Registration for TOP100 is now open and we are looking forward to seeing your startup on the list!

TOP100 Program gives you the one golden chance to connect with hundreds of investors, showcase your startup at Echelon, pitch on the TOP100 stage, and access special programs. Find out what’s new in TOP100 and join here: https://bit.ly/TOP100_2023

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Now that Echelon Asia Summit is coming back in full swing, e27 is determined to make one of its key features, the TOP100, one of the best yet!

The TOP100 program is an annual initiative organised by e27 to showcase and recognise the most promising startups in the Asia-Pacific region.

The program is open to exciting new startups from the Asia-Pacific region with innovative ideas that break barriers across different industries. The selection of the TOP100 involves a rigorous screening process, including an evaluation of the startup’s product or service, team, market potential, and traction.

Also read: Echelon Asia Summit is back! Get to know our PR partner

The selected startups are given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas at the Echelon Asia Summit this June 14-15, 2023, at the Singapore Expo. The program also provides exposure to investors, mentors, and potential partners, enabling growth among participating startups and helping them expand their networks across the larger global tech ecosystem.

The TOP100 program has become one of the most prestigious startup competitions in the region, attracting thousands of applicants each year and providing valuable visibility and support to the most promising startups in the region.

15 startups closer to competing at this year’s TOP100

Being a frontrunner refers to startups close to making it to this year’s TOP100 program.

With all the amazing startups sprouting across the Asia-Pacific region’s vibrant tech startup ecosystem, we now present you with 15 frontrunners closer to competing at this year’s TOP100. Get to know them here!

Bizsu

Bizsu’s main solution is a patented net made of a specific ceramic that saves 25% on air-conditioning consumption on average.

It also uniformises the temperature while purifying the air, only requires a few minutes of installation, fits any air conditioning unit, and can be used continuously.

In a nutshell, Bizsu offers fast ROI and easy-to-implement solutions to reduce energy consumption for real estate, hotels, warehouses and schools.

eMobily

eMobily exist to serve the ebike and escooter community. Providing sustainable transportation in the EV industry. Under its belt, eMobily develops a technology based on micro-electric vehicle infrastructure. Such as charging and security port station for micro-mobility to organised fleets. Including developing a localised machine learning / AI geolocation sensor that can help riders and robots to pinpoint the exact location needed during making trips in large areas that are not accurately listed on their maps.

eMobily is an all-in-one-stop solution for the EV Market. It has a consortium group of specialties to solve end manufacturing, distribution, and global expansion to accelerate electrification.

GeeTest

GeeTest is the leading bot management vendor and the creator of the SlideCAPTCHA, which is the most intelligent and robust solution that frees your website, mobile apps, and APIs from malicious traffic.

For 10 years GeeTest has been focusing on the field of cybersecurity, polishing innovative products and ideas to strongly promote the development of this industry. GeeTest believes that the imminent challenges perturbing the cybersecurity landscape are the challenges between improving the quality of traffic (managing the proportion of fraud traffic) to enable companies to efficiently monetise traffic and combating the hidden and profit-driven bot threat.

Microtube Technologies Pte Ltd

Microtube Technologies is a wearable sensing technology University spin-off focusing on soft, stretchable sensing technologies that can be incorporated for fitness, gaming, healthcare and metaverse interactions. Its solution allows objective data capture using these imperceptible wearables, building a seamless integration between wearables and activity tracking in both the real and virtual or metaverse worlds.

ARIS is a wearable developed by Microtube Technologies Pte Ltd to revolutionise gym strength performance. Weighing less than 35g, it is capable of providing accurate and real-time muscle analysis and deriving more than 15 data metrics, including muscle expansion/contraction, range of motion, stability, control, consistency, fatigue level, power, speed, estimated 1 rep max, tempo, uniformity, rep count, total volume, time under tension, among others.

MOVE IT MOVE IT LIMITED

MOVE IT MOVE IT is an AI logistic platform powered by big data and AI, advocating for tech innovation in green logistics and a comprehensive property ecosystem. The platform connects clients and service suppliers, including moving firms, logistics firms, recycling firms, reselling furniture stores, etc., for residential, commercial, and event relocation purposes. Through utilising furniture detecting technology and integrated solutions, MOVE IT MOVE IT delivers data visualisation of properties’ and customers’ status.

They provide services such as a SaaS platform for B2B clients to streamline fleet management for delivery and relocation progress.

The H2 World Inc.

With more renewable energy and electrification, electrical grids are more strained and less reliable. This grid instability, Net Zero compliance, and volatile and high third-party energy costs are major challenges for customers. H2 World’s customers need to store and use energy longer-term, flexibly, and reliably, whether for powering equipment or heating or electricity.

The H2 World Inc. provides affordable turnkey hydrogen generation, storage, and energy systems — pods for homes and small businesses, and containerised packs for larger customers.

Umami Meats

At Umami Meats, they are pioneering “not caught” seafood. They are crafting delicious, nutritious, affordable cultivated ocean protein that is better for our health, our oceans, and our future.

Umami Meats is weaving together the deep wisdom of our oceans with modern innovation to develop delicious, affordable, and healthy cultivated seafood that provides a sustainable alternative to the harmful impact of traditional fishing practices. They believe that nature is our first and greatest teacher, and they are dedicated to preserving its delicate balance by thinking differently, honouring tradition, and protecting the taste of the sea.

