Despite global efforts to promote recycling and build a circular economy, certain types of waste often slip through the cracks due to their perceived difficulty and expense to treat. Wet wastes, characterised by high water content, including food and agricultural waste, sewage and oil sludges, fall into this category.

With more than 80 per cent of the world’s wet waste ending up incinerated, landfilled, or illegally dumped, the environmental and financial costs are staggering. However, amidst these challenges lies a promising opportunity for those willing to innovate and transform wet waste into profit.

The challenge of wet waste

Wet waste presents a unique challenge due to its exceptionally high water content, often exceeding 80 per cent of the waste’s mass. This not only adds to disposal costs but also requires energy-intensive methods to remove excess moisture. Understanding the sources and compositions of various wet waste streams is crucial for developing effective treatment solutions.

Food and agricultural waste

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Waste Index Report 2021, an estimated 931 million tons of food waste was generated in 2019, with households, food service, and retail contributing significantly.

In parallel, agricultural waste, encompassing materials from farming, livestock rearing, and processing, presents substantial challenges. In China alone, agricultural waste production reaches 759 million tons, contributing to 17 per cent of the global waste volume.

The diverse composition of food and agricultural waste, coupled with high moisture content and microbial activity, exacerbates treatment complexities. Contamination from food packaging and the sheer volume of waste further compound these challenges, making management and disposal efforts logistically and environmentally taxing.

Sewage and oil sludges

Sewage sludge, also known as bio-sludge, arises as a by-product of wastewater treatment processes. With annual production estimates reaching 1.6 billion tons, sewage sludge management becomes increasingly challenging.

Similarly, oil sludge stemming from oil refining and industrial processes presents significant hurdles. Classified as hazardous waste, oil sludge production amounts to approximately 22.3 million tons annually.

Managing sewage and oil sludges entails careful handling and disposal methods to mitigate environmental and health risks effectively.

Also Read: WasteX nets funding to help farm producers convert biomass waste into biochar

Why current solutions fall short

Traditional methods like incineration, composting, and landfilling are commonly used for wet waste management but have significant drawbacks.

Incineration reduces waste volume and can produce energy but emits air pollutants, harming human health and the environment. It is inefficient for wet waste as 30 per cent of the energy goes into drying, and the generated ash residues require landfilling.

Composting, relying on microbial activity, turns organic matter into compost. However, it requires time and space, and not all wet waste is suitable, leading to odour, pest issues, and nutrient runoff.

Landfilling, while convenient, produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas and leachate that contaminates soil and groundwater, requiring extensive monitoring and maintenance to prevent environmental harm and health risks.

Alternative solutions lack scalability and efficiency

Alternative methods like anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis and gasification, and black soldier fly larvae treatment offer solutions but face scalability and efficiency challenges.

Anaerobic digestion, a biological process, produces biogas and digestate but requires long processing times and the residual waste requires further treatment or disposal.

Pyrolysis and gasification are thermochemical processes that convert waste into syngas and biochar or ash residues. However, they demand extensive drying, adding to operational costs.

Black soldier fly larvae treatment involves feeding organic waste to black soldier fly larvae, which consume the waste and convert it into insect protein. However, the treatment process lacks flexibility, scalability and efficiency for large-scale applications.

Although various methods exist for managing wet waste, each comes with its own set of challenges and limitations. Innovative solutions are needed to address these shortcomings and pave the way for a more sustainable approach to waste management.

How hydrothermal technologies can redefine the landscape

Hydrothermal technologies offer a promising avenue for revolutionizing the treatment and utilization of wet waste streams. Unlike traditional methods that often face scalability and efficiency issues, hydrothermal processes leverage the unique properties of pressurized hot water to efficiently break down organic matter into valuable resources.

Understanding hydrothermal technologies

Hydrothermal technologies function by subjecting wet waste to heat and pressure, altering the properties of water within the waste. This transformation enables water to act as a potent solvent, catalyst, and reactant in chemical reactions, enhancing the breakdown of organic compounds. As a result, hydrothermal processes achieve higher efficiency in converting wet waste into valuable end products, including biofuels, biochemicals, and biochar.

Also Read: Rethinking wastewater treatment to support Singapore’s ambitious water goals

Diverse applications of hydrothermal technologies

Hydrothermal technologies encompass various methods tailored to specific process conditions and desired outputs. For instance, hydrothermal oxidation enhances biodegradability or eliminates hazardous waste, while thermal hydrolysis upgrades low-value oil. Recent focus has shifted towards hydrothermal conversion processes like hydrothermal carbonization, liquefaction, and gasification, which hold significant promise for transforming wet waste into fuels.

Competitive advantages of hydrothermal conversion

Hydrothermal conversion processes offer several competitive advantages.

• Enhanced efficiency: By utilizing water content within the waste, hydrothermal conversion eliminates the need for energy-intensive drying, resulting in higher efficiency compared to traditional methods.
• High space-time yield: These processes boast rapid processing times, enabling the treatment of large volumes of waste within a compact footprint.
• Versatility: Hydrothermal conversion processes accommodate a wide range of wet waste streams, addressing diverse environmental and economic challenges.
• Resource recovery: Valuable resources, such as fuels, chemicals, and minerals, are recovered from wet waste, promoting resource conservation and circular economy principles.
• Biological safety: The sealed, high-pressure environment of hydrothermal conversion processes ensures biological safety, eliminating exposure to biological risks and effectively sterilizing the waste.
• Reduced environmental impact: Unlike conventional methods like incineration or landfilling, hydrothermal conversion produces clean emissions and effluents, minimizing environmental harm.

