In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into wealth management strategies is poised to reshape investment paradigms. This transformation is further amplified by the rise of tokenised funding, leveraging blockchain technology to democratise access to investment opportunities.

This article explores the intersection of ESG principles with tokenisation, examining its implications for the future of finance.

Introduction

The concept of ESG integration in finance refers to the incorporation of Environmental, Social, and Governance considerations into investment decision-making processes. This approach aims to promote sustainable practices and ethical principles within the financial industry.

Concurrently, tokenised funding involves representing ownership of assets or securities through digital tokens on blockchain platforms. The convergence of ESG integration with tokenised funding is pivotal, as it fosters transparency, efficiency, and ethical governance in financial transactions.

The significance of tokenised funding lies in its ability to democratise access to investment opportunities, enhance liquidity, and automate processes. By combining tokenisation with ESG principles, the financial sector can align investments with societal and environmental objectives, driving positive change and innovation.

Understanding ESG Factors in Finance

ESG factors encompass a spectrum of considerations that evaluate the sustainability and societal impact of investments. Environmental factors assess a company’s ecological footprint, resource usage, and environmental impact mitigation strategies.

Social factors evaluate its impact on communities, labour practices, diversity, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Governance factors examine the organisation’s leadership structure, ethical guidelines, regulatory compliance, and transparency in decision-making processes.

Tokenisation in finance

Tokenisation in finance refers to the process of representing assets, securities, or rights as digital tokens on a blockchain. This technology enables fractional ownership, facilitates peer-to-peer transactions, enhances liquidity, and reduces transaction costs. Tokenisation democratises investment opportunities by enabling retail investors to participate in asset ownership traditionally reserved for institutional investors.

Also Read: AC Ventures: Investors put more focus on ESG, but Indonesian startups seem “well-positioned” for this shift

The concept of tokenisation extends beyond traditional financial assets to encompass a wide range of assets, including real estate, artwork, intellectual property, and commodities. Each asset is represented by a unique digital token, providing verifiable ownership and enabling efficient transfer of value on decentralised platforms.

Benefits and advantages

Tokenisation offers several benefits and advantages over traditional finance models:

• Liquidity: Tokenisation enhances asset liquidity by enabling fractional ownership and facilitating secondary market trading of digital tokens.
• Accessibility: Tokenised assets are accessible to a broader range of investors, including retail investors, who can participate in previously inaccessible markets.
• Efficiency: Blockchain-based tokenisation reduces administrative overheads, automates transaction processes, and eliminates intermediaries, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency.
• Transparency: Blockchain technology provides immutable and transparent records of asset ownership, transaction history, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Global reach: Tokenisation enables cross-border transactions, allowing investors to access international markets without geographical limitations.

In summary, tokenisation in finance leverages blockchain technology to transform traditional assets into digital tokens, offering enhanced liquidity, accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in financial markets. When integrated with ESG principles, tokenised funding promotes responsible investing, aligning financial objectives with environmental, social, and governance considerations.

The emergence of ESG integration in tokenised funding

The integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into tokenised funding is reshaping traditional investment strategies and paving the way for sustainable finance initiatives. This emergence brings about significant impacts on investment strategies and opens doors to opportunities for sustainable financial practices.

• Impact on traditional investment strategies: ESG integration challenges traditional investment strategies by emphasising long-term sustainability over short-term gains. It encourages investors to assess risks and opportunities through an ESG lens, considering factors beyond financial returns alone. This shift requires a paradigm change in investment decision-making, prioritising societal impact and environmental stewardship alongside profitability.
• Opportunities for sustainable finance: ESG integration in tokenised funding unlocks opportunities for sustainable finance, aligning investments with global sustainability goals and stakeholder values. It encourages the allocation of capital towards environmentally friendly projects, socially responsible enterprises, and well-governed businesses. By fostering sustainable finance, ESG integration promotes positive societal outcomes while generating financial returns.

The emergence of ESG integration in tokenised funding signals a fundamental transformation in the financial industry, promoting responsible investing and sustainable economic development.

Challenges and limitations

The integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into tokenised funding presents unique challenges and limitations that must be addressed to realise its full potential in shaping the future of finance.

• Data privacy and security concerns: One of the primary challenges facing ESG-integrated tokenised funding is data privacy and security. Blockchain technology, while offering transparency and immutability, also raises concerns about data confidentiality and protection. Tokenised platforms handle sensitive investor information and transactional data, necessitating robust measures to safeguard against unauthorised access, data breaches, and privacy violations. Addressing these concerns requires the development of secure protocols, encryption techniques, and compliance frameworks to uphold data integrity and protect stakeholders’ privacy rights.
• Scalability issues: Scalability poses another significant challenge for ESG-integrated tokenised funding platforms. As adoption increases and transaction volumes rise, blockchain networks may face scalability limitations, resulting in congestion, slower transaction processing times, and increased costs. Overcoming scalability challenges requires innovations in blockchain infrastructure, such as layer 2 solutions (e.g., sidechains, state channels) and consensus mechanisms (e.g., proof-of-stake), to improve network throughput, enhance scalability, and reduce environmental impact. Implementing scalable solutions will ensure the efficiency and sustainability of ESG-integrated tokenised funding ecosystems.

Also Read: For startups, embracing ESG focus is a sure-fire way to secure corporate success

Addressing these challenges is critical to fostering trust, transparency, and resilience in ESG-integrated tokenised funding. By mitigating data privacy risks and enhancing scalability, financial institutions, regulators, and technology providers can accelerate the adoption of sustainable finance practices and drive positive societal impact through tokenised funding platforms.

Role of financial institutions and investors

Financial institutions and investors play pivotal roles in advancing ESG integration within tokenised funding, contributing to sustainable finance practices and responsible investment strategies.

• Shifting investment paradigms: Financial institutions are instrumental in driving a paradigm shift towards sustainable investing. They allocate capital towards ESG-aligned projects and assets, emphasising long-term value creation and risk management. By integrating ESG considerations into investment decision-making processes, financial institutions contribute to the development of ethical finance practices and promote societal impact alongside financial returns. This shift reflects evolving consumer preferences, regulatory pressures, and stakeholder expectations for responsible governance and environmental stewardship.
• Importance of ethical finance: Investors increasingly prioritise ethical finance practices that align with ESG principles. Financial institutions facilitate ethical finance by offering ESG-focused investment products, engaging in shareholder activism, and advocating for transparent disclosures. Ethical finance encompasses responsible investment decision-making guided by ESG considerations, ethical guidelines, and stakeholder engagement. Financial institutions’ commitment to ethical finance fosters trust, accountability, and sustainability within the financial ecosystem, driving positive change and contributing to the achievement of global sustainability goals.

Financial institutions and investors collaborate to promote ESG integration within tokenised funding platforms, leveraging their influence and resources to advocate for sustainable finance initiatives and ethical governance practices. By championing ESG integration, financial institutions and investors catalyse the transition towards a more inclusive, transparent, and resilient financial system.

Future trends and predictions

The future of finance, shaped by the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in tokenised funding, is poised for significant evolution and mainstream adoption.