Reachbots Automation

Reachbots Automation designs and manufactures ultra-mobile, modular robots fully capable of negotiating obstacles in hard-to-access, or even inaccessible complex, confined spaces and heights to perform mission-critical tasks (e.g. inspection, cleaning, welding) while the worker monitors it from a safe location. With their Robotics and AI, they aim to double productivity at half the cost for their customers and improve the overall safety of the operation.

Reachbots Automation’s core competencies lie in the ground-up design and development of modular autonomous mobile robotics (AMR) of both ground-based systems and climbing robot systems. Their modular and reconfigurable designs enable multiple applications to be performed, providing an end-to-end solution for their customers.

GoBike

GoBike.sg is an excellent platform for anyone looking for a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around Singapore. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive range of services, GoBike.sg is the perfect solution for anyone looking to rent a bike or join a bike tour in Singapore. Some of the key features and benefits of GoBike.sg include a wide range of bikes, an easy rental process, affordable rates, expert guides, and an eco-friendly cycling experience.

Overall, GoBike.sg is an excellent platform for anyone looking to rent a bike or join a bike tour in Singapore. With its easy rental process, competitive rates, and expert guides, GoBike.sg is the perfect choice for both locals and tourists alike. So why wait? Visit GoBike.sg today and start exploring Singapore on two wheels!

storify.me

storify.me is a performance-driven marketplace that connects brands to influential consumers who can create authentic and beautiful content about the products they love. The platform analyses data from content on social media to predict the potential performance of a creator’s next posting and establishes fair rates.

storify.me stands for a more authentic engagement model that taps the true voice of consumers, who are also influencers of their networks, and whose recommendations other consumers can trust.

IronYun, Inc. USA

IronYun is the next-generation AI 2.0 vision and big data video search B2B platform software company. We provide enterprise customers with a real-time AI vision analytics platform for the management of safety and physical security.

The AI vision analytics are deployed in various industries including banks, corporate campuses, retail, government buildings, power plants, school campuses, public transportation, stadiums and international airports.

IronYun developed VAIDIO, the industry’s first AI hyper-converged video search, an all-In-One Software platform. Our platform, underlying technologies and solutions are the results of over 300 man-years of R&D. The breakthrough AI 2.0 video analytics include Google-like video search, intrusion detection, face recognition, license plate recognition, abnormal event detection and COVID-19 video analytics for social health applications.

Alt Atlas

Alt Atlas is developing an AI digital manufacturing platform to unlock the potential of cell cultivation. As the company has a platform technology, the Cultivated Meat market (Phase I) is bringing in the first successful cases to then serve the Biotech market (Phase II).

Alt Atlas team has more than 70 years of combined relevant experience at top universities, research institutes, multinational food and agritech corporations, and in entrepreneurship. The team developed software platforms, AI models, state-of-the-art stem cell lines (disease modelling), and built a Biotech startup in the cultivated meat field. Having a track record in the Foodtech and Biotech fields, the Alt Atlas team has insights and understands the key challenges of the industries. Based on that, they are currently designing and developing products and services with value added to their customers.

SoundEye

SoundEye is a social enterprise that employs sound recognition and depth-sensing technology to detect and prevent falls by detecting abnormal sounds. SoundEye’s solution is currently used by airports, research labs, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, boys’ and girls’ homes, homes for mental impairments, and many more.

SoundEye’s solution assists welfare organisations in monitoring the residents in their facilities with little effort, addressing incidents within seconds and hopefully preventing incidents from happening. To summarise everything, SoundEye hopes to bring peace of mind to stakeholders.

ERP360 (PT ERP SAAS INDONESIA)

ERP360 delivers Integrated Real Estate ERP Cloud in Indonesia, specialised for real estate developers enhanced with Automation & Business Intelligence, and at an affordable price.

Nowadays, real estate developers have challenges in collection or cashflows. They are difficult to bill when it comes to instalment payments from the customers. With ERP360’s SAAS-powered solution of automatic reminder payment, real estate developers will have an easier time because it automatically sends the message to remind the customer of the instalment payment. The message will be sent directly through WhatsApp or email. This feature helps keep track of the company’s cashflows, helping save manpower and costs.

Pandatron

Pandatron supports the adoption of digital, agile, cultural transformations by 1000s of employees with conversational AI coaching that also allows them to collect data on systemic issues.

Pandatron is riding the ChatGPT wave and building an AI coach with a long-term goal of getting closer to world peace. Mature people lead to a better world. AI coaching tackles the multi-billion dollar problem of corporate change management.

A step closer to the 2023 TOP100

After a rigorous screening process, these startups are a step closer to qualifying for this year’s TOP100.

If you are one of the founders of the startups above, a representative from e27 will be reaching out to you soon to discuss with you the next step in your application process. Feel free to get in touch with us for any inquiries.

Also read: 15 startups that are among this year’s frontrunners for TOP100

If you have an exciting startup with innovative ideas that can eclipse the best and the brightest in the region, join the 2023 TOP100 and stand a chance to pitch your ideas to some of the top investors in the Asia-Pacific at this year’s Echelon Asia Summit. Register for TOP100 here.

The post Check out these 15 startups closer to conquering the 2023 TOP100 appeared first on e27.

Ever since its entry to Southeast Asia (SEA) through its launch in Singapore a few years ago, SeedLegals has made some exciting milestones in the country.

