Appboxo team: Nursultan Keneshbekov (CTO), Kaniyet Rayev (CEO)
As a followup to the previous article in this series, today we are conversing with another two startups from the latest batch of startup generator Antler’s Singapore programme.
Selected out of 3,000 applicants, Antler brought together 100 qualified individuals from 30 nationalities, with an average of eight years working experience, to set up an “ideal” team. This arrangement leads to the founding of 14 companies.
While the previous article dug deeper into the work of EvrCare and Nectico, today we are looking into the works and inspiration behind Appboxo and Playy World.
The following is the edited excerpts of the interviews:
Appboxo
Very much like its predecessors in China, various tech companies in the Southeast Asian region are jumping on the trend of offering third-party services on their platform. Often dubbed as the “super app” concept, the goal is to generate additional revenues from the traffic they send.
In China, they do it through a special development framework called mini programmes.
Also Read: Following new global funds launch, Antler invests US$1.4M into 14 startups in latest Singapore batch
“So the problem is that most companies might miss technology like mini programmes in China, which can enable easy integration of beautiful mobile experiences without spending a lot of time and money on each integration,” explains Appboxo CEO Kaniyet Rayev.
To solve that problem, Appboxo provides a super app platform that aims to enable any app to become a super app.
“We identified this problem during the development of our previous product called mitty, which was supposed to become an all-in-one travel app. We basically wanted to integrate all essential travel services into one app, but API integration with each service is super costly and takes a lot of time,” Rayev says.
“So after thinking a bit about it, we actually realised that we can create a solution that can help, not only us, but any other app that wants to offer third party services,” the CEO continues.
The company already has travel tech and fashion tech companies such as SkyScanner, Agoda, and Zalora agreeing to use its platform. It is also currently in talks with “the largest consumer app in Southeast Asia” to roll out the pilot.
For the year 2020, Appboxo wants to focus on building its technology and growing its network.
“Our goal is to cover key use cases in travel, e-commerce, and finance verticals,” Rayev says.
Also Read: New Antler-NUS initiative to nurture deeptech talents, to invest in 30 startups annually
The company was founded by Rayev and CTO Nursultan Keneshbekov. Both co-founder originated from the Kyrgyz Republic and met during their studies in the UK.
Playy World team: Alvin Tjhie (CTO), Mark Thong (CEO)
PlayyWorld
PlayyWorld, an e-playground for trading card game enthusiasts, is an example of startups participating in the Antler programme that has a strong offline element in their business.
“The trading card game market is primitive and outdated. In a world of e-commerce and online content, game cards purchase process is outdated; it is conducted offline and unsecured. There is also a lack of a global social community for players to gather, compete, and trade,” says PlayyWorld CEO Mark Thong.
In addition to publishing and generating content, PlayyWorld also invites expert players to share knowledge and experience. It also enables players to compete against each other through online tabletop play.
“We don’t want to be another e-commerce site that is all about finding the cheapest stuff and getting rewarded for it. We want to build value and share with the community,” says Thong.
Understanding the negative image that card games can have in the eyes of some parties, PlayyWorld is working on an outreach programme with universities to prove that card games are not a taboo. It can even help promote analytical skills, as has been proven by academic research.
As expected, the startup was founded by a card game enthusiasts.
“While working in the same team for one of the hackathons, we got to know each other better, and our similar interest in trading card games came up. We decided to build Playy World and the rest is history,” Thong spoke of his introduction to co-founder Alvin Tjhie.
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Image Credit: Antler
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