Key trends and predictions include the evolution of ESG criteria and the mainstream adoption of tokenised finance:

• Evolution of ESG criteria: ESG criteria are expected to evolve beyond traditional metrics to encompass more comprehensive and standardised frameworks. Future trends may include the incorporation of new data sources, such as satellite imagery for environmental impact assessments, and the development of quantitative models to measure social impact. Enhanced ESG criteria will enable more accurate risk assessments and facilitate informed investment decisions aligned with sustainable development goals.
• Mainstream adoption of tokenised finance: Tokenised finance is anticipated to gain mainstream acceptance across various asset classes and industries. The adoption of blockchain technology and smart contracts will streamline capital markets, enhance liquidity, and democratise access to investment opportunities. As regulatory frameworks mature and investor confidence grows, tokenised finance will become an integral part of the global financial ecosystem, enabling efficient and transparent capital allocation.

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Indian fintech infrastructure platform Decentro expanded into Southeast Asia in March 2023 by launching its Ledgers module in Singapore. With Asia-Pacific being a hotbed for digital banking solutions. Decentro aims to double its regional business growth by the end of 2024, tapping into the substantial market demand for new-age financial solutions.

In this interview with e27, Decentro’s founder discusses the company’s products, plans in Southeast Asia, and upcoming funding round.

Excerpts:

What are the key features and functionalities of Decentro’s products, Flow and Fabric, and how do they help businesses streamline their financial operations?

Decentro’s Flow product consists of a variety of modules ranging from:

UPI (an instant payment system in India) and bank-to-bank collections: Static QR capability, combined with collections like collect request, intent flow, QR and payment link across India and 12-plus large currencies across the globe.

Recurring payments: eNACH (a method of electronically collecting payments from a customer’s bank account) and UPI autopay capabilities with configurable frequencies and amounts.

Also Read: AI in fintech: Boosting your revenue by utilising top 5 CEO’s choices

Instant and global payouts: Instant payouts are compatible with UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, SWIFT, ACH and more protocols, with 5-plus supporting bank integrations in the backend.

Multi-currency escrow accounts: A multi-bank escrow facility is available for secure & simple money flow across India & globally.

Our Fabric product is the plug-and-play onboarding and validation module for consumers and businesses. It helps companies verify individuals and businesses by fetching and verifying data from government sources like the CKYC repository, UIDAI, Digilocker, etc.

Could you provide more insight into Decentro’s journey since its founding in 2020?

Over the past three years, Decentro has empowered fintech players across varied sectors, including banks, consumer platforms, non-banking financial firms (NBFCs), loan service providers (LSPs), B2C & B2B commerce, and neobanks. We now have over six live bank partners and five NBFC partners.

Since the launch, we have signed up 800-plus companies (mid and large-sized), and our ARR has grown 5-8x annually. Our client base has contributed to a US$3 billion annual payment volume processed through our platform.

We grew by 30x in monthly API transactions and 4x in live customers in FY 2023-24.

Can you discuss the significance of Decentro’s recent launch of the ledgers module and its strategic expansion into Singapore, particularly in enhancing customer loyalty programmes for brands like OwnDays?

Our Ledgers module is specifically designed to streamline financial operations, such as managing transactions and balances more efficiently, which is crucial for brands focusing on customer loyalty programmes.

It offers the following features:

Real-time reconciliation: The Ledgers API offers real-time reconciliation, keeping financial data current, especially crucial for high-volume transactions.

Data tallying: Automation minimises human errors in data entry and cross-referencing, enhancing record accuracy in a large organisation.

Customisable records system: Our Ledgers module is versatile and caters to multiple use cases, including loyalty programme management, general ledger maintenance, reward points reconciliation, and multi-currency treasury management.

What opportunities and challenges do you foresee in enhancing customer engagement strategies through fintech solutions, especially in the retail sector across Asia Pacific?

The new-age use cases and companies need cloud-first and scalable tech solutions that cater to their end-to-end needs. The offerings at Decentro should cater to precisely that while keeping empathy toward our customers (companies) in mind.

By introducing full-stack experiences in addition to our existing offerings, we have taken a step closer to being the one-stop shop for all your payments and banking needs.

We also recognise the need for these solutions to be easy to deploy and consume, so we need to iterate our product catalogue to make it more developer-friendly continuously. We are deploying SDKs and ready-made UI solutions over the existing easy-to-use, plug-and-play APIs, making it 2X simpler for companies to integrate and go live.

We understand the need for transparency and support in our domain, and hence, we have dedicated support teams that handle upcoming fixes, underlying iterations, and automatic updates without breaking flow. Finally, operating in regulated markets, our offerings should follow the highest degree of compliance, taking a solid compliance load off our customers’ shoulders.

How does Decentro leverage its strategic partnerships and technological expertise to bolster its presence in India, Singapore, and other pivotal regions?

Decentro’s approach centres on collaborating with local and international financial institutions, such as banks and lenders, which enhances our platform’s capabilities and expands our reach.

On the technology side, our focus is on:

Increasing our ability to scale & helping our customers scale. Currently, we can process around 120 transactions per second without the need to touch anything in our infrastructure.

Also Read: Southeast Asia’s fintech funding plunges by 44 per cent in Q1 2024 amid dynamic ecosystem

Handling and supporting new payment protocols evolving across the regions and countries in APAC. For example, UPI for cross border/UPI locally and in other countries.

Simplifying the APIs that we have to plug & play SDKs and UI kits so that our customers can integrate and go live in a matter of days/hours instead of 1-2 weeks.

Furthermore, we actively engage with local regulatory bodies to ensure full compliance and foster user trust. This regulatory alignment is crucial for smooth operations and expansion in international markets.

How much capital has the company raised so far? Do you plan to raise additional capital soon?

Decentro has raised US$6.3 million from investors, including YCombinator, Uncorrelated Ventures, Rapyd, Soma Capital, Plug and Play, and angel investors such as Kunal Shah and Beerud Sheth.

We will plan to raise additional capital shortly. This next round of funding will be aimed at accelerating our growth with investments across business, marketing, and engineering.

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According to the new Singapore Early-Stage Emerging Tech Startups 2023 landscape report released by SGInnovate, in 2023, Singapore’s early-stage emerging tech startup ecosystem experienced a significant surge in funding, reaching pre-2021 levels, driven primarily by increased investment in the Agrifood and Sustainability sectors.

Total funding for these startups rose to US$402 million, marking a 59 per cent year-on-year increase from US$253 million in 2022. This growth was further underscored by a 1.5x rise in seed-stage deals, signalling a broader shift towards early-stage investment activities and indicating a growing appetite for emerging tech ventures within the ecosystem as it matures.

However, despite the robust funding landscape, the number of emerging tech startups incorporated in 2023 across the four domains declined compared to the previous year. Only 25 startups were incorporated in 2023, compared to 35 in 2022. This dip reflects ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties that may have led to deferred incorporations.

Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the number of incorporations for 2023 may be higher once all data is accounted for. Yet, the observed trend suggests a cautious approach among startups amidst prevailing economic uncertainties.

“The growth we have observed in Seed-stage emerging tech funding is a positive sign that may help spur the incorporation of startups in future. Beyond funding, a key area where young emerging tech startups could benefit from support is in commercialisation, where dedicated guidance on developing products that can be commercialised will help accelerate time to market,” says Kellie Chan, Assistant Director – Investments, SGInnovate, in an email to e27.