In a conversation with e27, Hsiang Low, Head of Asia-Pacific, SeedLegals, explains the company’s recent participation in the IMDA SPARK Programme and how it has helped in their expansion into Singapore.

“Last year, SeedLegals was onboarded into the SPARK Programme. It means we have that endorsement from IMDA that we are one of the companies that it recognised. That enables us to service the startups that are within the community,” he explains.

Originating from the UK, SeedLegals is a one-stop platform to help founders handle all the legal matters involved in building a company, from securing an investment to building a team. In addition to providing the templates for the legal documents that founders might need, they also have access to the data, educational content, and networking that they need to grow their company.

Run by a team of 150 people, outside of its home country, the company is now operating in Singapore, Hong Kong, France and Ireland. It said it has onboarded 50,000 companies and 10,000 investors in the platform.

In his recent visit to Singapore, Anthony Rose, Founder & CEO, SeedLegals, explains to e27 the key learnings that the company found regarding the differences between its users in Singapore and the UK.

Also Read: Why SEA’s startup ecosystem is making a strong case for legaltech

“In the UK, there are fantastic government tax advantages for angel investors, but there are no government programmes for startups. So, you find founders are very scrappy. To find angel investors, there’s nothing to help them get started themselves. So they learn very quickly how to find angel investors and close the investment very quickly,” he says.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, things are a bit different, according to the CEO.

“There are many generous government programmes from the S$50,000 programme to the S$250,000 programme, but afterwards, there is not the same tax incentive for investors. What I found in Singapore is that companies get started with the government programmes, which are fantastic, and when they get out of those programmes, then there’s [this nuance like] leaving home suddenly, and you have to fend for yourself. There’s a bit of learning,” Rose explains.

“So, there’s a gap between government grants and readiness for a VC [funding]. And that’s exactly the space that SeedLegals fills because it helps those founders find angel investors which are the necessary next step,” he continues.

Rose stresses the gap between startup grants and VC funding that can be filled by angel investors, but he sees that in Singapore, finding an angel investor is not that easy. “I think that space in Singapore is underdeveloped compared to the UK.”

The differences between their UK- and Singapore-based users also lie in the verticals that they are working on: their users in Singapore tend to work on deep tech due to the strong government support in the sector.

Also Read: Justika nets seed funding to connect people who need legal services to lawyers in Indonesia

Helping startups go through tough times

Today, the SEA startup ecosystem is facing what is known as the tech funding winter. We ask SeedLegals if this is affecting their clients and how they are using the company’s services.

Rose begins by stating he would like to take a contrarian point of view that today is a “bad time” to fundraise.

“Firstly, if you’ve got some mission in mind, such as making some new device, then you either going to work out how to get the funding, or you have to give up on your idea and put it on hold. But that’s not really an option. So what you need to do is adapt,” he says.

He goes on to explain the concept of “agile fundraising” that SeedLegals says it has enabled.

“Once upon a time, I was going to hire 10 people. I need to raise like one and a half million dollars … but that’s really difficult. So, instead of having to do a funding round every 12 to 18 months, and spend ages looking for investors … with the tools that we have on SeedLegals, you can raise smaller amounts more frequently,” he says.

“[Founders] think that they have to wait for another four months to find all the other investors. But then after talking with them and actually showing them that you can just get the smaller amounts, and use that to hire developers to build the product … when you have more traction, you can go later. So fundraising has been transformed.”

Also Read: Meet the 2 SEA startups joining Allens’s legaltech accelerator

“We found that in the UK, there is now more money raised outside of the funding round than in a funding round. We’ve really pioneered that over the last four years. That is an inversion of the way startups raise. I see the same happening in Singapore thanks to the tools and platform that we provide.”

For the year 2023, the company is looking forward to further developing its tools for investors.

“The key part of our next set of things is to connect founders and investors, to make it easier for investors to find great companies to invest in, and for founders to find investors. So that’s one of the key things that we’re all working on,” he closes.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 is bringing together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups get the chance to pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like a chance to connect with investors, visibility through e27 platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

Image Credit: SeedLegals

The post How SeedLegals plans to win SEA market by helping founders sort out their legal documents appeared first on e27.

An ex-customer of B2B CRM platform Gimmie.io approached founders Liyana Sulaiman and David Ng, seeking their help liquidating excess inventory in its Singapore-based stores.

During that liquidation process, the duo realised the excess inventory problem was more extensive than they thought.

And that motivated them to launch Pollen in 2022.

Pollen is a private B2B liquidation marketplace incorporated in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It connects manufacturers with companies looking to acquire slow-moving, obsolete and near-expiry products (SLOBs) at low cost. Its cloud-based inventory liquidation management system (LMS) connects multiple liquidation channels, including a B2B marketplace, a B2C marketplace, and donation partners. 

The LMS enables brands to list inventory for liquidation and view and accept offers quickly. Lots for liquidation will appear on Pollen’s private marketplace. These lots will be visible to ‘Pollen Pass’ members, who can make offers for listings.

Focusing on brands with a global appeal

The startup focuses on manufacturers with local production of FMCG products (mainly hair care, dry food, makeup, and home). It doesn’t accept tobacco and tobacco-related items, alcohol, and medicine.

“We wanted to focus on categories and brands with a global appeal because to reduce the world’s business waste from this excess inventory going to landfills, we had to tackle the hardest challenge in liquidation, which is aligning with sellers on the fair market value of depreciating products with overseas buyers,” Ng explains.

