In an era marked by increasing climate-related disasters, the need for innovative solutions to mitigate their impact has never been more pressing. The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023, organized by Prudence Foundation in collaboration with e27, is a paramount project that seeks to address challenges in this space. This initiative seeks to put the spotlight on groundbreaking startups with disaster-preparedness technologies and underscores the pivotal role of such innovations in safeguarding lives during times of crisis.

The primary objective of the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023 was to uncover and champion the most pioneering ideas and startups armed with technologies applicable in the phases before, during, or after disasters strike. This objective served as the compass guiding e27 and Prudence Foundation’s joint efforts throughout the project.

e27’s contributions to the project’s success

With a comprehensive program management approach, e27 seamlessly orchestrated every facet of the project, from the initial call for applications to the management of virtual events, ensuring that each stage was executed with precision and dedication. The six-month duration of the project was marked by rigorous efforts, culminating in the resounding success that is the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023 finals held at the Echelon Asia Summit 2023 in Singapore EXPO.

One of the most notable achievements was the 100% attainment of the startup applications target, a testament to e27’s ability to effectively mobilise and engage the entrepreneurial community of the Southeast Asian tech startup ecosystem.

Moreover, e27 played a crucial role in several other aspects of the project. The team was responsible for putting together the virtual launch, setting the stage for the competition’s journey. Additionally, e27 took charge of organising a private virtual pitch session to meticulously select the semi-finalists, ensuring that only the most promising startups advanced.

Also read: Can hyper-personalisation be achieved through automation and AI?

e27 was also instrumental in selecting and securing mentors, aligning each semi-finalist with industry experts to maximise their potential. Furthermore, e27 undertook the monumental task of organising and managing mentorship sessions for the semi-finalists, providing them with invaluable guidance and support as they refined their solutions.

These efforts were integral in shaping the trajectory of the competition and solidifying e27’s pivotal role in driving the success of the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023.

Among the finalists, six standout startups emerged, each presenting innovative solutions poised to revolutionise disaster response and recovery. Castomize Technologies, H3Dynamics, Kinetic Analysis Corporation, QUICKBLOCK Ltd., LivingWaters Systems LLC, and Wateroam all of whom pitched to an audience of ecosystem stakeholders, showcasing the potential of their respective technologies and innovations in the context of saving lives in times of crisis. By the end of the pitching rounds, Wateroam emerged on top.

The imperative of disaster-ready innovations

The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023, spearheaded by Prudence Foundation and in partnership with e27, has not only illuminated the path towards a more disaster-resilient future but also reinforced the indispensable role of technology in safeguarding lives. Wateroam’s ROAMfilter Plus 2 stands as a testament to the transformative potential of innovation in disaster management, and Wateroam successfully proved this during the competition.

As climate-related disasters continue to escalate, initiatives like these serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us that the power to save lives lies within the realm of human ingenuity. It is imperative that we continue to champion and support such groundbreaking solutions, for they hold the key to a safer, more resilient future for us all.

Also read: EQT unveils startup impact challenge amid Southeast Asia’s ‘golden period’

Equally important are the efforts of institutions like the Prudence Foundation and e27 in giving a platform for these innovations to thrive and flourish. Through the efforts of both parties, startups with disaster management-related technologies are granted the unique opportunity to access guidance, tools, insights, and resources to further their innovations and therefore, further their efforts in mitigating risks and saving people.

e27’s pivotal role in the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023 exemplifies the company’s unwavering dedication to fostering innovation for a more secure future. The project’s resounding success speaks volumes about e27’s ability to mobilise and rally the entrepreneurial community towards a shared mission: revolutionising disaster management.

In an era defined by increasing climate-related challenges, initiatives like the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards are indispensable and the partnership between e27 and Prudence Foundation has set a standard for what it means to collaborate in the name of the greater good. Ultimately, The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2023, guided by such a partnership, serves as a testament to our collective potential to create a more resilient, disaster-ready future.

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This article was first published on May 26, 2023. 

The exhilarating journey of entrepreneurship is one filled with equal parts excitement and uncertainty. I have long been fascinated with emerging technologies to transform our world. When the groundbreaking concepts of blockchain and Web3 first began to emerge, I knew instinctively that I wanted to be involved in this exciting new frontier.