Also Read: The future of finance: ESG integration in tokenised funding

“The incorporation of new emerging tech startups is not immune to the influence of macroeconomic conditions. As such, the persistence of current uncertainties will naturally lead entrepreneurs to exercise caution about launching new ventures due to market conditions and funding access concerns. Global political shifts in 2024 may also see changes in governmental priorities and policymaking, which could spark renewed interest in certain sectors—leading to growth in startup activity and funding in those areas.”

Funding and incorporations in agrifood and sustainability

According to the report, the Advanced Manufacturing sector has faced a consistent decline in new company incorporations since 2020 despite the sector’s robust research output. Challenges such as commercialisation hurdles and talent availability issues highlight emerging gaps in support for startups in this domain.

In contrast, the Agrifood and Sustainability sectors have demonstrated strong performance in funding and incorporations in 2023, likely propelled by public and private sector initiatives. Agrifood startups secured 13 deals, while Sustainability startups closed 16, indicating a positive trajectory.

Sustainability is the only vertical to witness year-on-year increases in funding events and funding amounts since 2021, with average Seed round sizes nearly quadrupling between 2022 and 2023.

Although the Agrifood sector has seen a slight year-on-year dip in incorporations, the industry has consistently generated new companies over the long term. Notably, most of these startups have focused on alternative proteins or related technologies, underscoring the vibrancy of Singapore’s alternative foods space.

Also Read: Southeast Asia’s fintech funding plunges by 44 per cent in Q1 2024 amid dynamic ecosystem

Despite seven undisclosed funding rounds suggesting higher overall funding in 2023, the amount raised in the Agrifood sector is likely greater than the reported total of US$9.92 million. This data reflects a promising outlook for the Agrifood and Sustainability sectors, showcasing their resilience and growth potential within the Singaporean startup ecosystem.

In the end, the report stated that sustained high-interest rates may have deterred investors from deploying capital in 2023, instead allocating funds to higher-yield alternatives that carried lower risk, such as government bonds.

However, forecasted rate cuts in 2024 are expected to boost private market investments, with a renewed interest in emerging technologies.

“While challenges such as political uncertainty will continue to weigh on investment considerations globally, we are optimistic about startups addressing long-term concerns supported by policy initiatives in Singapore,” said Hsien-Hui Tong, Executive Director – Investments, SGInnovate, in a press statement.

“These include technologies in areas such as remote patient monitoring and stem cell therapy, which may provide solutions to enhance the care of Singapore’s ageing population or technologies that will aid Singapore’s continued efforts in decarbonisation, including battery recycling and sustainable materials production.”

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Image Credit: 123RF

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Puffverse, an interactive and immersive 3D universe with NFT characters, has secured a US$3 million funding round led by Animoca Brands.

Sky Mavis, Arcane Group, Spartan Group, Foresight Ventures, HashKey Capital, and Xu Family Office also joined the round.

Hong Kong-based Puffverse will use the capital to develop its flagship party game, PuffGo, and the creation of a cloud gaming platform enabling NFT projects to build personalised metaverses using the company’s engine, all without requiring coding skills.

Also Read: How BuildBear Labs makes Web3 space more accessible, secure for developers

Additionally, Puffverse announced a partnership with Sky Mavis to bring the entire Puffverse portfolio to Ronin, the EVM blockchain forged for gaming.

Puffverse is a multi-end universe that blends Web2 and Web3 gaming experiences with diverse characters and whimsical avatars, each with unique personalities, appearances, and abilities. Users can collect unique characters with different costumes, skills, and bonuses tailored for individual gameplay experiences and utilise them in-game and across the ecosystem for gameplay, earning, or life simulation experiences.

PuffGo is a multiplayer royale party game that allows skill-based playing and earning opportunities. The game features various level themes and gameplay modes, offering solo and multiplayer matchups.

PuffGo offers UGC (user-generated content) features, enabling users to craft their game maps and empowering them to craft entire personalised metaverses in the future.

Additionally, Puffverse’s upcoming AIGC (artificial intelligence-generated content) functionality will allow users to direct the AI tools through text commands to create maps, levels, gameplay, or even their own metaverse.

More products are in the offing, including PuffTown, PuffLand, and PuffWorld. Slated for release later this year, Puffverse will launch its ecosystem token and exclusive NFT collection on Ronin.

Also Read: Is Web3 just another ‘hype’ or will it unlock a multi-trillion dollar opportunity in fintech?

Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “Puffverse has enjoyed a strong year with the launch of Puff Football NFTs and IGO Points in PuffGo. The Ronin chain is emerging as one of the premier chains for gaming, and is a good choice to take Puffverse to the next level.”

Puffverse Co-Founder and COO Lya L added: “Moving Puffverse to the Ronin blockchain was a strategic decision rooted in our commitment to making our 3D universe more accessible to both Web2 and Web3 users. Our Puff characters’ compatibility with the beloved Axie community makes this migration a natural fit.”

“Party games, with their quick gameplay loops and dynamic social features could be a very good fit for elevation via web3 mechanics. The Puffverse team also understands the East Asia and China market, which we believe is ripe for Ronin to expand into,” stated Sky Mavis CEO and co-founder CEO Trung Nguyen.

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On March 19th, 2024, headlines across online media in Singapore announced an agreement between telecommunications company Huawei and eVE, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, to launch ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers in the country by the end of 2024. Under the terms of the partnership, Huawei will introduce an ultra-fast 480 kilowatt (KW) charger, 300 KW more than the incumbent EV chargers, with the first station expected to be operational by late 2024.

Huawei claims its ultra-fast charger can fully charge an electric vehicle in 30 minutes. However, this claim is puzzling given that existing 180 KW direct current fast chargers provided by major operators in Singapore’s electric vehicle charging market can already charge most electric vehicles to 80% battery capacity within 30 minutes.

For a revolutionary charger like Huawei’s 480-kilowatt model, one would expect charging times to be significantly faster than existing technologies. A charger with nearly three times the power capacity should plausibly be capable of fully charging an average electric vehicle in under 10 minutes. This raises questions about Singapore’s readiness for next-generation ultra-fast charging infrastructure and the real-world performance potential of Huawei’s announced technology.

Disclaimer: TRIVE is an investor of Charge+, one of the largest operators of EV Chargers in Singapore. The writer is also a member of the board of Charge+. Opinions and analysis are drawn from mosaic theory based on external research sources and conversations with people in the EV charging industry.

Types of EV chargers available

For the uninitiated, there are two primary classes of electric vehicle chargers available in Singapore: Level 2 Alternating Current (AC) chargers and Level 3 Direct Current (DC) fast chargers.

The vast majority of electric vehicle charging stations in Singapore are Level 2 AC chargers, also referred to as slow chargers, which have power capacities of 7 KW, 11 KW, and 22 KW. These AC chargers typically require 4–8 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle’s battery.

Also Read: Will climate change force us to re-imagine travel in the future?

A growing subset includes Level 3 DC fast chargers, which are increasing in number. Their power capacities range from 50 KW to as high as 180 KW, located primarily at petrol stations. These DC fast chargers can charge an electric vehicle’s battery to 80 per cent capacity in approximately 30 minutes, even for the 50 kW DC charging speeds.

