Prefer, a bean-free coffee startup in Singapore, has raised US$2 million in seed funding led by Forge Ventures.

500 Global, A*ccelerate, Better Bite Ventures, Sopoong Ventures, SEEDS Capital, Entrepreneur First, and Pickup Coffee also participated in the round.

The capital allows Prefer to make significant investments in growing the capacity of its production facility, expanding its ground coffee and ready-to-drink bottled beverages across Asia Pacific, starting with Singapore and the Philippines.

Also Read: Retrenched and dejected, this entrepreneur proved that a lot can happen over coffee

Co-founded in 2022 by Jake Berber (CEO) and Tan Ding Jie (CTO), Prefer makes coffee without coffee beans to ensure coffee is delicious, affordable, and sustainable. The company’s proprietary fermentation technology upcycles surplus bread, soy pulp, and spent grain to create a coffee substitute that offers the same aroma, taste, and brewing experience as traditional coffee.

Coffee, one of the world’s most popular beverages, is being threatened by climate change; it is forecast that by 2050, 50 per cent of coffee farmland will no longer be suitable for use. Shrinking coffee bean supply coupled with rising demand is leading to coffee bean prices soaring to unprecedented highs, and the team promises always to be the more affordable coffee option.

“As climate change erodes coffee farmlands, erratic weather puts crops at risk, and demand continues to rise, coffee bean prices will skyrocket. That’s where Prefer comes in to ensure the production and price of coffee become sustainable and stable in the long run,” said Jake Berber, Co-Founder and CEO of Prefer.

The company provides ground coffee compatible with standard espresso machines to its B2B customers, including cafes, coffee chains, distributors, and flavour houses, who seek a more affordable and sustainable coffee supply. It also offers ready-to-drink bottled coffee for quick-service food businesses, events, and retail shelves.

Also Read: Coffeefrom: Brewing sustainability from bean to product

For brands with sustainability goals, Prefer helps them slash their carbon footprint. It claims to produce an estimated 10x less carbon dioxide than traditional coffee beans, making it a beacon for a more sustainable coffee industry.

Prefer is available at 12 locations across Singapore, including 2023 Barista Championships winner Dough, Foreword Coffee Roasters, and select SaladStop! outlets. Household name partnerships are brewing and will be announced in 2024.

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Productivity is a big topic for startups and startup founders. Between products to develop, investors to impress and clients to find, there is a lot to do. Pressure adds up, and day after day tasks replace each other so that the only thing we do is run after time.

As a business adviser, my job is to support CEOs week after week and to help with making sure that every resource is allocated in a way that makes sense. In a startup environment, the interesting is however that while the focus is very commonly on increasing productivity, people focus on the wrong elements.

They try to do more. They try to be everywhere. They try all they can, just in case. And they usually end up with a feeling of dissatisfaction because, well, he who goes everywhere doesn’t go anywhere.

The question which usually comes next is this one: how do we do it? And when that happens, my experience with business coaching tells me that things will as always points in one precise direction: strategic and Impact thinking (or the lack of).

In most cases, startup founders look for a quick fix, but in reality, the roots of the problem are so deep that the only way for them to become more productive is to completely review the way they approach things. Whether that’s the work they do, their methods, and their goals.

My point is very straightforward here: startup productivity is not just about trying to do more, it is about focusing on what really matters – and that usually requires to start with business basics.

Also Read: Is technology killing workspace productivity ? how to switch that around

Now, if you’re reading this article chances are that you are looking for practical tips as to what you could do, so let’s dig into the topic with three tips borrowed from business coaching and productivity methodologies.

Tip 1: Set goals

A key aspect of my job as a business adviser is to help entrepreneurs, startup CEOs and founding teams to realize that to obtain better results the starting point is always to set very clear goals.

The point probably sounds silly to you right now. And that’s fine. Like it or not, investing some time in defining precise goals is the only way to set an agenda, to implement that agenda, and to assess whether things go in the right direction every now and then. The question is, are your goals clear?