Upon realising the vast potential of these technologies to transform problem-solving, I became excited to delve deeper into their possibilities. Like many other tech enthusiasts, I dove headfirst into the world of hackathons.

My passion for the field ignited during my first hackathon participation in 2016, serving as a launchpad for my hackathon journey and, later on, entrepreneurship. Over eight years, I joined a plethora of local and international competitions.

Through these experiences, I understood the importance of hackathons as an arena for honing skills, refining ideas, networking with people who matter and fostering innovation. However, the road to success wasn’t a straight one; it was riddled with bumps, twists, and turns, as is the case with most journeys.

The secret winning ingredients

Hackathons are more than just coding marathons; they are crucibles for creativity and problem-solving. Each event can present unique challenges that require out-of-the-box thinking, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of novel solutions.

Participating in multiple hackathons allowed me to develop a winning formula – one that is predicated on passion, a continuous learning attitude, and the courage to venture into uncharted territories.

At hacksingapore 2022, a pilot last year organised by AngelHack, my team and I designed a groundbreaking social-to-earn metaverse concept that catapulted us to the finalist spot. Based on one of the hackathon pillars surrounding the future of gaming, we created a metaverse gaming platform on a social index, enhancing engagements between players on a social level while earning rewards for interacting with one another.

Also Read: How the metaverse and blockchain accelerates economic development

Unlike hackathons spanning just a day or 48 hours, hacksingapore gave us a good amount of time to find people with the right fit and bond, which I then realised is the most crucial ingredient if your product is great.

Another aspect is to keep learning and gaining from such experiences since, for me, the exposure was certainly the stepping stone to fuel MetaPals, a blockchain startup focused on creating a companion in the metaverse for non-crypto users afterwards.

While triumphs are gratifying, they did not come without their fair share of failures. I would term these as learnings as these were just as instrumental in shaping my journey in hackathons as the successes.

Another ingredient is the team – like-minded individuals who share a common vision and can work in harmony to bring that vision to fruition. For those participating in a hackathon, it is crucial to begin with building a team of individuals with similar values who can collaborate seamlessly towards a common goal.

Solving a real-world problem

Look at hackathons as not merely technology-focused events but as platforms to address compelling real-world problems through innovative solutions. As a participant, consider it your task to create solutions that have practical implications and can truly make a difference.

In its pilot edition last year, hacksingapore presented us with opportunities to employ cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, no-code, and gaming to tackle community-centric issues. Our efforts were assessed on aspects like design, creativity, technical complexity, and practical feasibility, ensuring the development of solutions that were both innovative and applicable.

As a participant, I made sure I derived learnings from the workshops and collaboration with our IMDA team mentor and networking opportunities with experts, which is crucial to ensure solutions are industry relevant and viable.

This year I have gone back to hacksingapore 2023, the nation’s flagship hackathon, as a mentor. My goal is to share my experiences and insights with participants, assisting them in their hacking journey, which is centred on digital empowerment, sustainability, and financial inclusion. These areas are essential for societal progress, and there is a significant need for innovative solutions in these fields.

Let me dive deep into the ‘why’. Digital empowerment is about harnessing technology to improve information access, education, and resources, thereby enhancing individuals’ and communities’ digital capacities.

Sustainable solutions aim to combat climate change and environmental degradation through digital innovation, promoting eco-friendly practices and reducing environmental impact. Financial inclusion involves employing technology to make financial systems more equitable and inclusive, directly affecting millions worldwide.

I’m eager to see the transformative solutions that will emerge at hacksingapore2023. As a participant, think of yourself as a change-maker using technology as a tool for societal betterment.

As a finalist of hacksingapore 2023, you can present your projects at ATxSG, a major tech event in Asia organised by Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Informa Tech. This is part of the hacksingapore’s Grand Finale in June.

Also Read: Pure ideas with no executions to prove do not attract savvy investors: Shao-Ning Huang of AngelCentral

The art and science of collaboration

Having participated in over 80 hackathons and competitions within a span of eight years, hacksingapore is one of my most memorable ones. Undoubtedly, it has played a substantial role in shaping my growth trajectory.

