Singapore’s artificial intelligence (AI) landscape is experiencing a dynamic transformation, positioning the city-state as a leading global hub for AI innovation and application. With substantial investments flowing into the sector, Singapore has become a fertile ground for AI startups and established companies alike, driving advancements across various industries.

In finance, companies like TSLC and Trusting Social are at the forefront, leveraging AI to provide digital banking services and sophisticated credit scoring systems. The healthcare sector is also witnessing significant AI integration, with Holmusk utilising predictive analytics for mental health and Us2.ai offering real-time echocardiogram analysis to detect heart risks.

Retail and e-commerce are not left behind, with Neso Brands and ViSenze pioneering augmented reality and visual search tools to enhance customer experiences and drive sales. Companies like Wiz Freight, which employs AI for efficient freight forwarding solutions, are revolutionizing the logistics and transportation industries.

Environmental sustainability and space technology are also seeing AI applications, as demonstrated by UMITRON’s AI-driven aquaculture solutions and Infinite Orbits’ autonomous satellite services.

These innovations are supported by substantial funding from top-tier investors, including venture capitalists, institutional investors, and government initiatives.

Overall, Singapore’s thriving AI ecosystem is characterized by its diverse applications, robust investment landscape, and collaborative environment that fosters continuous innovation, solidifying the nation’s reputation as a powerhouse in the global AI arena.

Also Read: Beyond the hype: Taking Gen AI mainstream with next-level automation

Here are the island nation’s top 30 funded AI innovators transforming industries (Special thanks to data intelligence platform Tracxn):

TSLC

TSLC specialises in providing digital banking services for underserved individuals. The firm has developed an artificial intelligence-based integrated credit-led financial wellness platform and uses AI and machine learning (ML) technology to predict customer behaviour.

The startup’s services include savings wallets and physical and virtual credit cards for online and offline purchases, bill payments, and money transfers.

Total funding raised: US$225 million
Investors: JPIN, Rothschild & Co, arvinvestments.com, Riverside, Victory Capital, QP Global Family
Annual revenue: Not available

Holmusk

An AI-based digital health solution and data analytics provider, it offers NeuroBlu, a platform that monitors the user’s data. Its prediction engine recommends lifestyle changes before the condition worsens. The proprietary analytical tools work on real-world data to recognise disease progression. The EHR system is designed to capture and monitor decisions and is combined with past mental health records.

Total funding raised: US$109.3 million
Investors: Veradigm, Heritas Capital Management, Health Catalyst Capital, dRx Capital, Northwell, Optum Ventures, German Entrepreneurship, RISE, Enspire Capital, MadDog Ventures, JLABS
Annual revenue: US$1.1 million (as of March 31, 2018)

Neso Brands

Neso has developed AR-based virtual trial solutions for businesses. Its platform offers virtual trial solutions that enable users to try eyewear using phone cameras with AI, AR-based, and eye-tracking technologies.

Total funding raised: US$100 million
Investors: Alpha Wave Global, Temasek, KKR, and SoftBank Group
Annual revenue: Not available

Trusting Social

It is a software solution for loan lifecycle management. It offers trust scores of individuals by using artificial intelligence and alternate data with underwriting and fraud management insights, digital onboarding of customers with secure transactions by using facial recognition and AI models, and segmentation of customers for multiple consumer loan products.

Total funding raised: US$84 million
Investors: Masan Group, sherpapullovers.com, The Sherpa Company, 500 Global, Beenext,
Peak XV Partners, Kima Ventures, 500 Fintech, Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Tanglin Venture Partners, Genesis Ventures, scifinancial.com
Annual revenue: US$23.6 million (as of December 31, 2021)

Silent Eight

It is an AI-based fraud management platform that enables users to scan data sources in variable formats, including local and remote online news articles. The firm offers solutions for automated alert adjudication, name screening, transaction screening, and transaction monitoring.

Total funding raised: US$61 million
Investors: TYH Ventures, HSBC, OTB Ventures, Wavemaker Partners, SC Ventures, Aglaia, Crystal Horse Investments, Joyful Frog Digital Innovation, others
Annual revenue: US$2.9 million (as of March 31, 2022)

CXA Group

Connexions Asia (CXA) provides an AI-based benefits marketplace for employer insurance. It also offers an AI-based app for people to connect with health and wellness products and services. The company features solutions for quoting, claim processing, payments, recommendations, and data insights.