Advancements and future directions

Recent strides in hydrothermal technologies are centred on enhancing efficiency, scalability, and versatility across a spectrum of waste streams. Innovations in reactor design, process control, and feedstock diversification are propelling advancements in this domain, offering transformative solutions for wet waste management.

Altent Renewables, a Singapore-based startup, has developed a proprietary hydrothermal process designed to convert wet waste into syngas and minerals. Syngas, a blend of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, has a multifaceted utility as a fuel gas. It can be harnessed for heat and electricity generation while also serving as a fundamental building block for various fuels and chemicals. These include pure hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, and sustainable aviation fuels, positioning Altent Renewables at the forefront of sustainable energy innovation.

Altent Renewables has conducted extensive testing of their technology in a lab-scale facility, employing various waste streams, including food waste, bio-sludge, and oil sludge. Encouraged by positive outcomes, they are now moving forward with scaling up to a pilot plant.

This phase marks a crucial step towards commercial viability and widespread adoption of their innovative hydrothermal process. By implementing their technology, businesses can potentially reduce wet waste disposal costs by more than 70 per cent, achieving both economic and environmental sustainability.

—

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: Canva.

This article was first published on April 24, 2024

The post Unlocking hidden gold: How overlooked wet waste streams hold profit potential despite challenges appeared first on e27.

Investors understand the role real estate ownership has in long-term wealth creation. But good investment decisions are not possible without good information. High-quality, reliable real estate information is expensive and difficult to get.

Those in the industry know that there are two types of property investors. The have-yachts and the have-nots.

The have-yachts

The have-yachts have access to powerful investment databases that provide precise market data. These databases provide insight into tenant demographics and demand. As well as detailed pricing information about how much properties are selling for at a unit rate. These databases also set out the likely rental income and volume of competition.

They hire armies of analysts to build complex financial models. These forecast net return after-tax and likely return on investment (ROI). Which allows for comparisons to determine where they get the biggest bang for their buck. They buy property at huge discounts to their retail price because they have buying power. Created by the volume of property they buy in a single transaction.

The have-nots

The have-nots rely on vague and misleading property ‘research’ provided by agents and whatever information they can get for free on property portals. They use rudimentary measures such as net and gross yield, which do not account for taxes. Nor the different levels of buying costs and stamp duties. Because they don’t consider property on an after-tax basis, they invest using ‘gut
instinct’ rather than logic.

Also Read: What are the key emerging trends and technologies in proptech space?

The have-nots have no buying power. They fight over the scraps. They get offered property already dismissed by the have-yachts (who could not get a good enough deal, so they moved on).

Proptech will change this.

The have-not reality

Asian investors are in the Australian, New Zealand and UK property markets. But do they get what they bargained for?

Most investors report one of the following:

• They paid too much
• They didn’t account for or appreciate the costs and taxes of investing
• The rent was less than what they had expected

Herded like Lemmings

Investors get herded like lemmings into a pressure cooker sales environment. Forced to make huge investment decisions with limited information. With the threat of missing out unless they act today!

In these high-intensity events, they have no leverage. By the time they walk through the door, they have already lost. Developers and agents have invested big to be there and must recover their costs. These lavish property shows held in five-star hotels are not cheap. Someone needs to pay, and, in the end, it is the buyer.

Property agents focus on specific countries and have access to limited properties. Meaning investors looking offshore must do the leg work themselves. They must determine the costs and benefits of buying in different countries. These are complex decisions and need significant thought.

How can investors harness proptech?

Proptech startups are levelling the playing field for the have-nots. Once elusive data and analysis are now available at the touch of a button. Proptech provides the ability for investors to access this data at a fraction of its cost. By pooling their resources, investors create economies of scale to reduce costs.

Also Read: Indonesian proptech startup Tanaku raises US$5.5M pre-seed capital

New technology has created powerful new analysis tools. These allow investors to undertake a detailed analysis of different properties. All without the need for a small army of analysts to determine what property best meets their needs.

Proptech is bridging the gap between investors and developers

All property developers face the same problem. Property development is speculative and very high risk. The chances of things going wrong are high.

To reduce financial exposure, developers need to pre-sell an element of their development. Generally, in the region of 30 per cent to 50 per cent very early in the development cycle. The have-yachts know this, they demand preferential treatment from developers. They buy property in volume at the early stage of development when the developer’s risk is high. They negotiate large discounts based on the volume of property they buy.

Proptech creates an alternative for developers. Rather than a discounted sale to a have-yacht or the huge financial risk of a sales roadshow. Proptech creates a middle ground where both the developer and small investors benefit.

Proptech can combine investors into a powerful buying group. This group can buy a volume of property large enough to reduce the developer’s financial risk. As well as remove the financial waste of a property roadshow.

The net result is both parties’s win. The developer sells enough property to meet their pre-sale needs. The investors have the buying power of a large investor.

Future trends in proptech

We are currently witnessing a small fraction of what is likely to come. Fintech has revolutionised the financial services industry for the average person. Making financial services safer, cheaper, and faster.

The real estate industry will go through a similar transformation. Owner-occupiers, investors, communities, and developers will all benefit. Innovation will occur in all corners of the property industry ending financial waste. The net result will be lower costs and better outcomes.

