Interruptions and distraction stall productivity and the office may be where the biggest offenders are. In this TED Talk, Jason Fried talks about why people can’t get work done at work and offers three suggestions to remedy it.
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This article was first published on November 16, 2017.
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Remote workers make things simpler, more efficient, and often cheaper for startup organizations. It’s also a perk for employees who like eliminating their commute and working from the quiet of their own homes. For these exact reasons, remote work has grown exponentially over the last few years. According to a Gallup survey, 43 percent of employed Americans spend at least some of their time working remotely.
Remote work has its clear advantages, but cybersecurity threats will accompany them. Remote workers often allow easier access for hackers, malware, and other attempts to corrupt or steal sensitive information from a company. Their unsecured networks, weak passwords, high employee turnover, and limited monitoring ability make them ideal targets.
The benefits of remote work are many, and as such, it’s better to handle the threats that come with it rather than trying to eliminate it. Your security threats don’t have to increase dramatically just because you use remote workers.
Here are some things you can do.
The bring your own device (BYOD) movement is a popular strategy for employers. It saves money, is more efficient, and eliminates the need for an IT department. However, it can also increase your risk of being infiltrated by a hacker who gains access through an unsecured personal device.
Also Read: Remote work leads to better productivity and lower costs; Here are 10 reasons why remote work rocks
“Frequent trainings to ensure compliance with security measures are critical to decreasing risk,” suggests an article from the secure SD-WAN firm Cato Networks. “Teams should have well-researched BYOD policies in places to protect against as many potential threats as possible. You also may want to consider mobile device management (MDM) which requires employees to grant IT access to their personal devices, including permission to wipe a lost or stolen device clean.”
Passwords are often an easy entry point for hackers. Weak passwords are easy for experienced hackers to crack. Plus, many people use the same password for everything, so once that password is hacked, they’ll have access to every account that’s connected to it.
Many employees have varied, strong passwords, but they store them on a piece of paper or in a document on their computer. Hackers know to look for those saved documents to gain access to a network.
Create a series of password standards for your employees. Passwords should have special characters, numbers, and capitals, and they should be changed often. Each password should be reserved for just one account, and should not be shared. To keep passwords secure, have employees use a cloud-based password manager like LastPass, Dashlane, or Sticky Password.
A virtual private network (VPN) is like a secure tunnel that allows your computer to connect to the internet. Enterprises often use a VPN to protect their privacy and prevent casual hackers from accessing transactions while using Wi-Fi, whether public or private.
Also Read: The 4 drawbacks of working remotely and how to address them with your team
“When you’re on public Wi-Fi at an airport or café, that means hackers will have a harder time stealing your login credentials or redirecting your PC to a phony banking site,” says Ian Paul of Tech Hive. “Your Internet service provider (ISP), or anyone else trying to spy on you, will also have a near impossible time figuring out which websites you’re visiting. On top of all that, you get the benefits of spoofing your location.”
Each of these masking elements allows your remote workers to stay secure while working on your network, limiting exposure to unwanted third-party attention.
Two-factor authentication can be used in multiple ways to protect both your employees and your organization from unauthorized access. When employees must go through two steps to access your server or website, such as entering both a password and a code sent to their personal email, access is considerably more secure.
Additionally, if you provide your remote workers with their hardware, consider requiring two-factor authentication when they access their devices. For example, many laptops now come with an eye or fingerprint scanner. Requiring employees to put in both a password and a bio-print scan can add an extra layer of security that protects both your organization and your employees from major cybersecurity threats.
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Image Credit: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo
Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.
This article was first published on March 22, 2018.
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Spacely AI Founder and CEO Paruey Anadirekkul
Spacely AI, an interior architecture design platform powered by Generative AI, has announced the closing of an undisclosed pre-seed investment from SCB 10X.
The Thai startup is expanding its global footprint, serving users from Thailand, the US, Portugal, and several other countries worldwide.
Also Read: Snaptrude can convert a hand-drawn sketch to a 3D model in a few seconds
Spacely AI is a “quick and easy” rendering tool for interior designers. The platform offers 12+ innovative features, 100+ interior curated premium styles, and supports more than 100+ space types, from interiors to exteriors.
Along with this announcement, Spacely has launched instant rendering API (to allow for quick visualisation of design concepts), smart recommendation API (which matches the products with customers’ designed space based on their preferences, budget, and space), product visualisation API (which provides a visual representation of the products within customer’s spaces), and precision space planning API (which offers detailed space measurement guidance for optimal fit and sizing).