Also Read: The human touch endures: Why AI won’t replace all blue-collar jobs

Total funding raised: US$58 million
Investors: Humanica, HSBC, Heritas Capital Management, MDI Ventures, Sumitomo, Openspace Ventures, Singtel Innov8, B Capital Group, Singapore Economic Development Board, others
Annual revenue: US$13 million (as of December 31, 2018)

Wiz.AI

It is an AI-based voice and speech recognition solution for multiple industries. Its talk bot platform allows users to record voice conversations with text translations and interact with real humans. Wiz.AI uses neural network technology that allows customer classification, identification of customers, and segments to prioritise follow-ups. The product features include mobile security, data management, management of mobile devices, mobile content, mobile applications, mobile security, and data leak prevention.

Total funding raised: US$58 million
Investors: Tiger Global Management, Yunqi Partners, Gaorong Capital, GL Ventures, K3 Ventures, Singtel Innov8, GGV Capital, Wavemaker Partners, Insignia Ventures Partners,
Hillhouse, Singtel, Plug and Play APAC
Annual revenue: US$1.7 million (as of December 31, 2021)

Wiz Freight

It is an AI-enabled tech-driven freight forwarding solutions provider. It provides services, such as air, ocean, and surface transportation. It has features like booking, live tracking, digital financing, collaborative shipping task management, full container and partial container load shipping, door-to-door shipping, cargo insurance, and customs and trade management.

Total funding raised: US$52.5 million
Investors: SBI Investment, Tiger Global Management, Nippon Express, Axilor Ventures, Arali Ventures, Unikon Shipping Ventures, Foundamental, Trifecta Capital
Annual revenue: US$157 million (as of March 31, 2023)

Ficus.AI

It is a provider of market intelligence solutions to offline retailers. Focus.AI’s new retail solutions aim to empower brick-and-mortar retail shops in Southeast Asia. Its customers are coffee shops, restaurants, traditional grocery stores, fashion shops, and supermarkets.

Total funding raised: US$50 million
Investor: eWTP Capital
Annual revenue: US157 million (as of December 31, 2021).

Rotimatic

Rotimatic develops fully automatic flatbread-making robots. The robot has built-in AI and IoT capabilities with a 32-bit microprocessor that harmoniously orchestrates ten motors and 15 sensors. Users load the machine with the required ingredients and select the amount of bread they wish to make, up to 20 loaves of bread in one go. It claims that the robot mirrors human judgment to adjust the proportion of flour and water in real time.

Total funding raised: US$48 million
Investors: Credence Partners, EDBI, Openspace Ventures, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, SPRING Singapore, NUS Enterprise, Enterprise Singapore, ABCOM Investments, Rikvin Ventures
Annual revenue: US$21 million (as of December 31, 2018)

Graas

It provides AI-based predictive analytics solutions for e-commerce businesses. The company’s proprietary AI engine connects data sources and generates recommendations across marketplaces, D2C websites, CRM, marketing, and the last mile. It also provides insights into product categories, sizes, stock availability, shipping, and exchanges and returns.

Total funding raised: US$40 million
Investors: Integra Partners, Yuj, A. J. CAPITAL, Kejora Capital, Orbit Capital Malaysia
Annual revenue: Not available

ViSenze

ViSenze provides AI-based visual search and recognition tools for e-tailers. It uses deep learning and computer vision techniques to conduct image extraction and recognition, adaptive machine learning, and dynamic contextual analysis. For shoppers, it enables product search and discovery on online platforms. ViSenze also recommends products based on shoppers’ product purchase behaviours and insights.

Also Read: Experts advocate thoughtful regulation for the rapid rise of Generative AI

Total funding raised: US$34.5 million
Investors: 31VENTURES, Impossible Ventures, Rakuten Capital, SPH Ventures, WI Harper Group, UOB, Enspire Capital, ICT Fund, Gobi Partners, Bright Pixel Capital, FengHe Group, Phillip Private Equity, Raffles Venture Partners, Walden International, UOB, SPRING Singapore, Tembusu Partners, Global Brain, Innoven Capital, NUS Enterprise, SEED Venture Capital
Annual revenue: US$6.07 million (as of December 31 2022)

RDC

It is a lending-as-a-service platform that leverages AI technology for credit risk scoring and decisioning with insights into borrower’s behaviour.