For the have-not investors, it will mean better quality and more informed investment decisions. At reduced costs, thereby improving financial performance.

–

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: Canva Pro

This article was first published on February 6, 2023

The post The tale of the have-yachts and the have-nots in the proptech sector appeared first on e27.

When Singaporeans think about CEOs of leading global companies, they would probably not struggle to rattle off names. However, if they were asked to name a Singaporean CEO leading a global company, they might be able to name Shou Zi Chew, the charismatic Singaporean CEO leading global tech giant TikTok, and a handful of others.

Companies regard Singaporean managers as competent, honest, and hardworking; yet Singapore still has some way to go to produce more CEOs at global firms.

What it means to be a CEO of a global firm

The reality is that the to-do list for any CEO is now much larger than it was before. On top of the perennial tasks of leading an organisation—to set the vision, coalesce the organisation around a new or refreshed strategy, and manage the financials— CEOs must contend with a growing list of external risks, from economic jitters to geopolitical flare ups, and racial and social injustices.

Managing these immediate priorities comes at a time when leaders must also deliver on growing expectations to position their organisation for long-term growth. Every CEO today knows why they need to embrace tech transformation and sustainability. What is less clear is how to do it. These are complex issues for which there is no playbook and for which everyone is looking to the CEO for answers.

At the same time, in a world of multiple stakeholders, media, and social media scrutiny, CEOs can no longer only focus on what they do; they also need to focus on how it will be perceived. This can create a considerable tax on time, constraining your ability to properly solve issues and drawing away much-needed mental capacity for long-term decision-making.

What do boards look for in a CEO

When discussing the CEO role, it is imperative to factor in considerations of the board of directors, who wield the most power in appointing a leader to helm the company.

What boards look for in a new CEO is very dependent on the state of the business and the future objectives. If a business is performing well, then boards want a smooth transition and will often favour internal candidates provided the succession process has been well run. If a business is under performing, it is more common for boards to look externally to inject new thinking into the business, make the hard decisions and changes and arrest the declining performance.

Also Read: What is keeping founders up at night?

If boards could have their cake and eat it too – what they would ask for is the best on both internal and external. The ideal CEO candidate would be an internal candidate with a detailed understanding of the business, people, and culture, but with the objectivity and lack of attachment that an external candidate would bring.

The S-factor: Singapore’s advantage

Based on our observations from working with Singaporean leaders, institutional research as well as interviews with CEOs from Fortune 500 companies, we find that Singaporean leaders generally have four unique characteristics which could make them successful CEOs.

Firstly, cultural agility. Singaporean CEOs are perceived to be adept at navigating the cultural complexity and diversity of the region. This can give them a unique edge over their counterparts from other regions who tend to have built careers in markets that are of a size and scale that don’t always push them outside their cultural comfort zone.

Secondly, a sense of service. From our experience working with Singaporean leaders, they have a deep sense of loyalty and commitment to organisational purpose, due to a combination of factors. Singaporean culture places a high value on trust, respect, and loyalty; this emphasis on harmony and collective success reinforces a commitment to the organisational purpose. Singapore’s meritocratic cultural system, which values performance and results, often means that CEOs who reach the top in such an environment often do so through dedication and hard work, which naturally cultivates a strong attachment to their organisation’s purpose. They often see their role not just as a position of power but as a stewardship of the company’s long-term interests.

Thirdly, humility. The broader culture of Singapore tends to foster humility in its leaders as most born-and-bred Singaporean leaders have grown up in an environment where tolerance and inclusiveness have been ingrained. This typically lends itself to a style that champions a collaborative culture within organisations. It is especially important for CEOs taking over the reins to foster a collaborative culture, as forming strong relationships with the board and their senior leadership team are pivotal to the successful transition into their new roles. For example, our research found that the third most-common regret for CEOs around the world is the wish to have better engaged and collaborated with the board through transformation and change.

Also Read: Preparing for the unexpected: Succession planning and legal considerations for startup founders

Fourthly, geopolitical adeptness. Due to Singapore’s geographical situation and geopolitical sensibilities, there is also a tendency for Singaporean CEOs to better grasp the complexities of today’s multipolar world shaping business today. According to RRA’s Global Leadership Monitor, less than one in three leaders globally feel prepared to address geopolitical uncertainty, making geopolitical adeptness a much needed trait for CEOs as they are forced to take a proactive approach to manage geopolitical uncertainty today. This is where Singaporean CEOs typically have an edge over counterparts from elsewhere.

Finding new industry captains

The reality is that the CEO role is unique and has a disproportionate influence on so many lives. It’s never easy being a CEO, but those at the helm of global organisations today have it tougher than most. An aspiring CEO should get good support and counsel from people who have walked the CEO path before, and take advice on how to be successful, to avoid costly pitfalls and give themselves the best chance of success.

While Singaporean CEOs of global organisations remain a rare breed, there will undoubtedly be more of them in the coming years as we move into a multipolar world.

This article was co-authored by Miriam Capelli, Managing Director, C-suite Assessment, Succesion and Development, Russell Reynolds Associates. 

—

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 us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected.

Image credit: Canva Pro

The post Looking for the next Shou Zi Chew: Moulding Singaporeans into global firm CEOs appeared first on e27.

The Art of Adaptation: Lessons from Paymongo’s Journey Through a Competitive Fintech Landscape

Echelon Philippines 2024 united startup leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to support the region’s fastest-growing tech market and drive meaningful economic progress.

