In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, startups often find themselves navigating rough waters in pursuit of success. The path to prominence is riddled with challenges, and this is where angel investors step in as guiding beacons. With their more modest fund sizes and hands-on approach, angel investors have emerged as a pivotal source of support for fledgling companies in their early stages.

Drawing on my personal experience, I established Real Time with the intention of not only investing in but also collaborating with forward-thinking entrepreneurs who share a similar vision. Reflecting on the genesis of my technology innovation services company, Wedigtech, established in 2010, I can empathise with the myriad of uncertainties that arise.

I came to realise that securing funding is of paramount importance for startups to construct and expand, particularly in their nascent stages. Obtaining funds from institutional investors during this phase can be exceptionally challenging for a startup founder.

Nevertheless, owing to the mentorship provided by experienced professionals in the realms of business and technology, we successfully manoeuvred through an array of hurdles and continued to make progress.

Their influence extends beyond the boardroom as they become stalwart mentors, confidants, and advocates of the startups they invest in. This symbiotic relationship forms the cornerstone of a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Also Read: Angel investor Mike Flache shares his tips to begin investing in startups

Coming from a tech background and then moving into the finance space, I have come to understand that while the initial investment is crucial to kickstart business operations, guidance from seasoned investors and business owners is equally important. A lot of times, what matters beyond the monetary transactions are overlooked.

Here, I want to highlight some ways in which angel investors can make a real difference in the growth trajectory of the startup they invest in.

Tailored mentorship and strategic guidance

Unlike their larger VC counterparts, angel investors have the privilege of dedicating more time to individual portfolio companies. They can provide personalised mentorship, helping entrepreneurs fine-tune their strategies and navigate challenges specific to their niche. This close-knit relationship enables angel investors to offer actionable insights that fuel startups’ growth, positioning them on the path to success.

A powerful network of connections

Angel investors may be small in size, but their networks are vast and influential. Armed with connections across various industries, these investors can open doors for startups that might have been difficult to access otherwise. Whether it’s forging partnerships with established firms or introducing portfolio companies to potential clients, angel investors play a pivotal role in expanding the startups’ reach.

Active operational support

Beyond monetary investments, angel investors get their hands dirty in the trenches with portfolio companies. They understand the challenges that early-stage startups face and can lend valuable operational support. From aiding in hiring top talent to streamlining internal processes, the active involvement of angel investors adds immense value to the startups’ overall operations.

Also Read: It is important that founders see investors as their partners: Christina Teo of she1K

Access to critical resources

Startups often grapple with limited resources, hindering their ability to scale rapidly. Here, angel investors prove to be lifelines by facilitating access to essential resources, such as legal counsel, accounting services, marketing expertise, and public relations support. These resources equip startups with the tools they need to thrive in competitive markets.

Long-term commitment and patience

One of the most commendable traits of angel investors is their unwavering commitment to the startups they back. Rather than seeking quick returns, they nurture a long-term vision, understanding that success might take time. This patience in the face of uncertainty allows entrepreneurs to experiment, pivot, and iterate until they find their winning formula.

Fostering a collaborative ecosystem

Angel investors are not just financial partners; they foster a collaborative ecosystem. Through regular communication, workshops, and events, they facilitate knowledge sharing and create opportunities for startups to learn from one another. This sense of community is invaluable, as it encourages the exchange of ideas and promotes innovation.

As the entrepreneurial journey is fraught with uncertainties and challenges, angel investors serve as navigators, charting out routes to success that entrepreneurs might not have discovered on their own. Their guidance is not just theoretical; it’s born from the sweat and tears of their own triumphs and failures, a firsthand knowledge that proves invaluable to those they support.

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This article was first published on June 8, 2023. 

Over 150 years ago, statistician and founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, made data visualisations that were designed to change how society behaved. She successfully took the value of data, applied it to a real-world use case of poor sanitation and overcrowding and managed to change the way we care for humans. 

Although she acquired the nickname Lady with the Lamp due to her night rounds as a nurse, she was a lady with a vision; studying data before data analysis was even a term acknowledged in the medical research world. This vision was the clear articulation of data to make it digestible. 

The proliferation of automation and AI applications in our everyday lives has supercharged data discussions. As the direction of AI is still emerging, it is important that we assess our data sources, reliability and future data needs. 