Total funding raised: US$32.5 million
Investors: Westpac, nCino, BMY Group, Octava
Annual revenue: US$1.4 million (as of September 30, 2022)

Taiger

Taiger provides robotic process automation solutions. Primarily serving the banking, insurance, and government sectors, the company specialises in advanced AI-engineered information access and extraction solutions. It provides solutions for automated onboarding, processing of SSIs, ISDA documentation review, claims processing, customer biodata reconciliation, NRICs & CPF statements, automatic metadata generation, and semantic search.

Total funding raised: US$31.3 million
Investors: PacificBridge Asset Management, MCM Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, SGInnovate, ICT Fund, MS&AD Ventures, Plug and Play APAC
Annual revenue: US$2.7 million (as of December 31, 2021)

DocDoc

DocDoc is an online platform that uses AI to connect users to doctors. The platform uses HOPE, an AI-powered doctor discovery engine, to find doctors based on users’ medical needs. The platform lists information about clinics and doctors, along with their locations, clinical interests, subspecialties, procedures available, and so on, to enable users to compare and book appointments.

Total funding raised: US$29.6 million
Investors: Sumitomo Corporation, Adamas Finance Asia, Cyberport, SparkLabs Global Ventures, Vectr Ventures, Hong Leong Financial Group, KCP Capital, Jungle Ventures, 500 Global, Hong Leong, Apis Partners, RVP Group, Gaingels, Bells Ventures, Plug and Play APAC
Annual revenue: US$838 (as of December 31 2020)

Pixocial Technology

It provides Generative AI solutions for consumers, businesses, and enterprises. The platform offers photo and video editing software powered by AI technology.

Total funding raised: US$22 million
Investors: Eight Roads Ventures, FutureX
Annual revenue: Not available

Tookitaki

It is a platform offering anti-money laundering solutions. Its features include AML transaction monitoring, customer risk scoring, customer screening, regulatory compliance, case management, and customer due diligence. It also offers financial crime detection and prevention solutions for banks and fintech companies.

Total funding raised: US$20.4 million
Investors: Illuminate Financial, Nomura, Viola Group, Jungle Ventures,
SIG Venture Capital, SEEDS Capital, Enterprise Singapore, Supply Chain Angels, T-Hub, The FinLab, Rebright Partners, Blume Ventures, India Internet Fund, CIIE, Innoven Capital
Annual revenue: US5.1 million (as of December 31 2022)

UMITRON

It develops AI- and IoT-based aquaculture solutions for farms. The company enables farms to optimise their feeding practices, lowering their costs and preventing waste and environmental damage. Its technology stack includes solar-powered IoT devices deployed on aquaculture farms in the ocean to film fishes and measure patterns in their behaviour using computer vision. The solution can detect when fish are hungry through machine learning algorithms and automatically release feed for them. It also leverages satellite imagery to augment these insights by providing information about the temperature of the sea.

Also Read: Amazon to train 15K individuals in AI skills; to invest US$9B into cloud infra in Singapore

Total funding raised: US$20.4 million
Investors: ENEOS Group, QB Capital, Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Shoko Chukin Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Mirai Creation Fund
Annual revenue: US$2.4 million (as of March 31, 2022)

SWAT Mobility

It provides AI-powered mobility solutions for employee transport management. Its routing technology derives the optimal fleet size, plans employee transport by aggregating data, and designs custom solutions tailored to personalised considerations and on-demand bookings.

Total funding raised: US$19.5 million
Investors: Nippon Express, NEC, Chubu Electric Power, IMC Ventures, G. K. Goh Holdings, Goldbell, UTEC, Global Brain, ComfortDelGro, EDBI, IGlobe Partners, Smrt Ventures, National University of Singapore, Ruvento Ventures, Momentum Ventures
Annual revenue: US$251,000 (as of December 31 2020)

Kristal

It is an AI-based asset management platform for individuals. The company offers algorithms to evaluate the risk of mutual and hedge funds. The platform enables users to create and share investment strategies. It offers a consolidated view of all portfolio investments, the historical performance of various accounts, and future portfolio projections based on CAGR and Sharpe ratio.