As part of the tech conference’s fireside chat titled ‘The Art of Adaptation: Lessons from Paymongo’s Journey Through a Competitive Fintech Landscape’, Jojo Malolos, Chief Executive Officer of PayMongo, discussed the company’s transformation from a payment aggregator to a comprehensive financial services provider. The session was moderated by Arthur Adrian Lopez, Co-Founder of Brainsparks and COO and Co-Founder of NextPay.

Key discussion points included:

• Strategic adaptation: Insights into how Paymongo has navigated evolving market conditions and competitive pressures in the fintech sector, including business model pivots and product refinement.
• Customer-centric innovation: An exploration of the innovative solutions implemented by Paymongo to address customer needs and enhance user experience, highlighting the role of customer feedback in driving success.
• Growth strategies: Examination of the strategies employed by Paymongo to scale operations, tackle regulatory challenges, forge partnerships, and leverage technology for a competitive edge.

Also Read: Julian Cua of BCG at Echelon Philippines 2024: Understanding Filipinos’ daily challenges to drive meaningful innovation

Since joining in February 2023, Malolos inherited a flat-growth company with 245 employees and US$31 million in Series B funding. He streamlined the workforce to 140, prioritising higher-margin products such as electronic money and lending. Under his leadership, PayMongo’s profits tripled, extending its runway to 24 months.

Key strategies involved adapting products based on market feedback and making decisive operational changes. Despite initial hurdles, including union issues and low staff morale, Jojo underscored the significance of strategic direction and execution for achieving success.

To gain a complete understanding of Paymongo’s journey and insights shared during the chat, watch the video above.

—

Missed Echelon Philippines this year? You can now catch the recorded sessions on demand, showcasing insights from leading startup experts, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors from the Philippines and Southeast Asia, all geared toward driving the next phase of growth. And stay tuned—more videos are coming soon!

Watch Echelon Philippines and ECX here.

The post Echelon Philippines 2024: PayMongo’s Jojo Malolos on adaptation and growth in fintech appeared first on e27.

The events industry has been under scrutiny for its negative environmental impact. Still, with the rising awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions and protect the planet, there is a growing demand for sustainable events.

Going green has become a top priority for an increasing number of guests and hosts, indicating that sustainability is not just a passing trend. In 2019, only six per cent of respondents believed that environmental responsibility had a significant impact on their events, while in 2020, this number increased to 59 per cent.

I go to multiple events a year, such as Echelon in Singapore to Tokyo Game Show in Japan, so I may actually be part of the growing problem. While I have a part to play, the impact or the ability to drive change might lie with the organisers.

Event planners in Asia have an opportunity to take the lead in implementing sustainable practices, which have been laid out quite well with Gevme’s sustainability manifesto. By adhering to this manifesto, planners can minimise the environmental impact of their events and reduce their carbon footprint.

Gevme’s sustainability manifesto is a framework that event planners can use to create sustainable events. It provides guidelines and best practices for reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting social responsibility.

By implementing these sustainable practices, event planners can improve the environmental impact of their events and create a positive impact on the communities they serve. This approach also aligns with the global movement towards sustainability, demonstrating that Asia’s event industry is committed to positively impacting the planet.

Acting on scientific evidence and data

Acting on scientific evidence and data is crucial to achieving sustainability goals. To this end, event planners should set science-based targets to track and reduce carbon emissions. 

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

By grounding their work in accurate data and scientific evidence, event planners can make informed decisions that will positively impact the environment. This includes adopting innovative technologies that are more energy-efficient, promoting renewable energy sources, and adopting sustainable transportation practices. 

Taking responsibility for carbon emissions

According to a recent study, international conferences contribute to a carbon footprint from travel that exceeds 2,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. On average, each participant generates between 500 and 1,500 kg CO₂ equivalent per round-trip to a conference. Thus, taking responsibility for carbon emissions is another critical aspect of sustainability. 

Planners should aim to cut emissions by more than half by 2030 and remove more carbon than they emit each year. This helps the environment and sends a strong message to attendees that the event industry is taking sustainability seriously. Additionally, event planners should consider offsetting their carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy projects or reforestation initiatives. 

Transparency and accountability

Transparency and accountability are essential for making progress towards sustainability. Event planners should publish annual environmental sustainability reports that provide transparency on their progress. 

By adhering to global reporting standards, event planners can ensure their efforts align with industry best practices. This will enable them to measure their performance and track progress over time. Furthermore, it will enable them to benchmark their performance against their peers, identify areas for improvement, and share best practices. 

Advocating for sustainability in the industry and policies

Advocating for sustainability in the industry and policies is another critical step in advancing sustainability. Event planners should support new guidelines, standards, and public policy initiatives accelerating carbon emissions reduction and removal opportunities. This includes advocating for renewable energy targets, promoting sustainable transportation options, and supporting green infrastructure investments.

Also Read: How climate tech companies in Asia measure the impact of their work

Supporting event organisers and exhibitors to go green

Supporting event organisers and exhibitors to go green is also crucial in advancing sustainability. Event planners should develop and share educational materials and digital technologies to help organisers and exhibitors measure and reduce their carbon footprints.

This can include providing guidance on sustainable food and beverage options, promoting waste reduction and recycling practices, and supporting the use of sustainable materials in booth design. 