Are we on the brink of an AI takeover? That’s the question on the minds of many technology leaders and researchers today. Everyone from Elon Musk to Steve Wozniak to doctors and public health experts is coming out in favour of AI regulation before AI continues its mission to revolutionise industries.

AI models require quality data inputs

As AI continues to revolutionise industries from healthcare to finance, the need for data to train these models has grown exponentially. But what happens when we run out of data?

AI models have risks associated with poor data inputs. Can secure blockchain data provide one solution that mitigates the effects of data shortages? This will depend on the datasets and the willingness to share data across blockchains. In order to maximise the information that the AI model can work with, collaboration amongst all stakeholders is key. 

According to Hugo Philion, CEO and Co-Founder of Flare Networks, “Data that varies over time, such as stock market indices, weather and commodity prices, can be brought on-chain by the Flare Time Series Oracle in a highly decentralised way.”

“Blockchain data is by definition highly structured, following a cumulative distributed ledger structure where every new block is linked to all historical blocks via cryptographic hashes. This is what ensures the immutability of the database,” continues Philion.

Pooling multiple sources of data to create larger, more accurate datasets can make a big difference when training AI models. 

“The problem isn’t necessarily how to organise existing blockchain data to make it more useful. The problem is how to bring more types of data on-chain, from other blockchains and from Web2 APIs, making them available where they are needed for Dapps to execute and provide greater utility for users,” notes Philion.

Also Read: Planning a trip: Is the future of sustainable travel in the metaverse?

Alongside the sheer size of the data sources comes the task of managing these sources and using the right inputs to extract the right information.

Using data for informed decision making

There are currently few incentives for local governments to increase efficiency. Besides self-motivation and pride of place, local governments tend to pass along responsibility for leadership strategies to the higher powers of the state. Transparency in planning, proposals, land use, regulations and infrastructure development is key to ensuring a stable local economy and establishing a community based on trust. On-chain data guarantee a store of records like never before.

Providing accurate data is a key priority for TangleHUB, a decentralised storage solution working with IOTA. However, as users can opt out of providing their data, the data inputs are difficult to predict for the development of future products and solutions to existing problems. 

“With the advent of more machine learning and AI for processing data, the limitations of data within councils need to be addressed. The problem with centralised storage is that somebody has controlled access, and if the metadata isn’t encrypted, there are risks associated with the security of this data,” says Bas van Sambeek, Communications Specialist at TangleHUB.

However, using optimised data management to reduce waste and effectively allocate local budgets could provide a welcome boost to local economies and employment opportunities. If councils exercise their power to provide long-term positive outcomes for local citizens, then it could save the taxpayers millions in revenue. Also, individuals are more aware of their data usage and rights. 

Unlocking the power of decentralised data

When working in the blockchain realm, there are several questions popping up in data circles, and most are concerned with the sharing of data for effective AI management. “How can we bring private data to AI, and how can we ensure that everybody involved gets their fair share of what comes out of this?” said Robin Lehmann, CEO & Co-Founder of Data Union App.

Using self-serving analytics to empower better levels of care, health, and lifestyle management is more commonplace these days as people have familiarised themselves with mobile applications that provide data on their everyday activities. Three sectors that have embraced individual data management are fitness, health and work. Examples include your Fitbit, your monthly health goals and your performance at work. In the future, this may apply to other aspects of our lives, including our relationship with public services. 

“We see a huge need for people to be able to take back control over their data and for people to trust data that they see. So if you have a local council, then that data has to be absolutely reliable, or there has to be a confidence interval in that, along with that data, to be able to use it as input for the decision process,” continues Van Sambeek. 

For Philion, “Personal data sovereignty will likely make engaging with services less convenient initially until the technology matures and solutions become easier to use.”

Last week, at a Crypto and AI conference, Richard Blythman, Founder of AlgoveraAI, noted the potential to add new utility with LLM frameworks. Algovera is focused on building end-to-end solutions for customised versions of LLM flows, assistants and agents. “The Crypto agent framework paired with LLM framework provides a whole lot of new utility where we can build new use cases.” 

Martin Koeppelmann, Founder of Gnosis, one of the first Ethereum sidechains with over 120,000 validators, looked at data from the perspective of the AI agent. He discussed wrapping AI services on the chain for agents, “An AI agent will not have a bank account or a credit card but may very well be able to control a private key.” 