Total funding raised: US$19 million
Investors: Chiratae Ventures, Stride Ventures, Desai Ventures, BackStroker
Annual revenue: US$3.6 million (as of December 31, 2021)

Us2.ai

It is an AI-powered tool to detect heart risk. The company’s flagship product, Echo Copilot, provides fully automated, real-time echo reports and disease detection, supporting healthcare professionals in interpreting echocardiograms.

Total funding raised: US$19 million
Investors: IHH Healthcare Berhad, HEAL Partners, Peak XV Partners, Pappas Capital, EDBI, Partech Partners, Sequoia Capital, SGInnovate, StartUp Health, Startup SG, A*STAR, Fabrice Grinda, EPRV, Startup Creasphere, XNode
Annual revenue: US$388,540

Geniebook

It is an AI and app-based platform offering adaptive learning solutions for students. The platform can identify a child’s weaknesses and generate targeted questions. It enables users to improve their learning speed by practising questions at their own pace. Additionally, it provides worksheets, live and recorded classes, and more. Its app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Total funding raised: US$18 million
Investors: Titan Capital, East Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Apricot Capital
Annual revenue: US$15 million (as of December 31, 2022)

Silot

It offers an AI-enabled banking software suite and merchant banking solutions. Its solutions include merchant onboarding, KYC, cross-channel banking, account opening, QR-based payments, and more. Its features included AI-directed targeted marketing campaigns, and AI-enabled loan underwriting tools.

Total funding raised: US$13.7 million
Investors: Arbor Ventures, Krungsri Finnovate, Sumitomo, SBI Investment, Eight Roads Ventures, Zhen Fund, NTUitive, The Venture Center, Central Capital Ventura, Plug and Play APAC
Annual revenue: US$467,000 (as of December 31, 2021)

D.id

It is a decentralised AI-based video creation platform. The platform enables users to create AI videos of digital people from a single image. It also offers an API for integrating generative AI capabilities into other products.

Also Read: Singapore surpasses US in AI investment: Study

Total funding raised: US$13 million
Investors: CMB International Capital, HashKey Capital, Qingsong Fund, GGV Capital, GSR Ventures, SNZ, Xin Family, SevenX
Annual revenue: Not available

Infinite Orbits

It provides AI-based in-orbit satellite services and systems. Its offerings include docking systems for satellite anchorage, and plug-and-play modules for autonomous satellite tracking and navigation. It offers services like orbit guidance and control, optical tracking for satellites and collision avoidance and satellite inspection services.

Total funding raised: US$12.9 million
Investors: Newfund, European Union, IRDI Capital Investissement, SpaceFounders
Annual revenue: US$1 million (as of February 29, 2020)

MY01

MY01 is a state-of-the-art medical device that helps detect Acute Compartment Syndrome (CS), a limb-threatening muscle condition, within 48 hours following trauma. It capitalises on a proven correlation between sustained increase in Intramuscular pressures and ACS for objective, early diagnosis. MY01 operationalises muscular pressure monitoring into a simple, accurate, single-use device.

Total funding raised: US$12.6 million
Investors: Antler, Invest Quebec, Fondaction, Desjardins, MEDTEQ, OBIO
Annual revenue: Not available

bluesheets

bluesheets is an AI-powered financial data automation solution. The financial automation platform for businesses connects and automates financial data across various platforms. It processes financial data both online and offline. The firm also offers solutions for expense management and data matching.

Total funding raised: US$12.5 million
Investors: Illuminate Financial, Insignia Ventures Partners, Antler, 1982 Ventures, Kistefos, Plug and Play Tech Center, Investible, kipleX
Annual revenue: Not available

WeInvest

A wealth management solution for financial institutions, WeInvest offers multiple solutions that enable financial institutions to manage investments and asset management processes. The company offers AI-based quantitative strategies, white-label UI, and APIs.