Educating event attendees on sustainability

Educating event attendees on sustainability is perhaps the most impactful step in advancing sustainability. Event planners should develop and deploy digital tools that encourage people attending events to make sustainable choices. This can include providing information on sustainable transportation options, promoting sustainable food choices, and encouraging attendees to offset their carbon emissions. 

Engaging the team in this mission

Engaging the team on this mission is key to advancing sustainability. Event planners should provide opportunities to innovate by developing enhanced methodologies, processes, and digital tools. This includes encouraging employees to share ideas and best practices, investing in employee training and development, and fostering a culture of sustainability within the organisation. 

By engaging the team on this mission, event planners can create a culture of sustainability that inspires creativity and innovation and contributes to a more sustainable future.

Towards a sustainable future

By adopting a holistic approach that encompasses scientific evidence and data, carbon emissions reduction and removal, transparency and accountability, advocacy for sustainability, support for event organisers and exhibitors, education of event attendees, and team engagement, event planners can create a culture of sustainability that extends beyond their events and into the broader community.

–

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: Canva Pro

This article was first published on May 26, 2023

The post Mastering sustainability: Your ultimate guide to hosting eco-friendly events in Asia appeared first on e27.

 

Singapore-based Supermom is Southeast Asia’s leading parenting data platform. It empowers parents to learn from a deep and highly engaged community of peers while also offering “key opinion moms” extra income by promoting brands on their social channels.

In parallel, Supermom arms global consumer brands with troves of proprietary consumer data that, until recently, could not be found elsewhere.    

Launched in 2022, and with early backing from AC Ventures, today it shows impressive credentials with over 100 brand partners and a 100 per cent retention rate of top clients. With more than three million profiled moms across over 6,000 private community groups, it is poised for a projected 100 per cent growth in 2024. As a hub for influential moms and brands, Supermom is reshaping parenting trends and solutions across the region.

The chief influencers

The company’s CEO Luke Lim recently joined an episode of the Indonesia Digital Deconstructed podcast to discuss the outlook on Southeast Asia’s parenting sector and how his company is retaining all of its large, multinational clients, including the likes of Unilever, Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly Clark, and others.

“Let me start by posing a simple question: In most families, who do you think influences the majority of purchases? When I survey families, about 90 per cent consistently identify women as the primary decision-makers,” explained Lim. “Globally, the statistic is approximately 85 per cent. Women are key in determining household purchasing choices. This significant influence of women is fundamental to Supermom’s business model.”

“Now, for the second part: If moms wield such influence at home, guess where they get their cues from? You guessed it—other moms,” added Lim with a smile. “This highlights just how crucial the community aspect is. Statistically, 80 per cent to 85 per cent of their purchases are swayed by their social connections.”

Extra income for parents

Supermom’s thousands of private community groups help moms and parents share information and learn from one another at various stages of their journeys. The platform leverages this baked-in social dynamic, subsequently empowering mothers to become micro-entrepreneurs in their own right.

Also Read: AC Ventures aims to drive positive societal change, economic impact in SEA

Supermom community members can earn supplementary income by endorsing products on their public-facing social channels. By quickly tapping into and mobilising the communities on its platform, Supermom can offer brands rapid content generation, deploying thousands of moms to produce user-generated content that gives brands timely and relevant insights across Southeast Asia.

Lim added, jokingly, “I can trigger a community of over 6,000 members to start posting publicly about your brand. Who knows? Maybe it will get famous overnight.”

Priceless data for brands

One of the keys to Supermom’s success is its community-centric approach to brand service. By letting mothers rank brands across 16 different categories and answer internal surveys and polls about products and the problems parents need solutions for, Supermom not only engages its user base but also strengthens relationships with top clients. It offers the Unilevers of the world priceless colour and first-party consumer data from Southeast Asia that simply cannot be sourced elsewhere. 

Looking forward, Lim is enthusiastic about the prospects of expanding Supermom’s influence and operations in Southeast Asia. Speaking to the user journey, he envisions a platform integrated into the lives of Southeast Asian parents to the point where they will keep coming back to learn and earn continuously – regardless of whether they’re pregnant for the first time, or already raising a family with kids of various ages. 

Lim said, “In the next five to ten years, we aim to engage at least 20 per cent to 30 per cent of Southeast Asia’s parenting community. Our goal is not just for families to have heard of Supermom, but for them to actively use our platform. It’s pretty simple, but that’s our vision for the long term.”

Get the full episode on Spotify and Apple.

—

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 us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected.

Image credit: AC Ventures

The post How Southeast Asia’s Supermom retains its Fortune 500 clients appeared first on e27.

The global energy landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with an increasing focus on sustainability and a drive to transition away from fossil fuels. As we stand at the precipice of this energy transition, the choices we make today will shape the future of our planet.

The opportunities for powering our world are expanding rapidly, with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind leading the way. Additionally, alternative sources like hydrogen and nuclear fission are showing great promise in the pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape. 

In this article, we will explore the possibilities and challenges associated with the energy transition, taking a closer look at the innovations that are driving change and the obstacles that must be overcome.

The current energy landscape

According to statistics released by the International Energy Agency, 80.9 per cent of global energy came from fossil fuels, 9.4 per cent from biofuels and waste, 5.0 per cent from nuclear energy, 2.5 per cent from hydro energy, and the remaining 2.2 per cent from other sources in 2019.

Today’s landscape is largely characterised by its over-reliance on fossil fuels which have detrimental impacts on the environment. Alternative sources of cleaner energy, such as solar, wind and hydrogen, are being increasingly adopted. Yet, the extent of technological advancement needed to effectively facilitate the transition is still nowhere in sight. 