The company said it has formed strategic partnerships with Index Living Mall and Proud Real Estate to design over one million spaces for 120,000+ users worldwide.
Also Read: What entrepreneurs (and the rest of us) can learn from Taylor Swift
“Given the powerful breakthroughs in visual-based generative AI, spatial design is an application that will continue to benefit from the rapid advancements of this technology. We will continue to support Spacely AI in identifying the strategic and product priorities for the platform, enriching Spacely AI’s proposition from Thailand to the global design community,” said Mukaya (Tai) Panich, CEO and Chief Venture and Investment Officer of SCB 10X.
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Singapore-based SaaS health tech company MiyaHealth has broadened its reach into Indonesia and the Philippines by extending its proprietary product suites, MiyaPayor and MiyaProvider, through strategic partnerships.
These collaborations aim to elevate healthcare access and efficiency in underserved markets by leveraging innovative technological solutions and delivering high-quality healthcare. Through partnerships with a third-party administrator (TPA) and a leading hospital group in Indonesia, as well as Health Maintenance, Inc. (HMI) in the Philippines, MiyaHealth is poised to optimise the overall patient experience in both countries.
These are just some notable milestones that MiyaHealth made recently after closing its Pre-Series A funding round in Q42023 and securing the ISO 13845:2016 Certification and CE Mark.
“We have learned the significance of product differentiation, customisation, and certifications in addressing client’s needs and establishing credibility. This has granted us a competitive edge over alternatives. Most vendors would find it challenging to pinpoint and customise a solution to address all the insurer’s existing and future needs,” says Dr Ramesh Rajentheran, CEO and Co-Founder of MiyaHealth, in an email interview with e27.
Founded in 2019, MiyaHealth builds and operates digital infrastructure that powers healthcare. The company offers three product suites, MiyaPayor, MiyaPatient, and MiyaProvider, leveraging its AI and ML data capture, processing, and interoperability capabilities across the healthcare ecosystem.
Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA
While existing players typically focused on either health tech or insurtech, MiyaHealth intends to serve all facets of healthcare by enhancing interoperability between health systems, leading to better patient outcomes.
In this interview, Dr Rajentheran explains the company’s strategy to win the Indonesian and Filipino markets and what is coming up for MiyaHealth. The following is an edited excerpt of the conversation.
You are expanding into Indonesia and the Philippines. What drives you into these markets? What opportunities do you want to seize there? What is your strategy?
Expanding into our priority markets, Indonesia and the Philippines, is a strategic move driven by our mission to address the unmet needs in healthcare, such as limited insurance penetration and infrastructure shortages (e.g. shortfall of healthcare manpower) for millions of people. Both markets present significant growth opportunities, given that only around 10-12 per cent of the population have private insurance coverage. This means that as our insurer and TPA clients expand, we will grow with them.
In Southeast Asia, we have observed an increase in middle-income groups and affluent populations, leading to heightened expectations for improved healthcare quality, characterised by a preference for simplicity and convenience. We have acknowledged these demands, particularly in optimising claim processing efficiency, refining health plan design, improving patient care management, and enhancing digital infrastructure for the instant exchange of patient information between providers and payors.
Most importantly, we deeply understand how these improvements can directly impact patients, strengthening their healthcare journeys.
By entering into two of the largest markets in Southeast Asia, we aim to address the unmet needs of millions of individuals while harnessing the ample data both markets offer to refine our models and processes. Additionally, we are working closely with commercial partners, leveraging our proven track record in current markets, utilising our core IP for swift platform localisation, and optimising our deployment process to accelerate the global scalability of our platforms. Moving forward, we plan to secure more long-term partnerships with customers in these markets and other parts of the world.
Can you share a fascinating insight about your users in Indonesia and the Philippines that you learned recently?
Indonesia and the Philippines share more demographic similarities than differences. Both countries exhibit underpenetrated private health insurance markets, signalling substantial opportunities for insurers to expand their footprint. Despite relatively new government universal health coverage schemes, a significant coverage gap remains, necessitating insurers’ focus on enhancing efficiency and managing medical claim costs.
Also Read: What telemedicine and Health Tech holds across SEA amidst COVID-19
Moreover, both nations experience a shift in healthcare service accessibility and consumption, driven by the emergence of middle-income groups. These populations demonstrate an increased capacity and inclination to invest in high-quality healthcare services and insurance coverage.
