Ready. Set. Respond.
These are the actions that individuals take when faced with the need to help and support vulnerable communities affected by natural disasters or calamities in today’s world. It is these same actions that guide the values and beliefs of the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub.
The current generation is met with numerous challenges and problems produced by dynamic and changing climate conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 400 natural disasters that happen annually as a result of climate change. Additionally, as reported by The Zebra, there are an estimated 218 million people impacted yearly by these calamities.
It is due to such statistics that the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub is born. Driven by the belief that everyone should always prepare for natural disasters — as well as that it is better to collaborate to address these problems than work alone — the hub is the first globally accessible platform for stakeholders in disaster tech and sustainability to work together towards a more resilient future.
Also read: Check out these key highlights from Echelon X!
To emphasise the need for more collaborative efforts against natural calamities, the hub organised at Echelon X a pavilion exhibit and showcase of its member startups from its community who have established themselves in the space of disaster risk management and reduction in Southeast Asia.
Meet the 8 startups championing various initiatives to address the world’s disasters
1) Wateroam
Co-founded by David Pong, Chong Tee Lim and Vincent Loka, Wateroam is a water innovation company that creates portable water filters to deliver safe drinking water to communities in rural and disaster-affected areas.
Wateroam has collaborated with organisations such as Red Cross, World Vision and Mercy Relief to provide safe drinking water to 100,000 people in 38 countries. Wateroam has also been recognised as a United Nations Young Leader for Sustainable Development Goal 6 – ensuring safe water and sanitation for all.
2) Castomize
Built by founders Abel Teo and Jia Yee Teo, Castomize is an innovative med-tech startup that employs advanced manufacturing techniques to produce orthopaedic casts that are durable and easy to wear.
The company’s dream is to build a world where everyone – regardless of financial or social status – can access the healthcare needed to live life to the fullest.
StratifiCare
specialises in the development and manufacturing of in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay solutions for personalised medicine. It is a business primarily led by Anthony Chua and Tiffany Fan Lin.
With over 50 years of combined experience in biomedical research and technology commercialisation, the company is committed to supporting physicians in making informed decisions for individual patient care, thereby enhancing clinical and socioeconomic outcomes.
4) Solnovation Analytics Sdn. Bhd.
Located in Malaysia, Solnovation leverages technology to enable customers to make informed decisions and improve lives in a universally connected ecosystem. It achieves this by providing an industrial IoT platform, visual AI image tools and algorithms to empower those in the sectors of agriculture, commerce, logistics and the like to create data-driven decisions.
Created by Cyril Mathias and Devan Rajam, the goal of Solnovation is to help organisations improve business yield, productivity and efficiency through the use of technology.
Also read: Break boundaries with Ideathon: 2040 Extended Intelligence
Usher Technologies is a startup based on the values of innovation and social responsibility. The business – which is located in the Philippines – focuses on providing products and services that reinforce the safety and resilience of buildings and similar infrastructures against seismic events such as earthquakes.
Under the leadership of Dr. Francis Uy, Usher Technologies uses structural monitoring and condition-based maintenance to protect urban communities from natural disasters.
6) Bike Scouts
Myles Delfin initiated the Bike Scouts project in the Philippines in 2013. To date, it is the only Volunteer Bicycle Messenger service catering to disaster response at the frontlines of most natural disasters in the communities where the project is based.
The Bike Scouts group believes in using bicycles and social teamwork to deliver help, hope, and courage wherever they operate.
7) TAPP! Global
Established by Ryan Chan and Ee Jayden, TAPP! Global is a company that envisions itself to be the gateway to enhanced networking. It hosts a suite of professional solutions – such as NFC business cards for exchanging of contact information, an AI-powered messaging service for follow-ups of conversations, and a comprehensive analytics dashboard providing networking insights.
TAPP! Global also takes pride in its user-centric design and functionality that help to contribute to a greener planet.
8) Alerto PH
Seeing the need for local government units (or LGUs) in the Philippines to transition towards building smart cities, Cristina Macaraig founded Alerto PH.
Cristina’s startup aims to work closely with the Philippine government to adopt AI-powered IoT technology and digitally transform it to provide safer communities for Filipinos through innovative solutions.
Also read: Taiwanese startups join forces with Southeast Asia to venture into Tokyo, Japan
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To learn more about the D-Tech Community Hub and its member startups, you can visit this link. You can also register here to officially join the community.
The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub is an initiative by the Prudence Foundation, in partnership with e27, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC).
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