Think about it. When was the last time you took some time to write down your goals for the next three years? For next year? For the next three months? In my experience, most people never do that because they are too busy with “getting shit done”. Yet sooner or later they end-up facing issues.

Here is a fact: long-term goals give you a direction and they give you a framework for defining reasonable and assessable KPIs. It’s a bit like a GPS, in reality. Those who don’t have one can take a lot more time to get to their final destination.

In sum? My first actionable tip when it comes to startups productivity is this one: invest a little bit of time on defining what really matters. Get the direction right and define what the priorities are, the rest will be easier.

Tip 2: Reconsider the way you use time

The second startup productivity tip which comes to my mind is that startup CEOs and founding teams should reconsider the way they use time. At the end of the day, the point is not to produce quantity but to deliver on the strategic bits which really (really) matter – and that kind of re-focused focus makes a massive difference.

Look critically at your typical week agenda and see for yourself. How many hours a week do you spend on to-do lists? How many times a week do you work on admin and invoicing? How many hours a week do you spend on simply answering emails?

The point often looks silly to clients, but once they start to play along, they all realize their time is not used properly. Routines are the wrong ones, and the outcome of all the time, energy and money spent are usually the desired one.

Also Read: Scale up your productivity, scale up your business

As silly as it is, this little exercise will also make you realize that multitasking is not always productive, and in many cases, this simple realization has made an enormous difference. Just saying…

Tip 3: Allocate time and resources on strategy

My third startup productivity tip is that startup CEOs and founding teams should allocate more time and resources on strategy development.

Way too often, startups pitch great solutions which end-up soling no real problem, which means that from the beginning their work has not been productive. Yes, they have done a lot (and effectively produced a lot), but if the results don’t create value what is the productivity gain?

The logic is simple here. Productivity is a matter of organizing yourself to reach qualitative benchmarks and milestones, beyond just quantity. Hence, your ability to allocate some times to figure out what works and what doesn’t work from a strategic perspective is key.

Hence the third actionable tip here is this one: invest three hours a week discussing your Impact 101 strategy with your co-founders or with a trusted adviser of your liking, and make sure that everything you do actually makes sense from a long-term perspective.

Or, said differently, make sure that everything you do now gets you closer to the goals you have defined for the next year and for the next three years. It’s as simple as that, really.

Bottom line: Realize that startup productivity isn’t about quantity

These 3 tips are actionable, and in my experience,  have a major impact on those who work on them. Give it a try and see for yourself.

We always say that ultimately Business Karma will decide, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t work on influencing what comes next. Right?

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Image Credit: Isaac Smith

This post was first published on December 3, 2019

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Once upon a time, there was an over-enthusiastic startup founder who had a massive amount of fuel of burning passion and desire to do something big. The fire was so intense that the “individual” approached multiple investors with few showing interests but yet not failing to give up.

Every day, the startup founder would listen to “Whatever it takes” by Imagine Dragons or “Remember the name” by Fort Minor, both of which are extremely motivational music while trying to get on board and get rejected by “possible” employees left and right.

Despite making a fool of himself/herself with investors and other people, when they asked for the business model or in other words “ how will you make money? The competition is massive”, everything else was just perfect!

Then after a few years, that startup lost more money than it would ever make.

That hilarious startup founder was me.

During my years in university, I was a bored but very enthusiastic individual. Without having any knowledge about mobile apps (or how the world works), I jumped into planning the launch of the most perfect mobile app the industry had ever known.

Also Read: Why trust is the biggest barrier to entrepreneurship and innovation

A recipe for the perfect disaster, some would say. Yet I would not trade the experience for a million dollars.

Here are the 3 things I learnt from my failure that I would like to share with every aspiring entrepreneur.

1. Anger management

Anger has many forms. It is not limited to an angry face or a series of rants. It can be frustration; it can be silence or it can be a sharp mouth; it can be anything.