Pollen caters to two types of buyers: 1) traditional businesses involved in import/export, distributors, wholesalers and offline retailers/discounters, and 2) tech-enabled B2B or B2C marketplaces or reseller networks, which usually consolidate many small orders into one. 

Also Read: How to incorporate sustainability into corporate strategies

Ng says Pollen has buyers from over 20 countries, and many of its orders are cross-border.

It works with several brands and manufacturers across Southeast Asia, including Unilever and Lorealand. The primary focus is Indonesia and Thailand. 

It is expanding into India. The firm also works with some new sellers in Japan, Europe, and the US.

Lack actionable data

According to Ng, brands and manufacturers in Asia are stuck with unsold inventory and reluctant to liquidate because they lack actionable data. “In almost all emerging markets, goods price depreciation varies widely on many factors, such as domestic resale vs export and other variables on the products offered. However, the fair market price of a near-expiry product can widely vary as it gets closer to its expiry date.”

“Because traditional channels tend to be offline, transparent data is lacking to set the right expectation around fair market value. Therefore, when decisions to liquidate are made, they are largely reactive, and this lack of a proactive plan based on data leads to an increase in potential waste,” Ng shares.

Pollen’s global recovery rate data set, Pollen SLOB Index, solves this. “This will give transparency to our customers on how much of their cost they can get back for either domestic or global liquidation. We’ve seen this increase in conversion and sell-through of our customer’s items by 5x in the first year, and we have many more optimisations and new data sets to make it even better,” Ng claims.

Pollen works only with the principal brand owners, so the authenticity of the products is verified, he says. In addition, buyers get added security by having actual photos of the batches of products and real product photos showing their condition and can inspect the collection.

The company claims to have liquidated over 400,000kg of inventory in 2022 and has helped brands liquidate 200,000kg of goods in 2023 alone.

Eliminating the middle-men

According to Ng, the startup eliminates the middlemen/brokers, who could damage the brand reputation if they illegally resell SLOB to markets that are not allowed. 

“Unlike brokers and intermediaries who hide the final destination of where products go, Pollen enables full transparency before and after each order, so sellers can ensure that goods are resold in the intended markets. If not, there is a digital audit trail. Because we track this distance from the origin to the destination and have all the product weight and volume information, we can also provide transparency on the sustainability impact when these goods get sold (or unsold and disposed of),” he elaborates.

So far, Pollen has raised two rounds of funding from undisclosed angel investors, syndicates, and family offices, mainly in SEA. It is now raising its first equity round with interest in the region and globally.

In Southeast Asia, B2C platforms like Humble are expanding into B2B in the Philippines. Then there is Zaapko in Indonesia, which is trying to use existing liquidation marketplace models of publically selling in a single market like those in the US, Liquidation.com, and B-Stock Solutions.

“Our goal is to live in a zero-waste world, ensuring sustainable liquidation becomes the de facto way brands and manufacturers globally deal with their unsold inventory.”

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©amlanmathur/123RF.COM

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The world of Web3 startups is constantly evolving, and it takes more than just a great idea to build a successful company. With so many moving parts, it can be overwhelming to figure out what components are necessary for a thriving Web3 startup. Get ready to unleash the secrets behind building a thriving Web3 startup!

What is Web3, and why it matters to startups?

Web3 startup is a term that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It refers to the next generation of web applications and services built on decentralised technologies such as blockchain. Unlike traditional Web2 startups, Web3 startups are focused on creating more open and transparent systems where users have greater control over their data and online identities.

Web3 represents an evolution from the current centralised internet to one where trust can be established without intermediaries. This shift has significant implications for industries ranging from finance to social media – opening up new possibilities for innovation and disruption.

In conclusion, entrepreneurs looking to enter the world of Web3 must recognise the importance of developing solutions that support decentralisation while also fostering communities around their products or services. By doing so, they will be able to navigate regulatory challenges while scaling their businesses through robust marketing efforts leveraging emerging trends in this rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Understanding the core principles of a successful Web3 startup

Web3 startups are not just about creating a new product or service but also about building a new ecosystem. To succeed in this space, it is important to understand the core principles of a successful Web3 startup.

Also Read: Wonderful world of Web3: What is next for this groundbreaking industry?

User-centricity is one of the key principles that should be at the forefront of any Web3 startup’s strategy. This means that startups should focus on creating solutions that solve real problems for their users and provide value to them.

Another important principle is transparency, which is essential in building trust with users and stakeholders.

Additionally, decentralisation is a fundamental principle of Web3 startups. Decentralisation allows for greater security, privacy, and autonomy for users. It also enables new business models that were not possible before.

Finally, startups should prioritise innovation in order to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving space. By embracing these core principles, Web3 startups can build sustainable businesses that provide value to their users and contribute to the growth of the Web3 ecosystem.

How to utilise blockchain technology

Blockchain technology is the backbone of Web3 startups. Smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps) are built on top of blockchain networks, enabling secure and transparent transactions without the need for intermediaries.

Startups can utilise blockchain technology to create unique value propositions for their customers. For instance, a Web3 startup can use blockchain to build a decentralised platform that allows users to own and control their data. This creates trust and transparency, which is crucial in today’s digital world.

Additionally, blockchain technology enables startups to create new business models, such as tokenisation, where users can earn tokens for participating in the network. However, it’s important to note that implementing blockchain technology requires technical expertise and careful consideration of security measures.