Challenges 

Environmental degradation

The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas causes large amounts of greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing global temperatures to rise. This leads to climate change, resulting in rising sea levels, unpredictable precipitation problems and extreme weather events.

The combustion of fossil fuels also releases a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere, including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases contribute to smog and can cause respiratory problems. They can also react with rainwater to form acid rain, which can corrode buildings, destroy marine life and damage ecosystems.

Energy security

The Russia-Ukraine war has worsened the global energy crisis. Supply-chain disruptions from one of the world’s major oil suppliers, Russia, this has, in turn, driving up energy prices. This increases the number of households unable to afford energy – especially those in developing countries. 

Also Read: The key to tackling climate change: Electrify shipping

Furthermore, due to political tensions, Russia has cut gas flows to the EU by 80 per cent between May and October 2022. This has caused a significant shortage in the EU’s energy mix. This highlights the over-reliance on major fuel-exporting countries, making the diversification towards alternative or domestic sources of energy a pressing need.

Affordability

The main reason why sustainable sources still remain relatively more expensive today is the sheer cost of infrastructure required to build solar farms and wind farms. When produced on a large scale, these costs can add up quickly. This makes sustainable energy sources more expensive than traditional ones.

As a result, it poses a significant barrier to the large-scale adoption of sustainable energy sources, as many countries and businesses tend to prioritise cost savings at the expense of the environment. 

Recent innovations and developments

Alternative sources 

Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom is split into two or smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. This process is the basis of nuclear power plants, which use the heat generated by nuclear fission to produce steam, which in turn drives turbines to generate electricity.

Advantages:

• Clean source of energy that does not generate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
• It also reduces our dependency on fossil fuels, which are finite resources that exacerbates climate change. 

Gaps:

• Nuclear produces radioactive waste, which must be carefully stored and disposed of.
• Safety concerns associated with nuclear power plants, particularly in the event of a nuclear accident, which can release dangerous levels of radiation.

Hydrogen Fuel is produced by chemically reacting hydrogen gas with oxygen to create water. This process releases energy that can be harnessed to power fuel cells and generate electricity directly. 

Advantages: 

• It produces no harmful emissions when burned. In fact, the only byproduct of hydrogen fuel is water vapour, making it an extremely clean source. 
• Hydrogen fuel can be produced from a variety of sources, including water, natural gas, and biomass, making it a versatile and sustainable fuel option.

Gaps:

• Difficulty in storage and transport; requires specialised equipment and infrastructure to handle safely. 
• The production of hydrogen fuel can be energy-intensive, which can limit its overall sustainability.

Energy storage and distribution

Battery storage

Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time. The aim is to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. Recently, there have been innovative solutions for battery recycling, driving a more sustainable energy landscape.

Also Read: How Ampotech helps energy, facilities managers improve the performance of their buildings

For example, NEU Battery Materials, a startup from the HyperScale accelerator programme created a way to recycle lithium batteries using a clean and sustainable electrochemical and produce battery-grade materials. This solution addresses the sustainable redox targeting battery recycling issue.

Microgrids

A microgrid is a small-scale electrical grid that can operate independently or in conjunction with the main power grid. It typically includes distributed energy resources such as solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage, and backup generators, which can generate and store electricity locally.

Microgrids are designed to provide reliable and resilient power to specific communities, facilities, or regions. They are often used in areas that are prone to power outages or that are far from the main power grid, such as remote communities, military bases, or hospitals.

The energy transition

Supply-chain concerns

There are several challenges in the large-scale adoption of alternative energy. It must be cheap, abundant, clean, safe, easy to transport, and sustainable. To build resilience and reduce the geopolitical risk of energy insecurity, each country should self-sustain and bring the supply chain to its own backyards.

Energy systems

Today, our predominant energy system is centred around natural gas. In the future, however, multiple systems of energy storage and distribution are foreseen. This includes electricity imports, hydrogen networks, combustion technology and infrastructure, etc. 

With the proliferation of alternative energy such as solar, thermal and nuclear, there is an increasing need to design an integrated system that is robust, resilient and reliable – perhaps one that is co-reliant. 

The role of accelerators in shaping the future 

Accelerator programmes drive innovation and expedite the transition of the current energy landscape into a more sustainable one. Startups benefit from active guidance from industry professionals, access to resources, connections with investors, collaborations, and a structured framework for innovation. 

With potential funding, startups with innovative solutions tackling real-world problems are empowered to conduct further research and development and upscale their ideas to revolutionise the energy landscape. 

PETRONAS FutureTech 3.0 accelerator programme

One of the initiatives driving innovation within the energy space is PETRONAS FutureTech 3.0, powered by StartupX, which was launched on 23 Feb 2023.

The programme focuses on five verticals: Future of Energy and Mobility, Sustainability, Future of Industry and Work, Future of Chemicals and Material, and Frontier Technology.

Find out more here: https://petronasft.thestartupx.com 

–

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

This article was first published on April 3, 2023

The post On the precipice of energy transition appeared first on e27.

As we advance into the age of technology, the transformative power of innovation continues to reshape industries, economies, and societies. Each technological leap—from the steam engine to the internet—has catalysed change, redefining how we live, travel, and connect.

In the early industrial era, inventions like trains and airplanes revolutionised transportation, while breakthroughs in communication, such as the telegraph, bridged distant parts of the world. These developments paved the way for globalisation, fostering economic growth and interconnectivity.