Additionally, the widespread availability of mobile data and smartphones has catalysed a mobile-centric approach to healthcare access across all age groups in both regions.
What are your targets for these two markets?
We are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with numerous prospective clients to establish additional long-term partnerships for MiyaPayor in the Philippines and Indonesia. Moreover, within the next 12 months, we are gearing up to introduce MiyaProvider and MiyaPatient in the Philippines while simultaneously expanding the commercialisation of these products into future markets of interest, with a particular emphasis on Asia given the robust inbound demand we have experienced.
Dr Ramesh Rajentheran, CEO and Co-Founder of MiyaHealth. Image Credit: MiyaHealth
Recognising the substantial patient volume in both countries, we view the penetration of insurers and providers in these markets as a significant advancement toward serving one hundred million individuals worldwide. To support these initiatives, we plan to onboard more locally based team members in both countries and cultivate additional channel and deployment partners.
What other plans do you have this year?
In the first half of 2024, our primary objective is to secure funding for our Series A round. This funding will bolster our product offerings and technological capabilities, focusing on developing next-generation versions of our products and core technology.
Also Read: How Vietnam’s e-commerce firm Tiki manages to keep employee churn rate healthy
We also plan to utilise the funds to expand our operations and partnerships in existing and new markets. Furthermore, we aim to strengthen our leadership team to facilitate the scaling up of global health systems, ensuring that we are better equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients worldwide.
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Image Credit: xixinxing, 123RF Free Images
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So you finally hit upon that great startup idea which you’re passionate about, which you’re sure you can pull off, and which will eventually let you rake in the millions by scaling for customer growth! You’re on, right?
Not so fast. One of the most common mistakes budding entrepreneurs make is to think of their “idea” as a “company.” They have figured out the solution to the T, but guess what, there’s no problem in the first place! A much-publicized CB Insights study confirmed what experienced businesspeople knew all along – a lack of market need is by far the top reason startups fail.
How then, do you escape the prison of your “next big idea” and make sure your venture doesn’t bite the dust, taking your aspirations along with it? Simple (but not easy): stop building a solution and start solving a problem.
The key to doing this is identifying a critical need in the market around you and creating a product or service that satisfies that need. In marketing parlance, this is called achieving product/market fit.
“When you reach product/market fit you essentially have built something people want. You naturally get traction, and things unfold very quickly. Reaching product/market fit is perhaps the most important thing for a startup.”
– Joel Gascoigne, Founder of Buffer
Here’s my humble attempt to break down three different types of problems that make customers’ lives difficult, and walk you through examples from brands that have successfully soothed their customers’ pain points in each case.
You know about this one. The flu. Crowded trains. Traffic jams. Corrupt politicians. You’re probably struggling with more than one of these problems as you read this. Yes, there are a lot of huge and powerful organizations trying to overcome them. No, they haven’t tasted success yet.
This means there’s a perennial opportunity to solve for practically unlimited markets. Which isn’t to say it’s easy. However, resourceful startups have demonstrably proved time and again that there are few problems that can withstand human motivation to overcome pain.
It often happens that when you aim to solve a particular problem that affects a significant chunk of humanity, you end up solving a whole bunch of related and similar problems. These are called meta problems. And there’s practically no limit to the number of people your solution might possibly impact.
Airbnb is one of the best examples of this. Cities known for popular events or tourist attractions have a perpetual shortage of hotels and places to stay. Airbnb tackled this problem by enabling residents to rent out their rooms and homes to swarms of people descending on their town, solving for both the insider and the outsider.
Also Read: 4 key growth metrics startups should watch closely
A single event helped them shoot into the limelight. In 2008, Obama was supposed to speak at the Pepsi Center in Denver, which had a capacity of about 18,000 seats. Owing to Obama’s rising popularity, the venue was changed at short notice to the 80,000-seat Invesco Field, sparking a potential lodging nightmare for the city. But Airbnb was fully prepared. They ran a multi-channel marketing campaign that brought both consumers (attendees) and producers (property owners) on board at the right time, and managed to avert the crisis as well as gain a lot of media attention in the process.
Airbnb never looked back and has 4 million plus lodgings listed across 65,000 cities today.