Charging speed is limited by the size of the EV and the EV onboard chargers

According to a news report on Oct 23, BYD, BMW, Mercedes and Tesla sold the most EVs in Singapore in the first nine months of 2023.

Looking at the models that they sell, the battery capacities of these models reveal a capacity range of 60 KWh to 101 KWh.

That means if you have a 60 KWh battery using a 60 KW DC charger, theoretically, you require 1 hour to get a full charge. However, it will likely take longer if you have a larger battery, say 100 KWh, and the DC charger is limited to charging at 60 KW.

I understand now there is an additional factor to consider — the EV’s on-board charger specification. BYD’s e6 model allows a maximum of 60 KW as regulated by its onboard charger, even though the battery has a capacity of 71 KW. This means even with a high-end DC charger of 180 KW (which is available in some locations in Singapore), BYD limits the inflow to 60 KWh, which means one would not benefit from the full 180 KW DC charging capabilities of the EV charger.

Having then 480 KW might just be a form of overkill at this stage, as even the top EV European marques are limited to an onboard charging speed of 120 KW. Will technology improve down the road for breakthroughs in onboard charging technology to match the DC charging speed?

According to a science article I read, and I quote  — “There are a lot of innovations on the electrochemistry side that are still in the laboratory,” says Christopher Rahn, who co-directs the Battery and Energy Storage Technology Center at Penn State University. “They may be more expensive [and] maybe require different manufacturing processes. They’re not necessarily ready to be rolled out on a massive scale, but certainly, lots of researchers have some exciting results.”

It is my understanding that it is still premature to have an Ultra-fast DC charger when complementary technologies like battery absorption speeds have not caught up.

Cost of installation and ability to take ultra-fast DC chargers in the network

As previously mentioned, the majority of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Singapore are Level 2 AC chargers, also known as slow chargers, with power ratings of 7, 11, and 22 kilowatts (kW). These AC EV chargers typically require 4–8 hours to fully charge an EV.

Also Read: Beyond buzzwords: How climate tech startups can create an impact in green recovery

There are two main reasons why more Level 2 AC chargers exist in Singapore. First, AC chargers have lower installation costs compared to direct current (DC) fast chargers due to the less expensive hardware required to deliver EV charging.

Second, energy capacity is a consideration. DC fast chargers consume significantly more energy during charging, which many buildings in Singapore lack the electrical infrastructure to support. For example, government HDB residential car parks typically only have infrastructure to power amenities like lighting and elevators. Installing DC fast chargers may require upgrading the electrical grid servicing these locations.

DC chargers draw substantial energy from the building grid

Therefore, DC fast chargers are commonly found in commercial and industrial facilities with larger electrical systems capable of accommodating high-power loads. Ultra-fast DC chargers rated at 480 kW would be unrealistic for most buildings, as they require dedicated sites with sufficient electricity supply, according to the report on ultra-fast charging.

Social trade-offs with an ultra-fast DC charger

Singapore currently benefits from a stable electricity grid. However, as a resource-constrained nation, accommodating increasing energy demands presents challenges.

Research indicates the average Singapore household consumes approximately 2.3 KW during peak periods. An ultra-fast EV charger drawing 480 KW at maximum rate equals the power used by 208 homes. With an estimated 1.4 million households in Singapore, 7,000 such chargers could match overall residential consumption.

Policymakers face the delicate task of equitably allocating limited energy supplies among competing needs. Strategic planning must balance supporting electric transportation while maintaining grid reliability and affordable access for all consumers. Careful management of infrastructure expansion and demand surge mitigation will be crucial to a sustainable, inclusive energy transition.

Nice to have, but maybe not too many

It is always exciting to hear science doing leaps and bounds, like having an ultra-fast DC charger providing a full charge to an EV in minutes. But going beyond the scientific, there are realities to face in economics and scarcity of resources. Perhaps it is best to consider the ultra-fast DC charger as a dream for now rather than an expectation of it to be the norm.

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This article was edited by Hypotenuse.ai, and ideas were expanded by ChatGPT4.

This article first appeared on TRIVE’s blog.

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page.

Image credit: ChatGPT 4 and Dall+

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Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has announced the 71 finalists that will demonstrate at its annual global Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC) on April 26. Of these, 80 per cent are semi-international finalists and 20 per cent from Hong Kong.

The top startups were selected by judges from the regional semi-finals in Silicon Valley, Stuttgart, Singapore, and Hong Kong. They will battle for a chance to target the US$45 million investment to be arranged, up to US$5 million in HKSTP venture funding, US$240,000 in cash prizes, plus partnership opportunities.

Also Read: Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC) accelerates startups from SEA to the world

Below are the brief descriptions of the ten finalists from Southeast Asia.

Bizbaz (Singapore)

BizBaz is a technology company specialising in advanced AI, data analytics, and behavioural science solutions. It claims to have successfully transformed industries by leveraging cutting-edge technology to unlock valuable insights and intelligence.

Boost Capital (Singapore)

Boost is a white-labelled SaaS platform that allows banks to onboard customers via chat on WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger in five to ten minutes (no app download!). Chat offers a funnel for new clients to apply for loans, savings and other products.

Meson (Singapore)

Meson provides a comprehensive SDK/API suite (https://meson.to) for on-chain dApps to interoperate with users and digital assets from any chain, minimise the complexity of liquidity management, and maximise user outreach.

MoneyMatch (Malaysia)

MoneyMatch is a fintech firm specialising in cross-border payments. It claims to have processed over US$3.03 billion in cross-border trade (B2B) payments and individual (B2B2C) remittances across 121 countries, encompassing a diverse spectrum of 40+ currencies. At present, MoneyMatch operates in Malaysia, Brunei, and Australia.

Rey (Indonesia)

Rey is an integrated health insurtech firm that provides end-to-end health care in one subscription. Its platform combines health coverage with healthcare delivery — from preventive, curative, to rehabilitative– into a seamless experience. Launched in Indonesia in July 2022, it has acquired 10K+ paying members and generates US$1 million of ARR.

Smile API (Singapore)

Smile API provides user-authorised access to recent, comprehensive, verified employment data that is accessible in real-time from employment documents, HR and payroll systems, gig economy platforms, and social security systems through a single API.

Mushroom Material (Singapore)

It has developed a biodegradable, sustainable and compostable alternative to expanded polystyrene/Styrofoam. Its product provides the same protective properties as traditional Polystyrene, but it is 100 per cent home-compostable, meaning it can naturally degrade within months.

Civils.ai (Singapore)

Civils.ai helps construction companies know everything about their projects using AI agents for document automation. Developers and consultants use its cloud software to save time searching through thousands of their project documents to find information and track changes. Users can upload construction specifications, contracts, drawings and designs to Civils.ai, which can be synced with a document management system like a OneDrive folder, Autodesk construction cloud or Sharepoint. After files are synced, the tasks can be automated.

Also Read: How HKSTP can help international startups in the next stage of their expansion journey

Ultrack Technology (Malaysia)

Ultrack’s flagship property management solution, PropKita, aims to redefine residential living with an app and dashboard. The app encompasses a visitor management system complemented by a guardhouse hardware unit for seamless access control. Beyond this, PropKita offers features, including a panic button for emergency assistance, a direct intercom for swift communication, a real-time noticeboard for updates, and facility booking for convenient amenity reservations.