Supported by IMDA and partners with tech giants like Meta, Alibaba Cloud and HEINEKEN, hacksingapore 2023 is distinctively a neutral platform allowing for unimaginable collaborations of talents from different corners of the island, and the intersection of technologies and platforms, thereby proving to be an innovation playground.

Even beyond this hackathon, collaboration and co-creation are key as you build solutions to any hackathon problem. A deep-knit working equation within the team is indispensable, and so are the learnings and insights you can drive from mentors and industry experts. These life skills transcend hackathons’ boundaries and are essential in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Secondly, keep improving your skills through continuous learning. Communities are a great way to update skills and stay abreast with the latest developments in technologies, and participation in hackathons may give you an opportunity to engage with such communities. Leverage those interaction opportunities to take up your learning curve.

A hackathon is a microcosm of the startup journey – it requires ideation, teamwork, execution, and the ability to pivot when faced with challenges. Platforms like hacksingapore 2023 are an opportunity for tech talents to test their skills, challenge themselves, and bring their visions to life while being guided by industry experts.

In this rapidly changing world, it can help hone skills, knowledge, and mindset and fuel the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and resilience. I look forward to the incredible ideas, groundbreaking solutions, and inspiring journeys that will undoubtedly emerge from hacksingapore 2023.

Here’s to dreaming, creating, and innovating – together, we can shape a better future through impactful technology solutions.

–

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Dear Pro member,

The Supreme Court of the State of New York has ruled in favour of Thomas O’Connor, co-founder and former CMO of Nasdaq-listed Society Pass, ordering the company to award him a significant block of pre-IPO shares valued at up to US$6.61 million. The court also imposed an additional penalty interest of up to US$2.38 million due to a breach of the Common Stock Purchase Warrant.

This decision stems from O’Connor’s valid exercise of his right to purchase 1,148 shares of Society Pass Incorporated under the terms of the warrant.

Society Pass’s financial situation is precarious, with only US$10.9 million in cash reserves.

This legal battle is part of O’Connor’s broader claims against Society Pass, as his attorneys plan to file another motion seeking an additional $8 million (plus penalty interests) owed to him under signed agreements with the company.

The court ruling compounds Society Pass’s existing challenges, including an SEC investigation, a separate lawsuit by another co-founder, Rahul Narain, seeking $1.3 million, and removal from the Russell 2000 index, causing a significant decline in the company’s share price.

These legal and financial troubles could have a detrimental impact on Society Pass, potentially leading to delisting from Nasdaq.

This is the highlight of the week. We also have a lot of exciting stuff in today’s edition.

Enjoy reading.

Have a great weekend.

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US court orders SoPa to pay pre-IPO shares to co-founder; firm under SEC probe
The US court ruled that Thomas O’Connor had “validly exercised his right to purchase 1,148 shares of Society Pass under the terms of the Warrant; As per SoPa’s most recent 10-Q filing, it has only US$10.9M left in its coffers.

ARISE, Centauri Fund merge to form US$200M fund Ascent Venture
Ascent will invest in 25 early-stage, tech-enabled companies focused on Indonesia and the rest of SEA; The key focus sectors are MSME enablement, financial service digitalisation, and neo-consumer, climate, and healthcare.

Vertex Ventures SEA & India hits final close of Fund V at US$541M
Japan Investment Corporation, IFC, and DEG are among its LPs; The fund corpus includes a co-investment envelope of US$50M for co-investing alongside the main fund in female-founded startups.

KXVC’s US$100M fund aims to help deeptech, Web3 founders win APAC
KXVC plans to invest in over 30 startups and funds globally with a geographic focus in the US, EU, Israel, and APAC.

Temasek, NUS, NTU to invest US$55M in deeptech startups in Singapore
NTU and NUS will also develop a unified online platform to provide potential licensors with a one-stop shop to identify and select IPs from both universities that align with their business requirements.

Singapore-based blockchain firm Aelf launches US$50M fund
The fund aims to discover investment opportunities within the Web3 sector, particularly focusing on ‘high-performance’ Layer-1 blockchain projects; It will also concentrate on projects that are looking to shift from Web2 to Web3.

S Korean battery firm TDL Global to invest US$200M in Indonesia
The company seeks to produce electric motorcycle batteries and energy storage systems in the country; It has supplied 20,000 battery units for electric two-wheeler vehicles to Indonesia from its factory in China this year.