Niche markets and unique brands frequently spawn cult followings of their own. You need not look any further than Apple. Steve Jobs created a whole market where there was none not once but multiple times – with the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. These were not so much solutions to problems that people never realized they had (something which we’ll discuss in the next section) but unique products that gave rise to indulgences (pleasure vs. pain) that they never realized they could have!
No surprise then, that there’s a whole ecosystem that caters to exclusive and loyal users of Apple products, ranging from app developers to case manufacturers.
However, in many cases (especially that of Apple), with pleasure and exclusivity comes a subtle lock that binds you to the brand or manufacturer. This leads to resentment among users who don’t want to lose the convenience on offer, but at the same time have no intention of being tied to a limited set of functionalities.
This kind of situation is what begets a “solution to a solution.” Case in point, one of the first things a lot of iPhone buyers look for is ways to bypass iCloud activation. Apple, of course, isn’t keen on users doing this, but that doesn’t prevent them from googling the solution:
This is where tech blogs, another ubiquitous part of the Apple ecosystem (where experts in the domain vie to disclose hacks and review features before anyone else), come in. iGeeksBlog is one such blog (closer to home) that attempts to retain mindshare among Apple power users and early adopters by revealing iPhone and iPad hacks with uncanny resourcefulness and accuracy:
This is a fine example of a customer-first mentality. “We focus on readers’ interests and pain points over product features or the Apple brand. You need to be bold enough to put your audience’s interest over your own if you want to serve them well,” says Jignesh Padhiyar, the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iGeekBlogs.
As close to having your cake and eating it as it gets, eh?
Finally, there are those problems that customers don’t know can be solved, or even exist. They are vaguely aware of something wrong with a product – a nagging feeling that’s been at the back of their minds for a long time, which comes only while it’s being used, and disappears shortly afterwards. You know what I mean?
The classic example here comes from the men’s shaving industry. Shaving razors and gel were overpriced and typically cost up to US$20 a month when Dollar Shave Club entered the US market in 2012. Gillette was the undisputed leader with a 72 per cent market share. So how did David take on Goliath?
Also Read: Determining whether or not now is the time to sell your company
One, Dollar Shave Club made customers aware of the futility of technology in razors (that was garishly advertised at the time), emphasizing that features like multi-blade were pointless and served only to artificially inflate the price of a basic commodity.
Two, they priced a month’s worth of razors at US$1.
Three, they sold their razors via a simplistic online subscription model. You no longer had to remember to buy razors; you simply got them in the mail.
Three problems that men barely knew they faced day just about every morning solved in a flash!
And how did they reach their potential audience? Via a viral YouTube video that has garnered 25 million views to date. Compare that with the roughly 40 million views on Gillette’s 173 videos put together:
No wonder Dollar Shave Club went on to become the number one online razor company. They were acquired by Unilever for $1 billion in 2016.
By now, I hope you’ve abandoned the idea of building yet another chatbot, blockchain app, or whatever is gripping the fancy of your fellow Hacker News and Product Hunt addicts these days. Product/market fit is the single most important factor that will guarantee the success and the sustainability of your startup. Here are some simple takeaways that will stand you in good stead for any venture:
Good luck!
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Image Credit: gajus / 123RF Stock Photo
Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.
This article was first published on March 16, 2024
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The Kaya Founders team
Filipino VC firm Kaya Founders has announced the second close of its two latest funds for Southeast Asia.
Pavilion Capital; Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Boston-based Bracebridge Capital; Concentric Equity Partners; and unnamed family offices, high net-worth individuals and established entrepreneurs invested in the funds, called ‘Zero to One’ and ‘One to Ten’.
Also Read: Founders are pessimistic about Philippines’ funding climate in 2024: study
This brings the total committed capital of its new funds to PHP1 billion (US$18 million) and the total assets under management to PHP1.25 billion (US$22.5 million).
With the new funds, Kaya Founders is looking to back 30-40 startups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia over the next four years.
“If you look at the amount of venture funding that has gone into the ecosystem—relative to our GDP and population—it’s clear that the Philippines has long been underinvested and underlooked as a market. Through our funds, we hope to catalyze capital into one of the most exciting economies in the world,” said Founding Managing General Partner Paulo Campos.
Founded in 2021, Kaya Founders are led by Campos (co-founder & former CEO of ZALORA Philippines), Ray Alimurung (former CEO of Lazada Philippines), and Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng (founder & CEO of Summit Media).