WaveScan Technologies (Singapore)

WaveScan develops 3D imaging scanner technology that integrates into automated platforms for high-resolution structural inspections. Its total technology comprises hardware and software, providing turnkey solutions for addressing the inspection needs of the Built Environment. It is a spin-off of A*STAR (Singapore’s National Research Agency).

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In an era where healthcare accessibility and innovation have never been more crucial, Gobi Partners, a prominent Asian venture capital firm, recently strategically ventured into the Southeast Asian healthtech sector by investing in ORA (Malaysia) and ImmunoCure (Hong Kong)

Through these investments, Gobi seeks to reshape the landscape of healthcare services, particularly catering to the dynamic and youthful Southeast Asian population. 

e27 spoke with Gobi Partners Co-Founder and Chairperson Thomas Tsao about the VC firm’s healthtech entry, goals, and Southeast Asia’s overall healthtech investment space.

Excerpts: 

Can you provide an overview of Gobi Partners’ recent investments in the healthtech sector within the Greater Bay Area and Malaysia?

Gobi Partners’s recent strategic moves in Southeast Asia’s healthtech sector through an investment in ORA is aimed at improving healthcare access in the region. ORA’s unique direct-to-consumer model, tailored for Southeast Asia’s predominantly out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, focuses on managing chronic conditions, setting the stage for potential disruption in the region.

Hong Kong’s emerging status as an innovation hub and the active role of universities as business incubators influence our investment decisions. Coupled with supportive government policies, these factors make the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Hong Kong attractive destinations for Gobi Partners’s healthtech investments. 

Also Read: Ethis Group, Gobi Partners to launch Shariah-compliant US$20M seed fund

Currently, most of Gobi’s healthtech investments are concentrated within the GBA, such as Prenetics, Biomed, PanopticAI, ScolioScan, Gense Technologies, and Immuno Cure. 

What specific factors led Gobi Partners to enter the healthtech sector in Southeast Asia, and how does this align with its overall investment strategy?

In Southeast Asia, a rapidly growing and youthful population is displaying an increased focus on health, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as indicated by research from the Deloitte Global Millennial and Gen Z Survey. Within this sizeable demographic, there is a strong demand for reliable, medically approved solutions that inspire confidence.

Our new investee ORA is an answer to various “lifestyle” chronic ailments, including issues like hair loss, and notably streamlines access for the younger generation. With a track record of 250,000 consultations conducted, ORA boasts a comprehensive infrastructure and capabilities that encompass:

1. E-pharmacy and clinic services that deliver prescriptions directly.
2. In-house medical professionals offering telehealth consultations.
3. E-medical record functionalities.

The potential within this market is substantial, particularly as ORA endeavours to extend its reach to address other chronic conditions like weight loss and to explore new territories, including regions like the GBA, where Gobi could offer significant value addition.

Could you elaborate on the key criteria Gobi considers when selecting healthtech startups for investment in the region?

We consider (i) what problem they are trying to solve, (ii) how effective the treatments are, where applicable, (iii) the regulatory landscape for the countries they are operating in, (iv) their gross margins and if they have the opportunity to improve over time, and (v) the competitive landscape in the region. Based on these factors, we will determine and pick the industry leader.

What unique challenges and opportunities have you encountered while investing in healthtech in this region?

Healthtech investments are still nascent in the region but have rapidly gained ground with 15 per cent of the private funding value as of H1 2022. 

According to data from the SEAConomy report by Bain, Google, and Temasek 2022, healthcare costs have also been on the rise, with Singapore and Malaysia surging 9 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, in 2022, allowing for new entrants to provide innovative solutions that are faster than traditional healthcare players.

The challenges lie in the occasional regulatory hurdles and legacy healthcare infrastructure, which are difficult to penetrate. However, Malaysia is planning to roll out a nationwide electronic medical record initiative to be completed by 2026, which can provide opportunities for startups to collaborate with hospitals and scale downstream solutions.

How does Gobi Partners plan to support the growth and development of the healthtech startups in its portfolio beyond just providing capital?

Gobi connects its entrepreneurs with a diverse network of executives, engineers, academics, industry experts, and other technology ecosystem stakeholders. This external network is an integral part of Gobi’s commitment to accelerating the learning curve for its portfolio companies and aiding them in establishing leading technology firms.

Through our market intelligence platform, Gobi offers vital support to entrepreneurs. This support includes strategic guidance, growth plans, and market adoption strategies. 

Gobi’s global operating teams provide entrepreneurs with expertise and insights covering the entire spectrum of company building. Leveraging its strategic relationships with international conglomerates, Gobi aids its portfolio entrepreneurs in scaling their ventures. This assistance covers critical areas such as customer acquisition, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, follow-on funding, and geographic expansion.

Also Read: Malaysian recommerce startup CompAsia rakes in Series A funding led by Gobi Partners

As a result of these value-added resources accessible through its global platform, portfolio companies tend to achieve higher operating performance, experience accelerated growth, and realise more successful exits.

Given the diverse cultural, regulatory, and economic landscape in the Southeast Asia region, how does Gobi adapt its investment strategies accordingly?

Operating across 15 strategic locations, including Bangkok, Cairo, Dhaka, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Manila, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Surabaya, Gobi’s extensive network underscores its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship amidst diverse cultural landscapes.

Leveraging its international presence, Gobi is capable of:

1. Identifying market parallels and investing in businesses with solutions that address common pain points.
2. Incorporating innovation insights from Northeast Asia, applying lessons and metrics on tech innovation and investment best practices.
3. Providing cross-border value-add to support businesses with market adoption, marketing, localisation, and scaling across ASEAN, South Asia, and MENA.

What are your aspirations and goals for its healthtech investments in terms of both financial success and societal impact?

As a predominantly Asian venture capital firm with US$1.6 billion in assets under management, we have diligently supported entrepreneurs from early to growth stages, focusing on emerging and underserved markets since 2002.

Also Read: HK’s voice AI company Fano Labs nets funding from Gobi Partners-led fund

Gobi’s interests lie in precision and personalised healthcare technologies, covering diagnostics, therapeutic treatments, and long-term care and recovery. These align with Gobi funds’ risk appetite and investment horizons, featuring a clearer path to commercialisation. Pursuing these technologies also offers potential for cross-portfolio synergies and value addition to limited partners’ businesses.

 One of our main areas is Southeast Asia, where we eagerly seek, invest in and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. With a presence across 15 locations, notably in the GBA, we perceive significant potential in enhancing portfolio companies’ capabilities across Southeast Asia and tapping into the dynamic Northeast Asian markets for scaling or successful exits.

—

Image Credit: Gobi Partners

This article was first published on September 5, 2023

The post In SEA’s healthcare space, occasional regulatory hurdles, legacy infra are hard to penetrate: Gobi Chief appeared first on e27.

YouApp aims to revolutionise the dating landscape by streamlining the compatibility assessment process. Instead of laboriously consulting experts and sifting through personality tests, the app’s AI swiftly calculates compatibility based on inputs from Chinese, Indian, and Western astrological charts and insights from the Myers-Briggs model.

This amalgamation of ancient wisdom and contemporary psychology enables YouApp to deliver compatibility predictions in seconds, sparing users the time-consuming task of manual evaluation.

