Global edge-to-cloud company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) recently culminated the 2021 run of Fast Forward with HPE — an initiative designed to identify, support, co-innovate, and go-to-market with the next generation of digital disruptors in the Asia Pacific startup ecosystem.

Three B2B startups were chosen as winners among over 200 aspirants in the third episode’s “Pitch Day”, presenting an astounding opportunity for these top digital disruptors to collaborate with the technology heavyweight. The opportunity also grants them access to strategic partnerships with HPE to scale business growth and leverage go-to-market access as they shape the digital future, from the Asia Pacific to the world.

Amit Gupta (CEO & Founder, Ecosystm), Santhosh Viswanathan (Vice President & Managing Director, Sales Marketing & Communications Group, APJ Territory, Intel Corporation) and Suchitra Narayan Director, Advanced Manufacturing & Venture Building, SGInnovate served as judges for the 3rd and final episode. They challenged the top four startups from episode two on their business fundamentals and growth strategies. In the end, Cloudpick, H3 Dynamics, and Transcelestial emerged as the top 3 startups of the competition.

Cloudpick

Cloudpick is a technology startup founded in 2017 that provides smart retail and artificial intelligence solutions enabling AI-powered autonomous stores through computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. It demonstrates its competitive advantage in delivering digital transformation to the retail sector, especially with increasing consumer acceptance of retail technologies. Cloudpick’s technology is currently used in more than 160 locations in 12 countries across North America and Asia.

The organisation has since received investment funding from reputable investors such as Cathay Innovation and Intel Capital. When asked about the adoption potential of the retail sector on manpower requirement shifts in retail towards more automation as a future trend, Mark Perry, Global Business Director at Cloudpick, elaborated how their solution enables a reshaping of the culture of retail where clients are able to benefit from 3 core value propositions: innovative branding, astounding customer experience, and increased profitability.

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This is made possible through being able to process more transactions at peak hours, having automated restock notifications and planning powered by AI, as well as the enablement of personalised dynamic marketing. The key hurdle to overcome is the expansion of client education. Additionally, Perry noted that the solution is not about cutting manpower but about bringing people into more value-adding aspects of the business.

H3 Dynamics

H3 Dynamics, an automation and drones service company founded in 2015, offers remote sensing, inspection, machine learning, condition monitoring, security and safety services, among others. H3 Dynamics is on a mission to decarbonise aviation with a unique solution focused on distributed hydrogen-electric propulsion. It has 80 employees across 3 regional headquarters in Singapore, Austin, and Paris, and have raised multiple funding rounds from a full range of investors including Mirai Creation Fund, backed by Toyota Motor and SMBC, and Ascent Hydrogen Fund.

When asked about growth plans across the business units of H3 Dynamics, Eric Feddal, Chief Revenue Officer, elaborated how the company is gearing up to raise its Series C round. As a software-as-a-service company in the field of autonomous cargo, it is their strategic priority to ensure commercial viability across their business lines involving AI use cases in non-urban environments such as dams and mines where drones are used and where weather challenges present human risks that can be mitigated through technology.

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Furthermore, one of its key focus is its emerging business vertical in aerial technology with its hydrogen-electric propulsion solution. Because of their diversified interests, they are seeking an end-to-end collaboration with HPE, having demonstrated autonomous cargo at scale.

Transcelestial

Transcelestial, a Singapore-based company founded in 2016 is building the future of Superfast Global Internet Distribution, enabling last-mile internet access that aims to boost internet penetration through affordable 5G deployment.

Their proprietary wireless laser communication technology named CENTAURI uses a space laser network in delivering high-speed affordable internet. This means that wireless distribution is possible, and right-of-way issues and digging costs are unnecessary. The shoe-box sized technology also has a built-in automatic alignment feature which makes deployment seamless. It is backed by investors such as Airbus Ventures and Wavemaker Partners.

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When asked about the commercial scalability and mass adoption of the company’s technology, Rohit Jha, CEO & Co-Founder of Transcelestial, talks about how the organisation considers the fact that it’s being developed outside the US market as a factor of success. Specifically, a substantial market opportunity presents itself in areas where last-mile connectivity is a pervasive challenge, and Transcelestial is well poised to address this. With the amalgamation of both fibre optics and wireless technology, it can deliver internet connectivity and add further value to both consumers and businesses in the last mile. The next product optimisation goal is to provide connectivity of 100gbps along a 5km radius through a space network. Besides this, they have gained validation from the US market as well, being able to service clients in urban settings too.

HPE’s roles in nurturing these startups

HPE helps businesses manage their data and applications wherever they live, transforming insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today’s complex world.

Fast Forward with HPE is on the lookout for the next set of digital disruptors to support and co-innovate with for its 2022 cohort. If you run a B2B digital startup in the APAC region with ready go-to-market solutions, have received prior investor funding, have industry vertical-led offerings, and have B2B-focused solutions or services, you can submit your interest to their official page.

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

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