Kaya invests in the next generation of tech-enabled companies in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It invests in pre-seed to Series A companies, with the cheque size ranging between US$100,000 and US$500,000.
The VC firm has invested in 44 companies, spanning e-commerce, SaaS, healthcare, financial services, and agriculture. Its noteworthy investments include Etaily (announced a US$17.8 million Series A funding round last November), cloud logistics platform Locad (raised its own US$11 million Series A round in January 2023), salary on-demand provider Advance; global plastic credits marketplace Plastic Credit Exchange; and microinsurance platform RuralNet.
Also Read: Brankas, Kaya Founders launch Open PHinance Challenge for SEA startups
The fund closing coincides with the appointment of Kaya Founders as an official co-investment partner of the Startup Venture Fund (SVF), a PHP500 million fund focused on local startups managed by the National Development Company (NDC), the investment arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology becomes more commonplace in the business world, more and more leaders are realizing the practicality of using it to support their company operations. There are lots of ways that AI can be advantageous for all sorts of businesses, and according to reports, current AI adopters are most commonly using the technology for various marketing and sales strategies. Many are using AI these days for lead generation, customer service, and ultimately, sales.
So, while these uses are fantastic ways to make money, AI is not necessarily saving companies money upfront. The high initial cost of this technology is one of the most common barriers to adoption, especially for startups whose budgets are tight as it is.
However, it’s important that owners look at the savings potential for AI over the long term. Here are three ways online startups can keep more cash in their pockets by investing in the latest machine-enabled technology.
Nailing the look and feel of a website is often a top priority for most online companies. After all, without a physical location, the website is essentially the storefront. While the price of launching an e-commerce website can range depending on its complexity, it often costs companies US$5,000 to US$10,000 to create a good one.
However, just because a website is launched does not mean it’s finished. The next step is to continuously make improvements and changes in order to optimize the UX for customers, a process that can take months to complete, which of course, costs a lot of money.
AI systems can streamline the UX optimization process by using machine learning technology to correct the weak points and snags that are causing people trouble. Using reactive processes, AI systems can observe consumer behaviour and make the necessary changes to reduce issues that are compromising the UX.
Many online companies understand the importance of recording customer information, but this data is completely useless unless it is working to generate conversions. AI can be used to translate this data into personalized experiences for customers by learning their preferences and identifying triggers that prompt action, such as call-to-action button placement or relevant content recommendations.
AI can also be used to speed up the testing process before final changes are implemented on the site. The US-based online clothing brand Cosabella used an AI software system to run their A/B tests on their website design. The process of comparing various design variants and reporting results can take months – or even years – but with AI technology, the process only took roughly 3 weeks. This saved the company copious amounts of money that would otherwise have been spent on design teams and heavy market research.
Bad choices can mean major losses for a new business. For example, making one bad hiring decision for a new employee who either does their job poorly or quits soon after being hired could cost even a small startup up to US$11,000; not to mention the amount of productivity that may be lost due to their shoddy work.
Also Read: 8 things to consider when choosing a mobile app development platform
For this reason, many companies are incorporating AI technology into their recruiting strategies to avoid bad hiring decisions. These tools can qualify thousands of applicants in a short amount of time by narrowing down the candidates based on experience, keyword usage, and skill matches.
Some systems even use AI-enabled personal assessment tests to measure each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses and report how good of a fit they would be with the company. This information can certainly help hiring managers to make more informed decisions when it comes to bringing new people onboard. A shocking 96% of HR professionals believe that AI will make vast improvements in talent acquisition and retention in the future.
In terms of retail, an extremely costly mistake that can be avoided with AI is inventory management. Overstocking is a waste of resources; whereas running out of inventory could lead to lost sales. Finding the balance and knowing how much product to have in stock is usually a guessing game (more or less), especially for startups who have no past data to guide them.
AI tools that use predictive analytics can forecast inventory needs based on large sums of data, such as changes in the market and consumer behaviour patterns. From here, online businesses can use this information to drive smarter dropshipping strategies by preparing for future inventory needs far ahead of time and avoid any issues.
Even the smallest inventory mistake can be quite costly to a new business. While it may not be possible to avoid every single bad decision, AI technology can certainly help startups to make smarter choices and avoid ones that could end up as expensive disasters.
Time is money for any business; this is especially true for startups with lots to do and so little time. Little administrative tasks are necessary to keep an operation running smoothly, but they can eat up precious time that could be spent making sales or brainstorming better strategies.