The importance of community building

Building a strong community is critical for the success of any Web3 startup. This involves engaging with users, developers, and other stakeholders to create a network effect that will drive adoption and growth.

One effective strategy to build your community is to participate in industry events and hackathons or even sponsor small projects that align with your values.

Another key aspect of community building is creating channels for open communication with your audience.

Incentivising contributions, rewarding early adopters through token distribution programs, or gamifying user engagement are powerful ways to incentivise participation within your ecosystem.

Navigating legal compliance for your blockchain-based solution

When building a Web3 startup, it’s important to ensure that your blockchain-based solution is legally compliant. This includes meeting regulatory requirements and addressing any potential legal issues that may arise.

One of the key areas to focus on is data privacy. As blockchain solutions create immutable records, they can pose challenges in terms of complying with GDPR or other data protection regulations.

Also Read: How to launch collaborations that grow communities: A guide for Web3 founders

Another area to consider is anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations. These are critical components of compliance required by most governments and financial institutions around the world when dealing with cryptocurrency transactions.

Working with a compliance firm can help streamline this process for startups looking to implement KYC/AML protocols.

By prioritising legal compliance from the outset, companies can build trust among stakeholders while ensuring long-term viability in this exciting emerging industry.

Scaling strategies for growing your Web3 startup

As your Web3 startup grows, scaling strategies become essential for sustaining the momentum.

One key tactic is to leverage cloud solutions to handle increased traffic and data storage demands.

Another important consideration when scaling your Web3 startup is ensuring network scalability, especially if it involves decentralised applications (dApps).

In addition, make sure to keep a close eye on user feedback and performance metrics while implementing new features or updating existing ones.

Lastly, forming strategic partnerships with other established Web3 startups or organisations can be invaluable in expanding your reach and enhancing brand recognition.

Future trends: What’s next for the future of Web3?

The future of Web3 is exciting and full of possibilities. One of the most significant trends is the emergence of NFTs or non-fungible tokens, which are unique digital assets that can be bought, sold, and traded on blockchain networks.

NFTs have already disrupted the art world and are now being used in the gaming, music, and sports industries.

Another trend to watch out for is the rise of DAOs or decentralised autonomous organisations.

As Web3 continues to evolve, it’s important for startups to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies to remain competitive in this rapidly changing landscape. With determination, creativity, and a willingness to learn, the possibilities for Web3 startups are endless.

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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

The post Strategies for success: Building a thriving Web3 startup appeared first on e27.

Hello, fellow e27 peeps! Looking to start a healthy habit or looking to try something different?

How about cycling?

Cycling is a fun and healthy way to stay fit, relieve stress, and explore the outdoors. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a cycling habit, you’ll be glad to know that it’s not as difficult as it might seem.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Set a goal: Start by setting a goal for yourself. Whether it’s to ride for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, or to complete a 50 km ride, having a specific goal in mind will help you stay motivated and focused.
• Get the right gear: Invest in a good quality bike that’s suited for the type of riding you’ll be doing. Consider factors such as the terrain, your fitness level, and your budget. It’s also important to have the right gear, such as a helmet, cycling shoes, and appropriate clothing.
• Start slow: If you’re new to cycling, don’t push yourself too hard in the beginning. Start with shorter rides and gradually increase your distance and intensity as your fitness improves. Remember, it’s not a race, so take your time and enjoy the ride.
• Find a riding partner: Cycling with a friend or a group can be a great way to stay motivated and make the experience more enjoyable. Consider joining a local cycling club or group ride to meet other cyclists and learn from their experiences.
• Create a routine: Make cycling a part of your daily routine. Schedule your rides at a time that works best for you, whether it’s early in the morning or after work. Stick to your routine and make it a priority, just like any other important task.
• Track your progress: Track your progress and celebrate your achievements along the way. Use a fitness tracker or an app to monitor your distance, speed, and calories burned. Seeing your progress can be a great motivator and help you stay on track.

Also Read: How an accident kickstarted my entrepreneurial journey (quite literally)

Starting a cycling habit may seem daunting at first, but with the right mindset, gear, and support, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. So get out there, hit the road, and start pedalling towards a healthier, more active lifestyle!

Why entrepreneurs should start cycling

However, how does it potentially benefit me as an entrepreneur?

Well, cycling can offer a variety of benefits to entrepreneurs, both physically and mentally, that can positively impact their day-to-day lives. Here are some ways cycling can benefit an entrepreneur:

Improved physical health

Cycling is a great, low-impact exercise that can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and help with weight management. Improved physical health can lead to increased energy levels, reduced stress, and better overall productivity.

Mental clarity and focus

Cycling can help clear the mind, reduce stress, and improve focus, all of which are important for entrepreneurs who need to make important decisions and stay productive throughout the day.

Networking opportunities

Cycling can provide a unique opportunity to network with other professionals who share a passion for the sport. Joining local cycling clubs or groups can help entrepreneurs meet new people and make valuable connections.

Time management

Cycling can be a great way to manage time effectively. By incorporating cycling into their daily routine, entrepreneurs can set aside specific times for exercise and relaxation, which can improve overall time management skills.

Increased creativity

Cycling can provide a mental break from the stresses of work and allow the mind to wander freely. This can lead to increased creativity and innovation, which can be beneficial for entrepreneurs who need to come up with new ideas and solutions.