Awak raises US$20M Series B for on-the-go kidney dialysis machines
Lead investors are Lion X Ventures and Vickers Venture Partners; Awak’s main offering, called Awak PD, is a peritoneal dialysis system that aims to help reduce the need for long hours of in-center dialysis for ESRD patients.

Wavemaker Impact secures US$15M in ongoing raise for maiden fund
The investor is the US International Development Finance Corporation; Wavemaker Impact works with experienced entrepreneurs to establish sustainability startups that aim to cut 10% of global emissions by 2035.

Online travel marketplace Wego acquires Travelstop
This strategic move will expand Wego’s reach into business travel and expense management; WeGo is an online travel marketplace in the MENA region, while Travelstop is a business travel and expense management company.

Buyandship scores US$10M Series B led by Cool Japan Fund
The company will use the capital to automate operations and R&D in AL and ML and expand into SEA; Buyandship is a cross-border e-commerce company that has built an automated shopping assistant to boost its order processing capacity.

Streetwear marketplace Novelship bags US$9.5M following Snoop Dogg collab
Lead investors are East Ventures, iGlobe Partners, and GSR Ventures; Novelship allows buyers and sellers to trade 100% authentic sneakers, limited-edition apparel, and exclusive collectibles.

Proptech firm SIMPPLE lists on Nasdaq, looks to raise US$8.4M
Singapore-based SIMPPLE will use the money for R&D, IP strategy and implementation, scaling up sales and marketing into overseas markets; The company has listed 1.6M shares on the Nasdaq at US$5.25 apiece.

Blockchain-powered Filipino remittance app Parallax nets US$4.5M
The investors include Dragonfly Capital, Circle Ventures, and General Catalyst; Parallax also introduced the ability to convert USD into local currencies, starting with a few select countries and rolling out to more currencies soon.

e27 Connect investors empower SEA startups: Meet the game-changing funds of last week
Teja Ventures, Foxmont Capital Partners, Global Brain Singapore, and others fuel innovation across Asia’s diverse startup landscape with strategic investments.

Baemin Vietnam CEO Jinwoo Song calls it quits
Baemin is a JV between Delivery Hero and Woowa Brothers; Loan Cao, the firm’s CFO, has been appointed interim CEO; Baemin entered Vietnam in May 2019 and acquired food delivery app Vietnammm, which it later shut down.

Netbank, Akulaku team up to provide loans to underserved Filipinos
The partnership will connect Akulaku’s users to Netbank’s ‘loans-as-a-service’ model; According to Netbank’s website, the firm funds loans and provides payment tools for alternative and traditional lenders in the Philippines.

Antler, eFishery CEO back Indonesia’s B2B agritech startup Kora
Kora aims to disrupt the conventional maize supply chain by uniting all parties involved — from farmers to middlemen — under a streamlined B2B model; Kora claims to have sold nearly 11M kilograms of maize and generated US$2M revenue.

Legaltech startup Hukumku secures funding from East Ventures
The Indonesian legaltech startup offers a platform that connects users with vetted lawyers; All the info about lawyers, their practice licenses, areas of expertise, locations, and user ratings and reviews are available on Hukumku.

E-motorcycle adoption in Indonesia: How to tap into this US$19.2B opportunity
In 2022, there were already 25,782 e-motorcycles in Indonesia, with more than 1,500 swapping stations available per Q1 2023; However, this does not mean that the journey into e-motorcycle adoption is not without barriers.

BuzzAR CEO Bell Beh advocates open conversations on systemic issues to empower women in tech
Beh looks at the milestones that women in tech in Singapore have made in recent years and shares her hope for a more equal future.

Book Excerpt: How chatbot threatens to upend an entire industry in PH
In his book, Talino Venture Labs CEO Winston Damarillo points out the five trends that are changing the business landscape –starting with chatbots.

From complexity to clarity: How fintech makes people and business life easier
Navigating the impact of fintech in both B2C and B2B sectors, uncovering hidden tools and niche projects enhancing financial experiences in Indonesia.

The Vietnamese market and Apple Pay: Excellent support or just unmet expectations?
Apple Pay has a limited impact on Vietnam’s e-wallet market due to its iOS user base, POS machine requirement, and reliance on international payment cards.