Also Read: 8 proven tips for successfully scaling an e-commerce business
Because of this, many businesses opt to outsource tasks like payroll, accounting, and customer service. While this method certainly costs less than hiring another employee to handle the job, it can still be costly and produce meager results.
AI systems can automate many of these time-consuming tasks while still providing businesses with control over its inner workings. AI personal assistants can take on the task of scheduling meetings, following up with leads, and even payroll or employee onboarding. Customer service chatbots can handle common customer FAQ’s and issues in an instant, delighting customers and saving startups the cost of hiring representatives. Businesses that use AI to automate tasks like these save roughly 25 hours a month and report 14 per cent increases in productivity.
AI systems have lots to offer online startups on shoestring budgets. Thanks to its ability to gather, analyze, and learn, it can fix many of the costly and time-consuming issues that new businesses face. By using this technology, startups can not only save themselves time and money, they can provide a better experience for customers in the long run, too.
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e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.
This article was first published on May 9, 2018
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PepsiCo, the global leader in beverage and convenient foods, announces the extension of its deadline for applications to its earlier announced Greenhouse Accelerator (GHAC) program in the Asia Pacific region (APAC) to 22 March 2024. With only one week left to the deadline, interested startups across APAC can seize this opportunity to collaborate, achieve business growth, and drive positive change toward environmental sustainability.
Launched on January 25th of this year, the pilot-oriented program is dedicated to fostering the advancement of APAC startups specialising in sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and climate action. Dubbed the Greenhouse Accelerator, this initiative offers finalists exclusive opportunities, including personalised mentorship from PepsiCo along with access to the corporation’s extensive networks and resources. Through this program, participants can expect tailored guidance and support as they navigate the challenges and opportunities inherent in these critical sectors, aiming to catalyse innovation and drive positive environmental impact.
Also read: 9Unicorns to facilitate $110M funding for 20 startups at DDAY 5 with 1500+ investors
As part of the program, PepsiCo will select up to ten applicants in APAC, including China. These finalists will each receive a US$20,000 grant and gain access to PepsiCo’s networks, resources, and expertise. Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas and receive guidance to scale and grow them to fruition. The selected startups will also receive personalised mentorship to help improve various aspects of their business, including product development, supply chain, marketing, and more. Additionally, potential pilot and partnership opportunities with PepsiCo and its partners may also be unlocked in the process.
The winning startup will be announced during an event in Bangkok in September 2024 and will be awarded US$100,000.
Amidst escalating environmental challenges in the Asia-Pacific, the imperative for collective action underscores the region’s sustainability pursuits. PepsiCo’s APAC Greenhouse Accelerator program, now advancing into its second year exemplifies this collaborative spirit. This pilot-oriented, mentorship-based initiative supports innovative startups addressing the circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and climate action.
Since its inception in 2017, the Greenhouse Accelerator has included over 86 companies across the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States, and APAC. To date, the collective revenue of the emerging startups has exceeded US$20 million. Last year, the program received over 100 applications across the APAC region, with Powered Carbon delivering the winning solution. Powered Carbon’s low carbon fertiliser solution which uses CO2 to cultivate bacteria, has since been tested on potatoes in PepsiCo China’s Guangdong Farm. Other notable finalists from last year include MEDS Venture (Singapore), Green2Get (Thailand), and Adiona (Australia).
Also read: Sustainable development through empowering commerce in Indonesia
For the second edition of its program, PepsiCo has partnered with Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage, the National Innovation Agency of Thailand, and Circulate Capital. This collaboration will drive solutions for a comprehensive range of environmental challenges while cultivating a sustainability-minded generation of entrepreneurs.
Aligned with PepsiCo’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy to create a sustainable food system, the Greenhouse Accelerator program aims to make a positive contribution to society by creating a chain of reactions that create a sustainable environment for everyone.
To make a difference in the environment and empower a greener future, apply today for PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator program – APAC Edition. For inquiries and application details, please visit the official program website at: http://bit.ly/ghac2024.
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Also read: SAFE STEPS D-TECH Community Hub is leading the way to a resilient future
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by PepsiCo
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Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu
Open Metaverse and Web3 giant Animoca Brands has invested an undisclosed amount in Param Labs, a gaming infrastructure startup based in the UAE.
The partnership strengthens the two companies’ existing partnership to accelerate the development of Param Labs’s scalable Web3 infrastructure and expand its ecosystem, which boasts over 50 IP partnerships with notable brands, such as GameStop, Pudgy Penguins, and Mocaverse.