As an entrepreneur, it is incredibly important to remain calm, no matter how tough the circumstances are. Anger only distorts perception and moves focus away from the bigger picture.

If you are someone who is constantly angry and gets easily frustrated, do not be an entrepreneur.

Really, being a successful entrepreneur requires tremendous patience and calmness.

Because of lack of anger management, I managed to lose the trust of the few people who decided to join me. I was quick to jump into conclusions and lose the trust of the people who were loyal to the idea.

2. Lack of knowledge

If you want to start a mobile app company, know everything about mobile apps. If you don’t think that you know enough, then get a co-founder who does. This rule applies to all fields.

Also Read:Digital entertainment startup POPS Worldwide snags US$30M in funding, launching its free premium content apps

I had little knowledge about apps. Therefore, when developers faced problems, I would not know how to advise them or suggest them solutions –which made me look like a fool. The mobile app took longer than ever to build.

If you do not know the ins-and-outs of the business you are trying to get into, never do it simply for the money or any other reason that you may have. It will only end badly. If you do not believe me, read about Facebook. If the guys only knew how to code and programme, they could have done it themselves without the help of Mark Zuckerberg. They lacked the knowledge and it clearly did not end well for them.

Some will say, “No, you simply need to learn how to judge people right. You don’t need to know everything. Hire smart people.”

To them, I would say, “If I had enough money, yes, I would hire the right people. But you do not have this privilege when you are starting from scratch.”

3. Having a good business model

My business model was “ads”, that’s all the mind of a 19-year-old could contemplate at that time.

Some would say that it was because due to the influence of media and the digital age, and I’m not going to argue about it.

Also Read: New Antler-NUS initiative to nurture deeptech talents, to invest in 30 startups annually

But it is important to know how you will generate cash and how much money you will spend on your business. It is a simple point but its really about organising and good money management. If you do not have a good business model, you will end up like me, or even worse.

Conclusion

Eventually, I decided that I did not have the right self-awareness to become an entrepreneur. I decided to grow emotionally and spiritually before I began my next quest.

Personal development is very important for founders, as some say that founders are the new generation of “kings/queens waiting to expand their empire.”

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Image Credit: Element5 Digital on Unsplash

This post was first published on November 10, 2019

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The power of social media nowadays is incredibly useful when it comes to your business. You can easily reach and connect with like-minded people. 

Many users rely on social media for entertainment, building relationships and for useful information. Social media could really help your business grow; use these 6 tips to make sure your business is using social media effectively.

1. Always be consistent

If you haven’t known already, social media never sleeps – it’s an ongoing matter, 24 hours, 7 days a week; therefore it’s essential you keep consistency in mind. Start off by making a plan on what you are posting, how often you’re going to post and what’s the best time to post on social media, and stick with it.

Also read: A guide to wading through the organic reach demise on social media

You should ideally be posting at least 2 to 3 times a day, depending on your goals and your following. You can’t get away with posting 5 times a day to once a week – you will surely see a decrease in followers with no engagement.

2. Utilise Hashtags

When posting on pages like Instagram or Twitter; don’t forget to hashtag. Hashtags are a great way to reach like-minded people who are also using the same hashtag.

You can mix it up with generic and popular hashtags, but you should also include hashtags that are more specific to your niche. You can easily research this on Google, read hashtag guides or even on Instagram to figure out what hashtags you should be using.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Don’t just sit there, post content and expect to get it in return. Social media is a two-way street; you have to do the work to receive results back.

Not only should you be responding to comments on your page but another great way to approach this is to ask your customers to share their thoughts, questions, and ideas to get to know them better the next time you Tweet, or update your status. Open-ended questions definitely are a great start to see some conversation flowing.

4. Be personable and transparent

Social media is a great way to connect with your customers, so don’t be afraid to show some personality. It can get pretty boring just seeing generic “picture-perfect” posts daily; switch it up by showing behind-the-scenes shots or even just by responding to comments you receive on your page – this all just shows how approachable, genuine and trustworthy you are as a brand and can drive in more customers.