Fast forward to the 21st century: the dot-com boom and the rise of the internet have accelerated globalisation, allowing businesses to scale rapidly across borders. Today, we find ourselves on the brink of the AI revolution, where emerging technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities for innovation and disruption.

Why Indonesia? The window of opportunity

While developed markets have integrated technology as a commodity, Indonesia—the largest economy in Southeast Asia—stands at a pivotal juncture. The nation is undergoing rapid digital transformation, positioning technology as a key driver of economic growth. With its developing technological infrastructure and one of the world’s largest young populations, Indonesia presents fertile ground for both emerging and established players to make a meaningful impact.

The government’s EMAS 2045 initiative serves as a strategic roadmap for Indonesia to become a sovereign, advanced, fair, and prosperous nation by 2045, offering significant opportunities to harness this potential.

Despite its nascent tech ecosystem, Indonesia is ripe for innovation and growth. Major players like Gojek, Tokopedia, and Bukalapak have garnered substantial attention, yet there remains considerable room for expansion within the mid-tier sector. This evolving landscape is particularly attractive for investment in startups poised to capitalise on the impending wave of technological advancements.

Also Read: For Indonesia’s 2nd generation unicorns, international expansion is the name of the game

This is where InvestIdea Capital Ventures, an Indonesia-based venture capital firm focused on impact investing in technology solutions that enhance livelihoods, steps in, with a strategic emphasis on assessing founders and startups rather than adopting a “spray and pray” approach, which has been key to their success.

Notably, our key portfolio companies have successfully navigated the recent tech winter, emerging even stronger in challenging conditions. For instance, Halodoc is now Indonesia’s largest healthcare, demonstrating resilience despite the pandemic and global downturns. Similarly, other portfolio companies like Bobobox and Cakap remain committed to scaling their operations, increasing their valuations while consistently gaining investor trust, showcasing the resilience and strength of our Indonesian investees.

Indonesia’s startup showcase 2024

This November, we’re hosting a Tech Startup Showcase 2024—an event designed to connect global investors with Indonesia’s next big tech disruptors. Scheduled for 29 November 2024 at Block71 Singapore, the showcase will be a hub for discovering innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and drive significant growth.

The Tech Startup Showcase offers an unparalleled opportunity for investors to meet the founders and visionaries behind some of Indonesia’s most promising startups. The event will feature live pitches, product demos, and networking opportunities designed to foster connections and explore collaborations.

Key highlights:

• Exclusive networking: Engage with top-tier founders, industry leaders, and fellow investors shaping Indonesia’s tech future.
• Live pitches and demos: Experience firsthand the cutting-edge solutions disrupting industries.
• High-potential startups: Gain early access to startups across sectors such as health tech, fintech, edutech, and more.

For more information, please visit the website here, and register for the event here.

—

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 us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected.

Image credit: Canva Pro

The post Indonesia’s startup showcase 2024: The launchpad for Southeast Asia’s tech future appeared first on e27.

The growing luxury segment can be attributed to its accessibility over the years. What once was a status symbol for the selective few has become logistically available. This can be attributed to the advancement of e-commerce, cross-border logistics, and payment systems. Utilising consumer products as a form of an alternative investment plays a strategic role in broadening an investor’s portfolio. This serves to expand their potential income sources and serve as an inflation hedge.

Clearly, there is growing interest in alternative investments. There is thus a need for a platform that can democratise investment in collectible assets through buying and selling fractionalised equity shares. Imagine DRC wine, Rolex watches, Hermes bags, and Macallan whiskey being readily available for purchase at a small share of $1. This would effectively equalise the investment landscape. It can do this by removing entry barriers and creating a social trading platform that addresses information asymmetry.

In response to this need, Treazer is offering fractional ownership in high-value collectible assets. This ranges from luxury items to emerging asset classes such as music royalties and NFTs. By lowering the barriers to entry and leveraging blockchain technology, Treazer is allowing anyone to become a stakeholder in prestigious collectibles.

Changing the narrative of the ultra-wealthy to ultra-accessible

Based in Singapore, Treazer is a fractional investment platform specialising in luxury collectibles that tend to appreciate over time. Blockchain technology plays a crucial role in creating transparent and secure investment opportunities, ensuring verified ownership of these assets.

To make their platform work, Treazer collaborated with Pohang University of Science and Technology Blockchain Center. They developed blockchain-based ownership, transfer, and voting functions for fractional ownership. Treazer contributed to the system design and processes. Pohang University on the other hand built the blockchain certification system which operates on the ERC20 network.

Their mission is to bridge the gap between collectors and regular investors through fractional ownership. Treazer currently offers more than 200 investment opportunities. Further, to make it even more investor-friendly, it provides daily price updates to enable decision-making for younger investors.

Ryan Kim, COO of Treazer, echoes this sentiment in an interview. He shares, “As a young investor myself, I’ve always been interested in investing in items people are passionate about, beyond traditional assets.”

He adds that Treazer’s inspiration comes from Ryan and their CEO, Ted Kim. The latter once invested in a bottle of Romanee Conti, which “we successfully sold within six months, earning a 20% profit. 

Also read: Blockchain is revolutionising the real-estate market through fractional ownership

Expanding the Investment Opportunity to Everyone with Treazer

Inspired by the enthusiasm of their friends who later joined them in their wine and whiskey investments, the co-founders soon realised the potential to expand this opportunity to everyone. Treazer was born to allow anyone to invest in high-quality collectibles—or “treasures”—and benefit from the value they bring.