By using blockchain technology as a way of tracking our data, the end user can own and control their own data. Still, also the AI will be capable of using whatever data we feed it to access services in ways that may be unimaginable today. Right now, providing the right infrastructure and data sets and setting basic standards in the way data is handled will provide pivotal guidance for humans and AI taking advantage of this data revolution.

Also Read: Celebrate World Environment Day: 4 ways blockchain and ReFi are supporting a greener future 

“The lessons being learned currently are that this trust was perhaps necessary in the past in order for a service to be provided. But if new blockchain systems can remove this need, in a simple way, abstracted away by intuitive applications, then there are many advantages to having full control over one’s data,” says Philion.

Conclusion

In a recent article, the Harvard Business Review highlights a new world order that emphasizes data access. It pointed to a scenario whereby trade or data-sharing agreements between countries could become the norm in the future.  The report notes that data mobility allows for “a more productive free-trade zone, where countries mutually benefit from tapping into each other’s data reservoirs.”

As AI continues to infiltrate every industry, it’s essential that technologists collaborate to find innovative solutions to tackle the challenges of data shortage. With collaboration and creativity, project leaders can ensure that AI remains a powerful tool for solving complex problems.

The marriage of blockchain technology and AI has the potential to revolutionise some of our most vital public services. Just as Florence Nightingale pioneered modern nursing through her meticulous analysis of data, we too have the opportunity to reshape the future of AI by harnessing the power of blockchain.

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Earlier in September, Singapore-based edutech startup Dive Analytics announced its expansion in Latin America following its partnership with Colegio Los Nogales, a local private school in Colombia.

The partnership includes the use of Nurture, a platform created by Dive Analytics, to help educators at the school receive insights and tools to support students’ unique holistic developmental journey.

Nurture enables educators to monitor every aspect of their students’ development, including social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative. The platform’s Social Network Analysis also allows educators to identify social interactions by administering friendship surveys and monitoring emotional states among students to take the necessary interventions as soon as educators are alerted.

“Schools typically only have a few counsellors to oversee the entire student body, and teachers are grappling with large class sizes of 30 to 40 pupils. This can pose a significant challenge for educators when it comes to monitoring their students’ holistic development. The issue becomes even more critical as traditional well-being surveys can take months to reach management as timely support and intervention remain crucial to address students’ needs effectively,” explains Dive Analytics CEO Peh Zhan Hao in a press statement.

“This is where our comprehensive Nurture platform comes in to revolutionise tracking of students’ wellness. Nurture’s innovative features and tools equip teachers with the tools and insights they need to provide timely support and achieve student success.”

Founded in 2017, Dive Analytics provides a suite of educational solutions that aim to streamline school processes while empowering educators to provide the best education experience for their students. It has four solutions offered: Roster, Enroll, Beacon, and Nurture.

The company said that it has more than 17,000 users.

Also Read: Post-pandemic education: Why edutech remains a game-changer

Going global

After five years of building its presence in Singapore and working with more than 30 public schools, Dive Analytics is expanding its business to the global market. Apart from partnerships with Sampoerna Academy in Indonesia and Colegio Los Nogales in Colombia, it is also looking to expand in Malaysia and Indonesia.

But why Latin America? And what process did it have to go through to get there? According to Peh, this expansion to the continent is an intuitive process considering the reasons.

“Firstly, Latin America presents an expansive market, with an estimated over 100 million student population, that allows us to make a meaningful impact on the education landscape. Secondly, their educational institutions showed great receptiveness and openness to innovative solutions that integrate technological solutions to address educational concerns. Lastly, similar to the rising scene observed in Southeast Asia (SEA), Latin America is also observing 15 per cent of children and adolescents being diagnosed with mental disorders, with more than 10 adolescents losing their lives to suicide within the region,” the CEO explains to e27.

Dive Analytics calls its approach to entering Latin America strategic and collaborative.

“This includes planning partnerships with overseas distributors who have a better understanding of the Latin American education landscape, building our brand awareness through conferences and events, providing tailored solutions that are highly catered to the specific region, and offering localised support to receive the assistance they need promptly,” Peh says.

While Dive Analytics’s expansion in Latin America is still in its early days, there are several points that the company has learned about the market.

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

“We are surprised by the Colombian educational community’s openness to collaborate with overseas edutech companies. Schools and educators in Colombia have displayed a remarkable forward-looking attitude, embracing innovative solutions to enhance student outcomes. Their willingness to explore new technologies and methodologies is encouraging and aligns well with our mission to improve education outcomes through technology,” Peh says.