Funding raised: US$12.3 million
Investors: Schroders, DIFC, Acer, HCapital, Lighthouse Canton, SterlingForte, SterlingForte, Integrated Management Consulting Ltd, TH Capital, Rise Team, Plug and Play APAC, Ficus
Annual revenue: US$1.3 million (as of December 31, 2020)

Neuroglee Therapeutics

It offers AI-based therapy planning solutions for neurodegenerative diseases. The platform provides evidence-based precision therapeutics by combining cognitive rehabilitation strategies and machine-learning approaches to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The investigational prescription digital therapeutic developed on the platform can treat diseases with pharmacotherapy. The AI algorithms track the digital biomarkers and perform assessments for cognitive intervention.

Total funding raised: US$12.3 million
Investors: Openspace Ventures, EDBI, Eisai Innovation, 2050 Capital
Annual revenue: Not available

Smarten Spaces

Smarten Spaces provides AI-enabled asset and space management solutions. The company offers a suite of solutions for managing tenants, digital workspaces, co-working spaces, and co-living spaces.

Total funding raised: US$12 million
Investors: Symphony Asia Holdings, Capital Group Holdings
Annual revenue: US$1.1 million (as of March 31, 2021)

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Courtesy: Tracxn

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Time in healthcare scenarios is instrumental for all sorts of reasons and will shape everything from the patient experience to the positivity of outcomes achieved by practitioners. For professionals, anything that can help them harness the time available to them more effectively is to be celebrated and adopted post-haste.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a lot to offer in this regard, as it can conserve the precious resource that is time, while also elevating the quality of care through improved documentation practices.

With the all-encompassing influence of AI being discussed and dissected in many spheres right now, those who grasp its potential are poised for success. To prove this unequivocally, here are five ways AI tools are reshaping healthcare documentation—a change that goes hand-in-hand with an increased need for tech proficiency among medical professionals.

Providing precision in healthcare record-keeping

Accuracy is the most important aspect of effective patient care since a small error can lead to a cascade of misunderstandings, potentially altering treatment paths while compromising patient safety. There’s a lot of debate around this topic, and experts have found that around 1 out of every 20 patients is exposed to harm while in care, which could have been avoided. Artificial intelligence brings a meticulous eye to patient records that human fatigue may overlook, minimising the risks involved.

In particular, AI-driven documentation platforms analyse and cross-reference vast repositories of medical information with precision (and without needing a coffee break), ensuring that each entry in a patient’s record is both accurate and comprehensive. As part of this, they utilise natural language processing to capture nuances in diagnosis and treatment plans that might elude even the most scrupulous professional after a long shift.

So, in short, integrating AI into healthcare documentation workflows lets professionals secure an ally in the fight against unforced errors, ultimately steering patients toward better outcomes.

Reclaiming time for care

It’s been shown in an American Medical Association study that doctors dedicate almost 50 per cent of their working hours to paperwork, while 27 per cent is available to patients, and so AI medical scribes present an antidote to this imbalance, liberating clinicians from the shackles of eye-watering volumes of admin.

Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA

These advanced tools don’t tire or falter as they meticulously document clinical visits, allowing doctors and nurses to focus their full attention on the person in front of them — the patient. Taking over routine data entry tasks allows AI to ensure that documentation is complete by the time the patient leaves the room, dramatically reducing after-hours charting.

This transition means that rather than spending late evenings or early mornings catching up on paperwork, healthcare professionals can reclaim those hours—pouring them back into direct patient care, continued education, or much-needed rest. The impact is both operationally beneficial and deeply personal for both the caregiver and receiver.

Trimming the fat from billing

In the US, administrative complexity is the leading cause of expended healthcare dollars, amounting to US$250 billion annually in a hospital context alone, according to McKinsey. One significant aspect of this complexity is medical billing and coding—a meticulous process burdened with an assortment of codes and ever-changing regulations.

AI steps into this quagmire as a streamliner, adept at navigating the intricacies of current procedural terminology (CPT) codes and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) standards with precision. Cutting-edge algorithms can identify relevant billing codes based on documented patient interactions, reducing errors and removing guesswork for healthcare providers. The end result is once again a more accurate billing process that accelerates reimbursements and decreases denials due to coding inaccuracies.

Moreover, AI doesn’t just recognise existing patterns—it learns from them. Continuously fed with data, these systems steadily improve their suggestions over time, honing the financial backbone of healthcare practices while professionals remain focused on clinical care rather than unpicking complex billing ciphers.