5. Make sure your content aligns with your message

Sit down and actually brainstorm and plan what content you will be posting – it’s absolutely necessary to make sure everything fits within your brand identity.

Also read: Growing traffic through social media marketing for small business owners

For instance, if you’re a small interior design brand, you might want to start posting content for not only the products you sell but also content related to interior design. It’s important to match your brand identity in order to achieve promoting what it is that you’re trying to say to the world.

6. Host facebook lives or utilise video

Video marketing is significantly becoming popular in recent years – it’s a way to connect with your audience in real-time. Many social media platforms include video now so it’s time to take full use of it.

Start by posting fun and personable videos on your Instagram stories or let your followers know about a Facebook Live you may be hosting related to your brand – such as a live interview or talking about interesting and educational topics. 

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Image Credit: S O C I A L . C U T

This post was first published on October 30, 2019

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In recent years, sustainable development and sustainability have become increasingly significant components in universities’ degree programmes and curricula. With the impacts of accelerating climate change and the move to advance the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030, our educational landscape has set the trajectory for our young people to take the lead in co-creating solutions for a better world. 

With the push of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and various industry regulations, such as the increasing carbon tax, there is a greater demand for knowledge and skill sets in environmental sustainability within the workforce. Southeast Asia could have as many as 30 million sustainability-linked jobs by 2030, with the region’s green economy projected to provide up to US$1 trillion (S$1.36 trillion) in annual economic opportunities. However, the challenge is getting the right talent for these green jobs, given the fledgling nature of the environmental impact, social issues, and corporate governance (ESG) industry in Singapore.

The number of job seekers who aspire to enter the green economy has grown disproportionately, resulting in a significant skill shortage. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive approach, especially in education, tracking, and standardisation, to address environmental sustainability needs. 

To equip students and the existing workforce with relevant skills for the green economy, educational institutions are increasingly integrating sustainability principles into their curricula, utilising experiential learning and digital platforms, and collaborating with institutions and businesses to develop practical training programmes. 

Driving sustainable development with SIT

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) catalyses sustainable development in Singapore and beyond by producing skilled professionals equipped to tackle contemporary sustainability challenges. Its mission revolves around integrating academia with industry, fostering applied learning, and cultivating a sustainability mindset. With this ethos in mind, SIT embraces transformative education and empowers students to contribute to sustainable solutions.

Baseline sustainability education is compulsory for all undergraduates in SIT and joint degree programmes. This micro-module introduces students to key sustainability concepts, including the definition, importance, multi-disciplinary nature and actions of sustainable development.  Students learn about the key challenges in Singapore and hear from industry insiders sharing their experiences and industry needs on sustainability.

“The roles of education, apart from delivering it, include the curation of a structure of knowledge and skill sets that can be segmented and packaged to accurately meet the different areas and levels of needs on the ground,” shared Associate Professor Ethan Chong, Head of Sustainability for Education and Research at SIT.

A/Prof Chong added, “SIT is working on this, and developing courses based on a structure. Academia plays the role of connecting research and practice, and this connection is important in developing the structure. The outcome is ideally a set of sustainability curriculum that is rigorous and practical.”

Also read: The first 27 key innovation leaders who will speak at Echelon X

To allow students to gain hands-on experience, SIT works with partners such as ENGIE and Singapore Power to train sustainability talents. For instance, the district cooling system facility within SIT’s new Punggol Campus, designed and built by ENGIE, will be a teaching and training ground for students to learn about the district cooling system and aspects of maintenance and energy efficiency in real-world conditions.

Through SIT’s collaboration with Singapore Power, faculty from the Electrical Power Engineering programme will train students on smart grid technologies by leveraging the Multi-Energy Microgrid. They can pick up much-needed skill sets such as data-driven optimisation, district cooling system decarbonisation and predictive maintenance learning, and conceptualisation of distributed energy systems.