Never forget where you come from

Next year is going to be a busy one for Dive Analytics as it prepares to execute major plans in its agenda. Apart from product innovation, where the company plans to launch a mobile app and integrate AI solutions, and strategic partnership with more system integrators, resellers, and distributors, Dive Analytics aims to close its seed funding round by Q1 2024.

“The funding is instrumental in supporting our ambitions for overseas expansion efforts, with our primary focus on SEA,” Peh says.

Interestingly, despite its plan to continue its global expansion, Dive Analytics plans to keep on expanding in the local market as well.

“While we set our sights on global expansion, we also recognise the importance of strengthening our foothold in our local market. In 2024, we will double down on efforts to increase our market share in our home region,” Peh closes.

“2024 promises to be a transformative year for us. We are excited to secure funding, drive innovation, form strategic partnerships, and solidify our presence both locally and abroad. These plans underscore our unwavering commitment to advancing education and student well-being through technology.”

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Image Credit: Dive Analytics

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Leading VC firm Gobi Partners and Petronas Ventures’s investment arm Twin Towers Ventures (TTV) have announced the collaboration to invest in the ecosystem of sustainable innovation within Southeast Asia and the Greater Bay Area in China.

The effort includes cross-sharing of deal flow and potential co-investments into promising opportunities in the region, exchange of insights and sustainable innovation best practices, as well as exploring potential co-development and commercialisation of Petronas’s in-house innovations.

“This MoU marks not only a new beginning but also a new urgency for our organisations. The forthcoming wave of environmentally conscious innovation needs to be transformational on a large scale that benefits all before time runs out,” Gobi Co-Founder and Chairperson Thomas G Tsao said.

Also Read: In SEA’s healthcare space, occasional regulatory hurdles, legacy infra are hard to penetrate: Gobi Chief

Connecting SEA with the GBA finds its roots in the longstanding synergy between the parties. Prior to this agreement, Petronas Ventures invested in the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund Greater Bay Area (AEF GBA Fund).

TTV invests in early to growth-stage entrepreneurs across the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) regions.

Founded in 2002, Gobi has raised 17 funds, invested in over 380 startups and nurtured ten unicorns. Gobi has grown to 15 locations across key markets in Bangkok, Cairo, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Manila, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore and Surabaya.

Recently, Gobi Partners announced its entry into the healthtech space in Greater Bay Area by investing in Hong Kong’s ImmunoCure.

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Malaysian equity crowdfunding platform pitchIN has launched pitchIN Academy to offer practical and easy-to-understand educational programmes, activities and content on alternative financing and investment.

pitchIN Academy aims to enhance the communication, education and public awareness outreach of innovative financing and investment in Malaysia. It will offer programmes catering to the general public, entrepreneurs and investors.

The academy is headed by Hanif Tamin, who previously served at SME Corp.

Sam Shafie, CEO of pitchIN, said: “Awareness and education has always been an important subject matter. It is because of that we decided to set up a specific department that will focus, curate and cater towards addressing awareness, education and the promotion of financial literacy. The pitchIN Academy through its fundraising accelerator (FA) programme has successfully completed a total of nine cohorts, impacting over 100 companies and 180 founders so far.”Currently, the Academy offers three main programmes: Fundraising Accelerator (FA), Investment Workshop (IW), and Masterclass (MC).

Also Read: Crowdfunding for startups: Where to begin and how to go about it

FA is designed to help founders and entrepreneurs who are raising funding for the first time by equipping them with a comprehensive suite of fundraising learning and training programmes. They will be given access to pitchIN’s broad network of legal, marketing and financial practitioners. In addition, pitchIN also provides bespoke fundraising consultations as well as preferential access to pitchIN’s equity crowdfunding offerings to FA participants.

IW is designed to educate the general public, especially first-time investors with little knowledge and experience in private market investing and alternative investment space. The modules are organised into easily digestible segments to help investors understand how to make important investment decisions. The workshop content is built from real-life investment experiences of successful startup investors and venture capitalists in Malaysia.

MC covers specialised topics that can help entrepreneurs and investors stay updated on the latest industry developments while expanding their understanding of building investable businesses or investing in the alternative investment space.

pitchIN Academy will also look to play an active role in strengthening the educational and awareness efforts of positioning regulated alternative financing and investment as the preferred option in Malaysia.

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