Optimising patient communication

Keeping communication channels clear and consistent is another integral part of the post-consultation phase. Poor follow-up practices can quickly escalate into adverse outcomes—a reality evidenced by a CRICO Strategies study indicating that a third of malpractice claims involved inadequate patient follow-ups or miscommunications.

Here, AI tools rise to the task of being an ally for closing communication gaps. They automate follow-up processes, schedule appointments, and send out reminders for both patients and providers. More so, they can personalise post-visit summaries and care instructions based on the unique details of each patient’s visit—which are often richer in detail thanks to the precision of AI documentation earlier in the process.

Also Read: What telemedicine and Health Tech holds across SEA amidst COVID-19

Employing such intelligent systems allows healthcare professionals to ensure no critical information falls through the cracks. Patients leave with clarity about their care plan and next steps, while practitioners have peace of mind, knowing that their communication is as effective as possible. AI thus not only enhances efficiency but also fortifies the trust between healthcare providers and those they serve by maintaining a consistent line of dialogue.

Safeguarding the sanctity of health data

Confidentiality is not merely a preference in healthcare; it’s a non-negotiable promise, underscored by the fact that cybersecurity breaches can cost up to US$9.48 million on average per incident.

AI offers a formidable defence against such threats. With advanced encryption algorithms and anomaly detection capabilities, AI systems are always on the lookout for suspicious activity without the need for constant manual hand-holding. They monitor access and usage patterns around the clock, flagging potential breaches before they escalate into crises.

Beyond its defensive role, AI contributes to confidentiality through controlled sharing mechanisms within electronic health records (EHRs), ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to specific layers of sensitive information. This discretion facilitates collaboration among medical teams while adhering strictly to privacy regulations.

The bottom line

The integration of AI in healthcare represents an inexorable shift towards a smarter, more efficient system. As AI continues to revolutionise documentation practices, the onus falls on healthcare professionals to adapt—an endeavour that necessitates advanced certifications and an enduring commitment to education.

Staying in the loop regarding technological advancements ensures that practitioners are not just keeping pace with innovation but leveraging it to enhance patient care. The marriage of medical expertise with AI acumen stands as a beacon for the future—a future where technology and human touch converge to redefine excellence in healthcare.

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Asia’s software industry has continued growing over the past decade, even during the pandemic. The region’s software industry is estimated to be worth over US$121.40 billion in revenue this year, with an annual growth rate of 7.92 per cent by 2028. New projects are in constant need of developers, especially entry-level talents who want to gain experience and start their journey toward becoming foundations for the tech boom in Asia.

These opportunities for a career in software development are not exclusive to those who finished degrees in computer programming or other related courses. While roughly 75 per cent of developers have relevant degrees for their jobs, companies such as Netflix, Spotify, and Shopify are already open to the idea of hiring self-taught developers and programmers. These individuals have learned their craft on their own, mostly through free learning resources found on the internet.

Free developer education

Free educational resources are nothing new. There are plenty of non-paid tutorials, courses, and online groups that can help self-learners get started on establishing their development or programming skills.

For structured learning, the top options include Coursera, edX, Udacity Nanodegrees, and Codecademy. Coursera and edX have plenty of free and paid courses created by top universities and companies, focusing on comprehensive, practical learning. Udacity Nanodegrees provide hands-on, project-based learning in tech-focused areas. Codecademy, on the other hand, is designed for beginners, offering a host of interactive and gamified learning resources to help learners establish strong foundations in programming.

Software development beginners who prefer tutorial-based learning can use FreeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, and several YouTube channels like Traversy Media, LearnCode.academy, and Academind. FreeCodeCamp is a nonprofit resource notable for its vast collection of free coding tutorials, including interactive exercises and projects.

The Odin Project is an open-source software development learning kit that features full-stack curricula designed with a project-based learning approach. For YouTube, programming and development-focused channels offer collections of high-quality video tutorials covering various coding languages and frameworks.

Also Read: How is open-source collaboration empowering Asia’s fastest-growing markets?

For more advanced learning, the leading choices are GitHub, HackerRank, and LeetCode. GitHub, the famous code-sharing platform, provides an expansive collection of open-source projects for fledgling developers to learn from, contribute to, or use for their projects. Meanwhile, HackerRank and LeetCode feature coding challenges and other resources that help train problem-solving skills.

