community Leader: Sarah Dee

Community: A safe space for INFPs as their second home where they can share their problems, get support from fellow INFPs, and better understand their cognitive functions. This group has become more of a support group covering mental health, drug addiction, toxic relationships, domestic violence, etc., that they can share, support, and learn to better themselves. Our mission is to provide more impactful programmes for free that can help overcome their dark sides and struggles.

Motherland (ada kisah disetiap kasih ibu)

Community Leader: Mami Ara (Nurul)

Community: A support group for mothers to share information and resources, creating a one-stop sharing platform around various topics from families, child development, financial training through the mompreneur training programme, etc.

Community from Malaysia

MRSM Confessions 

Community Leader: Azil Loko

Community: This is a social group for alumni of all 55 MRSM (schools) in MY since 1972.

Community from Singapore

Hawkers United (Dabao 2020)

Community Leader: Melvin Chew

Community: Created in April 2020 to help support hawkers and F&B outlets that are suffering during the pandemic, especially during the lockdown period in Singapore. The group helps connect F&B establishments and customers to support each other.

Community from Thailand

Designers

Community Leader: Uli Kruse

Community: This group is for designers, contractors, homeowners, and architects to share resources on renovating their homes. It also seeks to raise the competency of contractors & owners on building techniques and materials.

If you are an organisation working on similar projects that align with our communities, reach out and engage with the community leaders for an exciting collaboration! Please leave your details via this link.

For more information about other cohort participants, feel free to see the 2022 Accelerator participant cohort or visit the Facebook Community Accelerator Programme official page.

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 groupFB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

Image credit: Canva Pro

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Journey to the top: From developer to CEO

Echelon

When it comes to success stories, we think we’ve heard it all. In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of startup tech, it’s not easy to imagine oneself becoming the CEO of a unicorn valued at 3 billion US dollars. Despite this highly competitive ecosystem, it seems nothing is impossible for Oskari Saarenmaa, CEO and co-founder of Aiven, an open-source data technology cloud platform.

Headquartered in Helsinki and with offices in Berlin, Boston, Toronto, Singapore and Sydney, Aiven allows developers to create applications while they manage cloud data infrastructures. They enable customers to drive business results from open source that trigger true transformations.

Also read: How can we create new urgency for a green recovery?

Under his leadership, the company has scaled to more than 500 people globally over the span of six years, secured more than $400 million of funding, and is now serving more than 1000 customers on every continent.

Echelon 2022: a fireside chat on Oskari Saarenmaa’s road to the top

To give the Southeast Asian tech startup ecosystem a closer look at the highs, lows, and the challenges he faced in going from a developer to a CEO, Echelon Asia Summit 2022 will feature a fireside chat moderated by Mohan Belani of e27. Entitled “Journey to the top: From developer to CEO” the fireside chat will feature Oskari Saarenmaa where he will talk about his rich experiences as the CEO and co-founder of a leader cloud-based company. He will also be sharing market trends, tips, and insights on how to run a unicorn.

Also read: How startups should approach ESG opportunities

Echelon Asia Summit 2022 (October 27-28) returns after a three-year hiatus. It aims to gather the most influential decision-makers and industry leaders from the Southeast Asia tech and startup ecosystem.

Register for Echelon Asia Summit 2022 now!

Echelon

– –

Photo by Aiven

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Echelon 2022: Moving into Web3, why now is the right time?

With decentralisation expected to define the future world, Web3 is catching the imagination of the tech world. From startups to MNCs, businesses are looking for ways to integrate Web3 into their existing products or migrate from Web2 to Web3 to build a community, thus keeping pace with the fast-changing world.

World-renowned tech brands such as Disney, Nike, and Starbucks have already moved or are seriously considering moving into Web3 either by funding the next generation of crypto startups, releasing products into the Metaverse, or introducing a community for its loyal members.

While many smaller enterprises also want to make the most of this emerging technology, they often lack the in-depth knowledge to make the transition. For them, Web3 continues to be uncharted territory. They need a helping hand to delve into the world of Web3.

Also Read: For Web3 to take off, we need to fix the rigidity problem of smart contracts

e27 is organising an exclusive Pro Members roundtable on “Moving into Web3.0: why now is the right time”.  It will discuss the following:

  • What does Web3 mean for you, and should you care?
  • Why is the right time to embrace Web3?
  • What does the migration to Web3 mean for your existing users/customers/community?
  • What if the migration fails?
  • What are the financial implications of moving to Web3?
  • Are there any precedents or examples of successful migrations?

The roundtable will be held from 11 am to 12:30 pm at Taurus Room, Resorts World Convention Centre, on Day 2 (October 28) of Echelon.

The programme is hosted by Enjinstarter, an IDO & INO launchpad for gaming, Metaverse and P2E projects. Enjinstarter brings together gamers, guilds, publishers, gaming studios, etc., to build a sustainable metaverse gaming and entertainment ecosystem.

Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon. 

This year’s edition will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here

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Enjinstarter partners e27 to educate and support SEA’s push towards a Web3 future

Enjinstarter, Singapore’s leading incubator for early-stage Web3 projects, announced that it would be the Web3 ecosystem partner for the Echelon 2022 conference at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, on October 27 and 28.

Enjinstarter will curate Web3 aspects of the conference as part of the partnership, including panels on investment and the transition from Web2 to Web3.

The announcement comes on the heels of Enjinstarter’s successful sponsorship of the Web3 track at All That Matters: Web3 Matters.

From established names and recent unicorns —such as Carro, Ninjavan and Fazz— to emerging innovators and seasoned investors, Echelon brings together a diverse range of international talent and innovation. For this year’s edition, the conference will focus on ensuring a high level of representation from decision-makers across the startup, investor, corporate and business sectors. Adding a powerful Web3 layer via Enjinstarter will increase opportunities for cross-pollination between startups from different ecosystems.

Also Read: Echelon 2022: Moving into Web3, why now is the right time?

“This is really our bread and butter: showcasing the real potential of what Web3 can do and how it can transform and enhance existing businesses,” said Prakash Somosundram, co-founder and CEO of Enjintarter.

“Echelon is a ‘can’t-miss’ event on Singapore’s calendar, and we are thrilled to add even more value for the hundreds of startups and founders in attendance.”

Beyond simply providing a platform for discussion, Echelon leverages the data offered by its parent company e27 to provide curated business-matching services to participating startups to match them with established businesses who might use their solutions or with investors.

This year, the matching service will include connecting Web3 startups with potential partners in the Web2 space.

“We have learned over the past few years that Web3 and Web2 are not in competition with each other. On the contrary, they are very much complementary technologies,” said Mohan Belani, CEO of e27, Echelon’s principal sponsor.

“The overwhelming majority of the startups attending Echelon may be Web2-focused. But blockchain, the metaverse, NFTs, and decentralised finance can help them expand the range of services and solutions they offer.”

Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon. 

This year’s edition will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here

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