Final thoughts

Overall, cycling can offer a variety of physical and mental benefits that can positively impact an entrepreneur’s day-to-day life. From improved physical health to increased creativity, cycling can be a great way for entrepreneurs to stay active, relieve stress, and stay productive.

Considering the lifestyle we live in and our unpredictability of us, habits like these help us out by managing and potentially giving us a new perspective! Who knows, you make get your next billion-dollar idea too.

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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

The post How to start cycling and why entrepreneurs should start doing it appeared first on e27.

With its current trajectory, cybercrime will cost the world US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025. One key takeaway is this — cybercrime is big money, and this explains the growing threat of cyberattacks on a scale like never before.

In Singapore alone, organisations are facing an average of 54 security incidents a day, and 62 per cent of cybersecurity professionals in the city-state find it challenging to keep up with the attacks. Cybersecurity organisations such as the Cybersecurity Agency (CSA) have even urged businesses to improve and invest in stronger digital security measures.

These worrying attacks are far from random. Stemming from fully-organised enterprises specialising in cybercrimes, business models like Cybercrime-as-a-Service, Phishing-as-a-Service, and Ransomware-as-a-service are increasingly apparent in the dark web, paving the way for more cyber attackers in the industry.

This essentially means that businesses, no matter the size, should never be complacent with their cybersecurity measures. Known to bring about business closures, cyberattacks are mostly significant and can cause irreparable damage — but understanding their long-lasting effects can paint a realistic picture for business owners and help them initiate intuitive countermeasures.

Steep losses to cover damage control and compensation

Ransomware attacks have increased tremendously over the past year, with the main targets being small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and social media platforms. By holding critical files, systems, apps, and personal data to ransom using the ransomware-as-a-service model, hackers are able to use existing infrastructure to push out ransomware payloads.

Also Read: On threat hunting and cybercrime: How Group-IB is helping the region in cybercrime prevention

Also occurring alongside the loss of data is the fiscal harm which occurs to a business, particularly when there is a risk of highly confidential information being compromised. This risk could open avenues for businesses to be sued by dissatisfied clients, resulting in the need to pay out compensation to clients, legal retainer fees, and even crisis communications.

Eventually, organisations will lose out on significant portions of their revenue — out of 500 cybersecurity decision-makers in Singapore, 80 per cent noted that security breaches in the past 12 months led to losses of up to 10 per cent of their organisation’s revenue.

Crippled productivity and business continuity

By destroying or cutting off valuable company information to businesses, operations have no choice but to be halted until demands are met. Without productivity and progress, companies lose huge amounts of money, time, and ultimately, revenue as hours and days go by.

Nearly every business experiencing a cyberattack has been forced to shut down parts, or all of its operations, until the attack is solved. This particularly impacts SMBs from sectors such as IT and manufacturing, which operate round-the-clock, leaving them precious little time to strengthen breached systems. This also allows ransomware groups to exploit their vulnerabilities to the fullest.

Plunging reputation and broken customer trust

Trust is the essence of every relationship. Hence, in addition to the loss of revenue, businesses affected by cyberattacks will also have to contend with issues such as a loss in client confidence, investor backing, potential losses of contracts and a decreasing brand value. More than the immediate losses, it is the potential losses and accompanying “what if’s” and “maybes” which may further damage a business’s reputation with new potential clients.

As for the public, a cybersecurity breach will be seen as a failure in the mandated company’s role in protecting their customers’ data, leading to feelings of betrayal and loss of confidence. While businesses may have the resources to recover and build up their reputation again, the financial ramifications, as well as the loss of customers and company value, will immensely set the company back.

Costly intellectual property disputes

Multiple major companies have USPs and rely on the confidentiality of this intellectual property for the continuation of their product line. For example, F&B businesses such as KFC, Cadbury Chocolates, and Oreo Cookies are known globally for their iconic recipes.

Also Read: The future of cybersecurity: A plan to fill the workforce gap and protect the world

Even sundry items such as Panadol and Colgate have such a hold on the general public that they are instantly recognised as the default brand, with many often referring to generic versions of the same items by the specific brand names. Should any breach or leakage of these recipes and formulas occur, however, it could spell doom for their entire business.

Forced revamping of operations, regardless of preparation

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. In this vein, businesses which have been affected by cyberattacks have no choice but to revamp their operations process, be it shoring up or heavily investing in all-new cybersecurity protocols or altering their mode of operations to prevent the occurrence of similar security breaches.

This could also include courses on digital literacy focusing on cybersecurity for staff in order to improve awareness of potential risks online. Businesses may also have to rethink how they collect and store information to ensure that sensitive information isn’t vulnerable (for example, many companies have stopped storing customers’ financial and personal information in a bid to dry out potential data mines for hackers).

What must first be understood by businesses is that cybersecurity is not a one-off purchase — it is a long-term defence which needs to be kept “alive” to provide effective protection against cyberattacks. Some steps to take include partnering with a cybersecurity consultant to provide professional advice on how to strengthen and create an up-to-date cybersecurity infrastructure. Additionally, a company can hire a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to determine its short and long-term security needs.

Equally important is having a basic grasp of existing cybersecurity risks and how they can be avoided — businesses can achieve this by providing opportunities for employees to learn more about the latest IT security trends and threats.

In addition to improving their awareness on the subject, this also empowers them to make informed decisions in keeping potential threats at bay while helping stop any existing gaps in a business’s IT infrastructure.