How to stay creative in the age of Generative AI and Web3
In the midst of an avalanche of technology news in creative industries, we navigate an unprecedented era of creativity and fear of being left behind.

==

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MEDEA Biopharma from the Technical University of Munich (Germany) and PlasticFri from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) were declared Grand Final winners of the 11th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), organised by the Singapore Management University Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE).

MEDEA Biopharma won the Lee Kuan Yew BETA Prize, while PlasticFri clinched the Lee Kuan Yew INFINITY Prize. The BETA category covers pre-revenue startups, while the INFINITY covers revenue-generating startups in the early- to Series A stages.

Both winners have received S$100,000 (US$73,000) in cash and S$75,000 (US$55,000) in-kind prizes each, and the opportunity to be mentored by some of the more notable venture capitalists (VCs) in the innovation and entrepreneurship space for expansion in the region.

Also Read: Meet the 55 finalists vying for prizes worth US$1.9M at SMU’s LKYGBPC competition in Singapore

MEDEA develops a new generation of sustainable and eco-friendly antibacterial solutions as alternatives to chemical and harmful antibiotics, copper and pesticides to combat harmful bacteria in humans, animals and plants. Founded by Rüdiger Trojok, Dr Elene Kakabadze, Giorgi Khubua and Alexander Skripnik, the firm entered the competition in the ‘Urban Solutions and Sustainability’ Category.

PlasticFri is a greentech company that turns agricultural waste into eco-friendly products, such as cups, straws, and packaging, to replace plastics. To date, the company claims to have sold more than 10 million products, saved more than 52,000 litres of water and eliminated 5,000 kg of plastic waste. Founded by Dr Allen Mohammadi and Max Mohammadi, the firm entered the competition in the ‘Urban Solutions and Sustainability’ Category.

Also Read: Protégé Ventures launches Fund II to support student-led startups in Singapore

Thirty-one other student startups were also declared winners across various categories.

A total of 53 university startups, including ten from Singapore, gathered at SMU to compete for S$2.5 million worth of prizes over the week. With the theme’ Innovations Beyond Boundaries – Reimagining a Smart, Sustainable & Resilient Future’ and focusing on five key areas: Urban Solutions and Sustainability; Manufacturing, Trade & Connectivity; Human Health & Potential; Smart Nation & Digital Economy; and Media & Entertainment, the biennial LKYGBPC saw over 1,000 entries from 1,100 universities from 77 countries, including Argentina, China, Germany, the US, Ukraine, Japan, and Indonesia.

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Image Credit: LKYGBPC

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Movers and shakers of the Philippine startup community, innovators and investors, and global and national leaders will gather for the sixth edition of the Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) international conference on November 22 to 24 at Panglao Island in Bohol, the Philippines.

At Geeks On A Beach, about 500 participants are expected to discuss trends and forecasts on tech, startup and design, with conversations and interactions aimed at enabling the best to ride the wave of technological advances.

Plenary sessions will explore potential investment opportunities, while breakout sessions will touch on fintech, edutech, healthtech, agritech, climate-tech and other category-specific themes catering to youth and women.

Also Read: Driving financial inclusion in the Philippines: Why last-mile communities are key to winning the battle

Geeks On A Beach will also have pitching opportunities, business coaching, matching, investors’ roundtable and exhibits from various stakeholders. A highlight of GOAB this year would be celebrating the impact of a new law, the Innovative Startup Act, and DICT’s programmes for the Philippine startup ecosystem.

The event is spearheaded by GeeksPH and co-organised by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“Ten years after the first GOAB and a pandemic-induced hiatus, there are certainly a lot of new and positive developments to celebrate from the advance of digitalisation, the rise of AI and more funding raised by Filipino startups,” said GOAB founding organiser Tina Amper of GeeksPH, which

Serving as Geeks On A Beach advisors are Manny Ayala of Hatchd and Endeavor PH, Plug and Play Tech Center’s Jojo Flores, Shoppable’s Chris Blanquera, Stephanie Caragos of Syntactics, Embiggen Group’s Paul Pajo, and Christina Laskowski of Silicon Valley-based Science and Technology Advisory Council.

Speakers include DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, Chris McCann of Race Capital, Mohan Belani of e27, and Earl Valencia of Plentina.

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