“More than before, companies need to consider new sustainability-related factors in making decisions and choices. Sustainable development education and training should not only be about the teaching of theories and case examples. It should also cover the application aspects.  SIT aims to bridge the gap between classroom and industry so that learners may find what they have learned useful for their workplace,” explained A/Prof Chong.

Enhancing sustainability-focused education

To help tackle sustainability competency issues, SIT offers several programmes. These include the Specialist Certificate in Environmental Sustainability Measurement and Management, a Continuing Education and Training (CET) course for working professionals. The 12-month course covers measuring, managing and reporting techniques and guides learners in their respective sustainability-related tasks at work. 

Climate change currently affects many aspects of people’s lives and offers many challenges as well as professional opportunities. To develop sustainably, an articulation of the definition and measurement of sustainability is required to track and implement solutions. Hence, this certification course introduces the quantification of sustainable development with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.

Measurement methods including carbon accounting, life cycle assessment, and management approaches such as circular economy modelling are covered. Since greenwashing is a potential reputational risk for many organisations, the programme helps organisations articulate and report credibly, meeting sustainability reporting standards and frameworks and measuring progress to manage sustainability initiatives.

A/Prof Chong said, “In our CET courses, we often use learners’ actual work problems and cases. This is so they can almost immediately apply their sustainability knowledge and skill sets learned during the courses.”

Learners who use these skill sets over time in the industry can develop into sustainability professionals in their respective sectors and progress in their careers. The inaugural intake of the Specialist Certificate starts in May 2024.

Industry-focused sustainability education

In anticipation of the transformation in the agri-food sector and the growing global demand for green talent, SIT is also launching an Agritech and Aquaculture Specialisation in its Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) degree programme in the academic year 2024.

With growing emphasis on food security, farms in Singapore are increasingly focused on technological improvements to sustainably boost productivity in urban farming and aquaculture. The new specialisation will cover a wide range of topics, including agritech systems and aquaculture economics, aiming to train learners in this field of study holistically. Graduates can expect employment opportunities across various sectors, including agri-food, aquaculture, marine research, and government sectors.

Also read: How data can be used to empower mental healthcare in Asia

Associate Professor An Hui, Programme Leader for the SBE degree programme, shared, “The Agritech and Aquaculture industries play crucial roles in addressing global challenges related to environmental sustainability and food security. Smart farming technologies enable better management of resources, leading to increased efficiency in land use, water consumption, and energy use. This contributes to sustainability by minimising waste and environmental degradation.”

With this new specialisation, the SBE degree programme will have three distinct specialisation baskets — Integrated Facilities Management, Green Building Design, and Agritech and Aquaculture. The SBE programme focuses on nurturing mechanical engineers to be competent in solving complex engineering issues in the Built Environment with critical thinking and skill sets in Sustainability and Integrated Digital Technologies.

“As the world and Singapore focus on achieving the target of the sustainability movement, the new specialisation in Agritech and Aquaculture, the emphasis on sustainable practices, technological innovation, and responsible resource management aligns with the broader goals of the SDGs. These specialisations contribute to developing resilient and sustainable food systems while addressing environmental, social, and economic dimensions of global development,” A/Prof An added.

The increasingly important role of education in sustainable development

The role of education, exemplified by SIT, is pivotal in shaping a sustainable future. As we navigate intricate environmental challenges, education serves as the cornerstone for fostering awareness, innovation, and a collective commitment to sustainability. SIT’s dedication to instilling a sustainability ethos and promoting applied learning underscores the transformative power of education in creating a sustainable future.

Also read: Nagoya University transforming from Singapore beyond Six Nobel Laureates

“Education of sustainable development is evolving and maturing as we speak. We must be agile to account for new scientific findings, policies, technologies, and the changing job landscape. It is also important to learn and collaborate across national and institutional boundaries. Singapore values collaboration, and I believe that we can do more together,” shared A/Prof Chong.

Learn more about SIT’s initiatives in Sustainability Talent Development.

This article first appeared on e27.

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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by the Singapore Institute of Technology

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