Specialised and updated knowledge

One crucial factor that drives self-learning efforts for beginner developers is schools catching up on the latest development technologies. Most developers learn new technologies and expand their knowledge on their own. As data from StackOverflow and HackerRank show, at least 60 per cent of the developers are self-taught.

The rise of Web3 is fueling self-trained developers to keep up with the latest tech, including blockchain technology, decentralised apps (dApps), and innovative user interfaces and experiences. Since the 2020 bull run on digital assets, there has been a 60 per cent increase of GitHub developers building on Web3. According to Forbes, developers should consider upskilling themselves into this new sector.

Resources like EZSandbox by Koii, a community-driven decentralised computing and storage network, fill this need for free, organised learning solutions on modern development topics. Specifically intended to ease Web3 development, EZSandbox provides a systematised way to get hands-on learning experiences to develop and launch microservices with any token on the Koii network.

It features progressive lessons that start with basic tasks like distributed node creation, UPnP, and web crawling, which are useful for AI development. The lessons progress to more complex topics like software audits. Users can go through the lessons and get hands-on experiences by using their existing desktop node to experiment with tasks easily.

The platform’s developer, Koii, provides tools and resources that help developers create decentralised applications. They are also known for allowing personal devices to be used as compute nodes in executing microservices within the network, which is important in providing practical experiences for learners.

Also Read: AI is not slowing demand for software developers in the Philippines

By allowing developers to initially stage their test deployments on a network of global nodes before expanding to a larger network, Koii’s EZSandbox can accelerate the deployment time for testing new software modularly, potentially reducing costs associated with launching software to new users. This approach is beneficial for independent or small team developers who may lack the budget or resources typically needed to launch on traditional Web2 infrastructure.

The rapid growth of Web3 is not only happening in Asia. It is taking place everywhere else in the world. Gaining proficiency in Web3 development is increasingly becoming important as organisations steadily adopt it as part of their tech strategy. The good news is that there is no need to enrol in a paid course to learn it. There are many free resources to hone one’s expertise in Web3 development.

Becoming more competitive developers

There is a need for more developers in Asia, just like in other parts of the world. Even with this, it is not easy for an entry-level developer to get hired for software development work due to lack of experience and high competition.

Companies prefer experienced developers who have been building their proficiency and problem-solving skills for years. Also, companies are wary of “imposters” sending in applications and claiming to have the right skills when, in reality, they are overselling themselves.

The availability of various free online software development learning resources, especially for advanced and in-demand topics, is something many need to pay more attention to. With the rapid growth of Web3, it makes sense to consider DIY learning to keep up with new technologies using tools like EZSanbox by Koii and become more appealing to employers.

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Nika.eco, a company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create advanced climate models for determining carbon credit issuance, has announced closing an oversubscribed seed funding round.

Silverstrand Capital led this round. Timbul Ventures, DMV Investments, Orvel Ventures, and Ascend Network also participated.

The terms of the funding remain undisclosed.

Also Read: A deep-dive into Wavemaker Impact’s decarbonisation strategies in SEA

Founded by Johann Wah (President) and Lawrence Xiao (CEO), Nika.eco tracks forest carbon, conducts deep dives into geospatial data and analyses additionality, baseline, leakage and permanence data. Carbon project investors and developers can use this data to develop nature-based projects and reach their net zero goals.

“Most machine learning solutions in the market use locally based compute, which limits the model’s ability to scale, or they run very inefficiently on the cloud due to nonoptimal cloud architectures,” co-founder Wah told e27.

“Our proprietary geospatial machine learning infrastructure automatically configures optimal resources to ensure your model is scalable and built efficiently. This significantly increases the time it takes to complete and improves cost structures,” he explained.

Beyond carbon, Nika eco also plans to use the capital to launch its geospatial infrastructure technology as a standalone SaaS product, which can lower costs and technological barriers to developing other types of climate models.

Nika.eco claims its audit-grade models are used by leading financial institutions, including Carbon Growth Partners and major European Banks. The model’s results can also be configured for the audit process to monetise forestry assets through carbon credits.