Drawing from a vast database and leveraging the expertise of specialists, YouApp’s AI continuously refines its matchmaking algorithms. After learning for over a year from the app’s active user base, which exceeds 20,000 individuals in Asia, the AI incorporates real-world data to enhance its accuracy.

Alongside its sophisticated matchmaking capabilities, YouApp offers a plethora of features, including daily star chart readings covering various facets of life, free daily matches, premium membership perks such as unlimited likes and chat access, stringent identity verification processes to thwart scammers, and multifaceted matching options beyond romantic connections. Additionally, the app facilitates seamless communication with real-time translation support for seven languages and enables users to effortlessly connect via QR codes, enhancing the overall user experience.

The self-funded company is run by a team of 28 in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Also Read: A women-centric dating app developed by an ex-diplomat seeks to end Tinder’s dominance in Vietnam

In this interview with e27, Douglas Gan, Founder & CEO of YouApp, explains the background behind the dating app and its features. He also reveals the company’s significant plans for 2024.

Here is an edited excerpt of the conversation:

Can you explain the decision to include astrology, numerology, and MBTI in your matchmaking platform?

First, there is no accurate matchmaking platform in the world today, so YouApp is really in its own category.

Next, we have to understand that these ancient philosophies are actually not much different from the current well-documented philosophies, such as MBTI. The philosophers of the past did not have universities to grant them fancy titles such as Professors or Psychiatrists. The ancient philosophers used what they knew to create what made sense for their time and is hence recognised by the world.

They then studied it by practising it on millions of people to derive their basis and outcomes. This is similar to how philosophers of today, mostly professors, would conduct studies with a much smaller group of people to determine compatibility, e.g., blood type, MBTI, and DiSC.

Metaphysics philosophies is by far the most accurate way to match people for work, play and dates, simply because of the sheer number of studies and practices it has been conducted on. There is no other philosophy methodology that comes close to that. So, using metaphysics philosophies makes the most sense.

Here’s a relatable example: Have you ever met someone for the first time but felt like you have known each other for ages? Metaphysics philosophies can explain this phenomenon. You simply match!

Also Read: Vietnam’s AI-powered female-focused dating app Fika nets US$1.6M led by Swedish investor

The dating app market in SEA is already crowded with local and foreign platforms. How do you plan to set yourself apart? Is there even a demand for another dating app?

The global TFR has more than halved over the past 70 years, from around five children for each female in 1950 to 2.2 children in 2021. Governments worldwide encourage people to give birth every year; the consistent fall in birth rates signals an apparent rising demand for compatibility matching.

If a couple is not compatible, they will never get married and reach the stage to give birth. But the age-old saying “There is someone for everyone” remains steadfast in everyone’s hearts. Some people may believe; some people may doubt. But everyone hopes this sentence is real at some point in their lives.

But we think what is even more significant is matching. LinkedIn earns 1.5x more to match professionals (US$9 billion annually, excluding US$5 billion in marketing solutions) than all the major dating platforms combined (which falls at around US$6 billion annually).

So, YouApp is not just a dating app but a matching app. We also differentiate our matching capabilities by matching people for work, play, and dates. Notice that “Play,” which is activity matching, is not a well-documented market segment, but we can see hints of it from Klook, Airbnb Experiences, and other similar types of “Activities” taking shape in the past few years.

We match humans, and that’s what humans do: work, play, date.

What is your revenue model? What is your plan to become a sustainable business?

Our current revenue model is subscriptions, where we charge US$9.90/month or US$99/year. We have identified multiple revenue streams for this business but plan to introduce them to maximise user experience instead of introducing revenue streams to mar the user experience.

Also Read: Why Tinder beats Bumble and the world is still not ready for a feminist dating app

One of the identified revenue streams is to introduce Matching Consultants, Life Coaches, Metaphysics Consultants, and Health Coaches to the platform’s various analyses. It is common for humans to have self-doubt, and thus, having someone to talk to seems to be a natural extension.

Many other revenue streams include commerce, real estate feng shui, and recruitment.

Here is a testament to why user experience is essential: In January, users launched YouApp 1.8x per WEEK and now, just three months later, users launched YouApp 8.2x per DAY, which is approximately 32x more per week than in January.

Can you tell us about the profile of users that you are targeting?

We target people who want to know themselves better, reference what if, improve their lives, grow their wealth and network, and understand the people they work, live, play and date with.

What is your major plan in 2024?

We currently have physical offices in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.  We plan to expand our physical office presence to Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. Currently, our user base are from 11 countries, most of which are in Asia, the US, and Mexico. We plan to increase borderless matching as finding “the one” is so difficult.

We have integrated 12 philosophies and plan to increase it to 30 to enhance our accuracy further.

Also Read: India’s dating app GoGaga selected for Facebook’s FbStart programme

Regarding AI, our GenAI can answer most basic queries, but we are not ready to deploy it for mass use yet. We plan to enable users to chat with our GenAI when we have 30+ philosophies integrated. We are working with various philosophy experts to train the AI to answer any questions and get answers (or predictions) based on 30+ philosophies or an individual philosophy, e.g. you can ask if she will say yes to your proposal based on I Ching or just generally. Or if your boss will give you a promotion, if you should move out of Singapore to be more successful, or if you should make that investment.

We also plan to raise just one round of funding. We plan to be profitable by the end of 2024 and focus all our time on building our product for billions of users instead of fundraising.

—

Image Credit: YouApp

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Visit Echelon X to learn more about the program. Get your tickets here!

At its core, Echelon serves as a platform dedicated to gathering key innovators with the goal of fostering collaboration among startups, investors, corporates, SMEs, government bodies, and various ecosystem players by offering valuable tools and knowledge.

This annual gathering, attracting top brands and industry figures, grants attendees exclusive access to market insights, growth initiatives, a digital marketplace, market entry strategies, brand enhancement opportunities, and a platform for networking and collaboration among the region’s most promising innovators.

Scheduled for May 15-16, 2024, at Singapore EXPO Hall 2, Echelon X embarks on a mission to fortify the resilience of the tech ecosystem. By fostering deeper collaboration, disseminating cutting-edge knowledge, and propelling collective innovation, this edition promises to be a beacon of transformative change.

A highlight of Echelon X is the Exhibitors feature, showcasing the most innovative products and services from today’s most exciting startups across the region. Participants will have the opportunity to explore groundbreaking solutions, forge strategic partnerships, and chart the course for future success in the dynamic landscape of technology and entrepreneurship. 

Let’s meet 48 exhibitors who will be at the forefront of the next wave of tech revolution

1. Remote
   
   Remote is the global leader in building, managing, and supporting globally distributed workforces with its innovative Global HR Platform, empowering companies and individuals to thrive in the global economy.

2. Prudence Foundation
   
   Prudence Foundation is Prudential Asia’s community investment arm dedicated to sustainable impact, focusing on Children, Education, and Disaster Preparedness in collaboration with NGOs and governments for lasting change.

3. NTT
   
   NTT Ltd., part of NTT DATA, is a leading IT infrastructure and services company serving leading global customers, offering tailored, secure, and scalable solutions for a connected future.

4. AppsFlyer
   
   AppsFlyer, the leading mobile app tracking and attribution analytics platform, empowers developers and advertisers with comprehensive insights and optimisation tools for mobile user acquisition.