Their thesis paid off with a rapidly growing user base and ongoing partnerships with large financial institutions. In 2023, Treazer was able to secure a 361 per cent user growth with over 600,000 registered users. Their platform records a 42.1 per cent highest return and an average investor return of 14.6 per cent in over 200 collections.

In 2023, Treazer partnered with SK Planet and, more recently, with KB Pay and Lotte in 2024. As interest in collectibles has grown, these partnerships have helped Treazer expand its reach through its platforms. These collaborations have enabled Treazer to attract users from partner networks. More than that, they also provide easy access to services through the use of leftover points.

Treazer teases its plans to expand its offerings to include properties, classic cars, rare books, sports memorabilia, trading cards, and more. As long as there’s a viable market, its team is positioned to make it available within the platform.

Ryan Kim discloses that while Treazer has its roots in Singapore, they plan to expand next into Vietnam. Treazer is also looking for partners in Hong Kong who can provide international storage solutions and Japan-based securities firms.

Investing in their passion, thriving in the business

Treazer’s key differentiators against other fractional ownership platforms are summarised in three items. First, their blockchain-backed certification of ownership. Second, partnerships with securities firms. And third, the addition of innovative assets like music royalties, IP, and rare collectibles.

Apart from its diverse asset offerings, Treazer has made significant technological advancements in asset verification and ownership. For one, they are able to showcase daily and historical price data similar to a traditional public trading platform. 

Treazer has officially launched their platform, Treasurer, which uniquely provides daily price updates along with historical price data for each item. Its standout feature is proprietary data crawling technology and sophisticated algorithms. As a result, Treasurer Global tracks and analyses over 300,000 transaction data points from global markets in real-time. This level of transparency and data accessibility is a significant advantage for users.

“Treasurer Global democratises access to the luxury markets by enabling anyone to invest in high-value assets through fractional ownership,” says Ted Kim, CEO of Treasurer Global. “With our advanced data crawling technology, clients can confidently make transactions based on the most accurate and reliable information. This launch represents a significant shift in the global luxury and collectible investment landscape.”

Treasurer Global is now live and providing investors worldwide with the opportunity to invest.

Also read: Preparing your company for Southeast Asia: A strategic guide to the market

Treazer Generating Profitability with a Data-Driven Approach

Treazer has already generated profitability at this stage. It boasts 52 per cent on its listed items by using its AI engine to pre-select blue-chip collectibles. With an average IRR of 17.8 per cent, Treazer’s performance significantly outpaces that of other fractional investment platforms globally. This demonstrates the strength of Treazer’s data-driven approach and the quality of assets available on the platform.

Kim assures that their upcoming partnerships with securities firms and cryptocurrency exchanges will serve to enhance Treazer’s offerings further. 

“As many investors already hold stocks and cryptocurrencies, incorporating these assets into our platform can create a more complete portfolio experience for them. On the flip side, Treazer has the potential to introduce passionate young investors to these brokerage firms and exchanges, fostering a symbiotic relationship.”

Treazer just recently secured their Pre-series A funding. This is primarily allocated to enhancing their AI engine that provides daily pricing for over 200 items within the platform. Additionally, their presence in Singapore has been established to facilitate entry into the Southeast Asian market. Before Series A, Treazer aims to launch a global version and gather enough users for beta testing.

If you’re interested in learning more about fractional ownership of collectibles through Treazer, visit www.treazer.com and contact them for investment opportunities.

—

This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by Treazer

We can share your story at e27, too. Engage the Southeast Asian tech ecosystem by bringing your story to the world. Visit us here to get started.

Featured Image Credit: Treazer

The post Unlocking the world of high-value collectible assets for alternative investors with Treazer appeared first on e27.

Beyond The Playbook: Redefining The Journey of a Startup Entrepreneur

Echelon Philippines 2024 brought together startup leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to support the region’s rapidly growing tech market and drive economic progress.

The tech conference’s keynote speech titled ‘Beyond The Playbook: Redefining The Journey of a Startup Entrepreneur’ was delivered by Minette Navarrete, President and Co-Founder of Kickstart Ventures.

She discussed the unpredictable nature of the startup journey, emphasising that each founder’s path is unique, with no standard roadmap to success. Navarrete shared how successful founders navigate unexpected challenges by relying on adaptability, resilience, and unconventional wisdom.

Also Read: Julian Cua of BCG at Echelon Philippines 2024: Understanding Filipinos’ daily challenges to drive meaningful innovation

She outlined four key lessons from successful startups:

• Mission over valuation, exemplified by Bagosphere, which trained over 10,000 participants and achieved 80 per cent job placement.
• Creating or capturing markets, as Wattpad did by cultivating a new reading audience in the Philippines.
• Execution excellence, demonstrated by Pickup Coffee’s expansion from 12 to over 250 locations.
• Forming unexpected partnerships, such as Sarisuki’s collaboration with Asin on solar-powered agricultural projects.

Navarrete emphasised that while traditional frameworks are important, founders must go beyond them by focusing on mission, execution, and people to achieve long-term success.

Watch the session video above to learn more about these insights and the strategies shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

—

The post Echelon Philippines 2024: Beyond traditional frameworks with Minette Navarrete of Kickstart Ventures appeared first on e27.