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The Philippines has one of the highest electricity rates in the world, making sustainability a necessity in architecture. Architects and builders have been prioritising energy efficiency and sustainability in their designs, using renewable energy sources and sustainable materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recycled steel.

This shift towards sustainable architecture is also reflected in urban infrastructure design, which includes incorporating green spaces into urban areas and designing public transportation systems that are powered by renewable energy.

Technology is also playing a significant role in the modernisation of architecture. Architects are increasingly using advanced 3D modelling software to design and visualise buildings, which allows them to make changes and modifications more easily.

This technology also enables architects to design buildings that are more efficient, both in terms of energy usage and space utilisation. Data analytics and computational design also help to optimise building performance and reduce energy consumption.

Having been an architect for two decades and counting, pivoting to sustainable architecture was a natural process for me, as I have always been conscious of the impact of human activity on the environment.

Also Read: Achieving a sustainable future by harnessing IoT and data

As a parent, I became even more aware of the world we are leaving behind for future generations. As an architect, I have a responsibility to design buildings that not only serve the needs of the present but also contribute to a sustainable future.

Why sustainable architecture?

The built environment sector is, unfortunately, one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of annual carbon emissions. Buildings consume a significant amount of energy and resources during construction, operation, and demolition.

It is pertinent to pivot to sustainable architecture because it is essential for mitigating the impact of climate change and protecting our planet. Sustainable architecture focuses on reducing energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, and carbon emissions throughout a building’s life cycle. It involves the use of renewable energy sources, sustainable materials, and green building practices that promote energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and occupant health and well-being.

Starting Ecotecture Design Studio was a way for me to incorporate sustainable design elements into my work and promote environmentally conscious design practices. We aim to create buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing but have a positive impact on the environment and the communities they serve. We strive to minimise the use of non-renewable resources, reduce waste generation, and prioritise the use of sustainable materials in all our projects.

Expanding to Singapore with Ecotecture Design Studio is an opportunity to bring our sustainable design expertise to a new market. Being at the forefront of greening buildings in Southeast Asia, Singapore has set ambitious targets to green 80 per cent of all buildings by 2030.

Also Read: Green and sustainable crypto: Is this the way forward?

Our sustainable design practices align with these goals, and we hope to make a positive impact on the built environment sector in Singapore. Hence this was a natural next step for us.

Interspersing modern design with sustainability as the way forward

Sustainable architecture is a critical aspect of modern design, and we strive to create buildings that are not only beautiful but also promote sustainable living. We plan to work closely with the Singaporean government and other stakeholders to promote sustainable architecture in the city-state.

We also plan to continue our efforts in the Philippines by designing and constructing sustainable buildings that have a positive impact on the environment and promote sustainable living.

Looking ahead, the built environment sector is expected to focus increasingly on sustainable architecture as environmental concerns continue to grow. As the global population increases and urbanisation continues, the demand for sustainable buildings will only increase.

With the increasing use of technology in architecture, we can expect to see more efficient buildings with advanced energy systems, building automation, and smart technologies to optimise energy usage and reduce waste.

Overall, sustainability and technology are driving the modernisation of architecture. As the architecture industry continues to evolve, it will be critical to prioritise sustainability and technology in building design and construction to ensure a more sustainable future for all.

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Traditional paper-based processes have been a staple in the workplace for centuries now, as the paper is used for a variety of tasks such as filing, managing documents, signing contracts and more. However, in today’s fast-paced world, these manual processes can now be ineffective and time-consuming.

DocuSign research reveals that employees spend an average of three hours per contract – storing and managing documents. Paper-based processes are also costly, as the costs associated with printing, sending, and storing documents can add up to an average of US$36 per agreement.

In today’s ever-evolving world, organisations are going through a rapid shift in the way they work. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unexpected and accelerated shift to remote work protocols, shaking up traditional workflows and amplifying existing inefficiencies.

This has spurred businesses to adopt digital workflows and negate the need for paper-based processes. The pandemic proved that we don’t need paper to get work done – so why are some businesses still holding on to cumbersome paper? What if there was a better way to work?

Here are three reasons why you should ditch paper and make the switch.

Paperless productivity: Faster business, money saved

One advantage that was brought about by the forced transition to digital due to the pandemic is productivity gains. Setting up a digital agreement with e-signature software takes far less time than the traditional method of printing, gathering all parties to sign pen-to-paper and filing documents away in a physical cabinet.

Not to mention, businesses can eliminate most stationary costs and reduce the frequency of manual tasks – saying goodbye to fixing printer jams and sorting through mountains of paper.

Capital C Corporation is a case in point. By using DocuSign’s integration with SingPass to verify client credentials and speed up loan processes, the company managed to reduce its average time to process, sign and approve a loan from two days to four hours.

Also Read: From paper to pixels: Juwai IQI’s transition to a digital workflow

Given the fast pace of the financial services industry, this is critical. Relationship managers can devote more time to client services because of the time saved, allowing the company to more than double its business loan volume since implementation.

Against the backdrop of the shift to hybrid work, a seamless digital ecosystem will also enhance usability and enable greater collaboration among your employees. For example, DocuSign’s integration for Slack allows employees to navigate the full agreement process right from within Slack. This entails pulling up documents for signature to multiple recipients directly where teamwork occurs – no switching apps, no time wasted, and no productivity lost.