5. Google Cloud
   
   Google Cloud provided by Google, offers a range of cloud computing services comprising modular solutions for computing, data storage, analytics, machine learning, and management tools.

6. Sinar Mas Land
   
   Sinar Mas Land, part of Sinar Mas Group, is a major Indonesian property developer, boasting extensive land holdings and diverse projects across Asia.

7. raISE
   
   raiSE is a sector developer, supporting social enterprises through advisory services, training, financing, and networking to foster sustainability, share best practices, and promote awareness.

8. Tech JDI
   
   Tech JDI is a Venture Catalyst since 2016, propelling innovation by empowering companies with strategic resources with a focus on disruptive tech and impactful global growth.

9. PRecious Communications
   
   PRecious Communications is a regional consultancy specialising in communication and social media, catering to global companies, brands, and nonprofits with holistic services to catalyse client success.

10. Employment Hero
    
    Employment Hero revolutionises HR management in Australia with its comprehensive platform, offering free, user-friendly software and extensive employee benefits to manage essential employee information and HR processes.

11. Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation
    
    Sarawak is a government-owned Company, entrusted to lead the implementation of Sarawak’s Digital Economy initiatives.

12. Plug and Play
    
    Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is an innovation platform and investor backing over 1,000 startups globally, with offices in 30+ locations, including Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangkok.

13. iScale Solutions
    
    iScale Solutions partners with businesses to offer tailored strategies through strategic collaboration to navigate talent challenges and simplify recruitment for sustainable growth.

14. Moomoo Financial Singapore
    
    Moomoo, a subsidiary of Futu Holdings, provides a digitalised brokerage and wealth management platform, offering market data, news, analytical tools, and social connectivity.

15. Anapi
    
    Anapi streamlines insurance management for businesses, leveraging AI and machine learning for accurate risk pricing and automation, resulting in savings and enhanced risk management.

16. Privacy Ninja
    
    Privacy Ninja offers comprehensive data protection, compliance, and cybersecurity services, including outsourced DPO, penetration testing, and more.

17. WAOHire
    
    WAOHire is a collective of tech recruiters and developers facilitating connections between fast-growing companies and skilled developers using a humanised approach.

18. Protaigé
    
    Protaigé is a GenAI SaaS ecosystem transforming the collaboration between brands and creators by integrating brand-trained AI with creator-trained AI to produce high-quality creative at scale to encompass the full spectrum of commercial creativity.

19. Vida City
    
    Vida City aims to offer not just a space, but a hub fostering sustainability, innovation, and community, transcending borders for a better world.

20. Transitry
    
    Transitry enables carbon governance with Digital MRV to showcase the Integrity & Credibility of carbon projects.

21. Smart Walkie
    
    Smart Walkie offers the first all-in-one device that combines business apps, walkie talkie and messaging for field workers.

22. Beyond Creative Agency
    
    Beyond Creative Agency is a digital design, media, and video production agency offering advertising and media content services with excellent e-marketing solutions that emphasise cultural understanding and client empowerment.

23. Trustana
    
    Trustana, supported by Temasek, empowers retailers and brand owners in the evolving global commerce landscape, offering tools to streamline product data management and enhance customer experiences.

24. Mangrove Studio
    
    Mangrove Studio empowers Cambodian creatives, and bridges creativity with business success through innovative marketing solutions.

25. Wallex
    
    Wallex offers cross-border payments at better rates and speeds, plus multi-currency management for strategic planning and transaction management.

26. Cloudsine
    
    Cloudsine specialises in cloud technology, offering expertise in adoption, security, and innovation to empower organisations for the digital future.

27. Auptimate
    
    Auptimate platform offers instant document generation and advisory services for seamless investment vehicle management, streamlining investing by automating tedious tasks, and empowering users to focus on investment strategies.

28. Locofy
    
    Locofy.ai, founded in 2021 by Honey Mittal and Sohaib Muhammad, accelerates development by converting designs to code, enabling faster launch of web and mobile products.

29. Folklory
    
    Folklory, an audio startup, facilitates personal podcasts, fostering deeper connections by capturing memories and stories through remote interviews turned into accessible Folklories.

30. Automa8e
    
    Automa8e empowers small businesses worldwide to thrive with efficient operations, cost reduction, time-saving, and scalable profitability through AI-powered finance and accounting systems.

31. Meiro
    
    Meiro, based in Singapore with R&D in Central Europe, offers a top-performing Customer Data Platform to empower enterprises with data control, privacy, and revenue generation.

32. Startup Terrace
    
    Startup Terrace is a government relations service aiming to bolster venture capital and foster Taiwan’s role as an Asian innovation hub.

33. Hacktiv8
    
    Hacktiv8’s 12-week coding boot camp in Jakarta transforms beginners into full-stack developers, aiming to address the developer shortage and elevate web development standards in Indonesia.

34. TipTip
    
    TipTip is the premier monetisation platform for Southeast Asian communities and micro-creators, offering digital content, live sessions, and native monetisation features to boost the creator economy.

35. Vinova
    
    Vinova embodies values of Customer Focus, Integrity, Teamwork, Personal Excellence, and Challenger Spirit, delivering professional solutions with innovation and dedication.

36. FinbotsAI
    
    FinbotsAI offers an AI-powered credit scorecard system, enabling rapid development of high-performance risk models across the credit lifecycle, with intuitive management and accessibility for small lenders.

37. PixCap
    
    PixCap is the first to deliver a cloud-based 3D Animation Solution for collaborative 3D animation creation with AI motion capture, drag-n-drop animations, and user-friendly UX.

38. Jmem Tek
    
    Jmem Tek pioneers MSOTP memory technology to enhance information security in IoT devices, ensuring safer usage without compromising efficiency.

39. ICEX – INVESTINSPAIN
    
    INVEST IN SPAIN, a branch of ICEX Trade and Investment, facilitates foreign investment in Spain and assists entrepreneurs in establishing businesses in the country.

40. Jenfi
    
    Jenfi is an alternative revenue-based financing company for digital-native businesses and startups for Southeast Asia.

41. GoFluid
    
    GoFluid’s platform addresses B2B payment complexities, enabling suppliers to accept credit terms and providing buyers with purchase financing.

42. WOWS Global
    
    WOWS Global offers digital solutions for private companies, including equity management tools, VC directories, virtual data rooms, and advisory services.

43. TenMax
    
    TenMax leads RTB advertising in Taiwan with expertise in digital ad technology, aiming to dominate Asia’s RTB ecosystem and expand into APEC.

44. Azgo
    
    Azgo is an AI-driven travel price comparison app aiming to reshape trip planning with AI-powered price comparison, diverse experiences, and rewards, fuelled by a community of adventurers.

45. Ocare Health Hub
    
    Ocare Health Hub leverages healthcare technology to unlock the potential of health data, offering meaningful insights to enhance patient outcomes and foster healthcare innovation.

46. TransTRACK
    
    TransTRACK.ID, Indonesia’s pioneering fleet management solution, offers comprehensive services and accident compensation, integrating diverse functionalities to optimise operations, enhance safety, and maximise productivity.

47. Datamotive
    
    Datamotive facilitates seamless workload mobility in hybrid, multi-cloud setups, designed for such environments, offering freedom from on-premise virtualisation platforms and major hyper-scale clouds.