Also Read: Animoca Brands to drive Web3 initiatives in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City
“With our new funding, we’ll continue to invest in building out and scaling our current products while also advancing our ecosystem initiatives and fostering community involvementm,” said Anthony Anderson, founder and CEO of Param Labs.
With this deal, Animoca has also expanded its presence in the MENA region, following a partnership with NEOM to drive Web3 in the region and with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to establish a physical office and Web3 hub in Riyadh.
Param Labs develops video games and infrastructure to power the next generation of gaming. Its flagship Web3 multiplayer third-person shooter game, Kiraverse, allows players to compete, earn, and trade digital assets like characters and skins. Kiraverse is designed to promote digital ownership and user-generated value, leveraging Param Labs’s innovative technology.
Param Labs is also actively constructing technology to equip developers with the necessary tools to elevate their users’ blockchain-based experiences effortlessly. Additionally, its Pixel-to-Poly service enables users to transform 2D images into 3D playable in-game characters, compatible with Kiraverse and popular Web2 titles, including Grand Theft Auto V and Fortnite.
Also Read: Animoca Brands invests in Singaporean Web3 entertainment startup Imaginary Ones
Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, commented: “Both Animoca Brands and Param Labs share a vision to redefine the gaming landscape and the open metaverse by leveraging the power of shared network effects.”
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Fintech Nation Co-Founder Vanessa Ho
Fintech Nation and its venture capital arm Fintech Nation Fund are appearing on Mediacorp’s business reality show on Channel News Asia, The Big Spark. In their appearance, which happens on March 15 to 22, the organisation will evaluate and potentially invest in startups from a pool of 24 contenders in the fintech, ESG, edutech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and health and wellness.
Fintech Nation Co-Founder Vanessa Ho, who had previous experience in the media and entertainment industries, believes participating in the programme will give startup founders advantages.
“The experience that founders will go through of being in front of the camera and a huge audience is a good training for them,” she says in an interview with e27.
“In my experience, founders who go to the public will eventually become very media-friendly … it will benefit them in future fundraising opportunities or when speaking to clients.”
Describing itself as a not-for-profit grassroots platform, Fintech Nation was founded by Varun Mittal to bring together the fintech community, regulators, investors, startups, and corporates.
Also Read: Daniel Tan: Banker turned fintech founder, finding opportunity in crisis and market inefficiency
Started in 2020 with the development of the Fintech Nation book, it supports access and scaling talent, capital, policy and venture development in Singapore. It has recognised over 250 individuals through the Fintech 65 platform and invested in multiple startups through the Fintech Nation Fund.
In supporting the fintech startup ecosystem, the organisation has worked closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Elevandi on various initiatives. It also has a role in events such as the Fintech Festival Investor Summit and Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) Investor Hours.
According to Ho, Fintech Nation has three pillars of activities: Investments, community, and thought leadership.
“We invest in early-stage Southeast Asian companies, usually in the pre-seed and seed stages. Our domain expertise is in fintech, but we are sector-agnostic. So we have done deals across other sectors such as health tech, gig economy, and platforms,” Ho says.
Fintech Nation looks at different factors in assessing a potential investment, including a company’s Blue Ocean strategy. “We look at companies that are not fighting incumbents to find a niche space,” Ho stresses.
The organisation’s portfolio companies included crypto company Triple A, employee wellbeing platform Choys, health screening platform Mito Health, and financial services infrastructure provider Finfra.
However, the community and thought leadership pillars are where Fintech Nations sets itself apart.
Also Read: Is voice the next revolution in fintech?
“The part where we are different from other funds or VCs is that we spend a lot of time doing grassroots initiatives such as community events … We bring players from corporates, startups, investors, and regulators together whether it is for investment purposes, business opportunities, or knowledge sharing,” Ho explains, adding that the organisation also does nomination events and publishing books and reports with notable names such as Singapore Fintech Association.
This year, in addition to bringing back its flagship programme Fintech65, Fintech Nation wants to invest in more companies, doubling last year’s number of five.
“Many of our portfolio companies are going out to other markets; they are looking at the Middle East and Southeast Asia. So, we want to work with trade organisations such as government associations or the SG Innovate of their countries–to see how we can help market entry for our companies as well,” Ho closes.
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Image Credit: Fintech Nation
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