“Traditional carbon models usually take anywhere from six to eight months to train and build by industry standard. Our infrastructure has been able to support customers to reduce the time to within a month,” Wah added.

Also Read: AgriG8 gets Better Bite Ventures’s backing to decarbonise rice production in SEA

“Our vision is to redesign the geospatial and climate modelling space by making powerful geospatial machine learning infrastructure easy to use and accessible to all, starting in the carbon markets,” Wah noted.

As part of this funding round, Silverstrand Capital Impact Investment Manager Julianto Johanes has joined Nika.eco’s Board, while its Head of Impact Investments Patti Chu has joined as Strategic Advisor.

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Image Credit: Nika.eco.

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Tokyo has emerged as a pioneering hub for decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs),  spearheading a transformative shift towards community-driven governance models in Japan. 

This evolution has been propelled by recent regulatory advancements bolstered by initiatives from the Kishida administration’s Web3 Project Team, established in 2022. 

These efforts aim to integrate DAOs into Japan’s overarching societal vision known as “Society 5.0,” originally conceived during the Abe administration. Society 5.0 envisions a future where AI and IoT technologies empower communities, enhancing the quality of life while delegating administrative functions to regional authorities.

DAO Tokyo: A global showcase of innovation

Tokyo is solidifying its leadership in DAOs with flagship events like DAO TOKYO, which has grown from a single-day conference to a comprehensive two-day gathering. This event showcases Tokyo’s dedication to nurturing DAO ecosystems, providing a platform for global thought leaders, tech innovators, and enthusiasts to converge.

Participants dive into cutting-edge developments, tackle challenges, and seize opportunities in DAOs through engaging workshops that simplify complex concepts. Recent editions have featured prominent global protocols such as Safe, Tally, and Consensys, underscoring Tokyo’s pivotal role in shaping the international DAO landscape and the latest edition will see prominent speakers from Aragon, Gitcoin, Nethermind and more. 

Fracton Ventures exemplifies Tokyo’s proactive approach by integrating DAO principles into corporate governance. Known for its commitment to community engagement, collaborative development, and strategic planning, The Japanese incubator sets the benchmark for blending DAO values with corporate practices.

Also Read: Taiwanese startups join forces with Southeast Asia to venture into Tokyo, Japan

By hosting these events annually, Tokyo continues to drive innovation and collaboration within the DAO community, reinforcing its position as a global leader in decentralised governance.

A real-world case study: The Yamakoshi DAO

One of Tokyo’s impressive innovations in the DAO space is the Yamakoshi DAO in Niigata Prefecture. This DAO connects digital and physical residents, allowing digital participants to engage in village life and community decisions through NFT ownership. 

Buying these NFTs isn’t just about getting digital assets; it’s about preserving a unique cultural heritage. Physical residents benefit from increased community engagement and fresh perspectives, revitalising their surroundings.

The Neo-Yamakoshi Village’s Nishikigoi NFT series is a key part of this DAO. Based on the village’s heritage as the birthplace of Japan’s prized Nishikigoi carp, this digital collection has gained global recognition since its start in 2021, earning over US$400,000 in sales. 

These NFTs are both cultural artefacts and governance tokens, giving holders voting rights and influence in local decisions. This dual role helps build community cohesion and addresses the challenges of integrating digital and physical worlds.

Despite initial challenges like adapting DAO technology for older residents and dealing with cultural sensitivities, the Neo-Yamakoshi Village experience shows the potential of DAOs to boost rural economies. By providing crucial funds for local projects, Yamakoshi has become a model for similar initiatives across rural Japan, using cultural assets for sustainable economic development.

Tokyo’s visionary path forward

Tokyo’s strategic emphasis on DAOs contrasts starkly with stricter regulatory climates observed in Western jurisdictions. 

The city’s focus on fostering innovation, community empowerment, and economic resilience through decentralised technologies exemplifies its commitment to DAO ecosystems’ advancement. 

As Tokyo continues to lead in DAO development and implementation, it remains poised to shape the future of governance not only within Japan but globally. By cultivating vibrant DAO ecosystems and embracing technological advancements, Tokyo reaffirms its dedication to empowering communities, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable economic growth through decentralised governance models.

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DAO Tokyo 2024 is taking place on August 21-22 at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo. For further details and registration, please click here.

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