48. Gateway of Asia
    
    Gateway of Asia specialises in essential business services, from accounting to incorporation, aligning with clients’ visions to achieve extraordinary results.

Meet some of the most exciting startups from across the Southeast Asian region at Echelon X. Joining them are industry leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and groundbreaking startups from all corners of the region who will be gathering together for two packed days. Echelon X will feature dedicated content stages, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more — all to support and empower the tech startup ecosystem with actionable insights through a series of knowledge-sharing activities.

Whether you’re eager to expand your knowledge, network with key players from the tech startup scene, or showcase your innovative ideas, Echelon X offers an unparalleled experience. Join us as a participant or an official partner by securing your spot now on our official page. Together, let’s embark on a journey to shape the future and create a lasting impact.

Join us at Echelon 2024, where innovation knows no limits, and the possibilities are endless!

The post Echelon X: Meet the Exhibitors who will showcase their innovations appeared first on e27.

In the digital age, data centres stand as the bedrock of technological advancement, facilitating everything from cloud computing and cryptocurrency to sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Yet, as these infrastructures burgeon, they grapple with the intertwined challenges of skyrocketing energy demands, security (both physical and cyber) vulnerabilities, and the urgent call for sustainability amidst looming climate change.

These challenges unfold against a complex geopolitical backdrop, where the imperatives of energy security and data protection intersect with global sustainability goals.

The surge in energy demands and the sustainability imperative

Recent projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA) have spotlighted an alarming trend: data centres are on course to consume an ever-greater share of global electricity, potentially reaching double-digit percentages by 2030.

This surge is not merely a matter of increased operational costs but signifies a profound pressure on national grids, particularly in regions where data-intensive activities are concentrated. Countries like Singapore, for instance, see data centres accounting for about seven per cent of their total electricity usage—a figure that underscores the significant impact these facilities have on national energy infrastructures.

Also Read: Burning urgency: Why businesses must mobilise against forest fires and climate change

The varied landscape of renewable energy adoption across the globe adds another layer to this challenge. While the European Union strides forward with aggressive renewable energy strategies, other regions lag behind, exacerbating their reliance on non-renewable sources. This discrepancy not only heightens the carbon footprint associated with digital infrastructure but also places energy security at the heart of geopolitical tensions.

Geopolitical and security dimensions in a climate-conscious world

Security concerns surrounding data centres extend beyond cyber threats to include the possibility of kinetic attacks—direct assaults on the physical infrastructure itself. The integration of renewable energy systems, vital for sustainability, introduces additional vulnerabilities. Distributed renewable installations, for instance, may be targeted in sabotage efforts aimed at disrupting data centre operations.

Moreover, the strategic importance of these facilities as repositories of data and as physical assets that could be targeted in geopolitical confrontations necessitates robust protection strategies, where we increasingly see greater disregard for international rules-based engagement. This includes fortified physical security measures, strategic site selection, and international cooperation to mitigate tensions that could lead to direct confrontations.

Navigating business opportunities and impacts

The landscape of challenges and imperatives opens a plethora of opportunities for innovation and strategic growth in the data centre sector, where it is crucial to delineate the pathways through which businesses can innovate and pivot towards sustainability and security in the data centre industry.

Here are some examples and strategies that companies can adopt:

AI-driven energy optimisation

• Smart cooling and predictive maintenance solutions: Companies can develop AI algorithms that dynamically adjust cooling systems based on real-time data centre heat loads, as well as failure prediction for hardware. For instance, utilising machine learning to analyse patterns in server usage and environmental conditions can optimise cooling distribution, significantly reducing energy consumption.
• Undersea data centres: A more radical opportunity (which may inadvertantly contribute to ocean acidification and temperature increase) will include strategically locating/ storing data centres in colder climates, such as when Microsoft did it underwater. Other companies have tried replicating it with success as well.

Renewable energy solutions

• Solar and wind energy integrations: Businesses can innovate by integrating solar panels and wind turbines with data centres. For example, a startup could develop modular solar panel systems specifically designed for the spatial and architectural constraints of data centres, enabling them to harness solar energy more effectively.

Also Read: The climate change and gender equality connection: How to support underfunded women-owned business

• Energy storage innovations: To overcome the intermittency of renewable energy sources, companies can focus on advanced battery storage technologies or kinetic energy storage systems. These solutions allow data centres to store excess energy generated during peak production times for use during periods of low generation, ensuring a constant, renewable energy supply.

Holistic security solutions

• Integrated security systems: Given the dual threat of cyber and kinetic attacks, businesses can offer comprehensive security packages that integrate physical security measures, such as surveillance drones equipped with AI for anomaly detection, with cybersecurity solutions. This holistic approach ensures that data centres are fortified against a spectrum of threats, and could be expanded as well to protect other key critical installations.
• Security consulting for renewable systems: As data centres transition to renewable energy sources, there’s a niche for security consulting firms specialising in protecting these new systems. These firms could offer services ranging from vulnerability assessments of solar arrays and wind turbines to the development of response strategies for potential sabotage attempts.

Innovations in cooling technologies

• Liquid immersion cooling: Startups can explore innovations in liquid immersion cooling technology, which involves submerging servers in a non-conductive liquid to cool them more efficiently than traditional air cooling. By focusing on eco-friendly coolants and systems designed for easy integration with existing data centre infrastructure, companies can significantly reduce the energy consumption associated with cooling.
• Phase Change Materials (PCMs): Another area ripe for innovation is the use of PCMs in data centre cooling systems. Companies can develop PCM-based solutions that absorb and store excess heat during peak times and release it when temperatures drop, maintaining optimal operating conditions with reduced energy usage.

The road ahead: Sustainable and resilient data centres

As the data centre industry stands at a crossroads, the call to action is clear: it’s time for entrepreneurs to spearhead the transformation towards sustainability and resilience. This pivotal moment demands not only a reimagining of operations to integrate renewable energy and energy-efficient designs but also a steadfast commitment to robust security measures.

For entrepreneurs and innovators, the challenge spells opportunity. The sector is ripe for disruptive technologies that promise greener, more secure data handling capabilities. This is a clarion call to venture into uncharted territories with innovations that can redefine data storage and processing—prioritising not just efficiency but sustainability and security at their core.

Investors, too, play a crucial role in this transformative journey. The burgeoning need for sustainable data centres positions this niche as a promising growth area, offering compelling investment prospects. It’s an invitation to place bets on companies and startups that are not only driving technological advancements but are also aligning with global sustainability goals. Investing in this space is not just a financial decision; it’s a vote for a sustainable future.

The synergy of pioneering entrepreneurship and strategic investment can catalyze a revolution in the data centre industry, setting a benchmark for how technology infrastructures can operate harmoniously within our environmental limits.

The industry’s potential to lead in the fight against climate change is immense—harnessing green energy, deploying innovative cooling technologies, and fortifying security can significantly mitigate its environmental impact while bolstering the digital backbone of our global economy.

Let’s seize this moment to shape a future where data centres are paragons of environmental stewardship and technological excellence.

—

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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Image credit: Canva.

Credits for insights from Build Our World: Data Centres: Energy, Security, and Global Sustainability Nexus; Indo-Pacific Power Shift: Japan, France, and India Dynamics.

The post From silicon to sustainability: Data centres in a warming world appeared first on e27.