Round-the-clock security for greater peace of mind

Paper-based agreements are highly susceptible to human error as documents must physically pass through several people before reaching the intended recipient. For example, an employee can mistakenly leave a sensitive document out in the open or improperly dispose of a paper that can cause a data leak. Furthermore, data stored in these papers are vulnerable to forgery and tampering.

With e-signatures, organisations can have the assurance that their data is secure. E-signature technology is usually supported with multiple layers of security that make them difficult to tamper with, such as authentication methods like SMS or ID verification. Other security processes include tamper-evident seals and certification of completion, which provide information like the associated IP address, timestamp and name of the signer recorded.

As we’ve seen with customers, there is also an excellent opportunity to maintain transparency and greater control over various workflows. This is due to the audit trail that e-signatures typically have, which records when and where a document was signed, as well as by whom.

High security is a necessity for businesses as it reduces compensation, liabilities, and other legal expenses that a company might incur. More importantly, it improves the customer service journey, and customers can rely on your company to collect and securely store their data.

Greener processes for a cleaner future

The lifecycle of paper is not only eating at business productivity but also damaging the environment. As the paper is the fifth largest consumer of energy in the world, it takes a whopping 10 litres of water to make just one piece of regular A4 paper.

By switching to digital solutions, DocuSign customers have collectively saved over 55.8 billion sheets of paper, 5.9 billion gallons of water and over 326 million pounds of waste. Since implementing DocuSign’s eSignature and Sign with Singpass, Capital C Corporation has effectively removed 95 per cent of its physical document handling costs – drastically reducing its paper footprint and, consequently, overall environmental impact.

Also Read: #dltledgers unveils 2023 trends in supply chain digitisation

Now more than ever, consumers are increasingly eco-conscious. A recent PwC survey found that half of all global consumers surveyed have become more conscious of their impact on the environment, which is why businesses should take steps to work towards cultivating responsible operations by digitalising their processes.

Driving digitalisation efforts

All industries can gain a competitive advantage by doing away with paper and digitising. One of the simplest steps to take is to transition from paper-based processes to more cost-effective digital solutions such as e-signatures.

Simply by signing electronically, companies can improve operational efficiency and drive business outcomes, making it an all-around valuable workplace tool. I hope that more traditional businesses use this opportunity to start digitalising their business.

This way, we also eliminate paper – and much of the work – from paperwork.

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

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qlub, a payment solution that splits restaurant bills between customers, has raised US$25 million in a new funding round, bringing its total fundraising to US$42 million.

The new investors in the round include global investment firm Al Dhabi Capital and major family offices in the UAE.

Existing investors also participated.

The startup plans to use the new capital to accelerate growth, expand to new markets, and build new value-added services for restaurants and customers on the qlub platform.

qlub enables customers to pay their restaurant bills in various options — as a group, splitting, or tipping — without needing an app or registration. All it takes is the scan of a QR code at their table, with customers being given the flexibility of paying with Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit cards, and local payment schemes.

Also Read: ‘Singapore’s dine-in experience hasn’t evolved much despite many F&B outlets’: qlub COO

Currently, qlub operates in four continents, with a significant presence in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UAE. In these countries, qlub powers over 2,000 restaurants, including Singapore’s Merci Marcel, Deelish Brands (Fatburger & Buffalo’s, 800 Degrees), Ayam Penyet President, and Morganfield’s.

“We want to transform the payment experience for F&B players in Singapore and other key markets by partnering with leading industry players, such as restaurant point-of-sale solution providers and global payment partners, to offer the best-integrated solution for restaurant owners,” says Ramy Omar, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of qlub.

In 2022, qlub secured a US$17 million seed round co-led by Cherry Ventures and Point Nine.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like connecting with investors, visibility through the e27platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

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Kredivo Holdings (formerly FinAccel), the parent company of Kredivo and Krom Bank Indonesia, has closed its Series D equity round of funding at ~US$270 million.

Japanese global bank Mizuho Bank led the round. Existing investors, including Square Peg Capital, Jungle Ventures, Naver Financial Corporation, GMO Venture Partners, and Openspace Ventures, also participated.

Akshay Garg, CEO of Kredivo Holdings, said: “The upcoming expansion into digital banking is deeply synergistic with the existing Kredivo product and also opens up a very promising channel for us to become the digital financial services platform of choice for tens of millions of consumers in Southeast Asia.”

Also Read: Kredivo scores US$100M more in debt funding to further grow its BNPL platform

Daisuke Horiuchi, Group Executive Officer Deputy Head of Retail & Business Banking Company of Mizuho, said, “Kredivo has a stellar track record in Southeast Asia, leveraging its deep data partnerships to promote financial inclusion within Indonesia and Southeast Asia while maintaining bank-like risk metrics and building a capital efficient business model.”

Founded in 2016, Kredivo is a leading player in the digital financial services industry. It provides customers with instant credit financing for e-commerce and offline purchases and personal loans based on proprietary, AI-enabled real-time decisions. The products include online and offline Buy Now, Pay Later, personal loans, credit cards (physical and virtual) and neobank Krom.

Also Read: Kredivo bags US$100M from US investor to provide instant credit financing to 10M new users in Indonesia

In 2021, Kredivo announced its plans to merge with VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings II (VPCB), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Victory Park Capital (VPC), to go public in the US. However, the plans were cancelled a year later.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like connecting with investors, visibility through the e27platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

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